Levi Boone

Levi Day Boone (born December 6, 1808 in Lexington , Kentucky , † January 24, 1882 in Chicago , Illinois ) was an American politician . He was mayor of Chicago in 1855 and 1856.

Career

Levi Boone was a great-nephew of the pioneer Daniel Boone (1734-1820). After studying medicine at Transylvania University and being licensed as a doctor in 1829, he began to practice this profession in Hillsboro, Illinois. He served in the United States Army during the Black Hawk War . There he was first a cavalryman and then a doctor. From 1835 he lived in Chicago, where he worked as a doctor. He also helped found the Cook County's health committee and became its secretary. In 1850 he became the first president of the Chicago Medical Society . In later years, Boone worked in the insurance industry after being unable to practice medicine for health reasons.

Politically, Boone joined the Know-Nothing Party ; he was a Prohibitionist . He sat on the Chicago City Council for eight years. Boone was a believer in slavery and believed it to be God's will. In 1855, he was elected mayor of Chicago against incumbent Isaac Lawrence Milliken . There were rumors that the votes of German and Irish immigrants, the majority of whom were not Boone's supporters, were not counted. Nevertheless, he was able to complete his one-year term, during which a police reform was carried out. Among other things, the police officers in Chicago had to wear uniform for the first time. As a member of the Know-Knothings , he was an opponent of immigrants. As a result, these were removed from all city offices and replaced with people born in the United States. Boone also campaigned vehemently for a tough law to restrict alcohol trafficking and consumption. In the meantime, this led to unrest in the city. The plan for a state-wide and sweeping law in this area was rejected by a popular vote in June 1855.

In 1856 Levi Boone declined to run again. In 1862 he was briefly arrested on suspicion of helping Confederate prisoners of war escape. Boone had been married to Louisa M. Smith since 1833, with whom he had eleven children. He died in Chicago on January 24, 1882.

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personal data
SURNAME	Boone, Levi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Boone, Levi Day (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	December 6, 1808
PLACE OF BIRTH	near Lexington , Kentucky
DATE OF DEATH	January 24, 1882
Place of death	Chicago , Illinois