William Benning Webb
William Benning Webb (born September 17, 1825 in Washington, DC , † March 13, 1896 ibid) was an American local politician . Between 1886 and 1889 he was President of the Board of Commissioners Mayor of the federal capital Washington.
Career
William Webb graduated from Columbian College , later George Washington University . After a subsequent law degree and his admission as a lawyer in 1857, he began to work in Washington in this profession. After the federal capital's police structure had been reformed in 1861, Webb was appointed police chief by then mayor Richard Wallach . He held this office between 1861 and 1865. In this capacity he was also involved in the manhunt for the assassin on President Abraham Lincoln . In 1865 he gave up the office of police chief again to practice as a private lawyer.
Webb's political party affiliation is not recorded. In 1885 he became a member of the three-person Board of Commissioners that governed the city of Washington. Within this group he was appointed chairman in 1886. In this capacity he practically exercised the office of mayor, even if this title was not officially used between 1871 and 1975. He held this post between 1886 and 1889. After the end of his time as head of the Board of Commissioners of Washington, he no longer appeared in public office. William Webb died on March 13, 1896 in his hometown of Washington.
Web links
- William Webb Benning in the database of Find a Grave (English)
- The Political Graveyard
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| James Barker Edmonds |
President of the Board of Commissioners of Washington DC 1886–1889 |
John Watkinson Douglass |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Webb, William Benning |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 17, 1825 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Washington, DC |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 13, 1896 |
| Place of death | Washington, DC |