Breese Jacob Stevens (March 22, 1834 – October 28, 1903) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 20th

mayor of Madison, Wisconsin This is a list of mayors of Madison, Wisconsin. Village presidents Mayors See also *Mayoral elections in Madison, Wisconsin Nonpartisan elections are currently held every four years to elect the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. Elections ...

, from 1884 to 1885.

Biography

Breese J. Stevens was born in

Vernon, New York Vernon is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 5,408 at the 2010 census. The Town of Vernon is on the western border of the county. The town contains a village, also named Vernon. History The first European se ...

, on March 22, 1834. He was raised in Buffalo,

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...

, and Vernon, and attended academies in

Oneida Oneida may refer to: Native American/First Nations * Oneida people, a Native American/First Nations people and one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy * Oneida language * Oneida Indian Nation, based in New York * Oneida Na ...

, Whitesboro, and Cazenovia. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1853, studied law with attorneys including

Timothy Jenkins Timothy Jenkins (January 29, 1799 – December 24, 1859) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York, serving three terms during the mid-19th Century. Biography Timothy Jenkins was born in Barre, Mass ...

, and was admitted to the bar. In 1856 he received his Master of Arts degree from Hamilton. In 1857 he moved to Madison to manage the business interests of two of his relatives, Sidney Breese and

Horatio Seymour Horatio Seymour (May 31, 1810February 12, 1886) was an American politician. He served as Governor of New York from 1853 to 1854 and from 1863 to 1864. He was the Democratic Party nominee for president in the 1868 United States presidential elec ...

. In addition to practicing law, he was involved in banking and other businesses, and he was active in numerous civic organizations, including the Wisconsin Historical Society. He was also a member of Grace Episcopal Church, and served as a vestryman. A

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, Stevens turned down several opportunities to run for office until 1884, when he ran successfully for Mayor of Madison. He served one term, holding office from 1884 to 1885. After serving as mayor, Stevens served as a regent of the University of Wisconsin. Stevens died at his home in Madison on October 28, 1903. He was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery. Breese Stevens Field is named in his honor. Additionally, Stevens at one time owned the land that the University Heights Historic District now sits on.

References

1834 births 1903 deaths Hamilton College (New York) alumni Wisconsin lawyers Wisconsin Democrats Mayors of Madison, Wisconsin Burials at Forest Hill Cemetery (Madison, Wisconsin) {{Wisconsin-mayor-stub