DeWitt Clinton Cregier (June 1, 1829 - November 9, 1898) served as

Mayor of Chicago The mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of city government in Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the United States. The mayor is responsible for the administration and management of various city departments, submits proposals and r ...

, Illinois (1889–1891) for the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

Early career

Cregier worked as an engineer with the City of Chicago, and was awarded, in 1875, and in 1876, , both for

fire hydrants A fire hydrant, waterplug, or firecock (archaic) is a connection point by which firefighters can tap into a water supply. It is a component of active fire protection. Underground fire hydrants have been used in Europe and Asia since at least ...

. The latter was a combination drinking fountain, fire hydrant, and watering basin for animals. The Cregier hydrant is widely seen in old photographs of Chicago. Cregier was also Master Mason, presided as Worshipful Master of Blaney Lodge No. 271, A.F. & A.M. of Illinois for eight years, and served as Grand Master of Illinois in 1870–1871. D.C. Cregier Lodge No. 81 in Wheeling, Illinois, is named after him. He was a fifth great-grandson of

Martin Cregier Captain Marten Kregier or Cregier (1617–after 1681) most likely originated from Borcken in Germany and was an early settler of New Amsterdam. He was a prominent citizen of the settlement and served three terms as Burgomaster. Kregier led several ...

, first Burgomaster of

New Amsterdam New Amsterdam ( nl, Nieuw Amsterdam, or ) was a 17th-century Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island that served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. The initial trading ''factory'' gave rise ...

. Cregier served as the chief engineer of the Chicago water system, and subsequently as Chicago's Commissioner of Public Works during the first mayoralty of

Carter Harrison Sr. Carter Henry Harrison Sr. (February 15, 1825October 28, 1893) was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois, from 1879 until 1887; he was subsequently elected to a fifth term in 1893 but was assassinated before completing t ...

Cregier came into conflict with Harrison when Cregier's own ambition to someday become mayor became apparent.

Political career

In the

1887 Chicago mayoral election The Chicago mayoral election of 1887 saw Republican John A. Roche win by a landslide, receiving more than a two-thirds majority of the vote, defeating Socialist Robert S. Nelson by more than 36 points (a margin of victory which was itself gre ...

, the city's

tried nominating him, but he declined their nomination. Ultimately, no Democrat would run in the election. Cregier won the

1889 Chicago mayoral election In the Chicago mayoral election of 1889, Democrat DeWitt Clinton Cregier defeated incumbent Republican John A. Roche, winning a majority of the vote and a margin of victory in excess of ten percent. The election was held on April 2, 1889. Ca ...

as the Democratic Party nominee, defeating incumbent Republican mayor

John A. Roche John A. Roche (August 12, 1844 – February 10, 1904) was an American politician from Illinois who served as Mayor of Chicago from 1887 to 1889. He was the 30th mayor of the city. Biography Early years John A. Roche was born in Utica, New York ...

. Cregier was sworn in as mayor on April 15, 1889. As mayor, Cregier, alongside former Illinois Central Railroad president Edward Turner Jeffery and businessman

Thomas Barbour Bryan Thomas Barbour Bryan (December 22, 1828 – January 26, 1906) was an American businessman, lawyer, and politician. Born in Virginia, a member of the prestigious Barbour family on his mother's side, Bryan largely made a name for himself in Chi ...

, delivered the presentation for Chicago's successful bid to the fifteen member United States Senate committee that decided what location would be awarded the World's Columbian Exposition. Cregier lost his bid for reelection in the

1891 Chicago mayoral election The Chicago mayoral election of 1891 saw "Reform" candidate Hempstead Washburne narrowly win a four-way race against incumbent Democrat DeWitt Clinton Cregier, former mayor Carter Harrison Sr., and Citizens Party candidate Elmer Washburn. Also r ...

. He had first seen Carter Harrison Sr. challenge him for the Democratic nomination. Cregier was able to win renomination over Harrison, as the local Democratic

political machine In the politics of Representative democracy, representative democracies, a political machine is a party organization that recruits its members by the use of tangible incentives (such as money or political jobs) and that is characterized by a hig ...

s had supported Cregier as they found him to be even more accommodating to them than Harrison had been. However, he lost the election in a four-way race, featuring Carter Harrison Sr. as an independent Democrat, Hempstead Washburne as the Republican nominee, and

Elmer Washburn Elmer Washburn was the 3rd Director of the United States Secret Service from 1874 through 1876. Before serving as Director of the United States Secret Service, Washburn had headed the Chicago Police Department from 1872 through 1873. He would late ...

as the "Citizens" nominee. Cregier placed second, losing to Republican nominee Hempstead Washburne. Cregier's tenure as mayor ended on April 27, 1891. In the

1893 Chicago mayoral election In the Chicago mayoral election of 1893, Democrat Carter Harrison Sr. won election to a (then-record) fifth non-consecutive term as mayor of Chicago. Harrison won a majority of the vote, defeating Republican Samuel W. Allerton by a 10 point m ...

, Cregier ran as the nominee of the new "Citizens Party", but received little support. He died at his home in Chicago on November 9, 1898, and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery.

Legacy

In October 2011, a biography of Cregier entitled: ''The New York Orphan Who Built Chicago'' subtitled: ''The Story of DeWitt Clinton Cregier A 19th-Century American Engineering Genius'' was published, written Gloria Cregier Emma, one of Cregier's last surviving two grandchildren.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cregier, DeWitt 1829 births 1898 deaths Burials at Rosehill Cemetery Mayors of Chicago 19th-century American politicians