John Blake Rice

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John Blake Rice
19th Mayor of Chicago
Mayor of the City of Chicago
In office 1865 – 1869
Preceded by	Francis Cornwall Sherman
Succeeded by	Roswell B. Mason

Born	May 28, 1809
Died	December 17, 1874 Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Republican
Residence	Chicago, Illinois

John Blake Rice (May 28, 1809 – December 17, 1874; buried in Rosehill Cemetery) served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1865-1869) for the Republican Party.

Rice was born in Easton, Maryland and made his acting debut in Annapolis in 1829. His first professional role was as Uncle Barnwell in George Lillo's "The London Merchant."^[1] He toured up and down the East coast, as well as the West Indies. While living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he married into a local theatre family.^[1] By 1839, he moved his family to Buffalo, New York, where he managed a theatre during the summers. In winter, he managed a theatre in Albany.^[1]

Rice arrived in Chicago in 1847 to work as an actor and entertain the politicians at the River and Harbor Convention, Chicago's first national convention. He decided to stay and establish a permanent theater, called Rice's Theater. On July 30, 1850, in the middle of Vincenzo Bellini's opera La Sonnambula, a fire broke out in the theater. Rice addressed the crowds, saying "Sit down. Do you think I would permit a fire to occur in my theater?" The crowd sat, but a prompter stage-whispered to Rice that the theater was on fire and panic ensued. The theater was destroyed and he lost about $4,000. When a benefit only raised $60, he left Chicago for Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[2]

Rice return to Chicago in 1851 and built a new theater, entirely of brick. He hired James McVicker to serve as manager and was active in the theater until 1857.

Near the end of the Civil War, Rice ran for mayor of Chicago as a very conservative Republican. Aided by the end of the war and the subsequent assassination of Abraham Lincoln only days before the election, Rice won easily.

As mayor, Rice was anti-labor, and he vetoed a plan to enforce an eight-hour work day. This veto led to a spontaneous demonstration on May 1, 1867 by workers which led to the international May Day observance. The City Council eventually overrode his veto.^[3]

Rice and the City Council were connected with graft, prostitution and gambling, and he was defeated by Roswell B. Mason in 1869.

Rice was elected to represent the Illinois' 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 1873. While serving in the House, he died from liver cancer^[4] on December 17, 1874 in Norfolk, Virginia^[5] and was the incumbent at the time of his death. His death raised issues about whether Illinois Governor John Beveridge was required to appoint a replacement."^[6] In the end, the seat was left vacant until the next election, when Bernard G. Caulfield was elected to represent the district.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c Caleb (1939-08-02), "Builders of Chicago", Chicago Daily Tribune: 8
^ Andreas, A.T. (1887). History of Chicago From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.. Volume II: A.T. Andreas.
^ Heise, Kenan; Ed Baumann (1990). Chicago Originals. Bonus Books, 30. ISBN 0933893949.
^ 1874-12-20, "Arrangements for the Funeral Obsequies", Chicago Daily Tribune: 16
^ 1874-12-19, "In Memoriam", Chicago Daily Tribune: 5
^ 1874-12-24, "The First District Vacancy", Chicago Daily Tribune: 8

Political offices
Preceded by Francis C. Sherman	Mayor of Chicago 1865–1869	Succeeded by Roswell B. Mason
Preceded by Charles B. Farwell	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st congressional district 1873-1874	Succeeded by Bernard G. Caulfield