John Edgar Reyburn (February 7, 1845 – January 4, 1914) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district from 1890 to 1897 and Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district from 1906 to 1907. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1871 and again from 1874 to 1876. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1876 to 1890 including as president pro tempore in 1883. He served as Mayor of Philadelphia from 1907 to 1911.

John Edgar Reyburn
80th Mayor of Philadelphia
In office
April 1, 1907 – December 4, 1911
Preceded byJohn Weaver
Succeeded byRudolph Blankenburg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 2nd district
In office
November 6, 1906 – March 31, 1907
Preceded byRobert Adams, Jr.
Succeeded byJoel Cook
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 4th district
In office
February 18, 1890 – March 3, 1897
Preceded byWilliam D. Kelley
Succeeded byJames R. Young
President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office
1883
Preceded byHugh McNeil
Succeeded byAmos Herr Mylin
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 5th district
In office
1876–1890
Preceded byThomas Valentine Cooper
Succeeded byCharles A. Porter
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
1871
1874–1876
Personal details
BornFebruary 7, 1845 (1845-02-07)
New Carlisle, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJanuary 4, 1914 (1914-01-05) (aged 68)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeLaurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMargaretta Eleanor Crozier Reyburn
Children
Alma materSaunders Institute
ProfessionAttorney politician
Signature

Early life and education

edit

Reyburn was born on February 7, 1845, in New Carlisle, Ohio, to William and Lydia Reader Crane Reyburn.[1] He was taught by a private tutor and attended the Saunders Institute in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the University of Pennsylvania.[2] He studied law under E. Spencer Miller,[1] was admitted to the bar in 1870, and opened a law practice in Philadelphia.[3]

Career

edit

Reyburn was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1871 and again in 1874 through 1876. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1876 through 1892 and served as president pro tempore during the session of 1883.[4]

Elected to Congress as a Republican to fill the vacancy left by the death of William D. Kelley, Reyburn was reelected three times and served from February 18, 1890, to March 3, 1897, until he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1896. He was again elected to Congress to fill the vacancy left by the death of Robert Adams, Jr. and was reelected in 1906 to the 60th United States Congress, serving from November 6, 1906, to March 31, 1907, when he resigned to serve as Mayor of Philadelphia. Elected in the 1907 Philadelphia mayoral election, he served as mayor from April 1, 1907, to December 4, 1911.[3]

As mayor, he led the Philadelphia Republican political machine and his tenure was marred with several instances of corruption. Reyburn was charged with receiving $450,000 from corporations and public officials. While several officials and contractors were convicted for bribery, Reyburn was not and claimed that his name was forged on the documents.[5]

He was engaged in manufacturing in Philadelphia, but retained a residence in Washington, D.C.[3]

Personal life

edit

He married Margaretta Eleanor Crozier in 1881 and together they had three children; Eleanor Reyburn Harrington, Robert Crozier Reyburn, and Congressman William Stuart Reyburn.[4]

He was a yachting enthusiast and owned several estates in the United States and one in Canada.[1]

Death

edit

Reyburn died on January 4, 1914, in his Washington, D.C. residence and was interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Ferree, Barr (1915). Year Book of the Pennsylvania Society 1915. Philadelphia: The Pennsylvania Society. p. 82. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "John Edgar Reyburn". archives.house.state.pa.us. Archives Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Reyburn, John Edgar 1845-1914". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Pennsylvania State Senate - John Edgar Reyburn Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. ^ Long, Kim (2008). The Almanac of Political Corruption, Scandals & Dirty Politics. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307481344. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "John E Reyburn". www.remembermyjourney.com. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
edit
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Preceded by
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
1871-1871
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
1874–1876
Succeeded by
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
1876-1890
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district

1890–1897
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district

1906–1907
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Philadelphia
1907–1911
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Hugh McNeil
President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
1883
Succeeded by
Amos Herr Mylin