Peter J. Somers (April 12, 1850 – February 15, 1924) was an Irish-American mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and member of the United States House of Representatives.

Peter J. Somers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 4th district
In office
August 27, 1893 – March 3, 1895
Preceded byJohn L. Mitchell
Succeeded byTheobald Otjen
30th Mayor of Milwaukee
In office
December 6, 1890 – June 5, 1893
Preceded byGeorge W. Peck
Succeeded byJohn C. Koch
Personal details
Born(1850-04-12)April 12, 1850
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
DiedFebruary 15, 1924(1924-02-15) (aged 73)
Los Angeles, California
NationalityIrish-American
Political partyDemocratic
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Biography

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Somers was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin on April 12, 1850.[1] He grew up in the state of Wisconsin. He became a lawyer and moved to Milwaukee, where he soon became involved in politics. Somers served as city attorney for Milwaukee. In 1890, he was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council and served as president of the Milwaukee Common Council.

He served as mayor of Milwaukee from December 6, 1890, to June 5, 1893, when he resigned, having won an election to fill a vacancy in the United States House of Representatives caused by the resignation of John L. Mitchell who was elected to the U.S. Senate. Somers took over as the representative of Wisconsin's 4th congressional district in the 53rd United States Congress. Somers, a lifelong member of the Democratic Party, was not renominated for a full term in 1894, and left Congress when his term expired in 1895.[2] He is to date the last mayor of Milwaukee elected to higher office.

He continued practicing law in Milwaukee until 1905, when he moved to Reno, Nevada. He became a lawyer, judge for Esmeralda County, Nevada, and served for a time as chairman of the Nevada Democratic State Central Committee.

He died at his home in Los Angeles, California on February 15, 1924.[3] Somers was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.

References

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  1. ^ The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. II. James T. White & Company. 1921. p. 184. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Milwaukee Mayors". The Sentinel Almanac and Book of Fact. Sentinel Company. 1899. p. 51. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Former Nev. Judge Dead at L.A. Home". Los Angeles Express. February 16, 1924. p. 7. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Milwaukee
1890–1893
Succeeded by
Henry Hase (acting mayor)
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district

August 27, 1893 – March 3, 1895
Succeeded by