Harold Washington: American politician, former Mayor of the city of Chicago (1922—1987)
Harold Lee Washington (April 15, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was an American lawyer and politician.
He became the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987. Before, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois's 1st congressional district. He was also a member of the Illinois State Senate and Illinois House of Representatives.
Harold Washington | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 51st Mayor of Chicago | |
| In office April 29, 1983 – November 25, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Jane Byrne |
| Succeeded by | David Orr (acting) |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – April 30, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Bennett Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Charles A. Hayes |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 26th district | |
| In office May 7, 1977 – November 20, 1980 | |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 26th district | |
| In office March 22, 1965 – August 8, 1976 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Harold Lee Washington April 15, 1922 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | November 25, 1987 (aged 65) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Resting place | Oak Woods Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Finch (m. 1942; div. 1950) |
| Domestic partner | Mary Ella Smith (1967–1987) |
| Education | Roosevelt University (BA) Northwestern University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | First Sergeant |
| Unit | United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces |
| Battles/wars | World War II • South Pacific • Central Pacific |
Washington was born on April 15, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He studied at Roosevelt College and at Northwestern University School of Law.
He was married to Nancy Dorothy Finch from 1942 until they divorced in 1950. Then he was engaged to Mary Ella Smith until his death in 1987.
During his first term as mayor, Washington led the city through the "council wars" which were intense political disagreements between city hall and the city council. Despite this, Washington enjoyed positive approval among the city's residents.
Washington died suddenly on November 25, 1987 in Chicago City Hall from a heart attack, aged 65.
A 1993 survey of historians, political scientists and urban experts conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago ranked Washington as the nineteenth-best American big-city mayor to have served between the years 1820 and 1993. The Harold Washington Library is named after him.
References
Other websites
- "The Legacy of Chicago's Harold Washington", Cheryl Corley, All Things Considered, November 23, 2007. Accessed November 23, 2007.
- Harold Washington on the Legacy of Richard J. Daley
- A Latino Resource Archived 2012-10-25 at the Wayback Machine
- Harold Washington at Find a Grave
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