John E. Reyburn

John Edgar Reyburn
80th Mayor of Philadelphia
In office April 1, 1907 – December 4, 1911
Preceded by	John Weaver
Succeeded by	Rudolph Blankenburg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 2nd district
In office November 6, 1906 – March 31, 1907
Preceded by	Robert Adams, Jr.
Succeeded by	Joel Cook
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 4th district
In office February 18, 1890 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by	William D. Kelley
Succeeded by	James R. Young
President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office 1883
Preceded by	Hugh McNeil
Succeeded by	Amos Herr Mylin
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 5th district
In office 1876–1890
Preceded by	Thomas Valentine Cooper
Succeeded by	Charles A. Porter
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office 1871 1874–1876
Personal details
Born	February 7, 1845 (1845-02-07) New Carlisle, Ohio, U.S.
Died	January 4, 1914 (1914-01-05) (aged 68) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Margaretta Eleanor Crozier Reyburn
Children	William Stuart Reyburn Robert Crozier Reyburn Eleanor Crozier Reyburn Harrington
Alma mater	Saunders Institute
Profession	Attorney politician
Signature

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.

Early life and education

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

Career

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.

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.

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.

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

Personal life

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

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

Death

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

External links

• The Political Graveyard
• Grave