Robert Wharton (Philadelphia)

Robert Wharton (January 12, 1757 – March 7, 1834) was the longest-serving Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Wharton was born in Philadelphia, 12 January, 1757, the son of Joseph Wharton. At an early age he left his studies, and was apprenticed to a hatter. He entered the counting-house of his brother Samuel, merchant of Philadelphia, but spent much of his time in outdoor sports, and until 1818 was president of the famous fox-hunting club of Gloucester, New Jersey that was organized in 1766. In 1790 he became a member of the Schuylkill Fishing Company, a social club, of which he was president from 1812 till 1828.

He was a member of city council from 1792 till 1795. In 1796 he was made alderman of Philadelphia, and in that year quelled a riot among the sailors, who had organized themselves into a body and demanded exorbitant wages. After reading the riot act he requested them to disperse, and, being received with shouts of defiance, Wharton ordered each of his men "to take his man," and the sailors were captured and imprisoned. He quelled the Walnut street prison riot in 1798, and also took part in suppressing others. He was fifteen times elected mayor of Philadelphia between 1798 and 1824. He became a member of the First City Troop in 1798, captain in 1803, colonel of the regiment of cavalry in 1810, and was elected brigadier-general of the state militia. He was vice-president of the Washington Benevolent Society, of which he was an original member.

He died in Philadelphia, March 7, 1834.

External links

* [http://virtualology.com/apthomaswharton/ Biographical sketch] , under Thomas Wharton