John P. Altgeld
| John Altgeld | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 20th Governor of Illinois | |
|
In office January 10, 1893 – January 11, 1897 |
|
| Lieutenant | Joseph B. Gill |
| Preceded by | Joseph W. Fifer |
| Succeeded by | John R. Tanner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 30, 1847 Selters, Duchy of Nassau |
| Died | March 12, 1902 (aged 54) Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Emma Ford (m. 1877; d. 1902) |
| Alma mater | University of Missouri |
| Profession | Judge, lawyer |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1863–1865 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 164th Ohio Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John Peter Altgeld (December 30, 1847 – March 12, 1902) was an American politician and the 20th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1893 until 1897. He was the first Democrat to govern that state since the 1850s. A leading figure of the Progressive movement, Altgeld signed workplace safety and child labor laws, pardoned three of the men convicted in the Haymarket Affair, and rejected calls in 1894 to break up the Pullman strike by force. In 1896 he was a leader of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, opposing President Grover Cleveland and the conservative Bourbon Democrats. He was defeated for reelection in 1896 in an intensely fought, bitter campaign.
Born in Germany, Altgeld grew up on a farm in the American Midwest. After a stint in the Union Army as a youth, Altgeld studied law in Missouri, while working as a manual laborer, and became involved in progressive politics. Altgeld eventually opened a law practice in Chicago, and became a real estate developer, and local judge before being elected governor. He was married to Emma Ford. Often in poor health, he died at the age of 54, while working in the law office of Clarence Darrow.
Altgeld was born in the town of Selters in the German Westerwald, the first son of John P. and Mary Altgeld. His parents left Germany when he was three months old, bringing their infant son with them.They settled on a farm near Mansfield, Ohio. He left home at age 16 to join the Union Army; lying about his age, he enlisted in the 164th Ohio (National Guard) Infantry. Altgeld's regiment served in Virginia as a reserve unit, doing labor and reconnaissance, participating in only one skirmish. Altgeld himself nearly died of fever. He then worked on his father's farm, studied in the library of a neighbor and at a private school in Lexington, Ohio, and for two years taught school.
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