John Wentworth (March 5, 1815 – October 16, 1888), was the editor of the Chicago Democrat, publisher of an extensive Wentworth family genealogy, a two-term mayor of Chicago, and a six-term member of the United States House of Representatives (serving tenured in that body both before and after his service as mayor).
After growing up in New Hampshire, he joined the migration west and moved to the developing city of Chicago in 1836, where he made his adult life. Wentworth was affiliated with the Democratic Party until 1855; then he changed to the Republican Party. After retiring from politics, he wrote a three-volume genealogy of the Wentworth family in the United States.
A 1994 survey of experts on Chicago politics assessed Wentworth as one of the ten best mayors in the city's history (up to that time).
John Wentworth was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire. He was educated at the New Hampton Literary Institute and at the academy of Dudley Leavitt. Known as "Long John" he was 6 foot 6 inches in height. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1836.
Later that year, Wentworth joined a migration west and moved to Chicago, arriving in the city on October 25, 1836. He became managing editor of Chicago's first newspaper, the Chicago Democrat, eventually becoming its owner and publisher. He owned the paper for 25 years.
Wentworth was admitted to the bar in 1841.
He started a law practice and entered politics. He was a business partner of Illinois financier Jacob Bunn, and the two men were two of the incorporators of the Chicago Secure Depository Company.
In 1844, he married Roxanna Marie Loomis.
In later years, his nephew Moses J. Wentworth handled his business affairs, and would eventually manage his estate as well.
Wentworth served two separate one-year terms as mayor of Chicago (1857–1858 and 1860–1861) as well as three separate stints in the United States House of Representatives totaling six terms (1843–1851; 1853–1855; 1865–1867). The first five of his congressional terms were as a Democrat, while the final was as a Republican. His first mayoral term was as a Republican, while his second was as a Democrat.
Wentworth started his political involvement as a Jacksonian democrat, and promoted these views in the Chicago Democrat. After he supported the 1837 mayoral candidacy of William Ogden, including throwing the newspaper behind Ogden's candidacy, he was appointed by Odgen to serve in the post of city printer.
U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 4th district (1843–1851)
Wentworth, having become active in Democratic politics, was elected in 1842 to represent Illinois's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He took office in March 1843. He was re-elected in 1844, 1846, and 1848.
U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 2nd district (1853–1855)
Wentworth returned to the U.S. House of Representatives in March 1853, having been elected in 1852 to represent Illinois's 2nd congressional district. He did not run for re-election 1854, and left office in March 1855.
According to city historians in Sandwich, Illinois, Wentworth was one of the key individuals who was responsible for the city getting a railroad stop. The town, which at the time, was called "Newark Station", was given the station, and in turn, the town gave Wentworth the honor of naming the town, which he subsequently named after his hometown, Sandwich, New Hampshire. It is also to note that the boundary line dispute with Wisconsin would have cut through present-day Sandwich, as it straddles the northern border with neighboring LaSalle County, which would have been the State Line had Wentworth not been successful in moving the line north
Chicago mayoralties (1857–1858; 1860–1861)
Wentworth returned to Chicago and affiliated with the Republican Party. Running as a Republican, he elected the mayor of Chicago in 1857. He served two terms, 1857–1858 and 1860–1861 (being elected to his second term in the 1860 Chicago mayoral election). In his second term, he again affiliated with the Democratic Party.