Charles Gilpin (mayor)


Charles Gilpin was an American attorney and politician. He served as the mayor of Philadelphia from 1851 to 1854 and was the last mayor of the city before the consolidation of Philadelphia.

Early life

Charles Gilpin was born on November 17, 1809 in Philadelphia to Edward and Lydia Gilpin. His father Edward was a merchant whose family immigrated to the United States in the 1600s. Charles was admitted to the bar in 1834 and practiced law in Philadelphia.

Political career

Gilpin won a seat on the Common Council, the lower house of the Philadelphia City Council and to the Select Council in 1840. He ran for mayor in 1849; but lost by a 65-vote margin to Joel Jones.
In 1850, he ran again and defeated Jones by 2,329 votes. He won re-election in 1851 over former mayor John Swift and was re-elected in 1952 and 1853. As mayor, he sat on the committee to rewrite the city charter. The consolidation combined the city of Philadelphia and Philadelphia County, created new offices such as the city treasurer, city controller, and expanded the powers of the city government.
With the change in city government, Gilpin did not run for re-election as mayor. In 1858, he became the solicitor to the Philadelphia County Sheriff. He had a four-year stint as a United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and was also the supervisor of elections.

Personal life

Gilpin married Sarah Hamilton. They had six children, Washington Hood Gilpin, who was an attorney in Philadelphia, Charles Jr., Lydia, Henry, Hood and Bernard.
He died October 29, 1891 in Philadelphia and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery.