John Peter Altgeld

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John Peter Altgeld
Altgeld c. 1893
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
Judge of the Superior Court of Cook County
In office 1886–1891
Personal details
Born	(1847-12-30)December 30, 1847 Selters, Duchy of Nassau
Died	March 12, 1902(1902-03-12) (aged 54) Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Emma Ford ​ ​ (m. 1877; died 1902)​
Profession	Judge, lawyer
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	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 the Duchy of Nassau, 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. Often in poor health, he died at the age of 54, while working in the law office of Clarence Darrow.