William S. Fitzgerald

American politician

William S. FitzGerald, Sr.

39th Mayor of Cleveland
In office
1920–1921
Preceded by| Harry L. Davis
Succeeded by| Fred Kohler
Personal details
Born|

William Sinton FitzGerald

(1880-10-06)October 6, 1880
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died| October 3, 1937(1937-10-03) (aged 56)
North Royalton, Ohio, U.S.
Political party| Republican
Spouse(s)|

Margaret Chilton Tucker

(m. 1920; div. 1922)​

Carolina Granger

(m. 1933)​

Children| William S. Fitzgerald, Jr.
Alma mater| The George Washington University

William Sinton FitzGerald, Sr. (October 6, 1880 – October 3, 1937) was an American politician of the Republican Party who served as the 39th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.

## Life and career[edit]

FitzGerald was born in Washington, D.C. to an Irish family. He received public education and attended George Washington University, graduating with a Master of Laws degree in 1903. The following year, he moved to Cleveland, was admitted to the Ohio State Bar Association, and began practicing law. In 1911, he entered politics and was elected as a Republican city councilman for Ward 11, serving two terms. Under Mayor Harry L. Davis, FitzGerald was appointed law director.[1]

When Davis resigned in 1920 to campaign for the Ohio governorship, FitzGerald became mayor for a brief period in 1920-21. His most notable achievement as mayor was his successful fight, in cooperation with Cleveland City Council and Councilman Jacob Stacel, to prevent the Ku Klux Klan from establishing a presence in the city.[1]

In the 1921 mayoral election, FitzGerald was defeated by former Cleveland Police chief Fred Kohler. He subsequently returned to private practice.[1]

## Personal life[edit]

FitzGerald was a bachelor when he became mayor. He married Margaret Chilton Tucker of Chicago, Illinois, on January 14, 1920. He'd met her while on a business trip to Washington, D.C., and courted her whenever he visited the city. Fitzgerald kept his marriage a secret from the public until August 27, 1921. The couple had a son, William Sinton FitzGerald, Jr. The FitzGeralds divorced in 1922. The birth of their son was kept secret from the public until his existence was revealed in the divorce proceedings.[2]

FitzGerald then married Carolina Granger of Cleveland on March 23, 1933.[2]

## Death[edit]

FitzGerald died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in the Cleveland suburb of North Royalton, at 5:25 AM on October 3, 1937.[2] His place of burial is not known.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Fitzgerald, William Sinton". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
2. ^ a b c "W.S. Fitzgerald, Ex-Mayor, Dies". The Plain Dealer. October 4, 1937. pp. 1, 8.

## External links[edit]

* William Sinton Fitzgerald entry at The Political Graveyard

Political offices

Preceded by

Harry L. Davis

|  Mayor of Cleveland
1920-1921  | Succeeded by

Fred Kohler

* v
* t
* e

Mayors of Cleveland

Presidents of Cleaveland (1815–1835)|

* Kelley (Alfred)
* Kelley (Daniel)
* Perry
* Wood
* Case
* Waterman
* Cathan
* Long
* Hilliard
* Allen

Mayors of Cleveland (1836–1854)|

* Willey
* Mills
* Dockstader
* Allen
* Mills
* Hayward
* Starkweather
* Hoadley
* Harris
* Kelsey
* Bingham
* Case
* Brownell

Mayors of Ohio City (1836–1854)|

* Barber
* Burrows
* Baldwin
* Standart
* Lord
* Lamb
* Griffith
* Beverlin
* Burnham
* Sheldon
* Castle

Mayors of Cleveland since 1854|

* Castle
* Starkweather
* Senter
* Flint
* Masters
* Senter
* Chapin
* Buhrer
* Pelton
* Otis
* Payne
* Rose
* Herrick
* Farley
* Gardner
* Babcock
* Gardner
* Rose
* Blee
* McKisson
* Farley
* Johnson
* Baehr
* Baker
* Davis
* Fitzgerald
* Kohler
* Hopkins (manager)
* Morgan (manager)
* Miller
* Davis
* Burton
* Blythin
* Lausche
* Burke
* Celebrezze
* Locher
* Stokes
* Perk
* Kucinich
* Voinovich
* White
* Campbell
* Jackson
* Bibb

This article about a mayor in Ohio is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template