Robert Wharton (Philadelphia)

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Robert Wharton (January 12, 1757 – March 7, 1834) was the longest-serving Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Wharton was born in Philadelphia, 12 January, 1757, the son of Joseph Wharton. At an early age he left his studies, and was apprenticed to a hatter. He entered the counting-house of his brother Samuel, merchant of Philadelphia, but spent much of his time in outdoor sports, and until 1818 was president of the famous fox-hunting club of Gloucester, New Jersey that was organized in 1766. In 1790 he became a member of the Schuylkill Fishing Company, a social club, of which he was president from 1812 till 1828.

He was a member of city council from 1792 till 1795. In 1796 he was made alderman of Philadelphia, and in that year quelled a riot among the sailors, who had organized themselves into a body and demanded exorbitant wages. After reading the riot act he requested them to disperse, and, being received with shouts of defiance, Wharton ordered each of his men "to take his man," and the sailors were captured and imprisoned. He quelled the Walnut street prison riot in 1798, and also took part in suppressing others. He was fifteen times elected mayor of Philadelphia between 1798 and 1824. He became a member of the First City Troop in 1798, captain in 1803, colonel of the regiment of cavalry in 1810, and was elected brigadier-general of the state militia. He was vice-president of the Washington Benevolent Society, of which he was an original member.

He died in Philadelphia, March 7, 1834.

Preceded by
Hilary Baker		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1798-1800
(2 terms)		 Succeeded by
John Inskeep
Preceded by
John Inskeep		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1806-1807		 Succeeded by
John Barker
Preceded by
John Barker		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1810-1811		 Succeeded by
Michael Keppele
Preceded by
John Geyer		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1814-1819		 Succeeded by
James Nelson Barker
Preceded by
James Nelson Barker		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1820-1824		 Succeeded by
Joseph Watson (Philadelphia)

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