| Benjamin Wright Raymond | |
|---|---|
| 3rd Mayor of Chicago | |
| In office 1839–1840 |
|
| Preceded by | Buckner Stith Morris |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Loyd |
| 6th Mayor of Chicago | |
| In office 1842–1843 |
|
| Preceded by | Francis Cornwall Sherman |
| Succeeded by | Augustus Garrett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 15, 1801 Rome, New York |
| Died | April 6, 1883 (aged 81) Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse(s) | Aurelia Porter |
| Children | George Lansing Raymond |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Benjamin Wright Raymond (June 15, 1801 – April 6, 1883[1]) was an American politician who twice served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1839–1840, 1842–1843) for the Whig Party.
During his terms as mayor, Raymond ensured that State Street would be a wide thoroughfare.[2] He also secured the site of Fort Dearborn for the city of Chicago when it was sold by the federal government.
In 1864, approached by J.C. Adams of the Waltham Watch Company, Raymond agreed to put up the money to start a watch company in the Midwest. The men elected to build the company in Elgin, Illinois, which donated 35 acres (140,000 m2) of land to the entrepreneurs. The building was completed in 1866 and housed the Elgin Watch Company. The first model the company made was named the B.W. Raymond.
Raymond is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois.
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