Charles Gilpin (mayor)

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.[1]

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.[1][2]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[1]

Gilpin married Sarah Hamilton. They had six children, Washington Hood Gilpin, who was an attorney in Philadelphia, Charles Jr., Lydia, Henry, Hood and Bernard.[1]

He died October 29, 1891 in Philadelphia[4] and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery.[5]