8th May 1787

US mayor John Bailhache is born in Jersey

Although John Bailhache was born in Jersey, at St Ouen, he’ll be better remembered as the Mayor of Columbus, after his appointment in 1835.

In 1810, aged 27, he had moved to Ohio with an uncle from Guernsey and taken a position with a local newspaper, of which he eventually bought a considerable share. During his time in journalism, he was appointed a judge in the Court of Common Pleas and, later, elected to the district legislature, then appointed state printer before ascending to the office of Mayor.

An influential character

As outlined in An Illustrated History of Southern California, “he filled a conspicuous place in the early history of Ohio and exerted influence second to none in moulding a pure and correct public sentiment in the then almost unknown and inaccessible Northwest Territory, at a time when society was in its formative condition.”

Bailhache died on 3 September 1857 without ever returning to Jersey.