John Fletcher Darby

John Fletcher Darby
4th Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri
In office
April 14, 1835  October 31, 1837
Preceded by John W. Johnson
Succeeded by William Carr Lane
In office
April 14, 1840  April 13, 1841
Preceded by William Carr Lane
Succeeded by John D. Daggett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1851  March 3, 1853
Preceded by James B. Bowlin
Succeeded by Thomas H. Benton
Member of the Missouri Senate
In office
1838
Personal details
Born (1803-12-10)December 10, 1803
Person County, North Carolina
Died May 11, 1882(1882-05-11) (aged 78)
Pendleton, Missouri
Political party Whig
Spouse(s) Mary Darby

John Fletcher Darby (December 10, 1803  May 11, 1882) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri and the fourth mayor of St. Louis.

Darby was born in Person County, North Carolina. He moved with his father to Missouri in 1818, where he worked on a farm before moving to Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1825. Thereafter, Darby studied law and was admitted to the bar. He then returned to Missouri to practice in St. Louis. He was the Mayor of St. Louis from 1835 to 1837 and 1840 to 1841, between which he served as a member of the Missouri Senate, in 1838. During his time as mayor, Darby was very active in getting the first Missouri railroad convention held in St. Louis. Eventually, that led to the incorporation of two railroads in the state. Lafayette Park was built, becoming the first city park west of the Mississippi River.

He was elected as a Whig to the Thirty-second United States Congress (March 4, 1851 to March 3, 1853), after which he returned to St. Louis and became a banker. He died near Pendleton, Missouri, on May 11, 1882, and his remains are interred at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis.

References

Political offices
Preceded by
John W. Johnson
Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri
1835–1837
Succeeded by
William Carr Lane
Preceded by
William Carr Lane
Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri
1840–1841
Succeeded by
John D. Daggett
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
James B. Bowlin
Member from Missouri's 1st congressional district
1851–1853
Succeeded by
Thomas Hart Benton
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