The election was held on April 15, 1862.[1] It was the second of four Chicago mayoral elections which took place during the course of the American Civil War. It was also last regularly-scheduled Chicago mayoral election to a one-year term.
Democratic nominee Francis Cornwall Sherman, was a businessman who had previously served as mayor from 1841 through 1842.[1][2] He was also supported by a nonpartisan ticket which bore the slogan "for the Union and the Constitution".[2] Due to the fact that his son was a noted brigadier in the Union Army, Sherman was able to comfortably avoid accusations that his own loyalties sided anywhere but with the Union.[2]Charles N. Holden, a former Chicago alderman and former Chicago City Treasurer, was the nominee of the Republican Party.[2][3] Efforts had been made for the party to nominate former congressman and mayor John Wentworth. However, Holden supporters succeeded in getting him nominated over Wentworth.[2] Some Wentworth supporters, angered over this, placed their support behind Sherman instead.[2]
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