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.
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Other events that occured in May
Jersey’s British and French populations riot
- British and French people resident in Jersey rioted in 1900 in response to a war taking place in South Africa.
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St Brelade’s Church is consecrated
- Although the church at St Brelade was consecrated in the 12th century, evidence suggests a building had resided on that spot for some time.
- Read more…
The Occupation Tapestry is completed
- The Occupation Tapestry celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jersey’s liberation at the end of the Second World War.
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Corbiere’s assistant lighthouse keeper drowns
- Corbiere's assistant lighthouse keeper was washed away when he set out to save a pair of English visitors in 1946.
- Read more…