Peter J. Somers

Peter J. Somers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 4th district
In office August 27, 1893 – March 3, 1895
Preceded by	John L. Mitchell
Succeeded by	Theobald Otjen
Personal details
Born	April 12, 1850 Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Died	February 15, 1924 (aged 73) Los Angeles, California
Nationality	Irish-American
Political party	Democratic

Peter J. Somers (April 12, 1850 – February 15, 1924) was an Irish-American mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and member of the United States House of Representatives.

Biography

Somers was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. He grew up in the state of Wisconsin. He became a lawyer and moved to Milwaukee, where he soon became involved in politics. Somers served as city attorney for Milwaukee. In 1890, he was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council and served as president of the Milwaukee Common Council.

He served as mayor of Milwaukee from December 6, 1890, to June 5, 1893, when he resigned, having won an election to fill a vacancy in the United States House of Representatives caused by the resignation of John L. Mitchell who was elected to the U.S. Senate. Somers took over as the representative of Wisconsin's 4th congressional district in the 53rd United States Congress. Somers, a lifelong member of the Democratic Party, was not renominated for a full term in 1894, and left Congress when his term expired in 1895.

He continued practicing law in Milwaukee until 1905, when he moved to Reno, Nevada. He became a lawyer, judge for Esmeralda County, Nevada, and served for a time as chairman of the Nevada Democratic State Central Committee.

He died in Los Angeles, California.^[1] Somers was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.

References

1. 'The Sentinel Almanac and Book of Fact,' Sentinel Company: 1899, Milwaukee Mayors, pg. 51

External links

• Peter J. Somers at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Peter J. Somers at Find a Grave