John B. Macy, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJohn B. Macy
American politician
Date of Birth: 25-Mar-1799
Place of Birth: Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States
Date of Death: 24-Sep-1856
Profession: politician
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Aries 
About John B. Macy
- John B.
- Macy (March 25, 1799 – September 24, 1856) was a U.S.
- Representative from Wisconsin. Macy was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he received a liberal education.
- He moved to New York City in 1826 and later in that year to Buffalo, New York.
- He resided in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1842 to 1845.
- Macy was one of the founders of Toledo, Ohio, and one of the proprietors of the Rock River Valley Union Railroad (the state line to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin).
- This line was the beginning of the Chicago and North Western Railway.
- Macy moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1845 and engaged in the real estate business, acquiring land from Philip Hone, the mayor of New York City.
- Several street names in Fond du Lac, such as Macy Street, are named for Macy and members of his family.
- He moved with his family to the town of Empire, Wisconsin, near Lake de Neveu, in 1850.
- Macy's home, built near what became Highway 45, still stands.
- Its original outbuildings include a hexagonal library.Macy was elected as a Democrat to represent Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district at the 33rd United States Congress (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855), but was unsuccessful for re-election in 1854 to the 34th Congress.
- Following his failure to be re-elected, he resumed his former business pursuits. Macy lost his life in the burning of the steamer Niagara, near Port Washington, Wisconsin on Lake Michigan on September 24, 1856.
- The Niagara was a sidewheel passenger steamer, one of the luxury vessels known as 'palace steamers', which sailed the Great Lakes in the years from 1844 to 1857.
- On September 23, 1856, the Niagara left Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for Port Washington.
- Fire broke out on board at around 4pm, causing the steam engines and the ship's giant paddlewheels to stop.
- The steamer, which was 4–5 miles offshore, quickly became engulfed in flames and smoke, and the passengers panicked while trying to board the lifeboats.
- Many jumped overboard into the water, which was reported to be too cold for anyone to survive in it.
- Despite rescue efforts, over 60 people died in what was one of Wisconsin's deadliest transportation disasters.
- The wreck of the Niagara lies in 55 feet of water one mile off Belgium, Wisconsin.
- Macy was last seen on board exclaiming "We're lost! Oh God! We're lost!" His body was never recovered.
Read more at Wikipedia