George J. Whelan | |
|---|---|
| 7th Mayor of San Francisco | |
| In office July 8, 1856 – November 14, 1856 | |
| Preceded by | James Van Ness |
| Succeeded by | Ephraim Willard Burr |
| Personal details | |
| Profession | Lawyer |
George J. Whelan (fl. 1856) served as the 7th Mayor of San Francisco in from July 8 to November 15, 1856. He had been a lawyer and before serving as mayor. He actually was chosen mayor by justices of the peace who were acting as the County Board of Supervisors. His brief term was marred by the vigilance movement, Chinese immigration issues, collecting back taxes from the city's most prominent citizens of the day, and uncooperative elected officials. His last act as mayor was to give a farewell address in which members of the soon-to-be-inaugurated Burr administration refused to attend.
During his term, the San Francisco City and County governments merged into one unit.
He would later return to practicing law.