Jesse B. Thayer | |
|---|---|
| 13th Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 3, 1887 – January 5, 1891 | |
| Governor | Jeremiah McLain Rusk William D. Hoard |
| Preceded by | Robert Graham |
| Succeeded by | Oliver Elwin Wells |
| 3rd Mayor of River Falls, Wisconsin | |
| In office April 1886 – April 1887 | |
| Preceded by | John Day Putnam |
| Succeeded by | Edward Ballard |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Pierce County district | |
| In office January 5, 1885 – January 3, 1887 | |
| Preceded by | John Day Putnam |
| Succeeded by | John A. Murphy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 1, 1845 Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | September 7, 1910 (aged 64) Yountville, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Veterans Memorial Grove Cemetery, Yountville |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Augusta Marie Leonard
(m. 1871–1910) |
| Children |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Volunteers Union Army |
| Years of service | 1864–1865 |
| Rank | Sergeant, USV |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Jesse Burnham Thayer (October 1, 1845 – September 7, 1910) was an American educator and Republican politician from River Falls, Wisconsin. He was the 13th Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction (1887–1891) and the 3rd mayor of River Falls (1886). He also served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Pierce County during the 1885 term. As superintendent, he was a driving force behind the Bennett Law, a compulsory education and anti-child labor law, better known for its English language instruction requirement, which brought political catastrophe to Wisconsin Republicans in the 1890 and 1892 elections. In historical documents, his name was often abbreviated as J. B. Thayer.