George W. Dole (February 29, 1800 – April 14, 1860) was a businessman and early settler of Chicago. He has been dubbed Chicago's "father of the provisions, shipping and elevator business.[1] Dole opened Chicago's first grocery store and started the city's meatpacking industry. He also ran a trading house that was a charter member of the Chicago Board of Trade. A member of the Whig and later Republican parties, Dole also served as the postmaster of Chicago, a member of the Chicago Board of Water Commissioners, a town trustee of Chicago, and ran as the Whig Party nominee for mayor of Chicago in the March 1844 Chicago mayoral election.