Thomas Taggart | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Taggart, c. 1910–1917 | |
| United States Senator from Indiana | |
| In office March 20, 1916 – November 7, 1916 | |
| Appointed by | Samuel M. Ralston |
| Preceded by | Benjamin F. Shively |
| Succeeded by | James Eli Watson |
| Chair of the Democratic National Committee | |
| In office 1904–1908 | |
| Preceded by | James Kimbrough Jones |
| Succeeded by | Norman E. Mack |
| 18th Mayor of Indianapolis | |
| In office January 1, 1895 – December 31, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | Caleb S. Denny |
| Succeeded by | Charles A. Bookwalter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 17, 1856 Emyvale, County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Died | March 6, 1929 (aged 72) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Eva Bryant Taggart |
| Children | Florence (1878–1899), Lucy (1880–1960), Nora (b. 1881), Irene (b. 1883), Emily (b. 1888), and Thomas D. (b. 1886) |
| Residence(s) | Indianapolis; French Lick, Indiana; Hyannis Port, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Politician, hotelier, and financier |
Thomas Taggart (November 17, 1856 – March 6, 1929) was an Irish-American politician who was the political boss of the Democratic Party in Indiana for the first quarter of the twentieth century and remained an influential political figure in local, state, and national politics until his death. Taggart was elected auditor of Marion County, Indiana (1886–1894), and mayor of Indianapolis (1895 to 1901). His mayoral administration supported public improvements, most notably the formation of the city's park and boulevard system. He also served as a member of the Democratic National Committee (1900–1916) and as its chairman (1904–1908). Taggart was appointed to the U.S. Senate in March 1916, but lost the seat in the November election.
Taggart, an Irish-born immigrant, came to the United States in 1861 at the age of five, grew up in Xenia, Ohio, and moved to Indiana as a teenager. After relocating to Indianapolis in 1877, he began a successful career as an hotelier, financier, and politician. As the party's county chairman during Grover Cleveland's 1888 presidential campaign, Taggart helped him carry Marion County over Republican Benjamin Harrison, the hometown candidate. As state chairman in 1892, Taggart helped Cleveland carry Indiana in opposition to Harrison's bid for reelection. In 1908 Taggart assisted in securing the Democratic nomination of John W. Kern for U.S. vice president and Thomas R. Marshall for governor of Indiana. He was also involved in securing the nomination of Woodrow Wilson for U.S. president and Marshall for vice president in 1912, as well as James M. Cox's nomination in the 1920 presidential election. In addition to his political activities, Taggart was the owner and developer of the French Lick Springs Hotel in Orange County, Indiana; he also maintained a summer home at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.