Washington Hesing

Washington Hesing (1849-1897) was an American newspaper editor and political figure primarily known for his ownership of the Illinois Staats-Zeitung and his term as Postmaster General of Chicago during the second term of President Grover Cleveland.

Hesing was the son of newspaper publisher and former Sheriff of Cook County, Anton C. Hesing. He graduated from Yale University and later studied at the University of Berlin in his father's native Germany.

At the age of 22 he was appointed to the Chicago Board of Education but declined the offer of a second term from Mayor Joseph Medill. Initially an active Republican like his father and campaigner for President Grant, Hesing left the GOP and joined the Democratic Party in 1880. After his brief stint on the Board of Education, he became a full time editorial manager of the Staats-Zeitung under his father and editor-in-chief Hermann Raster.

In 1897 Hesing unsuccessfully ran for mayor as an independent candidate.

Hessing was appointed Postmaster General of Chicago by President Cleveland in 1894. He left this post in the Spring of 1897 to campaign for the mayoral office again, but died that same December of heart disease.