Francis Cornwall Sherman (September 18, 1805 – November 7, 1870) served as Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, for three terms (1841–1842, 1862–1865) as a member of the Democratic Party.

[4] He built a small boardinghouse, and used those profits to buy a stagecoach, establishing a stage line from Chicago to Galena, Joliet, Peoria, and other towns in Illinois.

While the Wig Party had been national dominant in the recent 1840 national election, the party was discordant by March 1841 and ran a poor campaign in Chicago which aided the election of Democrats to eight of the Chicago Common Council's twelve seats.

[2] In 1850, Sherman retired from his brickmaking venture in order to focus himself on public service and developing the properties that he owned.

[4] He expanded his hotel, adding two floors atop its existing three, and renaming it the "Sherman House".

Many angered supporters of Wentworth spited the Republican Party by instead voting for Sherman, aiding in his election.

[4] In November 1862, Sherman unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives, losing the Illinois 1st congressional district race to Republican Isaac N.

[4] Despite there being a slight Democratic majority (a 10 Democrat-10 Republican split, with Sherman able to cast tie-breaking votes), the city council was deadlocked in 1862 and early 1863.

[4] The deadlock became more severe when Holden led Republicans in refusing to attend meetings, thereby denying quorum.

This was done in hopes of preventing Democrats from taking votes that Republicans feared might undercut the Union Army's effort in the American Civil War.

Presuming Salomon absence, Shimp's newly declared allegiance gave the council an effective 9–9 split with Sherman remaining the tie-breaker.

The council passed a number of measures, including "patriotic resolutions" introduced by Holden that indicated the city's support of the national government's leadership in the war.

[4] Sherman was re-elected mayor in 1863, very narrowly defeating the Republican nominee Thomas Barbour Bryan.