John Lee Chapman was born in 1811, in Fell's Point, Baltimore[1] or Harford County, Maryland.
[2] Chapman was elected to the first branch of the Baltimore City Council again on October 9, 1861.
He was investigated for his role, while mayor, in supporting a rival western railway to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
[1][9][10] In 1869, Chapman was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as naval officer of the Port of Baltimore.
[1] He was later appointed by Colonel Wilkins as superintendent of public stores at the Port of Baltimore.
They had one son, John Lee Jr.[1][2][6][11] His other children included Margaret, Florence N. and George.
[12][13][14] In the 1860s, Chapman purchased a tract of land in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania.