William McCallin served as Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1887 to 1890.

Early life

Mayor McCallin was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania

Mercer County, Pennsylvania

Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....

 north of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...

 in 1842 into a livery family. He was successful in elections to County Coroner

Coroner

A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...

 and Allegheny County Sheriff in 1881.

Pittsburgh politics

After his service as Sheriff he ran successfully for Pittsburgh mayor. During his term in office he led the charge for prolific construction of critical infrastructure that the rapidly developing city required to be successful. He oversaw the opening of Schenley Park

Schenley Park

Schenley Park is a large municipal park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between the neighborhoods of Oakland, Greenfield, and Squirrel Hill. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district...

 in 1889. Pittsburgh's industrial might was displayed for the world during McCallin's reign as mayor when the first mold of aluminum was cast in the city. Mayor McCallin died in 1904 of Dropsy

Edema

Edema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling...

 and is buried in Homewood Cemetery

Homewood Cemetery

Homewood Cemetery is a historic, nonsectarian burial ground in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in Squirrel Hill and is bordered by both Frick Park and the neighborhood of Point Breeze....

.