Biography of William J. Hassett
Hon. William J. Hassett, born on November 7, 1839, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the mayor of Sacramento known for his dedication to public service and reform. Starting as a printer at fourteen, he moved to California in 1863 and worked in San Francisco before relocating to Sacramento in 1885. There, he managed A. J. Johnston’s printing business for eighteen years. Elected mayor in 1903, Hassett’s administration was marked by business-like methods and progressive reforms. A Democrat, he was deeply involved in local and state politics. He married in 1866 and returned to California with his wife, contributing significantly to Sacramento’s development.