John R. Williams

Biography

John R. Williams was an influential civic leader who served as the first and sixth Mayor of Detroit under the city's second charter. His tenure in these roles spanned a formative period in Detroit's development, during which the city was establishing itself as an important Great Lakes port and commercial center. Williams's leadership helped shape the city's early governance and infrastructure.

Williams's contributions to Detroit were so significant that John R. Street, a major thoroughfare in the city, was named in his honor. His legacy remains embedded in Detroit's geography and history as a founding figure in the city's municipal development.