- Source: John Deering (politician)
John W. Deering (1833-1904) was an American politician from Maine. Peering, a Democrat, served two single year terms as the Mayor of Portland, Maine (1883 and 1885).
Deering was born in Saco, Maine in 1833 and became a sailor. He eventually became a captain involved in commerce in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1867, he settled in Portland and became active in city politics. He was elected as a city alderman as a Republican, but later became a staunch Democrat.
During the first term of U.S. President Grover Cleveland, Deering was appointed Collector of the Port of Portland, a prestigious and powerful patronage position.