Byrne, Jane (born Burke) (1934– )

US Democratic mayor. As mayor of Chicago 1980–84, she became the first woman to head a major American city. The city experienced serious financial problems during her tenure and she lost in the 1983 Democratic primary to Harold Washington, who became the first black American mayor of Chicago.She lost in both the 1987 and 1991 elections.

She was born in Chicago. She worked in Chicago's antipoverty program 1963–68, and then as city consumer sales commissioner under Mayor Richard Daley 1968–77.