Mayor of Philadelphia. He served as mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1911 to 1916. One of seven children, his father was a pastor in the German Reformed Church in Hillentrup. His parents wanted him to follow his father into the ministry. A tutor, in whom Blankenburg had the utmost confidence, immigrated during the American Civil War to the United States settling in Da Costa, New Jersey. The tutor wrote back to the Blankenburg family telling them of the endless possibilities to be had in the United States. As a result, he immigrated to the United States in 1865 at the age of 22. Shortly after his arrival, he took a job at a dress manufacturer, making $6 a week. Within a few weeks, his pay was increased to $8 a week and, in another year, his pay was doubled. He became a naturalize American citizen. On April 18, 1867, he married Lucretia Mott Longshore, a Quaker and daughter of Dr. Hannah Longshore, one of the first female physicians in Philadelphia. The couple had three daughters, Marian, Emma, and Julia, who all died young. They adopted a girl. After many years as a successful businessman, he served as City Commissioner from 1906 to 1909 and was elected mayor in 1911, having run on a Keystone-Democratic ticket. His term began in December of 1911 and ended in January of 1916. He entered politics to make city improvements and reforms, becoming known as "The Old War Horse of Reform" and "The Old Dutch Cleanser." His main accomplishment was improving the transit system. From his business concerns, he became a wealthy man. He died in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia a little over two years after leaving office. The Rudolph Blankenburg Elementary School in West Philadelphia is named for him. He was cremated and buried next to his daughters. They were originally buried at Fair Hill Burial Ground, but they were removed and reinterred at Chelten Hills Cemetery on May 28, 1921.