US Congressman. Born in New York City he was apprenticed as a mason after attending local schools for his primary education. He is first recorded as an independent mason in 1845. His political career began in 1854 when he was elected as a city alderman which was quickly followed by his election to the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth Congresses, serving in the House of Representatives until his resignation from his second term on December 25, 1858. He then served as Sheriff of the city and county of New York from 1859-1862 and again from 1865-1867. For six successive Democratic National Conventions, from 1864-1884, he would serve as delegate, but he was unsuccessful in his bids for both mayor of New York City and governor of New York state. He was appointed comptroller of New York in 1876, a position he would hold for three years. In 1872 he succeeded William "Boss" Tweed as the "reform" boss of the Tammany Hall political machine and despite a battle with John Morrissey for control in the mid 1870s, he would hold control until his death. Even under Kelly, Grover Cleveland, refused to support the New York City political machine in his bid for President of the United States. Morrissey, on the other hand finally ejected from Tammany Hall, formed a rival Democratic machine known as Irving Hall. There were many cartoons of this entire circle in Harper's Weekly during the Tammany Hall years of "Honest John," as he was commonly known. He died in New York City.
US Congressman. Born in New York City he was apprenticed as a mason after attending local schools for his primary education. He is first recorded as an independent mason in 1845. His political career began in 1854 when he was elected as a city alderman which was quickly followed by his election to the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth Congresses, serving in the House of Representatives until his resignation from his second term on December 25, 1858. He then served as Sheriff of the city and county of New York from 1859-1862 and again from 1865-1867. For six successive Democratic National Conventions, from 1864-1884, he would serve as delegate, but he was unsuccessful in his bids for both mayor of New York City and governor of New York state. He was appointed comptroller of New York in 1876, a position he would hold for three years. In 1872 he succeeded William "Boss" Tweed as the "reform" boss of the Tammany Hall political machine and despite a battle with John Morrissey for control in the mid 1870s, he would hold control until his death. Even under Kelly, Grover Cleveland, refused to support the New York City political machine in his bid for President of the United States. Morrissey, on the other hand finally ejected from Tammany Hall, formed a rival Democratic machine known as Irving Hall. There were many cartoons of this entire circle in Harper's Weekly during the Tammany Hall years of "Honest John," as he was commonly known. He died in New York City.
Bio by: D C McJonathan-Swarm
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