Daniel A. Whelton

Daniel Aloysius Whelton (January 21, 1872 – November 27, 1953) was an American politician who served as the acting mayor of Boston.

Education Born in Boston to Irish (County Cork) natives Daniel and Ann Curry Whelton, he lived in Boston's West End at 69 Billerica Street. When he was five years old, Whelton's father died and he was raised by his mother, who worked as a pastry cook for the admiral commanding the Charlestown Navy Yard. Whelton received his education at St. Mary's School, graduating in 1886. After Whelton graduated from St. Mary's, Whelton attended the Evening High School for a few months.

Politics It was while he lived in the West End that Whelton became an associate of Ward 8 Democratic boss Martin Lomasney. Whelton became a member of Lomasney's Hendricks Club in the West End, where he began his political career by registering new voters.

Whelton served on the Boston Common Council in 1894 and 1895, where he served on the Finance Committee.

Acting mayor Whelton was the chairman of the Boston Board of Aldermen in 1905. Whelton was the first native-born Irish-Catholic mayor of Boston and remains the youngest person to hold that political office.

Personal life Though a rival of John F. Fitzgerald, Whelton was lifelong friends with P. J. Kennedy, paternal grandfather of President John F. Kennedy, and served as a pallbearer at Patrick Kennedy's funeral. Whelton was also a friend and associate of Boston mayor James M. Curley. According to The Boston Globe of December 1, 1953, Curley and another former Boston mayor, John Hynes, were pallbearers at Whelton's funeral, which was held at Holy Cross Cathedral.