John Kelly

This cartoon describes the aftermath of the fight for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1884. John Kelly (April 20, 1822 – June 1, 1886) of New York City, known as "Honest John", was a boss of Tammany Hall and a U.S. Representative from New York from 1855 to 1858. The title "Honest" was given to him during his years as New York City Sheriff, and was more ironic than truthful.

Kelly was able to amass a vast fortune estimated at $800,000 ($ in current dollar terms) by 1867 by both ethical and questionable means. In addition, after having his methods questioned and his title insulted by New York City Mayor William Havemeyer, Kelly responded with a lawsuit for libel. On the day of the trial, Havemeyer dropped dead of apoplexy. He had a questionable reputation and was the subject of a gubernatorial investigation at the time of his death.

Family life Kelly was born in New York City to Hugh Kelly and Sarah Donnelly Kelly. He received a parochial education but was forced to quit when his father died. He married Ann McIlhargy, to whom a son and two daughters were born. By 1872, his wife and children had died. He then fled the city overseas, a defeated man from the loss of his family.

He returned to New York in response to the Boss Tweed scandal and eventually was remarried to Ann Theresa Mullen, the niece of New York's Cardinal McCloskey. A son and a daughter were born of that marriage.

Career Kelly was apprenticed to the mason's trade, and engaged in business for himself at the age of 21. Kelly, in response to anti-Catholic sentiment, was driven to politics and became a champion of Catholic and immigrant causes in the 1840s. Kelly joined the influential Tammany Society and the next year he was elected alderman; until his death, he was active as a Democratic politician.

Congress From 1855 to 1858, he served in Congress, the only Catholic in the House of Representatives in that period of Know Nothing ascendency. He served two terms until resigning on Christmas Day, 1858.

Sheriff Kelly was later elected Sheriff of the County of New York and served from 1859 to 1861 and again from 1865 to 1867. The song "Boys on the Docks", by the Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys, was written in memory of Kelly and his popularity within the Irish-American and Catholic immigrant community.