John McKenna

John Francis McKenna (1841 – December 16, 1898) was an Irish American civil servant who served as Chief Usher of the White House in Washington, D.C., from 1887 to 1889.

Life and career McKenna was born in the town of Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary in southern Ireland in 1841. He was the seventh of nine children born to Neal McKenna and his wife, and the second of three sons. He emigrated to the United States with his family in 1849, James later became a noted physician. As superintendent, McKenna likely was appointed to the rank of police colonel (a title he used for the rest of his life).

For reasons of ill health, White House Chief Usher Edson S. Densmore resigned from his post in late July 1887. President Grover Cleveland, a former Governor of New York, appointed McKenna the Chief Usher on July 31, 1887. McKenna's tenure did not last long. Cleveland lost re-election in November 1888. Densmore was asked to rejoin the White House in February 1889 in order to oversee preparations for the inauguration of President-elect Benjamin Harrison. President Harrison asked Densmore to stay on as chief usher on his very first day in office. Densmore agreed, and according to the Fitchburg Sentinel he was the first official of the Harrison administration to be sworn in. It is unclear how long he held this position.

John McKenna died of stomach cancer at his home in Boston on December 16, 1898, at the age of 57. He was survived by his five children (his wife preceded him in death).