Matthew McCloskey

Matthew Henry McCloskey Jr. (February 26, 1893 – April 26, 1973) was a Philadelphia businessman and Democratic fundraiser who served as United States Ambassador to Ireland from 1962 to 1964.

Biography McCloskey was born in West Virginia, and moved to Philadelphia with his family when he was two years old. At the age of 15 he left school and started working in construction; after a few years he started his own company. and the NIH Clinical Center (with John McShain). "Matt: A Biography of Matthew H. McCloskey" by Robert J Ehlinger details McCloskey's life story. From 1943 to 1948, to help with the World War II efforts, McCloskey & Company built ships at the McCloskey & Company Shipyard in Tampa, Florida.

Democratic Party McCloskey was an active Democrat and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1936, 1940, 1944 and 1948. He is credited with inventing $100-a-plate fundraising dinners. After confirmation by the Senate, he presented his credentials to Irish leaders on July 19, 1962, and had the official title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Shortly thereafter, his construction firm was named in a lawsuit alleging defective work during construction of a hospital in Boston, and in an FBI investigation into the awarding of contracts for District of Columbia Stadium work. His resignation as ambassador became official on June 7, 1964.

Personal life McCloskey and his wife had six children, including Thomas McCloskey who succeeded his father in running the construction company. McCloskey died in Philadelphia in April 1973.