Research topic: John Kelly

John Kelly 1822-86, American politician, boss of Tammany Hall, b. New York City. He entered politics at an early age. At first he opposed Tammany Hall, but later (1853) joined the organization and became city alderman. He served (1855-58) in Congress and was (1859-61, 1865-67) sheriff of New York County. After the exposure of William M. Tweed, Kelly, by then popularly known as "Honest John," reorganized the Tammany machine. By 1874 he held control of the organization and carried on continuous warfare with the faction of Samuel J. Tilden, who originally had cooperated with him in reorganizing... Read more