John Kelly (U.S. politician)

John Kelly ( born April 20, 1822 in New York City; † June 1, 1886 ) was an American politician. Between 1855 and 1858 he represented the State of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

John Kelly was born about seven years after the end of the British - American War in New York City and grew up there. During this time he attended community schools. Then he took an apprenticeship as a bricklayer ( mason ) and went to the craft until 1845. In 1854 he was elected Alderman. Politically, he was a member of the Democratic Party.

In the congressional elections of 1854 Kelly was in the fourth electoral district of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he became the successor of Michael Walsh on March 4, 1855. He was elected in the following Congress, but resigned on December 25, 1858 back from his seat.

He then worked 1859-1862 and 1865-1867 as Sheriff in City and Country of New York. His candidacy for the post of mayor of New York City in 1868 was unsuccessful. In 1876 he was appointed Comptroller in New York, a position he held for three years. As a delegate, he participated in the years 1864, 1868, 1872, 1876, 1880 and 1884 at the Democratic National Convention. Kelly had from 1872 until his death, the leadership of Tammany Hall. In 1879, he ran unsuccessfully for the governorship of New York. The Republican Alonzo B. Cornell was the winner of the race. Kelly passed away on June 1, 1886 in New York City and was buried in the cemetery of Old St. Patrick's Cathedral on Mott Street.