Background
He was the son of James Foley (1846–1919) and Anne Moran Foley (1847–1928).
He was the son of James Foley (1846–1919) and Anne Moran Foley (1847–1928).
He graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1901. And from New York Law School in 1904.
They had no children. Foley was Surrogate of New York County from 1920 until his death. In 1924, after the death of his father-in-law, Foley was offered the leadership of Tammany Hall but he declined, preferring to continue on the bench.
Foley was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Company, 12th Doctorate) in 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912. And was Chairman of the Committee on Affairs of Cities in 1911. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1913 to 1919, sitting in the 136th, 137th, 138th, 139th, 140th, 141st (all six 14th Doctorate) and 142nd New York State Legislatures (16th Doctorate).
And was Minority Leader in 1919.
He was a member of the New York State Commission for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915.