Background
John Kelly was born on April 20, 1822 in New York City, New York, United States, the son of Hugh and Sarah (Donnelly) Kelly. His father had emigrated from Ireland in 1816.
John Kelly was born on April 20, 1822 in New York City, New York, United States, the son of Hugh and Sarah (Donnelly) Kelly. His father had emigrated from Ireland in 1816.
John attended the parochial school attached to St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Kelly's first job was an office boy on the New York Herald. At thirteen he was apprenticed to a grate-setter and soap-stone cutter and about 1843 he engaged in business for himself. Democratic politics was the breath of life to young Irishmen of the fourteenth ward, where Kelly lived, and he entered the game early. He fought Tammany as a young man and was beaten in his two candidacies for office during this period. In the reorganization of Tammany in 1853, however, he was admitted to the Society, and at once received its support in the fall elections. He was elected alderman in November 1853, congressman in 1854, and reelected to Congress in 1856.
In Washington he made a favorable impression. He was conspicuous for his attacks on the Know-Nothing party, and for a speech on religious toleration. In 1857 he was chosen sheriff of New York County and resigned his seat in Congress to take this office. He was reelected sheriff in 1865. In 1868 he was nominated for mayor, against A. Oakey Hall, but he withdrew, on the plea of ill health, and went abroad.
Returning from Europe, he now entered upon his career as dictator in Tammany Hall. The infamies of the "Tweed ring" had thoroughly discredited Tammany, and Kelly was called upon to reorganize the Society. He plunged into this work with intense energy. Elected Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall, he began an iron-hand rule that saved the organization as a political force but committed him personally to one bitter quarrel after another. He is credited with the thorough organization of the assessment of candidates and officeholders for the support of the Tammany machine and the profit of the leaders. In 1881 he was confronted with a revolt in Tammany itself, but he remained the head of the Society until ill health caused his retirement in 1882. He was succeeded by his friend and protege, Richard Croker.
During his leadership of Tammany, he was appointed comptroller by Mayor Wickham in 1876. Three years later he opposed the reelection of Gov. Lucius Robinson and presented himself as a candidate for the governorship. His bolt, which brought about the election of the Republican candidate, Alonzo B. Cornell, was probably the reason for Mayor Cooper's refusal to reappoint him as comptroller in 1880. Kelly was responsible for the nomination of Grace for mayor in 1880 and for that of Edson in 1882.
He was a burly, square-set man of great physical strength. His roughness and his domineering ways had, after his experience in Congress, given way to suavity and diplomacy masking the same inflexible will and autocratic rule.
Kelly was active as a Democratic politician. In Congress he was conspicuous for his attacks on the Know-Nothing party, and for a speech on religious toleration.
Kelly was a member of the Tammany Society.
Kelly was industrious, intelligent, and thrifty. By appearance, he was a burly, square-set man of great physical strength. His roughness and his domineering ways had, after his experience in Congress, given way to suavity and diplomacy masking the same inflexible will and autocratic rule.
Kelly was married to Ann McIlhargy, to whom a son and two daughters were born. By 1872 his wife and children had died. In 1876 he married Teresa Mullen, a niece of Cardinal McCloskey. His widow and two infant children survived him upon his death.