John Morrissey
John Morrissey (February 12, 1831 – May 1, 1878), also known as Old Smoke, was an Irish American politician, bare-knuckle boxing champion, and criminal.
John Morrissey | |
|---|---|
John Morrissey, during his time in politics, circa 1870s | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1867 – March 4, 1871 | |
| Preceded by | Nelson Taylor |
| Succeeded by | William R. Roberts |
| Member of the New York Senate from the 4th district | |
| In office January 1, 1878 – May 1, 1878 | |
| Preceded by | James W. Gerard |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Murphy |
| In office January 1, 1876 – December 31, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | John Fox |
| Succeeded by | Edward Hogan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 12, 1831 Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | May 1, 1878 (aged 47) Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Susie Smith |
| Children | John Morrissey, Jr |
| Occupation | Boxer, Gang leader, and Politician |
He was born in 1831 in Ireland. His parents moved to New York State when he was a young child. In the early 1850s, he went to San Francisco at the time of the California Gold Rush. In California, he became a bare-knuckle boxer and on his return to New York, he challenged and defeated "Yankee Sullivan", who was then recognized as the American boxing champion. He became a professional gambler, owning gambling houses in New York City in the 1850s and 1860s. He emerged as a powerful politician and a U.S. Congressman from New York, between 1867 and 1871, backed by Tammany Hall. However, he later fell out with the Tammany Hall political machine and became Democratic State Senator for New York between 1876 and 1878, running as an anti-Tammany candidate.