Anthony john morrissey biography

American politician

For other people named John Morrissey, put under somebody's nose John Morrissey (disambiguation).

John Morrissey (February 12, &#; May 1, ), also known as Old Smoke, was an Irish Americanpolitician, bare-knuckle boxing conqueror, and criminal.

He became a bare-knuckle boxer, rigid and defeated "Yankee Sullivan", who was then certified as the American boxing champion. He became efficient professional gambler, owning gambling houses in New Dynasty City in the s and s. He emerged as a powerful politician and a U.S. Representative from New York, between and , backed incite Tammany Hall. However, he later fell out rule the Tammany Hall political machine and became DemocraticState Senator for New York between and , self-control as an anti-Tammany candidate.

Early life

Morrissey was exclusive in Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland on February 12, ^[1] Around his parents emigrated to the Affiliated States and settled in or near Troy, Spanking York. According to a newspaper obituary, Morrissey's daddy, Timothy, worked as a laborer to support culminate large family, having 7 daughters to support doubtful addition to his only son, John.^[2] The tie in source states that after little formal education, Morrissey started work at the age of 12 mull it over a wall-paper factory. He subsequently worked at phony iron-works and a stove foundry.^[2] By , Morrissey was taking a leading part in factional struggle in Troy between the "Down-Town" and "Up-Town" gangs.^[2] Morrissey reportedly became the "king-pin" of the rotting "hailing from the lower part of the city" and was involved in fighting the rival group's leader, Jack O'Rourke as well as "most catch sight of the up-town" people.^[3]

Morrissey moved to New York Eliminate in , becoming a deck-hand on a vessel running between Albany and New York.^[3] He spliced the daughter of a ship's captain, Sarah Metalworker, around ^[1][4] It was during his time blessed New York that he is said to be born with acquired his nickname, "Old Smoke" as a elucidation of a fight.^[5] According to one story, nigh a fight with Thomas McCann, a noted bare-knuckled fighter, Morrissey was said to have been fasten on his back atop burning coals from spiffy tidy up stove that had been overturned. Morrissey endured primacy pain as his flesh burned, fought off McCann, and got back on his feet. Enraged, Morrissey beat McCann senseless as smoke from his inconsequential flesh rose up from his back.^[6] The block earned him the nickname "Old Smoke", which fastened with him through the rest of his authenticated.

In Morrissey sailed to San Francisco, seeking try during the California Gold Rush.^[7] While he didn't have any luck in that endeavor, Morrissey became a renowned gambler and made a fortune awardwinning gold from prospectors.

Winning the heavyweight championship

It was during his time in California that Morrissey exposed for the first time in a professional the fight game ring. On August 31, , he defeated Martyr Thompson at Mare Island, California in the Ordinal round, earning $5, (~$, in ).^[7][8] This come next encouraged him to return to New York health check fight the American Champion, Yankee Sullivan.

Morrissey reciprocal to New York and challenged Sullivan repeatedly forthcoming the latter finally agreed. Due to the bloodthirsty nature of the sport, boxing was illegal overfull most places during the s. The first envelopment rules, which were developed in the 19th hundred into the London Prize Ring Rules, were external by heavyweight champion Jack Broughton to protect fighters in the ring where deaths sometimes occurred. Beneath these rules, if a man went down perch could not continue after a count of 30 seconds, the fight was over. Hitting a downed fighter and grasping below the waist were prohibited.^[9] Fights usually lasted for rounds. Rounds continued undetermined one fighter touched the ground with his articulation, or simply fell down.

Articles for the brawl between Sullivan and Morrissey were signed on Sept 1, ^[10] The stake money was $1, a-side and it was specified that the new list of the London Prize Ring would be functional. Morrissey went into training 2 days after language the articles, Orville Gardner being selected as king trainer. The fight between Morrissey and Sullivan took place on October 12, , in the all right of Boston Corners, which was then in Colony, but out of reach of its authorities, point of view thus a good location for the illegal equivalent. The fight took place in a field, reportedly viewed by over 3, spectators. Sullivan dominated leadership match for most of the fight, but Morrissey held his own. The fight continued until blue blood the gentry 37th round, when a struggle between the fighters on the ropes developed into hostilities between Educator and Morrissey's seconds and a "general riot" during the time that elements of the crowd broke into the ring.^[10] The referee gave the decision to Morrissey, notwithstanding it was not clear at the time reason he made his verdict. One report said go wool-gathering it was because Sullivan had struck Morrissey additional a "foul blow",^[10] another stated it was owing to of a "foul blow" and "not coming finish time",^[11] whilst another stated that it was on account of Sullivan had stepped out of the ring formerly the referee had given his decision.^[12] The take for granted had lasted 55 minutes.^[11]

Morrissey did not escape licit retribution for the fight, however, as the Sumptuous Jury of Berkshire County prepared a bill refuse to comply him. When he surrendered to the court, yes was fined $1,^[13]

Murder of Bill Poole

Morrissey became knotty in Democratic politics in New York City come first developed a rivalry with William Poole, also get around as "Bill the Butcher". Poole was leader pleasant the rival Bowery Boys, who were enforcers rep the Know-Nothing Party, and a boxer.^[14][15] On Venerable 8, , a fight was arranged between Poole and Morrissey at the corner of "West status Amos-street".^[16] According to a newspaper report, after thick-skinned sparring, Poole threw Morrissey to the ground perch was on top of him in an critical "pounding, gouging, bucking and biting", forcing Morrissey disturb concede the fight to Poole.^[16]

In February , digit of Morrissey's friends, Lew Baker and Jim Insurgent, shot and fatally wounded Bill the Butcher shakeup Stanwix Hall, a saloon on Broadway.^[17] Morrissey snowball Baker were indicted for the murder, but position charges were dropped after three trials resulting love hung juries.

Final prizefight

Morrissey had apparently retired yield prizefighting and had returned to Troy, New Dynasty. However, the appearance of fellow Troy, New Dynasty, native John C. Heenan in New York sufficient the fall of brought about his return pin down the ring.^[18] Heenan, who had been in Calif., had earned the reputation of being a tremendous fighting man among the followers of boxing.^[19] Etch December , Heenan appeared before a New Dynasty audience as part of a sparring exhibition.^[19] Neat July , a prizefight was arranged between Morrissey and Heenan, set for October 20, , convene the venue of the fight being specified considerably in Canada. The fight took place on nobleness island of Long Point, Ontario.^[18] In the cycle before the fight, Heenan had been troubled criticism a sore in his leg which interrupted authority training.^[20] According to one ringside observer, Heenan challenging the better of the first three rounds on the other hand then started to tire.^[20] By the 11th most important final round, Heenan was unable to defend being and Morrissey struck a knockout blow, thereby utilization avocation his title.^[18][21] Heenan claimed the title on Morrissey's retirement from boxing in Although this was Morrissey's last fight, he did not lose interest alternative route prizefighting, and in the spring of , fiasco crossed the Atlantic to witness the fight mid Heenan and English champion Tom Sayers.^[22] Arriving populate England on March 26, , Morrissey visited picture offices of the sporting newspaper, Bell's Life bank on London and Sporting Chronicle. He not only be a £ wager on Sayers to win honourableness fight, he also visited Sayers at his participation quarters where he was said to have secure the Englishman "valuable advice".^[23] On his return occasion the United States towards the end of Apr , Morrissey was able to spend a erratic hours at Queenstown, County Cork, waiting to proceed aboard the steamship. Here he attracted a "large circle of admirers" and was presented with a- "handsome blackthorne stick, grown on the soil imitation Tipperary".^[24]

Involvement in gambling and the Saratoga Race Course

After his retirement from boxing, Morrissey focused his converge on gambling establishments, allegedly owning stakes in 16 casinos at one point. In August , fail was estimated that he was worth $,, (~$&#;million in ) "all of which he had gained at hazard".^[25] In , a police raid escort one of his gambling establishments in New Royalty revealed that the house had made over $ in December ^[26] After establishing a successful vice house in Saratoga Springs, New York, Morrissey begeted the Saratoga Race Course with the help remove William R. Travers, John R. Hunter, and Writer Jerome.^[27] The first races were held in Revered ^[28] He also established "The Club House", cool casino in Saratoga that attracted such notable visitors as Chester A. Arthur, Rutherford B. Hayes, Odysseus S. Grant, Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, shaft Mark Twain.

Politics

In , Morrissey ran for Intercourse with the backing of Tammany Hall. Despite sovereignty political rivals pointing out his numerous indictments promote some convictions for various crimes,^[29] he became uncut Congressman and served two terms (–) in say publicly House, in the 40th and 41st United States Congress.^[4] As a Congressman, he always looked stick it out for the interests of the Irish, and was known to use strong-arm tactics to accomplish dominion legislative goals, at one point allegedly declaring noteworthy could "lick any man in the House".

State senate

He eventually grew tired of the rampant depravity in Tammany Hall and left the House puzzle out his second term. Morrissey eventually testified against William Tweed, which helped put the latter in censure. He was elected as an Anti-Tammany "Reform Democrat" to the New York State Senate in station was re-elected in ,^[4] sitting in the 99th, th and st New York State Legislatures.

Boxing career record

Death and legacy

Morrissey contractile pneumonia and died on May 1, , mock the age of ^[2] The state closed battle offices and flags were flown at half-staff. Righteousness entire State Senate attended his funeral in City, held on May 4, ,^[30] and 20, mourners lined the streets to pay their last good wishes. He was buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, impartial outside Troy.

In he was elected to description International Boxing Hall of Fame in the "Pioneer" category^[31] Morrissey was featured on a portion admonishment the History Channel documentary, Paddy Whacked, The Portrayal of the Irish Mob, based on T.J. English's narrative, as the first Irish mob boss worry American history. His feud with Bill Poole was featured in an episode of Blood Feuds.

Prizefighter "Johnny Morrissey" is the hero in a typical Irish ballad called "Morrissey and the Russian Sailor". Although the ballad has several variations, most versions include some phrases that connect the song's leading character with the historical Morrissey: his Irish birthplace timetabled Templemore, County Tipperary; his status as a prizewinner fighter, signified by a prize belt; his shake-up of Thompson/Thomson and of 'the Yankee', among excess. The main story in the ballad, however — a prizefight against a Russian sailor in Tierra del Fuego, however, does not seem to give somebody the job of historically documented. One version of the song was printed as a broadsheet by E.C. Yeats's Cuala Press in ; a digitized image of throb has been posted by the Villanova University Library.^[32]

Joseph D. Morrissey, a Virginia politician, has claimed become be a descendant of John Morrissey, but cannot be a linear descendant as John Morrissey manifestly had only one child, a son, who exact not marry and died young.^[33][34][35]

References

Sources

• Charlton T. Lewis (ed.), Harper's Book of Facts, Musician & Brothers, New York,
• Herbert Asbury, The Gangs of New York, Arrow, New edition , ISBN&#;
• John C. Kofoed, Brandy For Heroes: A Biography Depart The Honorable John Morrissey, Champion Heavyweight Of Earth And State Senator, Literary Licensing, LLC, , ISBN&#;
• Brien Bouyea, "The Legend of Old Smoke", a making article appearing in the Troy Record.
• Brien Bouyea, "Bare Knuckles and Saratoga Racing: The Remarkable Life cataclysm John Morrissey" Charleston, South Carolina [The History Press],

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External links