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Joseph F. O'Connell

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For other people with the same name, see Joe O'Connell (disambiguation).

Joseph F. O'Connell
O'Connell as U.S. Representative c. 1908[1]
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 10th district
In office
March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1911
Preceded byWilliam S. McNary
Succeeded byJames Michael Curley
Personal details
Born(1872-12-07)December 7, 1872
Dorchester, Massachusetts
DiedDecember 10, 1942(1942-12-10) (aged 70)
Boston, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMarietta Lenahan
ChildrenJoseph F. O'Connell, Jr., Lenahan O'Connell, Frederick P. O'Connell
Alma materBoston College
Harvard Law School
ProfessionAttorney
WebsiteO'Connell & O'Connell

Joseph Francis O'Connell (December 7, 1872 – December 10, 1942) was an American lawyer, academic, and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Boston, Massachusetts from 1907 to 1911.

Early life and education

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1893 Boston College football team

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, O'Connell attended the Mather School of Boston and prepared for college at St. Mary's Parochial School. He graduated from Boston College in 1893. While at Boston College, O'Connell and Joseph Drum helped create the first Boston College football team.[2] O'Connell graduated from Harvard University Law School in 1896, was admitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1897, and commenced the practice of law in Boston.

U.S. Representative

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O'Connell was elected as a Democrat to the Sixtieth and Sixty-first Congresses (March 4, 1907 - March 3, 1911). In 1908, he was re-elected by just 4 votes[3] over former Boston City Clerk J. Mitchel Galvin.[4]

He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1910.[5] In a three-way primary with former Representative William S. McNary and Boston City Councilor James Michael Curley, O'Connell came in second behind Curley.[6]

Later career

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After his defeat in 1910, O'Connell resumed the practice of law in Boston and remained active in politics. He served as a delegate to the 1912 Democratic National Convention.[citation needed]

In 1914, O'Connell was appointed to the National Conference on Uniform State Laws by Governor David I. Walsh. He was re-appointed by each succeeding governor and served until his death.[citation needed]

In May 1917, O'Connell was elected to serve as a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, representing the 12th congressional district.[7] The convention convened on June 6, 1917 and adjourned on August 13, 1919.[8]

O'Connell served as a delegate to the 1920 Democratic National Convention.[citation needed]

In 1923, O'Connell served as member of the State commission to revise the charter of the city of Boston in 1923.[citation needed]

O'Connell unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate in 1930 and Mayor of Boston in 1933.[citation needed]

Personal life

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On November 23, 1910, O'Connell married Marasita Lenahan, daughter of his former Congressional colleague John T. Lenahan, at St. Mary's Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[9] The couple had 11 children.[2]

He was Professor of Law and vice president of the board of trustees of Suffolk Law School in Boston.[citation needed]

Death

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O'Connell died in Boston on December 10, 1942, three days after his 70th birthday and was interred at St. Joseph's Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

References

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  1. ^ Who's who in State Politics, 1908, Boston, MA: Practical Politics, 1908, p. 18
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ "Foss Wins By 22,000 In Massachusetts; But the Rest of the Democratic State Ticket Has Probably Been Defeated", The New York Times, p. 2, November 9, 1910
  4. ^ "Galvin May Contest It; Recount Shows O'Connell Elected by Four Votes. Appeal to Congress Suggested By Republican's Lieutenants. McGonagle Displaces Pettiti as Representative in Ward 6. ORIGINAL RECPOUT Contest May Go to Congress. Tie Feared Till the Last. Down to Last Precinct", The Boston Globe, p. 11, November 11, 1908
  5. ^ "Both Lose Renomination: Keliher and O'Connell Defeated in Massachusetts Primaries. Majority of the Delegates to Democratic State Convention Will Go Uninstructed.", The Washington Post, p. 3, September 28, 1910
  6. ^ Beatty, Jack (2000), The Rascal King: The Life and Times of James Michael Curley (1874-1958), Cambridge, MA; New York, NY: Da Capo Press, pp. 114–117., ISBN 0-306-81002-6
  7. ^ Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA: Wright & Potter printing co., State printers, 1919, pp. 7–8
  8. ^ Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA: Wright & Potter printing co., state printers, 1919
  9. ^ "JOSEPH P. O'CONNELL WEDS. Representative's Bride Is Miss Marietta Lenahan, of Wilkes-Barre.", The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., p. 11, November 24, 1910

Bibliography

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  • Beatty. Jack .: The Rascal King: The Life and Times of James Michael Curley (1874–1958) Da Capo Press, (2000) pp. 114–116. ISBN 0-306-81002-6
  • Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1919) pp. 7–8, 865, 971.
  • Who's who in State Politics, 1908 Practical Politics (1908) p. 18.
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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district
March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1911 		Succeeded by
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