NationMaster - Encyclopedia: John Morrissey

John Morrissey ( href="/encyclopedia/February-12" onmouseover="pv(event, 14)" onmouseout="unpv(14)" style="">February 12, 1831 – May 1, 1878), also known as Old Smoke, was a bare-knuckle boxer and a gang member in New York in the 1850s and later became a Democratic State Senator and U.S. Congressman from New York, backed by Tammany Hall. John Morrissey (1831-1878) Source: Leslies Weekly, 1870 File links The following pages link to this file: John Morrissey Categories: Public domain images ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Munster County: County Tipperary Population (2002) - Town: - Rural: 300 1,200 Bansha (Irish: An BhÃ¡inseach - a grassy place) is a village in south-west county Tipperary in Ireland and forms part of the Roman Catholic parish of Bansha & Kilmoyler (united 1858). ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: North: Nenagh South: Clonmel Code: North: TN South: TS Area: 4,303 kmÂ² Population (2006) 149,040[[1]] County Tipperary (Contae Thiobraid Ãrann in Irish) is a county in the Republic of Ireland, and situated in the province of Munster. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Looking west down Broadway at downtown Troy. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo DomÃnguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also referred to as prizefighting, the noble art, the sweet science, and pugilism is a combat sport in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of... The Politics series Politics Portal This box: A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... See also bare-knuckle for other uses. ... For other uses, see Gang (disambiguation). ... NY redirects here. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas Politics Portal Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... NY redirects here. ... Tammany Hall was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics from the 1790s to the 1960s. ...

Early life John Morrisey John was born in Bansha, County Tipperary, Ireland in 1831. In 1833 his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Troy, New York. Statistics Province: Munster County: County Tipperary Population (2002) - Town: - Rural: 300 1,200 Bansha (Irish: An BhÃ¡inseach - a grassy place) is a village in south-west county Tipperary in Ireland and forms part of the Roman Catholic parish of Bansha & Kilmoyler (united 1858). ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: North: Nenagh South: Clonmel Code: North: TN South: TS Area: 4,303 kmÂ² Population (2006) 149,040[[1]] County Tipperary (Contae Thiobraid Ãrann in Irish) is a county in the Republic of Ireland, and situated in the province of Munster. ... Looking west down Broadway at downtown Troy. ...

John's father Tim worked on the docks along the Hudson River earning a dollar per day. Early in his life, young John Morrissey developed a reputation with the local authorities. Desperate to escape poverty, he worked as a cargo thief and also as a collection agent for Irish crime bosses in the area, and before he was 18, he had been indicted twice for burglary, once for assault and battery, and once for assault with intent to kill. Along with his criminal and ferocious fighting abilities, Morrissey also displayed driving ambition, teaching himself to read and write while working as a bouncer at a South Troy brothel. After spending two months in jail, Morrissey left Troy for New York City. The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk in Mahican, is a river that runs through the eastern portion of New York State and, along its southern terminus, demarcates the border between the states of New York and New Jersey. ... A crime boss is someone in charge of a criminal organization. ... Assault and battery is the combination of two violent crimes: assault (the threat of violence) and battery (actual physical violence). ... Mens rea is a criminal law concept which focuses on the mental state of the accused and requires proof of a positive state of mind such as intent, recklessness, or willful blindness. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A brothel, also known as a bordello or whorehouse, is an establishment specifically dedicated to prostitution, providing the prostitutes a place to meet and to have sex with the clients. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

During a fight with a gang member named Tom McCann, Morrissey was pinned on his back atop burning coals from a stove that had been overturned. Morrissey endured the pain as his flesh burned, fought off McCann, and got back on his feet. Enraged, Morrissey beat McCann senseless as smoke from his burning flesh rose up from his back. The event earned him the nickname "Old Smoke," which stuck with him through the rest of his life.

After two years in New York, Morrissey sailed to San Francisco, seeking fortune during the California Gold Rush. While he didn't have any luck in that endeavor, Morrissey became a renowned gambler and made a fortune winning gold from prospectors. It was also during this time that Morrissey appeared for the first time in a professional prizefighting ring. He knocked out George Thompson in the 11th round, earning $5,000. This success encouraged him to return to New York to fight the American Champion, Yankee Sullivan. The California Gold Rush (1848â€“1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was discovered at Sutters Mill. ... The term gambling has had many different meanings depending on the cultural and historical context in which it is used. ... A prospector is normally a person who explores an area for natural resources such as minerals, oil, flora or fauna. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo DomÃnguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also referred to as prizefighting, the noble art, the sweet science, and pugilism is a combat sport in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of... Yankee Sullivan Yankee Sullivan (March 10, 1811 â€“ May 31, 1856) also known as Frank Murray and James Sullivan was a boxer. ...

The Champion Morrissey returned to New York and challenged Sullivan repeatedly until the latter finally agreed. Due to the violent nature of the sport, boxing was illegal in most places during the 1850s. The first boxing rules, called the London Prize Ring rules, were introduced by heavyweight champion Jack Broughton in 1743 to protect fighters in the ring where deaths sometimes occurred. Under these rules, if a man went down and could not continue after a count of 30 seconds, the fight was over. Hitting a downed fighter and grasping below the waist were prohibited. Fights usually lasted for 20-30 rounds. Rounds continued until one fighter touched the ground with his knee, or simply fell down. The fight was scheduled for October 12, 1853, in the village of Boston Corners, New York. The area's mountainous terrain made it difficult for police to find the village, providing a good location for the illegal match. The fight took place in a field, and was supposedly viewed by over 3,000 spectators. Sullivan dominated the match for most of the fight, but Morrissey held his own, and the tough Irishman would not quit, though his face became distorted and unrecognizable. In the 37th round, more than an hour after the start of the fight, a riot broke out when Yankee Sullivan struck Morrissey while he was on his knees. Crowds started jumping into the ring, and after the chaos had been quelled, the referee awarded the fight and American Championship to Old Smoke. The victory made him a national celebrity, and hero to the Irish. A drawing of Jack Broughton by George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Boston Corners is a hamlet of the town of Ancram, New York in Columbia County, New York State. ...

Dead Rabbits Morrissey became involved in Democratic politics in New York City and a rivalry with William Poole, also known as "Bill the Butcher". Poole was an enforcer for the Know-Nothing Party, leader of the Bowery Boys, and a boxer. In 1854, Morrissey was hired to prevent Poole and his gang from seizing ballot boxes and rigging an election. After Morrissey and his gang, the Dead Rabbits did, Tammany Hall allowed him to open a gambling house without police interference. One of Morrissey's friends, Lew Baker, shot and fatally wounded Bill the Butcher at a saloon on Broadway in 1855, following Morrisey's loss to Poole in a boxing match a few weeks earlier. Morrissey and Baker were indicted for the murder, but the charges were dropped after three trials resulting in hung juries. Morrissey then retired from boxing at the insistence of his wife, and returned to Troy, New York. Morrissey's business ventures were unsuccessful, and he returned to boxing in 1858 to defend his championship in Long Point, Ontario, against fellow Troy, New York native John C. Heenan. The fight lasted 11 rounds, with Morrissey knocking out Heenan, for several minutes, to defend his title. After the fight, Morrissey retired from boxing permanently. New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Brooklyn Eagle, March 10, 1855 (partial) Brooklyn Eagle, March 20, 1855 William Poole, aka Bill The Butcher (July 1821 - March 8, 1855), was a member of the Bowery Boys street gang and the U.S. political party the Know-Nothings. ... The Know-Nothing movement was a nativist American political movement of the 1850s. ... The Dead End Kids were six young actors from New York who appeared in Sidney Kingsleys play Dead End in 1935 on Broadway. ... The Dead Rabbits were a gang in New York City in the 1850s, originally part of the Roache or Roach Guards, organized to honor the name of a Five Points liquor seller. ... Tammany Hall was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics from the 1790s to the 1960s. ... Looking west down Broadway at downtown Troy. ... Long Point, Ontario can mean the following: Long Point, Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario Long Point, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario Long Point, Norfolk County This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Looking west down Broadway at downtown Troy. ... John C Heenan 1833 - 1873 John Carmel Heenan (born May 2, 1833 - died October 28, 1873) was an American bare-knuckle fighter born in Troy NY. He fought under the name The Benicia Boy. His career lasted from 1858 until 1863. ...

Saratoga

After establishing a successful gaming house in Saratoga Springs, New York, Morrissey created the Saratoga Race Course with the help of William R. Travers, John R. Hunter, and Leonard Jerome. He also established "The Club House," a casino in Saratoga that attracted such notable guests as Chester A. Arthur, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Ulysses S. Grant, as well as Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, John Rockefeller, and Mark Twain. Saratoga Springs redirects here. ... Saratoga Race Course is a famous horse-racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York. ... William R. Travers (1819-1887) was an American lawyer who made a fortune on Wall Street. ... Leonard Walter Jerome, born November 3, 1817 in Pompey, New York, United States â€“ died March 3, 1891 at Brighton, England , was a Brooklyn, New York entrepreneur and grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill. ... Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 â€“ November 18, 1886) was an American politician who served as the 21st President of the United States. ... Rutherford Birchard Hayes (October 4, 1822 â€“ January 17, 1893) was an American politician, lawyer, military leader and the 19th President of the United States (1877â€“1881). ... Ulysses S. Grant[2] (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, April 27, 1822 â€“ July 23, 1885) was an American general and the 18th President of the United States (1869â€“1877). ... Cornelius Vanderbilt Cornelius Vanderbilt I (May 27, 1794 â€“ January 4, 1877), also known by the sobriquets The Commodore [1] [2] or Commodore Vanderbilt [3], was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads and was the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family. ... 1917 painting by John Singer Sargent. ... Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 â€“ April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, writer, and lecturer. ...

Politician

After his retirement from boxing, Morrissey focused his attention on gambling establishments, owning stake in 16 casinos at one point. In 1866 he ran for Congress with the backing of Tammany Hall and served two terms in the House (1867-1871). As a Congressman, he always looked out for the interests of the Irish, and was known to use strong-arm tactics to accomplish his legislative goals, at one point declaring that he could "lick any man in the House." He eventually grew tired of the rampant corruption within Tammany Hall and left the House after his second term. He eventually testified against William Tweed, which helped put the notorious boss in prison. Following his service in Congress, Morrissey was elected to the New York State Senate in 1875 and was re-elected in 1877, serving in that capacity until his death in 1878. 1869 tobacco label featuring Boss Tweed William Marcy Tweed a. ...

Morrissey contracted pneumonia and died on May 1, 1878 at the age of 47. The state closed all offices and flags were flown at half-mast. The entire State Senate attended his funeral in Troy, and 20,000 mourners lined the streets to pay their last respects. He was buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, just outside of Troy. At the time of his death, Morrissey's estate was valued at more than $2 million. is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Legacy

The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. ... The History Channel is a cable television channel, dedicated to the presentation of historical events and persons, often with frequent observations and explanations by noted historians as well as reenactors and witnesses to events, if possible. ...

Timeline

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Saratoga

Politician

Legacy

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Contents

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Politician

Legacy

Timeline

See also

Periodicals

References

External links

Saratoga