James Michael Curley, Boston's Irrepressible Political Chieftain, Died on November 12, 1958

 

Twin Statues of James Michael Curley on Union Street, across from Boston City Hall 

James Michael Curley, known as the Purple Shamrock, the Rascal King and the Mayor of the Poor, died on November 12, 1958 from pneumonia. Over 100,000 people passed by his coffin in the Hall of Flags at the Massachusetts State House to pay their respects.

A dominant figure in Boston and Massachusetts politics for half a century, Curley served four four-year terms as mayor of Boston, in 1914, 1922, 1930 and 1946. He was Governor of Massachusetts from 1935-37, and served as US Congressman from 1911-14.

He was born on November 20, 1874 on Northampton Street in Roxbury to Irish immigrant parents Michael Curley and Sarah Clancy from County Galway. In his autobiography, I'd Do It Again, published in 1957 by Prentice Hall Publishers, Curley conveys his humble beginnings and his rise to fame.

"The Clancys and the Curleys, joined the Galway colony in Roxbury, formerly known as The Highlands," he wrote. "My mother, Sarah Clancy, was 12 years old when she came to Boston with two sisters - Margaret, who was never married, and Catherine, who married Joseph Walsh, and their parents. My father Michael, fourteen, and two half-brothers, Daniel and Patrick, also came over on the 'Irish Mayflower'....All of my grandparents, except for a brief visit by my paternal grandfather Michael when I was a lad, remained in Ireland."

Curley describes the ward system of politics growing up in Roxbury, and political chieftains such as Patrick J. "Pea-coat" Maguire, Martin Lomansey, John I. Fitzgerald and "Diamond Jim" Timilty.

  

Courtesy of Boston Public Library 

As he gained power and became a leader of the city's expanding Irish-American population, Curley became known as a colorful, audacious and larger-than-life politician who galvanized voters either for him or against him. He greeted dignitaries from across the nation and around the world, often wearing their traditional clothing or putting them at ease through his quick wit and charm.

Courtesy of Boston Public Library  

He always took the opportunity to poke fun at the declining Brahmin establishment but was also equally dismissive and witty about his political rivals from the Irish community, especially competitors like John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald.

In 1915, when he was mayor, Curley had the 21 room mansion built in Georgian Revival architectural style, with a crystal chandelier, Italian marble fireplace, mahogany interior and a three-story spiral staircase. Today, the Curley House is used by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

James Michael Curley House in Jamaica Plain is part of Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail a collection of 20 landmarks in downtown Boston and Back Bay, and an additional 20 sites in Boston’s neighborhoods.

Twin Statues of James Michael Curley on Union Street, across from Boston City Hall 

The twin statues of James Michael Curley, created by sculptor Lloyd Lillie and unveiled in 1980, is located on Union Street, close to Faneuil Hall Marketplace and across from Boston City Hall. He is sitting on a bench, waiting for his constituents to approach him, then standing barrel-chested looking out at his city he ruled for half a century.

The City of Boston Archives has a significant Mayor James M. Curley Collection of Curley's political papers and materials, including correspondence, scrapbooks, speeches, writings and other memorabilia.

A collection of Curley's speeches, news clippings, correspondence and memorabilia can also be viewed at the Boston Public Library.

The Jamaica Plain Historical Society has a collection of photographs spanning Curley’s illustrious career.

The Curley Notebook Collection at Holy Cross College in Worcester is digitized collection of Curley scrapbooks between 1914-37.

Learn more about Boston's Irish Heritage Trail.

Research, Text, Photos, Michael Quinlin