James Michael Curley
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James Michael Curley (November 20, 1874-November 12, 1958) was an American political figure who served in the United States House of Representatives, as the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, and as governor of Massachusetts.
He served in various municipal offices and one term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1902-1903). He is noted for having been elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1904 while in prison, having been convicted of fraud. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 10th district seat (1911-1914). He served three terms as Mayor of Boston (1914-1918, 1922-1926 and 1930-1934), served as Governor of Massachusetts (1935-1937), was returned to the U.S. House of Representatives (1943-1947), this time in the 11th district, and then served one more term as Mayor of Boston from 1947-1949. A failed mayoral bid in 1951 marked the end of his serious political career, although he continued to support other candidates and remain active within the Democratic Party.
Mayor Curley was convicted of mail fraud in 1947, but was pardoned by President Harry S. Truman after serving just five months of his prison term.
Books written about him include The Rascal King, by Jack Beatty, I'd Do It Again, an autobiography, as well as The Purple Shamrock, an authorized biography ghost-written by Joseph F. Dinneen in 1949 . He is often considered the inspiration for the protagonist Frank Skeffington in the novel The Last Hurrah by Edwin O'Connor.
| Preceded by: Joseph B. Ely | Governor of Massachusetts 1935 – 1937 | Succeeded by: Charles F. Hurley |