Editing John Morrissey

{{SHORTDESC:Irish-American boxer, gambler and politician (1831–1878)}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = John Morrissey
| image = JohnMorrissey.jpg
| image_upright = 0.85
| caption = Morrissey, photographed by Mathew Brady, between 1865 and 1880
| birth_date = {{birth date|1831|2|12}}
| birth_place = Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1878|5|1|1831|2|12}}
| death_place = Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
| other_names = Old Smoke
| occupation = Bare-knuckle boxer<br>Gambler<br>Politician
| allegiance = [[Dead Rabbits]] {{small|(attributed in later accounts; uncertain)}}
| criminal_charges = Prizefighting-related offenses
| criminal_status = Deceased
}}
'''John Morrissey''' (February 12, 1831 – May 1, 1878), nicknamed '''Old Smoke''', was an Irish-American bare-knuckle boxer, gambling operator and politician. He won recognition as the American heavyweight champion, later established gambling interests at Saratoga Springs, represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1867 to 1871, and served in the New York State Senate from 1876 until his death.<ref>[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/M000982 “Morrissey, John (1831–1878)”], ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''.</ref>

Later popular accounts sometimes associate Morrissey with the [[Dead Rabbits]] or with Five Points gang politics. His formal membership is not firmly established in the major biographical record and should not be treated as certain.<ref>Tyler Anbinder, [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9781439141557 ''Five Points''] (Free Press, 2001), pp. 353–354.</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:1831 births]]
[[Category:1878 deaths]]
[[Category:American bare-knuckle boxers]]
[[Category:American gamblers]]
[[Category:Criminals from New York City]]