John Morrissey
John Morrissey | |
|---|---|
 Morrissey, photographed by Mathew Brady, between 1865 and 1880 | |
| Born | February 12, 1831 Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | May 1, 1878 (aged 47) Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. |
| Other name | Old Smoke |
| Occupations | Bare-knuckle boxer, gambler, politician |
Criminal status | Deceased |
| Allegiance | Dead Rabbits (attributed in later accounts; uncertain) |
Criminal charge | Prizefighting-related offenses |
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.[1]
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.[2]
References
- ↑ “Morrissey, John (1831–1878)”, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ↑ Tyler Anbinder, Five Points (Free Press, 2001), pp. 353–354.