John I. Fitzgerald

John Ignatius Fitzgerald (July 18, 1882 – December 16, 1966) was an American attorney who served in the Massachusetts General Court and on the Boston City Council. He was the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in 1948.

John I. Fitzgerald
John I Fitzgerald, circa 1918
Boston Fire Commissioner
In office 1945–1946
Preceded by	William Arthur Reilly
Succeeded by	Russell S. Codman Jr.
President of the Boston City Council
In office 1935–1937
Preceded by	John F. Dowd
Succeeded by	John E. Kerrigan
Member of the Boston City Council for Ward 3
In office 1926–1939
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Joseph Russo
Personal details
Born	July 18, 1882 West End, Boston
Died	December 16, 1966 (aged 84) West End, Boston
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic

Early life

Fitzgerald was born on July 18, 1882 in Boston.[1] While in grammar school, his father died and Fitzgerald went to work as a newspaper boy. While still in his teens, Fitzgerald ran a cigar and newspaper store. In 1910 he began working as a contractor. He performed a significant amount of street work in the West End. Once he entered politics, Fitzgerald shifted from contracting to real estate. He also operated two of the city's busiest parking lots, located the near the Boston Garden/North Station.[2]

Political career

At the age of 18, Fitzgerald was chosen by Martin Lomasney to serve as a precinct captain.[2] In 1916, Fitzgerald represented the West End in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1917 to 1918. He returned to the House in 1919 and 1920 and again from 1923 to 1927.[1]

From 1926 to 1939, Fitzgerald represented Ward 3 on the Boston City Council. He served as the council president from 1935 to 1937.[2] He was defeated for reelection to the council by Joseph Russo.[3] In 1941 he finished 5th in a Boston School Committee race where the top two candidates were elected.[4] He ran for his old council seat in 1943, but lost to Russo 47% to 26%.[5] In 1945, Fitzgerald was appointed Boston Fire Commissioner by acting mayor John E. Kerrigan.[6]

In 1948, Fitzgerald ran for the United States Senate seat held by Leverett Saltonstall. He won the Democratic primary over four other candidates with 30% of the vote. Fitzgerald nearly pulled off an upset, but lost the general election to Saltonstall 53% to 46%.[6][7] Fitzgerald ran again in 1954, but finished third in the primary behind Foster Furcolo and Joseph L. Murphy.[8]

Later life and death

In November 1966, Fitzgerald gave up operating his parking lot near North Station. He was later confined him to his home after he fell and broken his arm. At midnight on December 16, 1966, Fitzgerald died of a heart attack at his home in the West End.[6]

See also

• Massachusetts Senate's 2nd Suffolk district

References

1. Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1925-26. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
2. Owens, C.R. (October 25, 1948). "John I. Fitzgerald, Veteran in City, State Politics". The Boston Daily Globe.
3. Annual Report of the Election Department. 1939. p. 32.
4. "Ward and Dr. Foley Elected to School Committee". The Boston Daily Globe. November 5, 1941.
5. Annual Report of the Election Department. 1943. p. 28.
6. "John I. Fitzgerald Services Saturday". The Boston Globe. December 16, 1966.
7. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1948
8. https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19531955mass#page/142/mode/2up Massachusetts Election Statistics 1954