James Kelly (crimper)
Encyclopedia
James "Shanghai" Kelly was an American
criminal of the 19th century who kidnapped men and forced them to work on ships. The terms "crimp" and "shanghaier" are used to describe this type of criminal. Kelly wore a red beard and had a fiery temper to match. A legendary figure in San Francisco history, Kelly was called the King of Crimps for his gift of supplying or shanghaiing
men to understaffed ships.
Kelly kept a boarding house in San Francisco, variously reported to be on Pacific or Broadway. He also ran a number of bars including the Boston House at the corner of Davis and Chambers streets near the waterfront. He also ran a saloon and boarding house at No. 33 Pacific between Drumm and Davis streets.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
criminal of the 19th century who kidnapped men and forced them to work on ships. The terms "crimp" and "shanghaier" are used to describe this type of criminal. Kelly wore a red beard and had a fiery temper to match. A legendary figure in San Francisco history, Kelly was called the King of Crimps for his gift of supplying or shanghaiing
Shanghaiing
Shanghaiing refers to the practice of conscripting men as sailors by coercive techniques such as trickery, intimidation, or violence. Those engaged in this form of kidnapping were known as crimps. Until 1915, unfree labor was widely used aboard American merchant ships...
men to understaffed ships.
Kelly kept a boarding house in San Francisco, variously reported to be on Pacific or Broadway. He also ran a number of bars including the Boston House at the corner of Davis and Chambers streets near the waterfront. He also ran a saloon and boarding house at No. 33 Pacific between Drumm and Davis streets.