James Kerrigan was a United States Representative from New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

. He was born in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. He completed preparatory studies and attended Fordham College.

Kerrigan served in Company D, First Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, during the Mexican-American War. After the war, he accompanied the Walker filibustering

Filibuster (military)

A filibuster, or freebooter, is someone who engages in an unauthorized military expedition into a foreign country to foment or support a revolution...

 expedition to Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...

 as a captain and served for a brief period as alcalde

Alcalde

Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...

 of the Nicaraguan capital.

Kerrigan returned to New York City and was elected alderman

Alderman

An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...

 of the sixth ward. He also served as clerk of the Tombs police court. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

, he organized and then was commissioned colonel

Colonel

Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...

 of the 25th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

25th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The 25th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the "Union Rangers", was an infantryregiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...

, in the Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 and served from May 19, 1861, until February 21, 1862.

He was elected as an Independent Democrat

Independent Democrat

Independent Democrat is a term occasionally adopted by American politicians to refer to their party affiliation. Several elected officials, including members of Congress, have identified as " Independent Democrats."...

 to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863). After leaving Congress, he became an enthusiastic Irish Nationalist and when the invasion of Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 was planned in 1866 led a company across the border. In 1867, he commanded the vessel Erin's Hope, which landed arms and ammunition on the Irish coast. He also accompanied an expedition to Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...

 in 1899 and returned in bad health. He died in Brooklyn, New York in 1899 and was buried in Saint Raymond's Cemetery

Saint Raymond's Cemetery, Bronx

Saint Raymond's Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery at 2600 Lafayette Avenue in the Throggs Neck section of The Bronx, New York City. The cemetery is composed of two separate locations: the older section , located west of the Hutchinson River Parkway; and the newer section , which is east of...

.