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Patrick Collins (mayor)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Andrew Collins was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts
and mayor of Boston
.
, County Cork
, Ireland
.
His family emigrated to the United States
and settled in Chelsea, Massachusetts
in 1848 after the death of his father.
Collins attended public schools until the age of 12. He then worked at various trades in Massachusetts
and Ohio
.
At age 15, he returned to Boston and learned the upholstery
trade.
Working in an upholstery shop, he rose to position of foreman and became active in the trade union movement.
He became a secretary of his union and a delegate to the Trades Assembly.
Interested in a career in law, Collins saved his money and became active in politics.
. Shortly afterward, he started working for a law firm. He was elected to the House, serving two terms in 1868 and 1869. He then served two terms in the Massachusetts Senate
in 1870 and 1871. During his time in the state legislature, he studied law at Harvard Law School
. He graduated and was admitted to the bar
in 1871.
Collins practiced law in Boston. He served as judge advocate general of Massachusetts in 1875. He also served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention
s in 1876, 1880, 1888, and 1892.
Collins was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1882 and served three terms in the 48th
, 49th
and 50th Congresses
from 1883 to 1889.
He was also Chairman of the Democratic State Committee from 1884 to 1890.
He retired from Congress in 1889 and resumed his law practice.
Collins served as consul general in London
under President
Grover Cleveland
from May 6, 1893 to May 17, 1897.
Collins also served on the boards of directors of several companies and civic organizations.
Collins was elected Mayor of Boston in 1901 and served from 1902 until his death in 1905.
He died during an official visit to Hot Springs, Virginia
, on September 13, 1905. He was interred in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, Massachusetts
.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and mayor of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Early life
Patrick Collins was born March 12, 1844 near FermoyFermoy
Fermoy is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Its population is some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included ....
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
His family emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and settled in Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
in 1848 after the death of his father.
Collins attended public schools until the age of 12. He then worked at various trades in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
At age 15, he returned to Boston and learned the upholstery
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
trade.
Working in an upholstery shop, he rose to position of foreman and became active in the trade union movement.
He became a secretary of his union and a delegate to the Trades Assembly.
Interested in a career in law, Collins saved his money and became active in politics.
Public service
In 1867 was nominated for a seat in the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesMassachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
. Shortly afterward, he started working for a law firm. He was elected to the House, serving two terms in 1868 and 1869. He then served two terms in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
in 1870 and 1871. During his time in the state legislature, he studied law at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He graduated and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1871.
Collins practiced law in Boston. He served as judge advocate general of Massachusetts in 1875. He also served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s in 1876, 1880, 1888, and 1892.
Collins was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1882 and served three terms in the 48th
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
, 49th
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
and 50th Congresses
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
from 1883 to 1889.
He was also Chairman of the Democratic State Committee from 1884 to 1890.
He retired from Congress in 1889 and resumed his law practice.
Collins served as consul general in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
under President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
from May 6, 1893 to May 17, 1897.
Collins also served on the boards of directors of several companies and civic organizations.
Collins was elected Mayor of Boston in 1901 and served from 1902 until his death in 1905.
He died during an official visit to Hot Springs, Virginia
Hot Springs, Virginia
Hot Springs is a census-designated place in Bath County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 738. It is located about 5 miles southwest of Warm Springs on U.S. Route 220. Hot Springs is the site of a number of resorts that make use of the springs.The area is...
, on September 13, 1905. He was interred in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
.