John J. McElligott

John James McElligott (August 25, 1882 – September 6, 1946) was appointed the 12th New York City Fire Commissioner by Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia on January 1, 1934.

Biography

McElligott resigned his position by announcing his retirement on February 23, 1940. Mayor LaGuardia initially appointed Elmer Mustard as Fire Commissioner, but the next day, Mayor LaGuardia pronounced "null and void" the action taken by McElligott, and on February 27, 1940 McElligott resumed his position as Fire Commissioner. He continued on as the Fire Commissioner of the City of New York until his removal by LaGuardia as the result of a corruption scandal on May 8, 1941.^[1] He died on September 6, 1946 at Saint Clare's Hospital in Manhattan.^[2] His funeral mass was held at Saint Patrick's Cathedral with Cardinal Francis Spellman attending.^[3]

References

1. "Walsh Takes Over As City Fire Head. New Commissioner Pledges His 'better-than-best' As Mayor Wishes Him Good Luck.". New York Times. May 11, 1941. Retrieved 2010-03-25. With a pledge to do better than his best. Acting Chief Patrick Walsh took the oath of office as Commissioner of the Fire Department at City Hall yesterday. Mayor La Guardia, swearing in the new Commissioner, simply remarked:
2. "John J. M'Elligott Dies In Hospital, 64. Fire Department Veteran Was First To Be Commissioner And Chief At One Time. Former Post 7 Years. Ousted By La Guardia In 1941, He Then Joined Todd Corp. Won Many Citations. Drew Up Defense Plan La Guardia Appointed Him. Gave "double-nine" Alarm". New York Times. September 7, 1946. Retrieved 2010-03-27. John J. McElligott, former Fire Commissioner and Chief of the department, the first man in the city's history to hold both posts simultaneously, died yesterday in Saint Clare's Hospital, 415 West fifty-first Street, after an illness of two months. He was admitted to the hospital on July 1. His age was 64.
3. "M'Elligott Rites Attended By 2,500. Spellman, La Guardia, O'Brien Among Notables at Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral". New York Times. September 10, 1946. Retrieved 2010-03-27. Twenty-five hundred persons, including many past and present city officials, attended a funeral service yesterday morning in St. Patrick's Cathedral for John J. McElligott, former Fire Commissioner and chief of the department, who died on Friday at the age of 64.