Dan Kerrigan
Encyclopedia
Daniel Kerrigan was an American pugilist, sportsman and politician. He was part owner of the Star and Garter, a popular Sixth Avenue
saloon, and was a longtime political organizer and "fixer" for Tammany Hall
. He was also involved in one of the longest bare-knuckle boxing
prize fights when he defeated Australian Kelly after a near-three and a half hour bout at Island Pond in 1860.
. He was strongly encouraged to pursue religious training, and for a time considered entering the priesthood, but eventually became dissatisfied and left the school to work for underworld figures Ben Wood
and Zachariah Simmons
, both controlling the policy racket and illegal gambling in the city.
Kerrigan quickly rose through the ranks of their organization, becoming a first class bookmaker and accountant, and was given complete control of managing the organizations accounts. He acquired a large personal fortune while employed by Wood and Simmons and began living a lavish lifestyle. Kerrigan started gambling, becoming known as a high roller
, and left the service of Wood and Simmons in 1860 to become a professional gambler. A formidable pugilist, he fought Australian Kelly in a $1,000 prize fight that same year. The bout was officially held two miles from the Island Pond Hotel in Island Pond on August 22, 1860. The fight lasted 25 rounds, lasting nearly three and a half hours, and was eventually won by Kerrigan after a foul blow by Kelly.
He became deeply involved in illegal gambling, having mixed success with running faro banks
throughout the city, and traveled the United States for almost 20 years becoming one of the most widely recognized sportsmen in the country. He was also a regular at nearly every horse race held at Jerome Park
, Saratoga and Monmouth Park.
Kerrigan developed extensive political connections as a longtime political organizer and "fixer" for Tammany Hall
and was at one time the chairman of the Tammany Hall General Committee. In 1878, Kerrigan opened a saloon in the Twenty-Ninth District known as the Strand. This establishment became very popular in the area however, the following year, he was arrested by Captain Alexander "Clubber" Williams
and charged with keeping a "disorderly house". His political connections secured his release and, in October 1879, he became one of the owners of the Star and Garter with William C. Rogers. During his four months at the establishment, he loaned on $6,000 to those in need.
In early-January 1880, Kerrigan contracted a severe cold which quickly turned into pneumonia
. Although he was advised to seek medical treatment, Kerrigan ignored this advice and his condition grew more serious. On January 22, he left his home to ride with a friend and returned seriously ill. Two physicians were called, Dr. Loomis and Sass, but were doubtful that he would recover. His three brothers and sister were called, as well as his partner William Rogers, and remained with him until the time of his death four days later. He dictated his last wishes during this time and, although he had not written a will, Kerrigan expressed that he wished his fortune to be divided among his family with Rogers of the executor. He also said he did not wish an elaborate funeral but to be quietly buried next to his parents in Calvary Cemetery
. Kerrigan died at the Star and Garter on the evening of January 27, 1880. His funeral was held the following day at the Church of the Holy Innocents.
Sixth Avenue
Sixth Avenue may refer to:*Sixth Avenue , in New York City*Sixth Avenue , in Tacoma, Washington*6th Ave , in the Denver metropolitan area...
saloon, and was a longtime political organizer and "fixer" for Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
. He was also involved in one of the longest bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing is the original form of boxing, closely related to ancient combat sports...
prize fights when he defeated Australian Kelly after a near-three and a half hour bout at Island Pond in 1860.
Biography
Daniel Kerrigan was born to Irish-born immigrants in New York City's Sixth Ward in 1843. His father, Daniel P. Kerrigan, was a lawyer and his mother "a woman of superior education". Kerrigan received a public education and later attended a local Catholic seminary under Rev. Father Halpin. He was said to be a gifted singer and was one of the choir boys at St. Patrick's ChurchSt. Patrick's Church
St. Patrick's Church, or Saint Patrick Church, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church or other variations on the name, may refer to:-Canada:* St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church...
. He was strongly encouraged to pursue religious training, and for a time considered entering the priesthood, but eventually became dissatisfied and left the school to work for underworld figures Ben Wood
Ben Wood
Ben Wood, born 28th August 1980 is a British visual artist living and working in San Francisco, California. Over the past decade he has carried out noteworthy public projects in San Francisco, and exhibited in Mexico City, Honolulu Hawaii, and the United Kingdom...
and Zachariah Simmons
Zachariah Simmons
Zachariah Simmons was an underworld figure involved in running policy games in New York during the late 19th century. Supported by the Tweed Ring, he took over the policy rackets from Reuben Parsons and John Frink following the end of the American Civil War...
, both controlling the policy racket and illegal gambling in the city.
Kerrigan quickly rose through the ranks of their organization, becoming a first class bookmaker and accountant, and was given complete control of managing the organizations accounts. He acquired a large personal fortune while employed by Wood and Simmons and began living a lavish lifestyle. Kerrigan started gambling, becoming known as a high roller
High roller
A high roller, also referred to as a whale in the casino industry, is a gambler who wagers large amounts of money. High rollers often receive lavish "perks" from casinos to lure them onto the gambling floors, such as free private jet transfers, limousine use and use of the casinos' best suites...
, and left the service of Wood and Simmons in 1860 to become a professional gambler. A formidable pugilist, he fought Australian Kelly in a $1,000 prize fight that same year. The bout was officially held two miles from the Island Pond Hotel in Island Pond on August 22, 1860. The fight lasted 25 rounds, lasting nearly three and a half hours, and was eventually won by Kerrigan after a foul blow by Kelly.
He became deeply involved in illegal gambling, having mixed success with running faro banks
Faro (card game)
Faro, Pharaoh, or Farobank, is a late 17th century French gambling card game descendant of basset, and belongs to the lansquenet and Monte Bank family of games, in that it is played between a banker and several players winning or losing according to the cards turned up matching those already...
throughout the city, and traveled the United States for almost 20 years becoming one of the most widely recognized sportsmen in the country. He was also a regular at nearly every horse race held at Jerome Park
Jerome Park Racetrack
Jerome Park Racetrack was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility.-History:It opened in 1866 in the northwest part of Fordham, Westchester County , New York....
, Saratoga and Monmouth Park.
Kerrigan developed extensive political connections as a longtime political organizer and "fixer" for Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
and was at one time the chairman of the Tammany Hall General Committee. In 1878, Kerrigan opened a saloon in the Twenty-Ninth District known as the Strand. This establishment became very popular in the area however, the following year, he was arrested by Captain Alexander "Clubber" Williams
Alexander S. Williams
Alexander S. Williams was an American law enforcement officer and police inspector for the New York City Police Department...
and charged with keeping a "disorderly house". His political connections secured his release and, in October 1879, he became one of the owners of the Star and Garter with William C. Rogers. During his four months at the establishment, he loaned on $6,000 to those in need.
In early-January 1880, Kerrigan contracted a severe cold which quickly turned into pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. Although he was advised to seek medical treatment, Kerrigan ignored this advice and his condition grew more serious. On January 22, he left his home to ride with a friend and returned seriously ill. Two physicians were called, Dr. Loomis and Sass, but were doubtful that he would recover. His three brothers and sister were called, as well as his partner William Rogers, and remained with him until the time of his death four days later. He dictated his last wishes during this time and, although he had not written a will, Kerrigan expressed that he wished his fortune to be divided among his family with Rogers of the executor. He also said he did not wish an elaborate funeral but to be quietly buried next to his parents in Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery, Queens
The Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery in Queens has the largest number of interments of any cemetery in the United States.The offices of Calvary Cemetery are located at 49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd. in Woodside in the New York City borough of Queens, New York. The cemetery is managed by the Trustees of...
. Kerrigan died at the Star and Garter on the evening of January 27, 1880. His funeral was held the following day at the Church of the Holy Innocents.