Martin H. Kennelly
Encyclopedia
Martin H. Kennelly served as mayor of Chicago
, Illinois
(1947–1955) for the Democratic Party.
neighborhood, the youngest of five children. He served in the United States Army
during World War I
with the rank of Captain. After the war he returned to Chicago and entered the moving and storage business, and lived on north end of Lake Shore Drive (5555 North Sheridan Road). He was the founder and first president of Allied Van Lines, a trade association that united independent local moving and storage companies under a single brand.
A contemporary of Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago retailer, Kennelly's moving company got the contract for Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. After retiring, he was involved in social and civic affairs. He was the president of the Lincoln Park Zoo and was also president of the Chicago chapter of the American Red Cross
during World War II.
Democratic Party Machine responded by slating Kennelly as a reform candidate. Kennelly returned to the Bridgeport neighborhood and ran for mayor from an apartment in the predominantly Irish American working-class community of his childhood.
Kennelly was elected in 1947, receiving 920,000 (59%) votes defeating Republican Russell Root.
Kennelly proved to be too independent and reform oriented for his regular Democratic Party sponsors and was dumped by the party bosses at the 1955 endorsement slating in favor of Richard J. Daley
. Daley soundly defeated Kennelly in the 1955 Democratic Primary and went on to election in 1955.
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(1947–1955) for the Democratic Party.
Early Life
Kennelly was born in Chicago's BridgeportBridgeport, Chicago
Bridgeport, one of 77 community areas of Chicago, is a neighborhood located on the city's South Side. It is bounded, generally, on the west and north by the Chicago River, on the east by Canal Street, and on the south by Pershing Road.-History:...
neighborhood, the youngest of five children. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
with the rank of Captain. After the war he returned to Chicago and entered the moving and storage business, and lived on north end of Lake Shore Drive (5555 North Sheridan Road). He was the founder and first president of Allied Van Lines, a trade association that united independent local moving and storage companies under a single brand.
A contemporary of Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago retailer, Kennelly's moving company got the contract for Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. After retiring, he was involved in social and civic affairs. He was the president of the Lincoln Park Zoo and was also president of the Chicago chapter of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
during World War II.
Mayor of Chicago
When the city administration of Edward J. Kelly was threatened with defeat by corruption, scandal and Kelly's liberal integrationist policies (Kelly notable had said that African-Americans were free to live anywhere in the city) the Cook CountyCook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
Democratic Party Machine responded by slating Kennelly as a reform candidate. Kennelly returned to the Bridgeport neighborhood and ran for mayor from an apartment in the predominantly Irish American working-class community of his childhood.
Kennelly was elected in 1947, receiving 920,000 (59%) votes defeating Republican Russell Root.
Kennelly proved to be too independent and reform oriented for his regular Democratic Party sponsors and was dumped by the party bosses at the 1955 endorsement slating in favor of Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
. Daley soundly defeated Kennelly in the 1955 Democratic Primary and went on to election in 1955.
Death
Kennelly died in 1961, aged 74, and was interred at Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, IllinoisEvanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
.