Daniel Aloysius Whelton (January 21, 1872 – November 27, 1953) was an American politician who served as the acting
mayor of Boston.
Education
Born in Boston to Irish (
County Cork) natives Daniel and Ann Curry Whelton, he lived in
Boston's West End at 69 Billerica Street. When he was five years old, Whelton's father died and he was raised by his mother, who worked as a pastry cook for the admiral commanding the
Charlestown Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. It was established in 1801 as part of the recent establishment of t ...
. Whelton received his education at St. Mary's School, graduating in 1886. After Whelton graduated from St. Mary's, Whelton attended the Evening High School for a few months.
Politics
It was while he lived in the West End that Whelton became an associate of Ward 8 Democratic boss
Martin Lomasney. Whelton became a member of Lomasney's Hendricks Club in the West End, where he began his political career by registering new voters.
Whelton served on the
Boston Common Council in 1894 and 1895, where he served on the Finance Committee.
From 1905 until 1908, he served on the
Boston Board of Aldermen
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councillors are elected to two-year terms and there is no ...
.
In 1905 he was chairman of the board.
Acting mayor
Whelton was the chairman of the Boston Board of Aldermen in 1905.
During the long illness of Mayor
Patrick Collins, Whelton served as acting mayor. Following the death of Collins, Whelton, aged 33, was formally sworn in as acting mayor of Boston, a position he held from September 15, 1905 to January 1, 1906. Whelton was the first native-born Irish-Catholic
mayor of Boston and remains the youngest person to hold that political office.
Personal life
Though a rival of
John F. Fitzgerald, Whelton was lifelong friends with
P. J. Kennedy
Patrick Joseph Kennedy (January 14, 1858 – May 18, 1929) was an American businessman and politician from Boston, Massachusetts. He and his wife Mary were the parents of four children, including future U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ...
, paternal grandfather of President
John F. Kennedy, and served as a pallbearer at Patrick Kennedy's funeral. Whelton was also a friend and associate of Boston mayor
James M. Curley
James Michael Curley (November 20, 1874 – November 12, 1958) was an American Democratic politician from Boston, Massachusetts. He served four terms as mayor of Boston. He also served a single term as governor of Massachusetts, characterized ...
. According to ''
The Boston Globe'' of December 1, 1953, Curley and another former Boston mayor,
John Hynes, were pallbearers at Whelton's funeral, which was held at
Holy Cross Cathedral
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...
.
See also
*
Timeline of Boston
This article is a timeline of the history of the city of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
17th century
* 1625 – William Blaxton arrives.
* 1630 - When Boston was founded
** English Puritans arrive.
** First Church in Boston established.
** Septe ...
, 1900s
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whelton, Daniel A.
American Roman Catholics
American people of Irish descent
Acting mayors of Boston
Chairmen of the Boston Board of Aldermen
1950 deaths
1872 births
People from the West End, Boston