Joseph Aloysius Conry (September 12, 1868 – June 22, 1943) was an American politician that served as a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

. Although he served only a single term, he received national attention for his reformist views. He remained a highly popular speaker and writer, despite losing an election to Congress in 1908. Before serving in Congress, he held municipal office in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

. Russia named him Consul to the United States in 1912, a position in which he served until 1919. He was also director of the

Port of Boston The Port of Boston ( AMS Seaport Code: 0401, UN/LOCODE: US BOS) is a major seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the City of Boston. It is the largest port in Massachusetts and one of the principal ports on the East Coast of the Unite ...

from 1911 to 1916.

Early career

Conry was born in

Brookline, Massachusetts Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, in the United States, and part of the Boston metropolitan area. Brookline borders six of Boston's neighborhoods: Brighton, Allston, Fenway–Kenmore, Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, and ...

, on September 12, 1868. He attended the common schools, studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in

Municipal government

Conry served from 1895 through 1897 as a member of the

Boston Common Council 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 l ...

from ward 2. He served as president of the Common Council in 1896 and 1897. Conry 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 1898, and was the chairman of the board.

United States Congress

Conry was elected as a Democrat to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

for the

57th United States Congress The 57th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1901, to ...

(March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1902 to the

58th United States Congress The 58th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC, from March 4, 1903, to ...

, and resumed the practice of his profession in Boston.

Defeats in the 1908 congressional election

In 1908 Conry was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic congressional nomination in

Massachusetts's 9th congressional district Massachusetts's 9th congressional district is located in eastern Massachusetts. It is represented by Democrat William R. Keating. The 9th district is the least Democratic congressional district in Massachusetts, according to the PVI. Redistric ...

. Conry first lost in the Democratic primary, and in the general election as an independent candidate, losing both times to John A. Keliher.

Consul to the United States from Russia

He was recognized as consul of Russia in September 1912 and served until 1919. Conry was decorated by Czar

Nicholas II Nicholas II or Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov; spelled in pre-revolutionary script. ( 186817 July 1918), known in the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer,. was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Pol ...

, and was made a member of the Knights of St. Anne.

Later career

Joseph Conry grave section 53 - Mt Olivet - Washington DC - 2014

Conry served as director of the Port of Boston from 1911 to 1916. He served as special attorney for the

United States Maritime Commission The United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which was passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and was abolished on May 24, 195 ...

in Washington, D.C., in 1938 and 1939, then practiced law there.

Death and burial

Conry died at

George Washington University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital is a for-profit hospital, located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is affiliated with the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The current facility opened on ...

in Washington, D.C. June 22, 1943. He was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

References

*
Contested Election case of Joseph A. Conry vs. John A. Keliher

Notes

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conry, Joseph A. 1868 births 1943 deaths Politicians from Brookline, Massachusetts Boston City Council members Burials at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Washington, D.C.) Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts