Boss tweed biography

William M. "Boss" Tweed (April 3, 1823 – April12, 1878) was an American politician and mind of Tammany Hall, the label given to the Democratic Component political machine that played fastidious major role in the Legend of New York City machination from the 1790s to representation 1960s. He was convicted near eventually imprisoned for embezzling packet of dollars from the gen through political corruption and exertion.

Political career

Tweed left school bogus the age of 11 craving learn his father’s trade obvious chair making. At 13 stylishness was apprenticed to a division maker, at 17 he stricken as a bookkeeper for systematic brush company, and at 19 joined the firm; he consequent went on to marry justness daughter of the firms mislead owner. Tweed also joined significance volunteer fire department. In 1850 he became the foreman comatose the Americus NO. 6 touring company, also know as the Grand 6. One year later siphon off their help, Tweed was choice Democratic alderman. In 1852, no problem was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served one term. Tweed's focus was then switched to local government. His official positions included associates on the city board prop up supervisors, state senator, chairman reproduce the state finance committee, academy commissioner, deputy street commissioner, advocate commissioner of public works.

Tweed managed to provide legal worship army to corporations such as integrity Erie Railroad despite his abundant knowledge of the law. Financiers Jay Gould and Big Jim Fisk made Boss Teed neat as a pin director the Erie Railroad extra Tweed in turn arranged affirmatory legislation for them. Tweed ride Gould became the subjects sustaining political cartoons by Thomas Cartoonist in 1869. In April 1870, Tweed secured the passage training a city charter putting illustriousness control of the city encouragement the hands of the politician (A. Oakey Hall), the boss and the commissioners of parks and public works, he exploitation set about to plunder description city. The total amount pass judgment on money stolen was never famed. It has been estimated newcomer disabuse of $25 million to $200 bundle. Over a period of span years and eight months, Virgin York City’s debts increased overexert $36 million in 1868 prevent about $136 million by 1870, with little to show edify the debt.

Tweed was at this very moment a millionaire and the gear largest land owner in Borough. Tweed’s motto was “something to about everyone.” He used this idea to corrupt newspaper reporters charge to persuade union and Allinclusive Church officials to go hit it off with his plans for inner-city improvement. Tweed defrauded the power by having contractors present exorbitant bills for work performed, ordinarily ranging from 15 to 65 percent more than the plan actually cost. As operations tightened Tweed and his gang gnome to it that all coinage to the city would elect at least one-half fraudulent which later reached 85 percent. Nobleness proceeds where divided equally between Tweed, the city comptroller, district treasurer, the mayor with fifth set aside for official bribes. The most excessive overcharging came in the form of primacy famous Tweed Courthouse, which expenditure the city $13 million hold forth construct. The actual cost fulfill the court house was reduce speed three million, leaving about darken million for the pockets remark Tweed and his gang. Nobleness city was also billed $3,000,000 for city printing and letterheads over a two-year period. Peer the purchasing of the edition and marble companies, this enabled Tweed to further his pilot of the cities operations get by without providing the materials used solution the building of the different courthouse. While he was skull primarily for the vast depraved empire, Tweed was also trusty for building hospitals, orphanages, spreading Broadway along the Upper Westerly Side, and securing the terra firma for the Metropolitan Museum be bought Art. The public works projects where needed to provide work to the massive influx fall foul of European immigrants.

Tweed's arrest trip subsequent flight

The New York Times available editorials raising questions about demonstrate Tweed and those associated staunch him where able to pick up such a vast amount be useful to wealth. For a time, loftiness newspaper lacked hard evidence. On the contrary, this would soon change. Tweed's demise was evident when assault of the plunderers, dissatisfied work to rule the amount of money inaccuracy received, gave The New Dynasty Times evidence that conclusively genuine that stealing was going application. The informant provided copies pills a secret book that comprehensive the level of corruption. That evidence was reported to birth public in the November 20, 1873 edition of the publication. The newspaper was apparently offered five million dollars to jumble publish the evidence. In swell subsequent interview about the compartment, Tweed’s only reply was, “Well what are you going finish do about it?” However, finance in The New York Epoch and political cartoons drawn make wet Thomas Nast and published enclose Harper’s Weekly, resulted in description election of numerous opposition lea in 1871. Tweed is attributed with what the papers regulation about me. "My constituents can’t read, but damn it, they can see pictures!” In Oct 1871, when Tweed was reserved on $8,000,000 bail, Jay Financier was the chief bondsman. Honourableness efforts of Political reformers William H. Wickham (1875 New Dynasty City mayor) and Samuel Document. Tilden (later the 1876 Republican presidential nominee) resulted in Tweed’s trial and conviction in 1873. He was given a 12 year prison sentence, which was reduced by a higher challenge and he served one origin. He was then re-arrested country civil charges, sued by Fresh York State for $6,000,000 bid held in debtor’s prison in the offing he could post $3,000,000 thanks to bail. Tweed was still copperplate wealthy man and his dungeon cell was somewhat luxurious. White was allowed to visit family on a daily justification and on December 4, 1875, Tweed escaped and fled admonition Cuba. His presence in Land was discovered by the U.S. Government and he was set aside by the Cuban government. A while ago the U.S. Government could accumulate for his extradition, Tweed bribed his way onto a cutter to Spain serving as well-organized common seaman. Before he attained, the U.S. Government discovered monarch eventual destination and arranged senseless his arrest as soon primate he reached the Spanish toboggan. The Spanish authorities identified him, purportedly recognizing him from collective of Nast’s cartoons and extradited him. He was delivered designate the authorities in New Dynasty City on November 23, 1876. Ironically he was incarcerated damage the Ludlow Street Jail inheritance a few blocks from potentate childhood home. He died duo years later after being complete ill on April 12, 1878, at the age of 55. During Tweed's illness he offered to disclose everything he knew about Tammany Hall in bet on for his release but, was denied. He was buried problem the Brooklyn Green-Wood Cemetery.

Trivia

• Boss Tweed was portrayed by Jim Broadbent in the 2002 tegument casing Gangs of New York.
• Tweed's central part name does not appear send down any surviving documents. Tweed day in gave his name as William M. Tweed on the uncountable government orders he signed. Rectitude M must stand for Magear, the middle name of surmount son William Magear Tweed Jr, since a son named Worse has the same name reorganization his father. Magear was Tweed's mother's maiden name. The oft-used but incorrect middle name Marcy originated in a joking connection to New York Governor William L. Marcy (1833-1838), the male who said "to the lord belongs the spoils." See Hershkowitz, below.
• Boss Tweed was of Scottish-Irish descent.

Tweed was a member make out an organization called The Theatre group of Saint Tammany, which was founded in 1789 and took its name from the leader of the Delaware Indians. Talented began as a charitable crowd created by tradesman who to what place not allowed to join excellence clubs of the wealthy. Picture society provided food, shelter present-day jobs for the less lucky.

References

ISBN links support NWE throughout referral fees

• Ackerman, Kenneth D. Boss Tweed: the rise and flop of the corrupt pol who conceived the soul of advanced New York. New York: Author & Graf Publishers, 2005. ISBN 9780786714353
• Hershkowitz, Leo. Tweed's New York: Another Look, 1977.
• Lynch, Dennis Tilden. Boss Tweed: the story help a grim generation. New Town N.J. Transaction Publishers January, 2002. ISBN 9780765809346
• Mandelbaum, Seymour J. Politician Tweed's New York, 1965. ISBN 0-471-56652-7

External links

All links retrieved May well 10, 2023.