John Morrissey

John Morrissey was born on 12th February, 1831 in the Templemore City in the Republic of Ireland. John was an American boxer from Ireland. He belonged to an economically poor family and thus went in the wrong direction to make a living and became a thief. He had to leave school after his first grade and later turned into a thief at the railway stations. Before turning 18, he was sentenced twice for harassment and burglary.

Apart from working for a gang as a thief, he was also a boxer. He shifted to New York Click to look into! >> Read More... to pursue a career in boxing. His first match at NYC was against Yankee Sullivan, who was a professional boxing champion and John’s old time enemy. On the day of the match, 12th October 1853 at Boston Corner, John was disqualified and Sullivan was announced victorious. There occurred a dispute in accordance with the rules of the game, and John left the campus thinking that he was the winner.

Josh Morrissey was also known by the nickname “Old Smoke”. He earned this name in the early years of his career when he indulged in a fight with Tom McCann, who was beaten near to death by Morrissey. Morrissey’s whole body was under fire and hence the nickname.

He also featured in the documentary “Paddy Whacked, The History of the Irish Mob” by the History Channel. He retired from the field of boxing in the year 1859 and became a business person. He established a gaming house in the Saratoga Springs of New York. He also constructed a race course with the help of his friend. His casino, The Club House was one of the major sites for the leisure activities of the wealthy. He was the owner of sixteen casinos.

He joined the American Congress in 1866. He was also the member of the USA’s 40th and 41st state meeting (USA’s legislative branch). Morrissey was the holder of the title Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the Year, consecutively from 1853 to 1859. He was a member of the USA’s House of Representatives (1867 to 1871) at the New York 5th Congress district, and was the member of the Senate of New York in 1976 to 1877 and also in 1878.

John suffered from acute pneumonia at the age of 47 and this eventually led to his death on 1st May, 1978.