Patrick A. Collins Patrick, 1844-1905
No. 874 Patrick A. Collins
Scan of photo in Dorchester. Volume II. By Anthony Mitchell Sammarco. (Images of America Series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2000. p. 31.The Honorable Patrick A. Collins (1844-1905) was born in Ireland and immigrated to Boston with his mother four years later. An 1871 graduate of the Harvard Law School, he was elected state representative in 1868 and 1869, and state senator in 1870 and 1871. He was a judge advocate under Governor Gaston and was later president of the Irish Land League and received ceremonial freedom of Dublin and Cork. In 1893, this fiercely Catholic politician was appointed consul general at London, serving for four years. Upon his return to Boston, he was elected mayor in 1901 and served until the time of his death.
No. 6991 Home of Mayor Collins on Mt. Ida.
The following is from Mayors of Boston. Boston: Printed for the State Street Trust Company, 1914.
Patrick Andrew Collins
Thirty-second Mayor, 1902-03-04-05
General Collins was one of Boston’s greatest Irishmen, and was respected by the “blue stocking” element as much as by his own race. He was born at Ballina Fauna, Ireland, March 12, 1844, where his father was a respected farmer, who was often called to settle disputes among his neighbors and was an ardent supporter of Irish liberty and rights, so that Mayor Collins as a child was imbued with devotion to Irish freedom.
The Collins family came to America, and finally settled in Chelsea, where Collins attended school and passed some unhappy years, as the Know-nothing movement at this time, 1848, was at its height. He was persecuted as Irish and a Catholic by his schoolmates. During one of the Know-nothing riots Collins’s arm was broken. After leaving school, he worked in a fish market. Through the influence of Robert Morris, the first colored lawyer, who took a great interest in the boy, Collins was filled with a desire for an education. His mother went to Ohio in 1857, and Collins tried to earn a living in many ways, working as a miner, a carter, and an upholsterer. He wished to become a machinist, but was not physically strong enough. He finally returned to South Boston, where he worked at his trade, soon becoming the highest-paid journeyman, and working in Boston, to which he walked every day, going back in the evening for his supper. After supper he returned to Boston to spend the evening studying in the Public Library, and at the close of his evenings reading Greek, Roman, French, and English history, fiction and poetry. Having a remarkable memory, he stored his mind with facts, which he was afterwards able to use to great advantage in his public career.
He finally saved money enough to study law, first with James Keith, a Democrat and a fine lawyer of the old school, and later took a degree at Harvard Law School. When he opened his office, the first case was brought to him by Leopold Morse, who ever took pleasure in bringing opportunity to others. In 1867, when he was but twenty-three, he captivated an audience at a political meeting he chanced to attend, and was made a delegate to the party convention.
His support of the Fenian movement brought upon him the disapproval of the Catholic clergy, who sharply criticised him.
He was a member of the legislature in 1868 and 1869, and of the State Senate in 1870 and 1871, where he was then the youngest man who had ever become a member, and was chairman of the Harbor and Land Commission. In 1883-85 he was in Congress, where he served on the Judiciary Committee and worked for uniform bankruptcy laws and international copyright. Under Governor Gaston he was judge advocate, and later was president of the Irish Land League and received the freedom of Dublin and Cork. His campaign work for Cleveland swung the Irish vote to the latter, and he was appointed consul-general to London. He felt that Boston had gone too far in the direction of “benevolent socialism” and made new appointments to the heads of most city departments. He impressed upon the heads he appointed that he would hold them, and no one else, responsible for any dishonesty or laxity in affairs; opposed enlargement of taxes and drafts for maintenance and improvements of parks and sewers; held out firmly against raising the salaries of city employees and pensions for their widows. He stood against injuries to the historic interest of the city, such as encroachments on the Common, tearing down the Old South Meeting-house, changing Copp’s Hill or the Granary Burying-ground. Governor Crane accepted his opinion on all matters relating to Boston that came before him vetoing all measures which the mayor deemed improper. Collins approved the freeing of Cuba, but disapproved the acquisition of Porto Rico and the Philippines. He died September 14, 1905, while in office. Of him Grover Cleveland said, “In public life he was strictly honest and sincerely devoted to the responsibilities which office-holding involves.”
Patrick Collins from Wikipedia
Patrick Collins was born March 12, 1844 near Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland. His family emigrated to the United States and settled in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1848 after the death of his father.
Collins attended public schools until the age of 12. He then worked at various trades in Massachusetts and Ohio. At age 15, he returned to Boston and learned the upholstery trade. Working in an upholstery shop, he rose to position of foreman and became active in the trade union movement. He became a secretary of his union and a delegate to the Trades Assembly.
Interested in a career in law, Collins saved his money and became active in politics.
Public service
In 1867 was nominated for a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Shortly afterward, he started working for a law firm. He was elected to the House, serving two terms in 1868 and 1869. He then served two terms in the Massachusetts Senate in 1870 and 1871. During his time in the state legislature, he studied law at Harvard Law School. He graduated and was admitted to the bar in 1871.
Collins practiced law in Boston. He served as judge advocate general of Massachusetts in 1875. He also served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1876, 1880, 1888, and 1892.
Collins was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1882 and served three terms in the 48th, 49th and 50th Congresses from 1883 to 1889.[2] He was also Chairman of the Democratic State Committee from 1884 to 1890. He retired from Congress in 1889 and resumed his law practice.
Collins served as consul general in London under President Grover Cleveland from May 6, 1893 to May 17, 1897.
Collins also served on the boards of directors of several companies and civic organizations.
Collins was elected Mayor of Boston in 1901 and served from 1902 until his death in 1905. He died during an official visit to Hot Springs, Virginia, on September 13, 1905. He was interred in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, Massachusetts.
References
Mayors of Boston: An Illustrated Epitome of who the Mayors Have Been and What they Have Done”. Boston, MA: State Street Trust Company. 1914. p. 43.
“Massachusetts”, Official Congressional Directory, 1884
“MAYOR-ELECT OF BOSTON.; Interesting Life History of Gen. Patrick A. Collins.” (PDF). The New York Times. 1901-12-15. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
“Biographies of the Representatives of the 8th District of Massachusetts”. U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
Patrick Collins at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress