Richard Croker

Richard "Boss" Croker
Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall
In office 1886–1902
Preceded by	John Kelly
Succeeded by	Lewis Nixon
Chamberlain of the City of New York
In office 1889–1890
New York City Fire Commissioner
In office 1883–1887
Coroner of New York County
In office 1873–1876
Member of the New York City Council
In office 1868–1870
Personal details
Born	(1843-11-24)November 24, 1843 Ardfield, County Cork, Ireland
Died	April 29, 1922(1922-04-29) (aged 78) Stillorgan, County Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Elizabeth Fraser ​ ​ (m. 1873; died 1914)​ Beulah Edmonson ​ (m. 1914)​
Children	7
Profession	Coroner, mobster

Richard Welstead Croker (November 24, 1843 – April 29, 1922), known as "Boss Croker", was an Irish American political boss who was a leader of New York City's Tammany Hall.^[1] His control over the city was cemented with the 1897 election of Robert A. Van Wyck as the first mayor of all five boroughs. During his tenure as Grand Sachem, Boss Croker garnered a reputation for corruption and ruthlessness and was frequently the subject of investigations. As his power waned following the 1900 and 1901 elections, Croker resigned his position and returned to Ireland, where he spent the rest of his life.