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

United States representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

from

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

. 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 is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

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

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

of the

Port of Boston The Port of Boston (Automated Manifest System, AMS Seaport Code: 0401, UN/LOCODE: US BOS) is a major seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the Boston, Massachusetts, City of Boston. It is the largest port in Massachusetts and one of th ...

from 1911 to 1916.

Early career

Conry was born in

Brookline, Massachusetts Brookline () is an affluent town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and part of the Greater Boston, Boston metropolitan area. An exclave of Norfolk County, Brookline borders six of Boston's neighborhoods: Brighton, Boston, Brighton ...

, 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 Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. It has an area of and a ...

from ward 2. He served as president of the Common Council in 1896 and 1897. Conry served on the

Boston Board of Aldermen Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. It has an area of and a ...

in 1898, and was the chairman of the board.

United States Congress

Conry was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

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 Bill Keating. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+6, it is the least Democratic district in Massachusetts, a state with an al ...

. 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 (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov; 186817 July 1918) or Nikolai II was the last reigning Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland from 1 November 1894 until his abdication on 15 March 1917. He married ...

, 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 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, 1950. The co ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, in 1938 and 1939, then practiced law there.

Death and burial

Conry died at

George Washington University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH) is a short-stay hospital in Washington, D.C. affiliated with the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Since 2022, the hospital has been wholly owned and operated ...

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 Board of Aldermen members Burials at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Washington, D.C.) Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts Presidents of the Boston Common Council 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives