TWEED, WILLIAM MARCY ("Boss"), American politi cian and leader of the "Tweed Ring," was born in New York City Apr. 3, 1823. In 1852 he was elected an alderman of the New York City council. From 1854 to 1856 he served as U.S. Representative in Washington. His real power in municipal politics began in 1857 with his election to the board of supervisors, which he came dominate. By working the downfall of Fernando Wood, a notori ously corrupt mayor, Tweed came into power under a cloak of respectability. He fortified himself through his political appoint ments. From i858 to 1871, while holding successively the posi tions of school commissioner, deputy street commissioner, State Senator and deputy commissioner of public works, Tweed, except for brief intervals, controlled the city administration. In 1868 he also controlled the State Democratic Assembly at Albany, and in 1869, though he lost the Assembly, he secured the election of his nominee as governor. The "Tweed Ring" of history, composed of Tweed, Mayor A. Oakey Hall, Peter B. Sweeny and Richard B.
Connolly, began its operations in Jan. 1869 and lasted until Tweed's downfall in 1871. Conservative estimates place the amount stolen directly from the city during this period at $45,000, 000, though including taxes lost through arbitrary reductions by the "ring" for money or favor and the issuance of bonds at ex travagant rates of interest some authorities have estimated as high as $200,000,000. Exposure came through a book-keeper who placed evidence in the hands of the New York Times where it was printed. Tweed was tried, found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in the penitentiary. In 1875 he escaped from the Ludlow Street gaol where he was confined, fled to Cuba and thence to Spain, where he was arrested by the Spanish Government and returned to the United States. He was again imprisoned in Ludlow Street gaol where he died Apr. 12, 1878.
See D. Lynch, "Boss" Tweed (1927).