KELLY, Jourt, b. N. Y., 1822; began at a very early age to earn his living., being employed in a rope-maker's shop when only eight years old, and after that with a MDROD. In 1835 he learned the printer's trade in the office where the N. Y. herald was printed, and attracted the notice of ,lanes Gordon Bennett, its founder, who employed him in his office. Bat he returned to the mason's trade as an apprentice, and, having learned it, iii 1842 started in business for himself. Having had but little education he devoted his leisure to the study of languages and other subjects, and with great success. His facility for the rapid acquisition .of knowledge was always remarkable, and in later years was commended IT prof. I3onamy Price and Horace Greeley as quite an excep tional characteristic. While still a young man Mr. Kelly interested himself in polities. particularly of New York city, and in 1849 became a member of the Tammony general committee. In 1853 he was elected alderman for a term of two years, and the following year to congress, to which he was re-elected in 1856. While in congress he gained a reputation by his industry, and by the earnestness with which he supported his convie lions: He was a member of the ways and means committee, and was active intpressing the homestead bill, and in opposition to the know-nothing movement. In 1858 he was elected sheriff of New York; held the office until 1801, and was re-elected in 1864. A-t the close of his term (1869) he visited Europe, remaining abroad two and a half years, and traveling through the Holy Land, Egypt, and Arabia. Mn'. Kelly had withdrawn
from the Tammany committee in 1864, and during the manipulations of the "Tweed ring" was out of the country. OD his return in 1872 he applied himself to the reorgani zation of the democratic party in the city, and with entire success. In 1876 he was appointed to the important position of comptroller of the city of New York, and so conducted the vast transactions of the finance department as to gain the respect and admiration even of his enemies. Bitterly engaged in the local political friction-fighting for supremacy in the party, Mr. Kelly was the target for constant and severe eruieis.t. and animadversion; but his integrity and ability in the administration of his high office were • never questioned. Besides iris importance in local politics, in which he was recognized as the leader of his party, Mr. Kelly possessed great influence in regard to notional affairs, having been a member of nearly every presidential convention after that of 1860. In 1879 he antagonized the regular democratic nominee for governor of the state of New York with such force as to defeat him, running for the ottice himself on an independent ticket, and polling over, 70,000 votes. In Dee., 1880, the term of Mr. Kelly's office as comptroller having expired, he retired from the public service.