Croker, Richard definition of Croker, Richard in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Croker, Richard, 1841–1922, American politician, head of Tammany Tammany (tăm`ənē) or Tammany Hall, popular name for the Democratic political machine in Manhattan.
..... Click the link for more information. Hall from 1886 to 1902, b. Co. Cork, Ireland. He became prominent as Democratic leader of New York City's East Side and as an aide of John Kelly Kelly, John, 1822–86, American politician, boss of Tammany Hall, b. New York City. He entered politics at an early age. At first he opposed Tammany Hall, but later (1853) joined the organization and became city alderman.
..... Click the link for more information. . He was elected (1868) alderman and held minor appointive offices, which increased in importance after Kelly succeeded (1871) William M. Tweed as boss. Croker became Kelly's chief lieutenant, and after Kelly's retirement (1884) Croker was the acknowledged Tammany boss. Croker was (1889–90) city chamberlain and brought about the elections of Hugh Grant (1888), Thomas F. Gilroy (1892), and Robert Van Wyck (1897) as mayors. The election (1901) of Seth Low as mayor of New York caused Croker's abdication as Tammany leader, and he was succeeded by Charles F. Murphy Murphy, Charles Francis, 1858–1924, American political boss, b. New York City. He was the owner of many saloons in New York City and took a keen interest in Democratic politics. His services to Tammany Hall brought him a job as dock commissioner.
..... Click the link for more information. . Croker spent the remainder of his life in leisure in England and Ireland.

Bibliography

See T. L. Stoddard, Master of Manhattan (1931).

Croker, Richard (1841–1922) political boss; born in County Cork, Ireland. His family came to New York City when he was three years old. He worked as a machinist and led a street gang (and was a prize fighter) and became involved in Democratic Party politics by serving as an aide to John Kelly of Tammany Hall. Croker was elected alderman in 1868, and when Kelly replaced the ousted (1871) “Boss” Tweed as the boss of New York City by 1874, Croker also gained influence. When Kelly retired in 1884, he left control of Tammany Hall to Croker. Although Croker held only one formal office during this period—city chamberlain (1889–90)—for the next 17 years, he had a large say in who was elected mayor of New York and controlled patronage. With the election of the reform candidate Seth Low in 1901, Croker lost influence and in 1903 he returned to Ireland, where he purchased a large estate and bred race horses, one of which won the coveted English Derby. He married twice, the second time to a Cherokee Indian.