JOHN FRANCIS FITZGERALD BORN
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On February 11, 1863, John Francis Fitzgerald*, maternal grandfather of future President John F. Kennedy, was born here in Boston. He was the son of Irish immigrants Thomas Fitzgerald and Rose Anna Cox.
In his first two terms in the United States Congress, John Francis Fitzgerald, representing the 9th and 10th District respectively, was the only Democrat to represent New England.
Historian Robert Dallek describes Mr. Fitzgerald as "a natural politician, a charming, impish, affable lover of people."
Facing prejudice because of his Irish Catholic heritage, John F. Fitzgerald "chose politics (as) the only field where (he) could get influence and opportunity."
In the words of Thomas Maier, John Francis Fitzgerald...
"helped transform (the Irish Catholics') position in (Boston) and their image of themselves."
*John Francis Fitzgerald (1863-1950) was educated at the Boston Latin School and Boston College. He was accepted at Harvard Medical School but because both his parents died at a young age had to go to work.
JFF founded the Jefferson Club in South Boston & served on the Common Council in 1891 & State Senate 1892-1894. After his time in Congress, he was Mayor of Boston 1906-1908 & 1910-1914.
JFF predicted his grandson, John F. Kennedy, would one day be POTUS & President Kennedy named the presidential yacht, the "Honey Fitz," in honor of his grandfather's nickname.
SOURCE
"The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings," by Thomas Maier, Basic Books, New York, 2003.
