James A. Finnegan Explained

Office1:Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Term Start1:December 29, 1956[1]
Term End1:March 26, 1958
Governor1:George M. Leader
Preceded1:Henry E. Harner
Succeeded1:John S. Rice
Term Start2:January 18, 1955
Term End2:November 17, 1955
Governor2:George M. Leader
Preceded2:Gene D. Smith
Succeeded2:Henry E. Harner
Office3:President of the Philadelphia City Council
Term Start3:January 1, 1951
Term End3:January 14, 1955[2]
Succeeded3:James Tate
Office4:Member of the Philadelphia City Council
Term Start4:January 6, 1947
Term End4:January 18, 1955
Birth Name:James Aloysius Finnegan
Birth Date:20 December 1906
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:University of Pennsylvania

James Aloysius Finnegan[3] (December 20, 1906  - March 26, 1958) was a Democratic politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1931, and then served the United States Air Force as Lieutenant Colonel in the Troop Carrier Command in the United States, England, and France from 1942 to 1946.

Finnegan served in succession as Secretary of the Delaware River Navigation Commission under Governor George Howard Earle III, administrative assistant to Senator Francis J. Myers, administrative assistant to former Congressman Michael J. Bradley, and chair of the Philadelphia County Democratic Executive Committee. A member of Philadelphia City Council, he was elected its president in 1951, serving until January 1955.

Finnegan became Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor George M. Leader in 1955. He resigned the position that same year to assume the duties of campaign manager for Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson II's pre-convention and later presidential campaign in 1956. Leader reappointed Finnegan Secretary of the Commonwealth on December 28, 1956. He served in this capacity until his death, at age 52, on March 26, 1958.

Pennsylvania political leaders at the time of Finnegan's demise created the Finnegan Foundation. The foundation's purpose is to provide educational fellowships to undergraduates.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: Finnegan Takes Oath. January 11, 2012. The Reading Eagle. December 29, 1956.
  2. Web site: Administration of James H. J. Tate. Mayor's Correspondence and Files. The City of Philadelphia: Department of Records. February 12, 2012.
  3. Ralph G. Martin (1964), Ballots and Bandwagons, Chicago: Rand McNally, "Democratic National Convention of 1956", p. 376.