John J. McElligott explained

John James McElligott (August 25, 1882  - September 6, 1946) was appointed the 12th New York City Fire Commissioner by Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia on January 1, 1934.

Biography

McElligott resigned from his position by announcing his retirement on February 23, 1940. Mayor LaGuardia initially appointed Elmer Mustard as Fire Commissioner. Still, the next day, Mayor LaGuardia pronounced "null and void" the action taken by McElligott, and on February 27, 1940, McElligott resumed his position as Fire Commissioner. He continued as the Fire Commissioner of the City of New York until his removal by LaGuardia as the result of a corruption scandal on May 8, 1941.^[1] He died on September 6, 1946, at Saint Clare's Hospital in Manhattan.^[2] His funeral mass was held at Saint Patrick's Cathedral with Cardinal Francis Spellman attending.^[3]

Notes and References

1. News: Walsh Takes Over As City Fire Head. New Commissioner Pledges His 'better-than-best' As Mayor Wishes Him Good Luck. . With a pledge to do better than his best. Acting Chief Patrick Walsh took the oath of office as Commissioner of the Fire Department at City Hall yesterday. Mayor La Guardia, swearing in the new Commissioner, simply remarked: . . May 11, 1941 . 2010-03-25 .
2. News: John J. M'Elligott Dies In Hospital, 64. Fire Department Veteran Was First To Be Commissioner And Chief At One Time. Former Post 7 Years. Ousted By La Guardia In 1941, He Then Joined Todd Corp. Won Many Citations. Drew Up Defense Plan La Guardia Appointed Him. Gave "double-nine" Alarm . John J. McElligott, former Fire Commissioner and Chief of the department, the first man in the city's history to hold both posts simultaneously, died yesterday in Saint Clare's Hospital, 415 West fifty-first Street, after an illness of two months. He was admitted to the hospital on July 1. His age was 64. . . September 7, 1946 . 2010-03-27 .
3. News: M'Elligott Rites Attended By 2,500. Spellman, La Guardia, O'Brien Among Notables at Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral . Twenty-five hundred persons, including many past and present city officials, attended a funeral service yesterday morning in St. Patrick's Cathedral for John J. McElligott, former Fire Commissioner and chief of the department, who died on Friday at the age of 64. . . September 10, 1946 . 2010-03-27 .