John McKenna (usher)
| John McKenna | |
|---|---|
| White House Chief Usher | |
|
In office 1887–1889 |
|
| President | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Edson S. Densmore |
| Succeeded by | Edson S. Densmore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1841 Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | December 16, 1898 (aged 56–57) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nationality | Irish American |
John Francis McKenna (1841 – December 16, 1898) was an Irish American civil servant who served as Chief Usher of the White House in Washington, D.C., from 1887 to 1889.
McKenna was born in the town of Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary in southern Ireland in 1841. He was the seventh of nine children born to Neal McKenna and his wife, and the second of three sons. He emigrated to the United States with his family in 1849, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 1. The McKennas settled in Troy, New York, where John grew up. McKenna was a strong Irish nationalist, and in the 1860s he was one of the most prominent Irish Nationalists in the United States. He married Bridget McIntyre, and they had five children: James (1863), John Jr. (1866), Alice (1871), Mary (1875), and Charles (1877). James later became a noted physician. Little else is known about his family, upbringing, education, or early life.
McKenna became a businessman in Troy, although the nature of his business is not clear. On November 23, 1870, McKenna was appointed Superintendent of Police of the city of Troy. He held this office for the next 12 years, until December 1, 1882. The outgoing mayor of Troy reappointed McKenna to yet another term as Superintendent on his last day in office. The new mayor appointed local man John Quigley the following day. McKenna continued to hold the office, however, and Quigley contested McKenna's reappointment. On March 16, 1883, the New York Court of Appeals—the highest court in the state of New York—ruled that McKenna's reappointment was not legal. As superintendent, McKenna likely was appointed to the rank of police colonel (a title he used for the rest of his life). McKenna was also a member of the New York State Militia, where he reached the rank of lieutenant. From January 22, 1874, to at least 1875 McKenna also served as a porter for the Port of New York.
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