Richard Croker
Richard Welstead Croker (November 24, 1843 – April 29, 1922), known as "
Boss Croker", was an
Irish American political boss who was a leader of
New York City's
Tammany Hall. His control over the city was cemented with the 1897 election of
Robert A. Van Wyck as the first
mayor of all five
boroughs. During his tenure as
Grand Sachem, Boss Croker garnered a reputation for corruption and ruthlessness and was frequently the subject of investigations. As his power waned following the 1900 and 1901 elections, Croker resigned his position and returned to Ireland, where he spent the rest of his life.
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