James Aloysius O'Leary (April 23, 1889 – March 16, 1944) was an American lawyer and businessman who served five terms as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1935 to 1944.

James Aloysius O'Leary
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 11th district
In office
January 3, 1935 – March 16, 1944
Preceded byAnning Smith Prall
Succeeded byEllsworth B. Buck
Personal details
Born(1889-04-23)April 23, 1889
Staten Island, New York, US
DiedMarch 16, 1944(1944-03-16) (aged 54)
Staten Island, New York, US
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and career edit

O'Leary was born in New Brighton, Staten Island. He attended St. Peter's Academy, Augustinian Academy, and Westerleigh Collegiate Institute, and also studied law. He became active in the real estate and insurance businesses, and in 1917 he joined the North Shore Ice Company, of which he was general manager and vice president from 1920 to 1934.

Political career edit

He unsuccessfully ran for a New York State Senate seat in 1930. He was elected to Congress in 1934 and served from January 3, 1935, until his death in 1944 in West New Brighton, Staten Island.

Family edit

His great-grandson, Vito J. Fossella Jr., served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing New York's 13th congressional district from 1997 to 2009.

See also edit

Sources edit

  • United States Congress. "James A. O'Leary (id: O000065)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • James Aloysius O'Leary, Late a Representative. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. 1946.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 11th congressional district

1935–1944
Succeeded by