Mayor of Chicago, 1933-1947
- Democratic Party
- Elected acting mayor by City Council April 13, 1933. Kelly served as 46th mayor of Chicago, completing the unexpired term of Mayor Anton Joseph Cermak.
- Won primary election February 26, 1935, defeating John P. O’Meara, Martin Powroznik and James Fred Robertson
- Elected to second term as mayor April 2, 1935 ; defeated Newton Jenkins (Third Party) and Emil C. Wetten (Republican) in general election
- Won primary election February 28, 1939, defeating Thomas J. Courtney, James Fred Robertson and James J. Ryan
- Elected to third term as mayor April 4, 1939; defeated Dwight H. Green (Republican) and Arthur P. Reilly (Third Party) in general election
- Won primary election February 23, 1943, defeating John S. Boyle and Billy Patts
- Elected to fourth term as mayor April 6, 1943; defeated George B. McKibbin (Republican) in general election
- Inauguration to first term: April 17, 1933
- Inauguration to second term: April 8, 1935
- Inauguration to third term: April 12, 1939
- Inauguration to fourth term: April 9, 1943
Biographical
- Born May 1, 1876 in Chicago
- Became a newsboy at 9, cash boy in a department store at 11, office boy for a broker at 14, and later undertaker and surveyor
- Married Mary Roche, who died in 1918; together they had a son who died at age 14.
- Married Margaret E. Kirk of Kansas City, Mo. in 1922; together they adopted three children.
- Became south park commissioner in 1922, and eventually president of the board until elected mayor
- Served as chief engineer of the Sanitary District
- Took over post of county chairman in 1944
- Died October 20, 1950 in Chicago
- Buried in Calvary Cemetery, Chicago
Sources
- "Edward J. Kelly: Life as Mayor, Builder, Power." Chicago Daily Tribune, October 21, 1950, p. 4.
- "Edward Kelly Rites Tuesday in Cathedral." Chicago Daily Tribune, October 21, 1950, p. 1.
- Evans, Arthur. "Edward J. Kelly New Mayor." Chicago Daily Tribune, April 14, 1933, p. 1.
- Grossman, James R., Ann Durkin Keating and Janice L. Reiff, editors. Encyclopedia of Chicago. University of Chicago Press, 2004.