Frank J. Corr
Encyclopedia
Frank J. Corr served as acting mayor of Chicago, Illinois in 1933 following the assassination
of Anton Cermak
. Corr was a Democrat
.
Corr was born in Brooklyn, NY, but his family moved to Chicago in 1890 when he was thirteen years old.
A graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law
, he first entered politics in 1902 as assistant corporate council for Chicago. Although he briefly left that position to become a law partner to Judge Walter T. Stanton, he returned to the political post during the administration of Mayor William Dever
. During this time, he became active in ward politics and in 1931 was elected alderman
for Chicago's 17th Ward.
Corr was in his second term as alderman when Cermak was assassinated in March 1933. The city council elected Corr to serve as Acting Mayor until the state General Assembly authorized the city council to appoint a permanent replacement for Cermak. The special election was won by Edward Kelly
.
During Corr's brief administration, his bodyguards killed a nineteen year old burglar when they heard a commotion at an hotel near Corr's house. As Acting Mayor, Corr lacked the ability to sign tax warrants, limiting salary payments for city and school employees. When five aldermen traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas
, Corr followed them to bring them back to Chicago to ensure that his replacement could be elected quickly.
At the time of his death, Corr was serving as Alderman and running uncontested for election to the Circuit court. With his death the night before the election, he was replaced on the ballot by Cornelius J. Harrington. Corr's father, Frank V. Corr, died four weeks before Frank Corr's death. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
.
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of Anton Cermak
Anton Cermak
Anton Joseph Cermak was the mayor of Chicago, Illinois, from 1931 until his assassination by Giuseppe Zangara in 1933.-Early life and career:...
. Corr was a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Corr was born in Brooklyn, NY, but his family moved to Chicago in 1890 when he was thirteen years old.
A graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago–Kent College of Law, the law school affiliated with Illinois Institute of Technology, is nationally recognized for the scholarship and accomplishments of its faculty and student body. It is the second oldest law school in the state of Illinois. Many of the applications of technology in the...
, he first entered politics in 1902 as assistant corporate council for Chicago. Although he briefly left that position to become a law partner to Judge Walter T. Stanton, he returned to the political post during the administration of Mayor William Dever
William Emmett Dever
William Emmett Dever served as the Democratic mayor of Chicago, Illinois, U.S. from 1923 to 1927.-Biography:...
. During this time, he became active in ward politics and in 1931 was elected alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for Chicago's 17th Ward.
Corr was in his second term as alderman when Cermak was assassinated in March 1933. The city council elected Corr to serve as Acting Mayor until the state General Assembly authorized the city council to appoint a permanent replacement for Cermak. The special election was won by Edward Kelly
Edward Joseph Kelly
Edward Joseph Kelly served as chief engineer of the Chicago sanitary district in the 1920s, and later as mayor of Chicago, Illinois for the Democratic Party....
.
During Corr's brief administration, his bodyguards killed a nineteen year old burglar when they heard a commotion at an hotel near Corr's house. As Acting Mayor, Corr lacked the ability to sign tax warrants, limiting salary payments for city and school employees. When five aldermen traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
, Corr followed them to bring them back to Chicago to ensure that his replacement could be elected quickly.
At the time of his death, Corr was serving as Alderman and running uncontested for election to the Circuit court. With his death the night before the election, he was replaced on the ballot by Cornelius J. Harrington. Corr's father, Frank V. Corr, died four weeks before Frank Corr's death. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is the name of several different cemeteries in the United States. The name is inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which is believed by many Christians to be built on the site of Jesus's tomb...
.