James P.B. Duffy
Encyclopedia
James Patrick Bernard Duffy (November 25, 1878 – January 8, 1969) was a Democratic
member of the United States House of Representatives
from New York
.
Duffy was born in Rochester, New York
, one of nine children. He graduated from Georgetown University
in 1901 and from Harvard Law School
in 1904. He was admitted to the bar the same year and began practice in partnership with Republican
James Breck Perkins
, a member of Congress. He abandoned the practice of law in 1914 acceding to his father's request to take over as manager of The Duffy-Powers Department Store, the family business. There he remained until the concern went bankrupt in 1932. Duffy was an avid Democratic Party member and held a series of political posts before and after his period on the bench. He was a member of the City of Rochester, New York School Board from 1905-32, and a member of the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from 1933-34.
He was elected to Congress in 1934, having defeated incumbent Republican
James L. Whitley
and represented New York's 38th congressional district
from January 3, 1935 until January 3, 1937, departing due to his defeat for renomination in 1936. He was then appointed by Governor Lehman to the New York Supreme Court
on April 20, 1937 and served until December 31, 1937. He was defeated by Nathan Lapham in the subsequent election and served until December 31, 1937. Duffy practiced law in partnership from 1938 onward, and sat on the New York State Probation Commission from 1938-44. During the course of his life, Duffy was ubiquitous in the Rochester, New York
region. He was a founder and for fifty-two years Director of Family Services of Rochester, fifty-two years a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce, thirty-four years a counsel to the local Red Cross, forty-two years a Trustee of the Community Chest, thirty-four years a Commissioner of the Rochester Museum, thirty-four years a Trustee of the Rochester Savings Bank, thirty-two years a Director and one year President of the local Automobile Club, fifty-two years a Trustee of St. Patrick's Church and three years a functionary of the United Service Organization. He was a member of nine different clubs and brotherhoods. He received numerous honors during the course of his life, most notable his designation as a Knight of St. Gregory and a Knight of Malta by Pope Pius XI
. One report indicated that he went to Mass every day, carried a missal at all times, and meticulously recorded in all his diaries. Duffy died at St. Anne's Home in Rochester, New York
on January 8, 1969 and was laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. "James P. B. Duffy School No. 12" in Rochester, New York
was named in his honor.
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...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Duffy was born in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, one of nine children. He graduated from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1901 and from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1904. He was admitted to the bar the same year and began practice in partnership with Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
James Breck Perkins
James Breck Perkins
James Breck Perkins was an American historian, a United States Congressman, and a writer.He was born in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, and graduated at the University of Rochester, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, in 1867...
, a member of Congress. He abandoned the practice of law in 1914 acceding to his father's request to take over as manager of The Duffy-Powers Department Store, the family business. There he remained until the concern went bankrupt in 1932. Duffy was an avid Democratic Party member and held a series of political posts before and after his period on the bench. He was a member of the City of Rochester, New York School Board from 1905-32, and a member of the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from 1933-34.
He was elected to Congress in 1934, having defeated incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
James L. Whitley
James L. Whitley
James Lucius Whitley was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.Whitley was born in Rochester, New York. He graduated from the law department of Union College in 1898. He served as a sergeant in the Spanish-American War...
and represented New York's 38th congressional district
New York's 38th congressional district
The 38th Congressional District of New York was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in New York. It was created in 1913 as a result of the 1910 Census. It was eliminated in 1983 as a result of the 1980 Census...
from January 3, 1935 until January 3, 1937, departing due to his defeat for renomination in 1936. He was then appointed by Governor Lehman to the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
on April 20, 1937 and served until December 31, 1937. He was defeated by Nathan Lapham in the subsequent election and served until December 31, 1937. Duffy practiced law in partnership from 1938 onward, and sat on the New York State Probation Commission from 1938-44. During the course of his life, Duffy was ubiquitous in the Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
region. He was a founder and for fifty-two years Director of Family Services of Rochester, fifty-two years a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce, thirty-four years a counsel to the local Red Cross, forty-two years a Trustee of the Community Chest, thirty-four years a Commissioner of the Rochester Museum, thirty-four years a Trustee of the Rochester Savings Bank, thirty-two years a Director and one year President of the local Automobile Club, fifty-two years a Trustee of St. Patrick's Church and three years a functionary of the United Service Organization. He was a member of nine different clubs and brotherhoods. He received numerous honors during the course of his life, most notable his designation as a Knight of St. Gregory and a Knight of Malta by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
. One report indicated that he went to Mass every day, carried a missal at all times, and meticulously recorded in all his diaries. Duffy died at St. Anne's Home in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
on January 8, 1969 and was laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. "James P. B. Duffy School No. 12" in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
was named in his honor.