John K. Hackett
Encyclopedia
John Keteltas Hackett was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
(1800-1871). He attended Borland & Forrester Private Academy and Columbia College, and graduated from New York University
in 1837. Then he studied law with Joshua N. Spencer in Utica, and from 1840 on with William M. Evarts
and Jonathan Prescott Hall in New York City. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and practiced in New York City. He married Laura Jane Hall (1825-1897), and their only child was Minnie Laura (Hackett) Trowbridge (1850-1914).
In 1849, he went to San Francisco, California
, and practiced law there in partnership with Eugene Casserly
. Hackett was elected Corporation Counsel of San Francisco, and served one term.
In 1857, he returned to New York City, and soon afterwards entered city politics being elected Secretary of Mozart Hall, the Anti-Tammany Hall
Democratic organization. He was appointed by John E. Develin as Assistant Corporation Counsel of New York City. As such, in 1862, Hackett contested John Kelly
's claim for $20,000 sheriff's fees, thus gaining Kelly's enmity.
Hackett was still in office when Recorder John T. Hoffman
took office as Mayor of New York City
on January 1, 1866. To fill the vacancy proved difficult, the Board of Supervisors of New York County having six Republicans and six Democrats. On March 6, 1866, after more than two months of deadlock, Hackett was elected Recorder of New York City
, and was elected to succeed himself for a full three-year term, running on the Tammany ticket in November 1866. In November 1869, he was re-elected on the Tammany ticket, the term having been extended to six years in the meanwhile. After succeeding William M. Tweed as boss of Tammany Hill, Kelly launched a personal attack on Hackett, and on October 12, 1875, had Frederick Smyth
nominated for Recorder. The next day, Hackett was nominated on the Republican ticket, and then endorsed by the Anti-Tammany Democrats. Defeating Smyth, he was elected to a fourteen-year term, the term having been extended again, to match the duration of the term of the other judges and justices of the various courts in New York.
In 1878, Hackett began to suffer from a prolonged illness, and spent a two-month-long summer vacation in Europe. Although at first slightly improving, his health deteriorated again, so that Hackett sat for the last time as judge on the bench of the Court of General Sessions on October 1, 1878. In August 1879, he caught a severe cold while on a hunting and fishing trip around Islip
, Long Island
, which evolved into bronchitis
, pericarditis
and dropsy. Five months later, he died at his residence, 72 Park Avenue (Manhattan)
, without having recovered his health. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx).
The actor James Keteltas Hackett
(1869-1926) was his half-brother. In 1914, James inherited the larger part of the estate, valued at $1,389,049.46, from his niece Minnie who aged 57 had married Francis Emory Trowbridge (1845-1910), and died without issue.
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...
.
Life
He was the son of actor James Henry HackettJames Henry Hackett
James Henry Hackett , was a renowned actor.Hackett entered Columbia College in 1815 but withdrew. He then studied law privately. In 1818, he became a wholesale clerk in a grocery firm in New York. In 1819, he married Catherine Leebuff, a young actress...
(1800-1871). He attended Borland & Forrester Private Academy and Columbia College, and graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1837. Then he studied law with Joshua N. Spencer in Utica, and from 1840 on with William M. Evarts
William M. Evarts
William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York...
and Jonathan Prescott Hall in New York City. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and practiced in New York City. He married Laura Jane Hall (1825-1897), and their only child was Minnie Laura (Hackett) Trowbridge (1850-1914).
In 1849, he went to San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and practiced law there in partnership with Eugene Casserly
Eugene Casserly
Eugene Casserly was an Irish-American journalist and lawyer.The son of Patrick S. Casserly, he served in the United States Senate from California....
. Hackett was elected Corporation Counsel of San Francisco, and served one term.
In 1857, he returned to New York City, and soon afterwards entered city politics being elected Secretary of Mozart Hall, the Anti-Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
Democratic organization. He was appointed by John E. Develin as Assistant Corporation Counsel of New York City. As such, in 1862, Hackett contested John Kelly
John Kelly (U.S. politician)
John Kelly of New York City, known as "Honest John", was a boss of Tammany Hall and a U.S. Representative from New York from 1855 to 1858-Career:...
's claim for $20,000 sheriff's fees, thus gaining Kelly's enmity.
Hackett was still in office when Recorder John T. Hoffman
John T. Hoffman
John Thompson Hoffman was the 23rd Governor of New York . He was also Recorder of New York City and Mayor of New York City...
took office as Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
on January 1, 1866. To fill the vacancy proved difficult, the Board of Supervisors of New York County having six Republicans and six Democrats. On March 6, 1866, after more than two months of deadlock, Hackett was elected Recorder of New York City
Recorder of New York City
The Recorder of New York City was a municipal officer of New York City from 1683 until the early 20th century. He was at times a judge of the Court of General Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, and the New York Court of Common Pleas; Vice-President of the Board of Supervisors of New York...
, and was elected to succeed himself for a full three-year term, running on the Tammany ticket in November 1866. In November 1869, he was re-elected on the Tammany ticket, the term having been extended to six years in the meanwhile. After succeeding William M. Tweed as boss of Tammany Hill, Kelly launched a personal attack on Hackett, and on October 12, 1875, had Frederick Smyth
Frederick Smyth (New York)
Frederick Smyth was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Matthew Thomas Smyth who was one of the two sheriffs of the City of Galway from 1817 to 1822. After the death of his father, Frederick emigrated to New York City in 1849...
nominated for Recorder. The next day, Hackett was nominated on the Republican ticket, and then endorsed by the Anti-Tammany Democrats. Defeating Smyth, he was elected to a fourteen-year term, the term having been extended again, to match the duration of the term of the other judges and justices of the various courts in New York.
In 1878, Hackett began to suffer from a prolonged illness, and spent a two-month-long summer vacation in Europe. Although at first slightly improving, his health deteriorated again, so that Hackett sat for the last time as judge on the bench of the Court of General Sessions on October 1, 1878. In August 1879, he caught a severe cold while on a hunting and fishing trip around Islip
Islip, New York
Islip is a hamlet and CDP that lies within the much larger Town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York. Located on the south shore of Long Island, the CDP had a population of 20,575 at the time of the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, which evolved into bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
, pericarditis
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium . A characteristic chest pain is often present.The causes of pericarditis are varied, including viral infections of the pericardium, idiopathic causes, uremic pericarditis, bacterial infections of the precardium Pericarditis is an inflammation of...
and dropsy. Five months later, he died at his residence, 72 Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
, without having recovered his health. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx).
The actor James Keteltas Hackett
James Keteltas Hackett
James Keteltas Hackett was an American actor and manager.-Life:He was the son of James Henry Hackett, a comedian and celebrated Falstaff. His elderly father died age 71 when Hackett was just two years old thus never living to see Hackett grow to an adult...
(1869-1926) was his half-brother. In 1914, James inherited the larger part of the estate, valued at $1,389,049.46, from his niece Minnie who aged 57 had married Francis Emory Trowbridge (1845-1910), and died without issue.
Sources
- LOCAL INTELLIGENCE; ... THE RECORDERSHIP in NYT on January 12, 1866
- LOCAL INTELLIGENCE; ... John K. Hackett, Esq., Elected Recorder in NYT on March 7, 1866
- JOHN K. HACKETT'S DEATH in NYT on December 27, 1879
- HACKETT FEELS SURE OF $1,500,000 LEGACY in NYT on March 5, 1914
- MORE THAN MILLION FOR ACTOR HACKETT in NYT on June 14, 1914