Joseph F. Quinn
Encyclopedia
Joseph F. Quinn was the first Irishman
elevated to the bench in Massachusetts
where he served on the Essex County Superior Court after being appointed by Governor Eugene Foss
in 1911. He lived in Salem
and was the son of an immigrant from the days of the potato famine. He attended University of Ottawa
in Canada due to discrimination against the Irish in the U.S. at the time, graduating in 1883, and went on to earn his law degree from Boston University School of Law
in 1886. Judge Quinn was associated with John F. Fitzgerald
and Patrick Kennedy (P. J. Kennedy
), with his son being Kennedy's son Joseph Kennedy's roommate at Harvard University
at one point. His great grandson, Joseph F. Quinn (1947-) is a noted economist
on social security
issues who was formerly Dean of Arts & Sciences at Boston College
. Judge Quinn presided over the trial of Joseph Ettor
and other leaders of the Lawrence textile strike
in 1912 which became a national cause celebre and resulted in the defendants' acquittal.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
elevated to the bench in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
where he served on the Essex County Superior Court after being appointed by Governor Eugene Foss
Eugene Foss
Eugene Noble Foss, was an American Representative and the 45th Governor of Massachusetts, as well as brother of George Edmund Foss.-Biography:...
in 1911. He lived in Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
and was the son of an immigrant from the days of the potato famine. He attended University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in Canada due to discrimination against the Irish in the U.S. at the time, graduating in 1883, and went on to earn his law degree from Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
in 1886. Judge Quinn was associated with John F. Fitzgerald
John F. Fitzgerald
John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald was an Irish-American politician and the maternal grandfather of three prominent United States politicians—President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Senators Robert Francis Kennedy and Edward Moore Kennedy.-Early life and family:Fitzgerald was born in...
and Patrick Kennedy (P. J. Kennedy
P. J. Kennedy
Patrick Joseph Kennedy was an American politician. He was the father of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., and paternal grandfather to United States President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Edward M. Kennedy.-Early life:P.J...
), with his son being Kennedy's son Joseph Kennedy's roommate at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
at one point. His great grandson, Joseph F. Quinn (1947-) is a noted economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
on social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
issues who was formerly Dean of Arts & Sciences at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
. Judge Quinn presided over the trial of Joseph Ettor
Joseph Ettor
Joseph James "Smiling Joe" Ettor was an Italian-American trade union organizer who, in the middle-1910s, was one of the leading public faces of the Industrial Workers of the World...
and other leaders of the Lawrence textile strike
Lawrence textile strike
The Lawrence Textile Strike was a strike of immigrant workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1912 led by the Industrial Workers of the World. Prompted by one mill owner's decision to lower wages when a new law shortening the workweek went into effect in January, the strike spread rapidly through the...
in 1912 which became a national cause celebre and resulted in the defendants' acquittal.