M. Fred O'Connell

M. Fred OConnell
O'Connell as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Mayor of Fitchburg, Massachusetts
In office
1909–1912
Preceded byJames H. McMahon
Succeeded byFrank O. Hardy
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 12th Worcester District
In office
1905–1908
Personal details
Born(1870-06-04)June 4, 1870
Hopedale, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedApril 21, 1957(1957-04-21) (aged 86)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
PartyDemocratic Party
Alma materBryant & Stratton College
Boston University School of Law

Michael Frederick O'Connell (June 4, 1870 – April 21, 1957) was an American jurist and politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1905–1908), mayor of Fitchburg, Massachusetts (1909–1912), and an associate justice of the Fitchburg District Court (1932–1953).

Early life

O'Connell was born in Hopedale, Massachusetts on June 4, 1870. He attended Bryant & Stratton College.[1] He worked as a journalist and was a correspondent for The Boston Globe for fifteen years.[2]

Politics

From 1904 to 1905, O'Connell was chairman of the Fitchburg Democratic city committee.[1] From 1905 to 1908, he represented the 12th Worcester district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[3] In 1908, he was elected mayor of Fitchburg by a plurality of 126 votes.[4] He was reelected in 1909 and 1910, but was defeated in 1911 by Frank O. Hardy.[5]

In the 1912 United States House of Representatives elections, O'Connell was the Democratic nominee in Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district. He lost to Republican incumbent William Wilder 45% to 34%.[6] He sought the seat again in 1922, but was defeated by Calvin Paige. He ran a third time in 1932 and was again beaten, this time by Frank H. Foss.[7]

O'Connell graduated from the Boston University School of Law in 1898 and was admitted to the bar that same year.[1] In 1932, he was appointed an associate justice of the Fitchburg District Court by Governor Joseph B. Ely. He retired from the bench in 1953 after a state law was passed prohibiting district court judges from appearing as attorneys in district courts. He then started a firm with Francis Barnes.[8] He died on April 21, 1957 at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Boston.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bridgman, A. M. (1907). A Souvenir of Massachusetts Legislators. p. 174. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Judge O'Connell Dies in Brighton". The Boston Globe. April 22, 1957.
  3. ↑ Who's who in state politics. 1908. p. 269. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  4. ↑ "Two Cities Turn "Dry"". The Boston Globe. December 2, 1908.
  5. ↑ "Fitchburg: Mayor O'Connell Defeated for a Fourth Term - His Party in Control However". The Lewiston Daily Sun. December 5, 1911. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "MA District 3 - Election Race - Nov 5, 1912". Our Campaigns. Jan 24, 2010.
  7. ↑ Statistics of the Congressional and Presidential Election of November 8, 1932 (PDF). Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "M. Fred O'Connell Resigns From Bench in Fitchburg". The Boston Globe. January 15, 1953.
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