Curley, James Michael (1874–1958)

US Democratic politician. He was a member of the US House of Representatives 1912–14, several times mayor of Boston between 1914 and 1934, when he was elected governor. He lost a bid for the US Senate 1936 and did not hold political office again until elected to the House 1942. His fourth and last mayoral term began 1946, during which time he spent six months in federal prison on a mail-fraud conviction.

Born in Boston, Curley became active in the local Democratic party soon after leaving school. He served in the state legislature 1902–03, on the Boston Board of Aldermen 1904–09, and on the Boston City Council 1910–11. The flamboyant Curley's political career inspired Edwin O'Connor's The Last Hurrah (1956).