In 1789 William Mooney, an Irish-American politician, founded in New York City, the Columbian Order, a secret society, which in 1805 was incorporated as the Tammany Society, named after the Indian Tammany, and wearing Indian insignia, especially a buck's tail.
The Tammany Society was reputedly founded for the purpose of preserving democratic ideas against Alexander Hamilton's aristocratic doctrine.
In 1800, by careful work under Aaron Burr, the order controlled New York City politics. Next, under Daniel Tompkins, it became the administration wing of the Democratic party in New York City, upholding Madison and opposing the Clintons. The Bucktails and the Albany Regency controlled the State for a long period. In 1822 the power over the society had gone into the hands of its general committee. Stricter and stricter organization followed, and the Tammany Society developed into a machine for securing success in elections and power and plunder for its chieftains. Always indifferent to principles, it grew worse after the influx of foreigners into the city, until after the American Civil War its corruption culminated in the scandalous performances of the Tweed Ring. Since the defeat of the Tweed Ring in 1871, the Tammany Society, under the control of John Kelly, Richard Croker and others, was famous for strict control over a large body of voters, strict devotion to the spoils-system, looseness of allegiance to the Democratic party, and indifference to the welfare and interests of New York City which it had almost constantly ruled. Research Tammany Society
The Tweed Ring was a corrupt political movement headed by William Tweed which controlled city government in New York from 1860 to 1871. The ring was composed of William Tweed, A Oakey Hall, Peter Sweeney and Richard Connolly. These men, through bribery and influence among the lower classes, particularly the foreign element, having first gained control of Tammany Hall, so manipulated the mayoralty election of 1865 as to secure the city government. In 1866, Hall was elected mayor; Sweeney was made city and county treasurer; Tweed, superintendent of the street department; and Connolly, city comptroller. They carried into effect a new city charter which gave them absolute control of fiscal appropriations. When the Ring was finally overthrown in 1871, through publications of its frauds on the taxpayers, and the untiring efforts of Samuel Tilden, a prominent Democrat, it was discovered that the city debt had increased from $20,000,000 to $101,000,000. William Tweed died in prison; Sweeney and Connolly went into exile, and Hall also left the country. Research Tweed Ring
The Golden Retriever is a Scottish breed of dog developed on the Guisachan Estate during the second half of the 19th century from a yellow retriever of Flat-Coar Retriever ancestry with a Tweed Water Spaniel (now an extinct breed). Golden Retrievers are excellent family dogs with a good temperament for a gundog or family dog, but which need a daily run. Research Golden Retriever
Augustus Schell was an American politician. He was born in 1813 and died in 1884. He was chairman of the New York Democratic Committee from 1853 to 1856, and of the National Committee in 1860 and 1873. After the overthrow of the Tweed ring he was active in reorganizing Tammany. Research Augustus Schell
Charles O'Conor was an American jurist. He was born in 1804 at New York and died in 1884. He was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty. He sympathized with the Confederates during the American Civil War. He was nominated for President of the United States by the Labor Reform branch of the Democratic party in 1872. He was counsel for Jefferson Davis when he was indicted for treason. He was largely the means of destroying the 'Tweed Ring', and was noted as a lawyer. Research Charles O'Conor
Edwards Pierrepont was an American politician. He was born in 1817 and died in 1892. He was a member of the Union Defence Committee in New York. In 1864 he was active in organizing the War Democrats. He was appointed prosecutor of John H Surratt, one of the conspirators against President Abraham Lincoln. He was active in destroying the Tweed ring. He was Attorney-General in Grant's Cabinet from 1875 to 1876, and Minister to England from 1876 to 1878. Research Edwards Pierrepont
William F Havemeyer was an American politician. He was born in 1804 and died in 1874. He was mayor of New York City from 1845 to 1851, and from 1872 to 1874, was president of the Bank of North America from 1851 to 1861, and very prominent in the overthrow of the Tweed ring. Research William Havemeyer
William Marcy Tweed was an American politician. He was born in 1823 at New York and died in 1878. He was a member of Congress from 1853 until 1855 and a senator from 1867 until 1871. He was chief commissioner of public works before being charged and tried on charges of forgery and larceny realting to the Tweed Ring and in 1873 was condemned to twelve years imprisonment. He was released, rearrested on a civil charge and was imprisoned. He escaped from prison and fled to Spain, but was sent back to the USA where he was imprisoned in Ludlow Street gaol where he died. Research William Tweed
The ColdstreamRegiment of Foot Guards trace their history and formation from two Regiments of the New Model Army. These ten companies were united under Colonel George Monck in 1650 and were officially known as Monck's Regiment of Foot, serving with distinction at the Battle of Dunbar in 1651.
Oliver Cromwell died in the autumn of 1658 and in the following year Monck, who was the General Commander in Scotland, moved his headquarters to the town of Coldstream on the Tweed. It was from here that the Regiment gained its name. On January the 1st 1660, General Monck started from Coldstream on his historic march to London with the intent of restoring Charles II to the throne, which he reached at the beginning of February. The Coldstreamers were then used to keep order and repress the disturbances which had broken out at the end of Parliamentary rule. The end of May 1660 saw the Restoration of Charles II as King of England, whereupon General Monck was created Duke of Albemarle, and his Regiment, commonly known as Coldstreamers, was inspected by the King on his triumphal entry into London.
Monck's Regiment of Horse and Foot paraded on Tower Hill and ordered to lay down their arms and disband, and then were immediately ordered to take them up in the name of the King. From that moment the Regiment became personal Guards to the Sovereign of the Realm. Research Coldstream Guards
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Tammany Society
