Early life Collins was born March 12, 1844, near
Fermoy,
County Cork,
Ireland. His family emigrated to the
United States and settled in
Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1848 after the death of his father. Collins attended public schools until the age of 12. He then worked at various trades in Massachusetts and
Ohio. At age 15, he returned to
Boston and learned the
upholstery trade. Working in an upholstery shop, he rose to position of foreman and became active in the trade union movement. He became a secretary of his union and a delegate to the Trades Assembly. Interested in a career in law, Collins saved his money and became active in politics.
Public service In 1867, Collins was nominated for a seat in the
Massachusetts House of Representatives. Shortly afterward, he started working for a law firm. He was elected to the House, serving two terms in 1868 and 1869. He then served two terms in the
Massachusetts Senate in 1870 and 1871. During his time in the state legislature, he studied law at
Harvard Law School. He graduated and was
admitted to the bar in 1871. Included in Collins' graduating class at Harvard was
Charles Frederic Adams, a lecturer and political reformer who politically supported the "
Single Tax' economic theory of
Henry George. Collins practiced law in Boston. He served as judge advocate general of Massachusetts in 1875. He also served as delegate to the
Democratic National Conventions in 1876, 1880, 1888, and 1892. He lived on Percival Street in
Meeting House Hill in Dorchester. Collins was elected to the
U.S. Congress in 1882 and served three terms in the
48th,
49th and
50th Congresses from 1883 to 1889. He was also Chairman of the
Democratic State Committee from 1884 to 1890. He retired from Congress in 1889 and resumed his law practice. He also served on the boards of directors of several companies and civic organizations. Collins served as consul general in
London under
President Grover Cleveland from May 6, 1893, to May 17, 1897. Collins was the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Boston three times. In
December 1899, he lost to Republican incumbent
Thomas N. Hart (40,838 votes to 38,557 votes). The two candidates had a rematch in the
December 1901 election, this time with Collins prevailing (52,035–33,196) to win his first term as mayor. Collins was re-elected in
December 1903, defeating Republican challenger
George N. Swallow (48,745–22,369). Collins served as mayor from January 1902 until his death. He died during an official visit to
Hot Springs, Virginia, on September 13, 1905. He was interred in
Holyhood Cemetery in
Brookline, Massachusetts. His memorial includes a bronze portrait sculpture by renowned sculptor
Cyrus Dallin who also designed the cross made from Tennessee marble. ==See also==