James Kerrigan (December 25, 1828 – November 1, 1899) was an American military veteran who served one term as a United States representative from New York from 1861 to 1863.
Biography He was born in New York City. He completed preparatory studies and attended Fordham College.
Military service Kerrigan served in Company D, First Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, during the Mexican–American War. After the war, he accompanied the Walker filibustering expedition to Nicaragua as a captain and served for a brief period as alcalde of the Nicaraguan capital.
Political career Kerrigan returned to New York City and was elected alderman of the sixth ward. He also served as clerk of the Manhattan Police Court.
Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, he organized and then was commissioned Colonel of the 25th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, in the Union Army and served from May 19, 1861, until February 21, 1862.
Kerrigan was accused of harboring Confederate sympathies, and of not maintaining good order and discipline among his troops, and was allowed to resign his command.Thomas P. Lowry, Curmudgeons, Drunkards, and Outright Fools: Courts-Martial of Civil War Union Colonels, pages 94–95New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Undressed for Battle: The Short Civil War Career of Col. (Congressman) James Kerrigan, July 3, 2011
Congress He was elected as an Independent Democrat to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863). While serving in the House, Kerrigan was arrested and removed from the floor for continuing to speak after his allotted time had expired in opposition to a bill funding the abolition of slavery in Missouri.Paul N. Herbert, God Knows All Your Names: Stories in American History, 2010, page 140
Later career After leaving Congress, he became an enthusiastic Irish Nationalist and when the invasion of Canada was planned in 1866 led a company across the border.Patrick Steward, Bryan P. McGovern, The Fenians: Irish Rebellion in the North Atlantic World, 1858–1876, 2013, page 130 In 1867, he commanded the vessel Erin's Hope, which landed arms and ammunition on the Irish coast.Thomas Power Lowry, Tarnished Eagles: The Courts-martial of Fifty Union Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels, 1997, page 97 He also accompanied an expedition to Alaska in 1899 and returned in bad health.
Death He died in Brooklyn, New York November 1, 1899 and was buried in Saint Raymond's Cemetery.San Francisco Call, Colonel Kerrigan has Passed Away, November 2, 1899
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