W. T. A. Fitzgerald

William T. A. Fitzgerald (December 19, 1871–February 24, 1948) was an American politician from Boston who served as Register of Deeds of Suffolk County, Massachusetts from 1906 to 1946.

W. T. A. Fitzgerald
Register of Deeds of Suffolk County, Massachusetts
In office
1906–1946
Preceded byThomas Delaney
Succeeded byLeo J. Sullivan
Personal details
BornDecember 19, 1871
Boston
DiedFebruary 24, 1948 (aged 76)
Newton, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materBoston University School of Law

Early life

Fitzgerald was born on December 19, 1871 in Boston's North End. While he was a small child, Fitzgerald's family moved to the South Cove section of the city. During his youth, Fitzgerald was a pitcher for the South Cove Maroons amateur baseball team. He graduated from Boston University School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1897. On November 25, 1900 he married Ellen T. Butler.[1]

Political career

Fitzgerald was elected to the Boston Common Council in 1896. From 1898 to 1900 he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He then served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1901 to 1903.[2] From 1902 to 1905 he was president of the Boston Democratic city committee. In 1925 he was a candidate for Mayor of Boston. He finished 7th in the ten candidate field with 2% of the vote.[3]

From 1906 to 1946, Fitzgerald was Register of Deeds for Suffolk County. During his tenure, Fitzgerald drafted bills that authorized short forms of deeds and mortgages, protected rights of plaintiffs in attachment cases, prevented mortgage fraud, authorized direct transfer of real estate between spouses, and gave married partners equal rights in the real estate of the other.[2] He was defeated for reelection in 1946 by state senator Leo J. Sullivan.[4]

Fitzgerald died on February 24, 1948 at a convalescent hospital in Newton, Massachusetts. He was survived by his wife and six children.[2]

References
  1. "W. T. A. Fitzgerald, 60 Years Old, Visits Birthplace in North End". The Boston Daily Globe. December 20, 1931.
  2. "W. T. A. Fitzgerald: Services Tomorrow for Ex-Suffolk Register". The Boston Daily Globe. February 25, 1948.
  3. Annual Report of the Election Department. City of Boston. 1925. p. 48. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  4. "Council to Give Sullivan Oath at Special Session". The Boston Daily Globe. January 1, 1947.
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