James Aloysius Foley (June 21, 1882 – February 11, 1946) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He served in the New York State Assembly, the New York State Senate, and later as Surrogate of New York County.
Early Life and Education
Foley was born on June 21, 1882, in New York City, the son of James Foley and Anne Moran Foley. He graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1901 and from New York Law School in 1904.
Political Career
Foley was a member of the New York State Assembly representing New York County's 12th District from 1907 to 1912. He served as chairman of the Committee on Affairs of Cities in 1911. In 1913, he was elected to the New York State Senate, where he served until 1919, representing the 14th District and later the 16th District. He served as Minority Leader in 1919. Foley was also a member of the New York State Commission for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in 1915.
Later Career and Personal Life
On June 21, 1919, Foley married Mabel Graham Murphy, the step-daughter of Tammany Hall boss Charles Francis Murphy. They had no children. Foley served as Surrogate of New York County from 1920 until his death. In 1924, following the death of his father-in-law, he was offered the leadership of Tammany Hall but declined, preferring to continue his judicial work.
Death
Foley died on February 11, 1946, at the Harkness Pavilion of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in Manhattan following a heart attack. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York.
