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James Aloysius Finnegan (December 20, 1906 – March 26, 1958) was a Democratic politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1931, and then served the United States Air Force as Lieutenant Colonel in the Troop Carrier Command in the United States, England, and France from 1942 to 1946.

Finnegan served in succession as Secretary of the Delaware River Navigation Commission under Governor George Howard Earle III, administrative assistant to Senator Francis J. Myers, administrative assistant to former Congressman Michael J. Bradley, and chair of the Philadelphia County Democratic Executive Committee. A member of Philadelphia City Council, he was elected its president in 1951, serving until January 1955.

Finnegan became Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor George M. Leader in 1955. He resigned the position that same year to assume the duties of campaign manager for Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson II's pre-convention and later presidential campaign in 1956. Leader reappointed Finnegan Secretary of the Commonwealth on December 28, 1956. He served in this capacity until his death, at age 52, on March 26, 1958.

Pennsylvania political leaders at the time of Finnegan's demise created the Finnegan Foundation. The foundation's purpose is to provide educational fellowships to undergraduates.

References

1. "Finnegan Takes Oath". The Reading Eagle. December 29, 1956. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
2. "Administration of James H. J. Tate". Mayor's Correspondence and Files. The City of Philadelphia: Department of Records. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
3. Ralph G. Martin (1964), Ballots and Bandwagons, Chicago: Rand McNally, "Democratic National Convention of 1956", p. 376.
4. Miller, Joseph H. (November 9, 1951). "Clark Decides on Four to Fill Cabinet Posts; Col. Sawyer Manager | Finnegan Council Head". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
5. "Rent Curbs Extended to End of '55; Tate Elected President of Council". The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 21, 1955.

Further reading

• Ralph G. Martin (1964), Ballots and Bandwagons, Chicago: Rand McNally, "Democratic National Convention of 1956", pp. 372–455.

• 1906 births
• 1958 deaths
• Philadelphia City Council members
• Presidents of the Philadelphia City Council
• Secretaries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• University of Pennsylvania alumni
• Pennsylvania Democrats
• 20th-century Pennsylvania politicians