James Kinsella

Who was James Kinsella?

James Hall Kinsella was an American politician and lawyer who served as the Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut, for two terms from 1957 to 1960.

Kinsella was born to George F. Kinsella and Dorothea Kinsella on July 12, 1924. His grandfather, Richard J. Kinsella, had previously served as Mayor of Hartford from 1918 to 1920 and from 1922 to 1924. His father, George F. Kinsella, had served as Hartford's city assessor. James Kinsella's brother, George B. Kinsella, later became Hartford mayor for one term from 1965 to 1967.

James Kinsella served in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant, during World War II. He received a bachelor's degree from Trinity College of Connecticut in 1947 and a law degree from University of Nebraska College of Law in 1952. he returned to Hartford and passed the Connecticut state bar exam. He practiced at a private law firm prior to entering local politics.

In 1953, Kinsella was elected to the Hartford City Council when he was 29 years old. The city council also elected him Deputy Mayor, a position he held until he became Mayor of Hartford in 1957. Kinsella was elected mayor and sworn into office in 1957.