Austin E. Ford

Who was Austin E. Ford?

Austin E. Ford was an Irish-American publisher, born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was editor of the New York Freeman, and was associated with the Irish World, a newspaper run by his uncle, Patrick Ford. As such, he was active in promoting the cause of Irish independence.

Ford moved to New York City, where he later ran for New York's 7th congressional district for the United States Congress, losing to the Democratic Party candidate, Franklin Bartlett, in 1894. At the time he lived at 2767 Marion Avenue in what is now the Borough of the Bronx. He was appointed as the Fire Commissioner of New York City in 1895 by fellow Republican, Mayor Strong, and died in office at the age of 39, on September 17, 1896.

Ford was a relative of Bishop Francis Xavier Ford, M.M., a missionary killed during the Korean War, Sister Ita Ford, M.M., a missionary murdered in El Salvador in 1980, and her brother, William P. Ford, Jr.