James P.B. Duffy

Who was James P.B. Duffy?

James Patrick Bernard Duffy was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Duffy was born in Rochester, New York, one of nine children. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1901 and from Harvard Law School in 1904. He was admitted to the bar the same year and began practice in partnership with Republican James Breck Perkins, a member of Congress. He abandoned the practice of law in 1914 acceding to his father's request to take over as manager of The Duffy-Powers Department Store, the family business. There he remained until the concern went bankrupt in 1932. Duffy was an avid Democratic Party member and held a series of political posts before and after his period on the bench. He was a member of the City of Rochester, New York School Board from 1905–32, and a member of the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from 1933-34.

He was elected to Congress in 1934, having defeated incumbent Republican James L. Whitley and represented New York's 38th congressional district from January 3, 1935 until January 3, 1937, departing due to his defeat for renomination in 1936.