Today in Wheeling History: February 26--Matthew McCloskey, U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, prominent builder of structures such as the Rayburn House Office Building, and leader in constructing concrete ships during World War II, was born in Wheeling (1893).
Matthew Henry McCloskey Jr. was born on February 26, 1893, in Wheeling, West Virginia. His family moved to Philadelphia when he was two years old. At the age of 15, McCloskey left school and began working in construction. He quickly rose through the ranks and eventually founded his own construction company, McCloskey & Company. The company became well-known for building significant structures such as the Rayburn House Office Building, the Philadelphia Convention Hall, the Philadelphia Sheraton Hotel, and the District of Columbia Stadium (now RFK Stadium).
During World War II, McCloskey & Company contributed to the war effort by building ships at their shipyard in Tampa, Florida. Notably, the shipyard was known for constructing ships using concrete, which were made from concrete hulls reinforced with steel bars.
McCloskey was an active member of the Democratic Party and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention multiple times. In 1955, he became the Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, a position he held until 1962. He is credited with inventing the $100-a-plate fundraising dinners. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy appointed McCloskey as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, a role he held until 1964. McCloskey passed away on April 26, 1973, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
To learn more: Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/ejmyxm4y), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/ratebm7t), FamilySearch (https://tinyurl.com/5n833zyz), The Crete Fleet (https://tinyurl.com/56ykc8yj)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave, United States National Archives and Records Administration
Matthew Henry McCloskey Jr. was born on February 26, 1893, in Wheeling, West Virginia. His family moved to Philadelphia when he was two years old. At the age of 15, McCloskey left school and began working in construction. He quickly rose through the ranks and eventually founded his own construction company, McCloskey & Company. The company became well-known for building significant structures such as the Rayburn House Office Building, the Philadelphia Convention Hall, the Philadelphia Sheraton Hotel, and the District of Columbia Stadium (now RFK Stadium).
During World War II, McCloskey & Company contributed to the war effort by building ships at their shipyard in Tampa, Florida. Notably, the shipyard was known for constructing ships using concrete, which were made from concrete hulls reinforced with steel bars.
McCloskey was an active member of the Democratic Party and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention multiple times. In 1955, he became the Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, a position he held until 1962. He is credited with inventing the $100-a-plate fundraising dinners. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy appointed McCloskey as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, a role he held until 1964. McCloskey passed away on April 26, 1973, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
To learn more: Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/ejmyxm4y), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/ratebm7t), FamilySearch (https://tinyurl.com/5n833zyz), The Crete Fleet (https://tinyurl.com/56ykc8yj)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave, United States National Archives and Records Administration
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