MAD IRISH-AMERICANS

Typhoid Mary Mallon (1869 - 1938) 
Born in County Tyrone, migrated to Oyster Bay, New York. Found to be a carrier of the disease after it broke out at her employer’s summer home in 1906. She caught a mild case, which she never got rid of completely, and continued to pass it on to others. When Typhoid broke out in a New York Hospital in 1915, it was discovered that Mallon was working as a cook there under an assumed name. Most famous carrier of the disease, it is unclear how many people she actually infected.

Wrong-Way (Douglas) Corrigan (1907-1995)
Aviator who used a clever trick to gain fame similar to Lindberg’s. Denied permission to fly across the US by American authorities, partly because his plane was a clunker purchased from a junkyard, Corrigan said he was leaving for California, and then took off, heading east for Ireland on July 18, 1938. Pretended to be surprised when he landed near Dublin, and became an instant celebrity. Received a hero’s welcome on his return to the US.

Billy the Kid (1859 – 1881) 
Mother born somewhere in Ireland. Ran away from home as a teenager and committed petty crimes. Killed three Indians in Arizona in 1876, and then became a big-time cattle rustler  in the Southwest. Killed Sherriff Jim Brady in the process of being arrested in 1881, escaped from prison, and was finally killed in 1882 by Sheriff Pat Garrett in New Mexico.

Teddy Roosevelt (1858 – 1919) 
Mother’s family from County Meath; father’s from County Antrim. First gained notoriety as the Commissioner of New York Police from 1896; appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897 and led the legendary "Rough Riders" in action during the Spanish-American War. Elected Vice President in 1900, he was elevated to President when McKinley was assasinated in 1901. Famous for breaking up large business trusts, he was re-elected easily in 1904. Sat out the 1908 election, but came back to try again as the “Bull Moose” party presidential candidate in 1912. His home in Oyster Bay, Long Island, is decorated with his amazing array of hunting trophies.

Ulysses Grant (1822 – 1885) 
Paternal Grandfather from County Tyrone. Fought in the Mexican War, and entered the Civil War as leader of the 21^st Illinois Volunteers. Rose to Commander of the Union Army, obtaining The South’s surrender in 1865.  Elected President in 1869, he had a difficult term dominated by scandals and arguments over how best to rebuild The South. Reputation as a hard drinker.