Christopher Augustine Buckley

For other people of the same name, see Christopher Buckley.

Christopher Augustine Buckley

Christopher Augustine Buckley, Sr. (December 25, 1845–1922), commonly referred to as Blind Boss Buckley, was a saloonkeeper and Democratic Party political boss in San Francisco, California. Though never holding public office, Buckley ruled the San Francisco Democratic Party apparatus in the late 19th century, a so-called Saloon Boss. As a young man he worked as a conductor on the Omnibus Railway Company's North Beach and South Park line. He quickly started bar-tending through association with impresario Thomas McGuire, builder of the Jenny Lind theaters, at McGuire's Snug Saloon.

Ravenswood, the Livermore, California, estate he built in 1885 as a summer home, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Buckley arrived with his family in San Francisco in 1862, his father was an Irish immigrant stonemason who had traveled to California before he brought his family west.

He was a major force for the Democratic party in San Francisco, influencing state affairs, and counseling the president on federal patronage distribution. He was vilified as "what men call a crook." He was routinely accused in the newspaper for corruption, bribery, and even felonious crime. After his death the same newspapers lavished praise on him. The Chronicle described his charity acts "a kindly, just and generous dispensation..The passing of the great leader will be a tragedy to many who were aided by him in time of need." After joining the Democratic party he became blind. His blindness caused him to compensate by memorizing city ordinances, contracts, and other documents after having them read to him. He was able to recognize people just by their handclasp when shaking hands, prompting the local Chinese population to refer to him as "maang paak gwai" meaning the 'blind pale spirit.' ^[1]

Sources

• Livermore History - Ravenswood

References

1. ^ Rice, Richard B. "The Elusive Eden", New York, McGraw Hill, 2002. ISBN 978-0-07-241810-1

Further reading

• William A Bullough, The Blind Boss & His City: Christopher Augustine Buckley and Nineteenth-century San Francisco, University of California Press, 1979. ISBN 978-0-520-03797-7

Persondata
Name	Buckley, Christopher Augustine
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 25, 1845
Place of birth
Date of death	1922
Place of death