Daniel P. O'Connell

Daniel Patrick "Dan" O'Connell (November 13, 1885 – February 28, 1977) was a longtime leader of the Democratic Party political machine in Albany County, New York.

O'Connell was born in Albany, New York and dropped out of school in the fifth grade, finding work as a bricklayer and as a bartender.

During the 56 years that followed, O'Connell had undeniable power in the political life of Albany, determining patronage and essentially ruling the city during the administrations of mayors William Hackett, John Boyd Thacher II and most notably Erastus Corning 2nd.

According to author Paul Grondahl, O'Connell is suspected of having ordered the murder of gangster Legs Diamond in 1931.

O'Connell steered Albany city and county bonding contracts through his bonding firm O'Connell Brothers & Corning, which operated out of the City Savings Bank Building owned by Albany Mayor Bill Hackett.