John E. Kerrigan (October 1, 1908 – May 2, 1987) was an American politician, the acting mayor of Boston in 1945 after then-Mayor Maurice J. Tobin became governor of Massachusetts.

Kerrigan was born on October 1, 1908, and was a graduate of South Boston High School.

[1] Initially with limited authority, Kerrigan was given full mayoral powers by the Massachusetts legislature on January 25, 1945.

He passed a bill that saved Boston taxpayers approximately $12 million over the next 20 years by refinancing the bonded debt from the Sumner Tunnel.

He also was able to increase the city's income by leasing the Houghton & Dutton department store on Tremont Street to the federal government.