Introduction
John Hubert Corcoran, Jr. (January 15, 1897 – December 28, 1945) was a Massachusetts politician who served on the Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council and as the Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Corcoran's father, John Hubert Corcoran, Sr. was a member and President of the Cambridge Common Council and the Cambridge Board of Aldermen.
Early life
Corcoran was born on January 15, 1897 to John Hubert Corcoran, Sr. and Ann M. (Ford) Corcoran.
Education
Corcoran attended Harvard College, he graduated with an A.B. in 1918. Corcoran received an MBA from Harvard in June 1920. Corcoan wrote his graduate theses on the Departmental Layout of the Proposed store of a Coöperative Society.
World War I military service
On April 23, 1918 Corcoran enlisted as a Private in the U.S. Coast Artillery, he was assigned to Fort Strong in Boston Harbor. Corcoran was promoted to Corporal on June 20, 1918. On July 4, 1918 Corcoran was assigned to the Coast Artillery Officers Training Camp, Fort Monroe, Virginia and promoted to Lieutenant. Corcoran was later transferred to Fort McKinley, Portland, Maine and the *33rd Coast Artillery, Camp Abraham Eustis, Virginia, he was discharged on December 11, 1918.
Mayor of Cambridge
Cambridge voters changed the city government from a strong mayor to a Plan E (City Council-City Manager) form of government, with Cambridge having a ceremonial mayor. Corcoran, a member of the Cambridge City Council in 1942 was chosen by his fellow councilors to be City's Ceremonial Mayor.
Candidate for U.S. Senate
In 1944 Massachusetts held a special election to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.. Lodge had resigned from the Senate to join the Army. Corcoran was the Democratic nominee, he lost the election to Leverett Saltonstall by more than 400,000 votes.
Death
Corcoran died unexpectedly, at age 48, from pneumonia in a Boston, Massachusetts hospital, on December 28, 1945.