James Kinsella

James Hall Kinsella (July 12, 1924 – October 8, 2012) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the mayor of Hartford, Connecticut, for two terms from 1957 to 1960.^[1]

Kinsella was born to George F. Kinsella and Dorothea (nee Mooney) Kinsella on July 12, 1924.^[2] His grandfather, Richard J. Kinsella, had previously served as Mayor of Hartford from 1918 to 1920 and from 1922 to 1924.^[1] His father, George F. Kinsella, had served as Hartford's city assessor.^[1] James Kinsella's brother, George B. Kinsella, later became Hartford mayor for one term from 1965 to 1967.^[1]

James Kinsella served in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant, during World War II.^[2] He received a bachelor's degree from Trinity College of Connecticut in 1947 and a law degree from University of Nebraska College of Law in 1952.^[1] he returned to Hartford and passed the Connecticut state bar exam.^[1] He practiced at a private law firm prior to entering local politics.^[1]

In 1953, Kinsella was elected to the Hartford City Council when he was 29 years old.^[2] The city council also elected him Deputy Mayor, a position he held until he became Mayor of Hartford in 1957.^[2] Kinsella was elected mayor and sworn into office in 1957.^[1] He was re-elected to a second term in 1959 and served until late 1960.^[2]

Kinsella left the mayor's office in 1960 when he was elected a Hartford probate judge (Judge of Probate for the District of Hartford).^[1] He remained a probate judge in 1984. That same year, Kinsella retired from the bench as he was facing possible impeachment over the handling of the estate of a woman from neighboring West Hartford, Connecticut.^[1] He was never impeached.^[1]

Kinsella, who remained a working attorney until late in life, continued to pursue philanthropic endeavors for Hartford after leaving the court.^[1] He supported beautification efforts, including the construction of a city park and jogging track at Broad Street and Farmington Avenue in Hartford.^[1] He purchased police horses for the Hartford Police Department and lighting for Hartford City Hall. Kinsella also created scholarships, acquired a piano for the Hartford library, and installed a notable rose window at the Charter Oak Cultural Center.^[1]

Kinsella died at his home in Hartford on October 8, 2012, at the age of 88.^[1] He was survived by his wife, Anne-Marie Lehrman Kinsella.

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