Representative Peter Joseph Dooling

Peter Joseph Dooling (February 15, 1857 – October 18, 1931) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served four terms as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1913 to 1921. Over the course of a long career in New York City and state government, and later in the United States Congress, he held a series of important administrative and legislative posts and contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history.

Dooling was born in New York City on February 15, 1857. He attended the public schools of the city, receiving the basic education that prepared him for a career in business and public service. After leaving school, he engaged in the real estate business, an occupation that provided him with experience in property, finance, and municipal affairs and helped establish his connections in local political and civic circles.

Dooling’s public career began in the late 1880s with positions in the New York City court system. He served as a court officer in the Court of General Sessions from 1887 to 1889, gaining familiarity with the administration of justice and the workings of the city’s legal institutions. He then advanced to serve as deputy clerk of the Court of Special Sessions from 1893 to 1895. Between these judicial posts, he entered elective office as a member of the New York City Board of Aldermen, serving in 1891 and 1892 and participating in the governance of the rapidly growing metropolis.

By the late 1890s, Dooling had moved into municipal infrastructure and administrative roles. In 1898 he served as a member of the Aqueduct Commission, which oversaw aspects of New York City’s critical water supply system. That same year he was appointed deputy commissioner of the Department of Water Supply, Gas, and Electricity, a position he held from 1898 to 1901. In this capacity he was involved in the management and regulation of essential public utilities at a time of major urban expansion and modernization.

Dooling’s experience in city government led to higher office at the state level. He was elected to the New York State Senate from the 16th District and served from 1903 to 1905, sitting in the 126th, 127th, and 128th New York State Legislatures. As a state senator, he participated in shaping legislation affecting both New York City and the state as a whole. Following his Senate service, he became Clerk of New York County, serving from 1906 to 1908, a role that placed him in charge of important county records and administrative functions and further solidified his standing in Democratic Party politics.

In 1912, Dooling was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-third Congress and was subsequently reelected to the three succeeding Congresses, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1913, to March 3, 1921. As a member of the House of Representatives, he represented the interests of his New York constituents and participated in the national legislative process during a transformative era that included World War I and significant domestic reforms. During the Sixty-fifth Congress he served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of War, overseeing and reviewing wartime spending and administrative practices in that department. A member of the Democratic Party, he contributed to the legislative process over his four terms in office. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1920 to the Sixty-seventh Congress, ending his continuous service in the House after eight years.

After leaving Congress, Dooling continued to hold public office in New York. In 1924 he served as Sheriff of New York County, New York, assuming responsibility for law enforcement and various judicial and administrative duties within the county. He later was appointed commissioner of the Department of Purchases of New York City in 1926, a position in which he oversaw procurement and purchasing for the municipal government. Alongside and following these roles, he reengaged in the real estate business, returning to the private sector where he had begun his professional life.

Peter Joseph Dooling died in New York City on October 18, 1931. He was interred in Calvary Cemetery, reflecting his lifelong ties to the city in which he was born, built his business career, and held a succession of influential public offices at the municipal, state, and federal levels.