Timothy Healy (trade unionist)

Timothy P. Healy
Timothy "Tim" Healy, American trade union official, as he appeared during the summer of 1916.
Born	(1863-03-23)March 23, 1863 County Cork, Ireland
Died	July 21, 1930(1930-07-21) (aged 67)
Nationality	Irish-American
Occupation	trade union leader

Timothy P. Healey (1863–1930), was an Irish-American trade union leader and political activist. Healy is best remembered as the longtime head of the International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen and Oilers (IBSFO), a trade union for steam boiler operators.

Timothy Healy was born on March 25, 1863, in County Cork, Ireland. Healy was the son of a farmer and was educated in Irish common schools. As a young man Healy worked as a boiler stoker aboard transatlantic ships, making the crossing 38 times in all.

Healy emigrated to the United States in 1888, settling in New York City. In America Healy first worked as a steam boiler operator as a member of an independent trade union called the Eccentric Firemen of New York City, affiliated with the Knights of Labor, gaining a leadership position in the union.

In 1898, Healy organized the engineering department of the New York Naval Militia in conjunction with its expansion during the Spanish–American War. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the New York City Board of Aldermen in 1900.

Healy lead the Eccentric Firemen into the newly founded affiliate of the American Federation of Labor (AF of L), the International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen and Oilers (IBSFO), as Local 56 of that organization.

Healy was elected Vice President of the Stationary Firemen in 1902 and as President the following year. He would remain in office continuously as chief of the Stationary Firemen until 1927.

In addition to his union position, Healy served as deputy Sheriff of New York County, New York from 1903 to 1904 and Coroner of New York City for Manhattan from 1913 to 1918. Healy was the last elected coroner of New York County, winning office in 1917 and serving until the position was abolished the subsequent year.