<P> William Magear Tweed (April 3, 1823--April 12, 1878)--often erroneously referred to as "William Marcy Tweed" (see below), and widely known as "Boss" Tweed--was an American politician most notable for being the "boss" of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the politics of 19th century New York City and State . At the height of his influence, Tweed was the third - largest landowner in New York City and a director of the Erie Railroad, the Tenth National Bank, and the New - York Printing Company, as well as proprietor of the Metropolitan Hotel . </P> <P> Tweed was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1852 and the New York County Board of Supervisors in 1858, the year he became the head of the Tammany Hall political machine . He was also elected to the New York State Senate in 1867, but Tweed's greatest influence came from being an appointed member of a number of boards and commissions, his control over political patronage in New York City through Tammany, and his ability to ensure the loyalty of voters through jobs he could create and dispense on city - related projects . </P> <P> Tweed was convicted for stealing an amount estimated by an aldermen's committee in 1877 at between $25 million and $45 million from New York City taxpayers through political corruption, although later estimates ranged as high as $200 million . Unable to make bail, he escaped from jail once, but was returned to custody . He died in the Ludlow Street Jail . </P> <P> Tweed was born April 3, 1823, at 1 Cherry Street, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan . Son of a third - generation Scots - Irish chair - maker, Tweed grew up on Cherry Street . Tweed's religious affiliation was not widely known in his lifetime, but at the time of his funeral the New York Times, quoting a family friend, reported that his parents had been Quakers and "members of the old Rose Street Meeting house". At the age of 11, he left school to learn his father's trade, and then became an apprentice to a saddler . He also studied to be a bookkeeper and worked as a brushmaker for a company he had invested in, before eventually joining in the family business in 1852 . On September 29, 1844, he married Mary Jane C. Skaden and lived with her family on Madison Street for two years . </P>

When did law officials break up the tweed ring