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Dr. Daniel Schultz is professor emeritus at Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York. He has been honored with the prestigious Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in both teaching and scholarship. His publications have appeared in Crossroads, New Hibernia Review, the Canadian Journal of Irish History, New York History, Teaching in the Community College, The ECCSSA Journal and New Directions for the Community College. He has presented papers at American Council on Irish Studies, the Northeast Modern Language Association, the New York State Political Science Association, and the East Coast College Social Science Association.

James Mark Sullivan was part of the post-famine Irish immigration to the United States in the late 19th century. Overcoming family misfortune, he moved from newsboy to journalist to Yale-educated lawyer. Relocating to New York City, his association with Tammany Hall involved him in the “Crime of the Century” Becker-Rosenthal murder case, a role not previously explored. Sullivan’s involvement won him a patronage appointment as ambassador to Santo Domingo. Scandals about graft and corruption forced his resignation. However, another factor which contributed to his dismissal, unexplained until now, was his effort at subversion of his government’s policy of neutrality, which was connected to his ties to Irish nationalism. He later established the first indigenous Irish film company with a pronounced Nationalist agenda, making several films which are now classics of the silent film era. Following the death of his wife and son during the influenza epidemic of 1918, he returned to the United States. Failing to revive his legal career, he removed to Florida, dying in relative obscurity.

“Daniel Schultz’s Book “Tarnished Hero,” Tells the Story of Lawyer, Diplomat, and Patriot James Mark Sullivan and His Fight for Irish Independence

Mark James Sullivan’s life is only known in bits and pieces, and it is usually associated with controversy after coming to New York City. His role in that case has never been explained until now. On the other hand, Sullivan was a pivotal player in the fight for Ireland’s freedom from British rule. Dr. Daniel Schultz’s biography of Sullivan offers new light on a man who is little appreciated or recognized for his efforts to win independence from Great Britain.

In the late 1800s, James Mark Sullivan was a part of the post-famine Irish immigration to the United States. After overcoming difficulties in his family, he progressed from a newsboy to a journalist to a Yale-educated lawyer. He became involved with Tammany Hall in the “Crime of the Century,” the Becker-Rosenthal murder case, after coming to New York City. As a result of his efforts, Sullivan earned a patronage appointment as ambassador to Santo Domingo. Bribery and corruption scandals caused his resignation. His efforts to disrupt President Wilson’s neutrality policy reflected his Irish Nationalist inclinations and was a likely factor for his forced resignation from his diplomatic post. That portion of the story has now been explained, as a search of German diplomatic correspondence has revealed what could be perceived as his traitorous behavior. He went on to create the first indigenous Irish film company with a strong Nationalist agenda, which produced a number of silent film masterpieces. He returned to the United States after the deaths of his wife and son during the 1918 influenza epidemic. He moved to Florida after failing to rebuild his law career, where he died in relative anonymity.

Dr. Daniel Schultz is an emeritus professor at Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York, and the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching and Scholarship.”

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