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Tweed was born in New York City on April 3, 1823, the son of a chairmaker, from whom he eventually learned the trade.  As a young man he became the organizer and foreman of a city fire-engine company, which gave him a bit of popularity and a taste of the power of local politics, from which he spent much of his life.  He was a city alderman in 1852-1853, served one term in the [[United States Congress]] in 1853-1855, then returned to New York to serve in several successive posts before being elected to the state senate for one term in 1867.

Tweed was born in New York City on April 3, 1823, the son of a chairmaker, from whom he eventually learned the trade.  As a young man he became the organizer and foreman of a city fire-engine company, which gave him a bit of popularity and a taste of the power of local politics, from which he spent much of his life.  He was a city alderman in 1852-1853, served one term in the [[United States Congress]] in 1853-1855, then returned to New York to serve in several successive posts before being elected to the state senate for one term in 1867.

While serving as state senator he was also appointed to the department of public works in New York City as commissioner, and while in that position he gathered his three chief henchmen - Alexander Oakey Hall, Peter Sweeney and Richard Connolly - and with a few others formed the Tweed Ring.  Their first order of business was to secure themselves in positions of power by bribery and influence among the lower classes in the city - already they had total control of Tammany Hall - which enabled them to manipulate and alter the outcome of the mayoral election of 1865.  As a result, the mayor's office went to Hall; Sweeney was appointed the treasurer for both the city and county; Connolly was appointed the city comptroller; and Tweed the superintendent of streets.  In 1870 these men would compell the city government to re-write the charter, enabling the Ring to install more of their cronies in selected positions; Tweed himself would be named commissioner of public works, which enabled Tweed to directly control the money flowing in.

While serving as state senator he was also appointed to the department of public works in New York City as commissioner, and while in that position he gathered his three chief henchmen - Alexander Oakey Hall, Peter Sweeney and Richard Connolly - and with a few others formed the Tweed Ring.  Their first order of business was to secure themselves in positions of power by bribery and influence among the lower classes in the city - already they had total control of Tammany Hall - which enabled them to manipulate and alter the outcome of the mayoral election of 1865.  As a result, the mayor's office went to Hall; Sweeney was appointed the treasurer for both the city and county; Connolly was appointed the city comptroller; and Tweed the superintendent of streets.  In 1870 these men would compel the city government to re-write the charter, enabling the Ring to install more of their cronies in selected positions; Tweed himself would be named commissioner of public works, which enabled Tweed to directly control the money flowing in.

And the graft began: three hundred park benches were bought by Tweed for five dollars each, yet he charged the city $600 each to have them installed.  On July 30, 1870, over $200,000 was charged to the city to repair furniture at several armories.  To furnish a single courthouse, the city was forced to pay $1,476,980.24 to a single firm.  In an article of the ''[[New York Times]]'' (January 3, 1871) it was identified that the Ring used their stolen money to purchase property in several city wards in excess of a million dollars between 1868 and 1871; Tweed alone was responsible for a total of $547,000; yet officially his salary was $2,500 a year.

And the graft began: three hundred park benches were bought by Tweed for five dollars each, yet he charged the city $600 each to have them installed.  On July 30, 1870, over $200,000 was charged to the city to repair furniture at several armories.  To furnish a single courthouse, the city was forced to pay $1,476,980.24 to a single firm.  In an article of the ''[[New York Times]]'' (January 3, 1871) it was identified that the Ring used their stolen money to purchase property in several city wards in excess of a million dollars between 1868 and 1871; Tweed alone was responsible for a total of $547,000; yet officially his salary was $2,500 a year.