Gene Tunney

Gene Tunney was born to Mary Jean (also known as Rose) Lydon and John Tunney, both of whom were born in Mayo, Ireland, near Kiltimagh, and later moved to New York City. Tunney won the heavyweight boxing championship from Jack Dempsey in 1926 and successfully defended his title against Dempsey again in 1927. In 1928, he defended his title once more against Tom Heeney before retiring from boxing undefeated the same year. In October 1928, he married Mary Josephine Lauder (also known as Polly), the great niece of Andrew Carnegie, and the couple went on an extensive honeymoon before returning to the United States, where they had four children—three sons and one daughter. Tunney served as a Marine during World War I and joined the Navy during World War II, where he was commissioned as an officer. He authored two autobiographies: *A Man Must Fight* in 1932 and *Arms for Living* in 1941. Tunney also pursued and succeeded in various business ventures.