Biography

Gene Tunney's parents were Mary Jean (aka Rose) Lydon and John Tunney. Both of his parents were born in Mayo, Ireland, near Kiltimagh, and moved to New York City. He won the heavyweight boxing championship from Jack Dempsey in 1926 and successfully defended his title against Dempsey in 1927. In 1928, he successfully defended his title against Tom Heeney and then retired from the ring undefeated in 1928. He then married Andrew Carnegie's great niece, Mary Josephine Lauder (aka Polly) in October, 1928, went on an extensive honeymoon, then returned to the U.S. and had four children - three sons and one daughter. He enlisted as a Marine during World War I, and he joined the Navy during World War II and was made an officer. He wrote two autobiographies - 'A Man Must Fight' in 1932 and 'Arms for Living' in 1941. He was very successful with his business interests.