Origins & Early Life

Giuseppe "the Clutch Hand" Morello (Italian: [dʒuˈzɛppe moˈrɛllo]; May 2, 1867 – August 15, 1930), also known as "the Old Fox", was the first boss of the Morello crime family and later top adviser to Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria. He was known as Piddu (Sicilian diminutive form of Giuseppe) and his rivals the Castellammarese knew him as Peter Morello. He had a deformed right hand with only one finger, resembling a claw. In the 1890s, Giuseppe founded a gang known as the 107th Street Mob, which later evolved into the Morello crime family.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Today the Morello crime family is known as the Genovese crime family and is the oldest of the Five Families in New York City. Giuseppe Morello was born in Corleone, Sicily on May 2, 1867. His father Calogero Morello died in 1872 and his mother Angelina Piazza remarried one year later to Bernardo Terranova, who was a member of the Terranova Mafia clan of Corleone. Bernardo and Angelina had seven known children: two sons named Vincenzo (the first, born in 1874, died at age two; the second was born in 1886), Ciro (born 1888), Nicolò (born 1890), Lucia (born 1877), Salvatrice (born 1880), and Rosalia (born 1892, died October 14, 1915...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert Bassermann — Contemporary (Born in 1867) (1867): Esteemed German stage and screen actor, celebrated for his dramatic versatility.
• Arturo Toscanini — Contemporary (Born in 1867) (1867): Intense Italian conductor, master of orchestral detail, and pivotal figure in 20th-century music.
• Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim — Contemporary (Born in 1867) (1867): Finnish military leader and statesman who guided Finland through tumultuous decades.
• Alfred von Tirpitz — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Architect of the modern German battle fleet and naval expansionist.
• Alfred Wegener — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Pioneering geophysicist known for proposing the theory of continental drift.
• Ali al-Sistani — Contemporary (Born in 1930) (1930): Leading Twelver Shia scholar and Grand Ayatollah of Najaf, Iraq.
• Athanasius of Alexandria — Shared historical date (05-02 · Died) (373): The Great Theologian and Patriarch of Alexandria, defender of Nicene orthodoxy.
• Benjamin Spock — Shared historical date (05-02 · Born) (1903): Pioneering pediatrician whose advice shaped modern parenting and social activism.
• Anthony of Padua — Shared historical date (08-15 · Born) (1195): Portuguese Catholic saint and Franciscan friar, renowned for his preaching.
• Ben Affleck — Shared historical date (08-15 · Born) (1972): Esteemed American actor and filmmaker known for dramatic roles and directorial efforts.
• 1867 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1867
• May 2 (05-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 2
• 1930 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1930
• August 15 (08-15) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 15