John McCleester | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Sportsman and pugilist |
| Employer | Tammany Hall |
| Known for | lieutenant of Colonel Isaiah Rynders; cornerman of Yankee Sullivan. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
George "Country McCloskey" McCheester or John McCleester (fl. 1841-1850) was an American bare-knuckle boxer and sportsman involved in the early history of pugilism and prize fighting in Old New York. A contender for the American heavyweight championship in 1849, he was an enforcer for the Irish Tammany Hall politicians, and a member of Isaiah Rynders non-partisan Empire Club, that opposed the policies of New York Mayor James Harper.