Election
1853–1854 Boston mayoral election ← 1852 | Dec. 12, 1853 (1st vote) Dec. 27, 1853 (2nd vote) Jan. 9, 1854 (3rd vote) | December 1854 → |
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| | | | Candidate | Jerome V. C. Smith | Benjamin Seaver | John P. Bigelow | Party | Citizens Union Party | Whig | Whig | First vote | 4,690 35.97% | 5,651 43.34% | Did not contest | Second vote | 6,077 49.94% | Did not contest | 4,489 36.89% | Third vote | 6,840 56.59% | Did not contest | Did not contest | | | | | | Candidate | John H. Wilkins | Jacob Sleeper | James Whiting | Party | Whig | Young Men's League | Bay State Club and Liquor Union | First vote | Did not contest | 2,097 16.08% | Did not contest | Second vote | Did not contest | 775 6.37% | Did not contest | Third vote | 3,171 26.23% | Did not contest | 1,730 14.31% | | | | | Candidate | Aaron Hobart | | Party | Democratic | | First vote | Did not contest | | Second vote | 748 6.15% | | Third vote | 282 2.33% | | |
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The Boston mayoral election of 1853–1854 saw the election of Citizens Union Party nominee Jerome V. C. Smith. The election took three votes, as no candidate secured the needed majority in the first two attempts. Incumbent Whig mayor Benjamin Seaver had run for reelection as his party’s nominee in the first vote, but opted not to compete in the second or third votes.
It was the sixth and final Boston mayoral election to require multiple general election attempts before a winner could be determined. The previous elections where this had occurred were the 1822, 1828, 1831, 1844–45, and 1851 mayoral elections.
First vote (December 12, 1853)
- Candidates
- Result
Boston mayoral election first vote (December 12, 1853)[2] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Whig | Benjamin Seaver (incumbent) | 5,651 | 43.34% |
| | Jerome V. C. Smith | 4,690 | 35.97% |
| Young Men's League | Jacob Sleeper | 2,097 | 16.08% |
| | Frederick H. Allen | 596 | 4.57% |
| Scattering | Other | 5 | 0.03% |
Total votes | 13,039 | 100 |
Second vote (December 27, 1853)
After he failed to win a majority in the first vote, Mayor Seaver refused to again run in the second vote. After this, the city's Whig Party committee nominated former mayor Josiah Quincy III, who declined. They then nominated Thomas Coffin Amory, who also declined. They then nominated former mayor John P. Bigelow. The Democratic Party nominated Aaron Hobart.[3] As with the first vote, no winner was elected as no candidate won a majority share of the vote. Jerome V. C. Smith fell short of a majority by a mere nine votes.[4]
- Candidates
- Result
Third vote (January 9, 1854)
Citizens Union Party nominee Jerome V. C. Smith was elected after winning a majority in the third vote.
In the third vote, John H. Wilkins replaced Bigelow as there Whig Party's nominee.
- Candidates
- Result
Boston mayoral election third vote (January 9, 1854)[2] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Citizens Union Party | Jerome V. C. Smith | 6,840 | 56.59% |
| Whig | John H. Wilkins | 3,171 | 26.23% |
| Bay State Club and Liquor Union | James Whiting | 1,730 | 14.31% |
| Democratic | Aaron Hobart | 282 | 2.33% |
| Scattering | Other | 65 | 0.54% |
Total votes | 12,088 | 100 |
Summary table of all votes
1853–1854 Boston mayoral election results Vote round | Whig Party | Democratic Party | Citizens Union Party | Young Men's League | Bay State Club and Liquor Union | Scattering |
Nominee | % | Nominee | % | Nominee | % | Nominee | % | Nominee | % | % |
1st | Benjamin Seaver (incumbent) | 43.34 | — | Jerome V. C. Smith | 35.97 | Jacob Sleeper | 16.08 | — | 0.03 |
2nd | John P. Bigelow | 36.89 | Aaron Hobart | 6.15 | 49.94 | 6.37 | 6.49 |
3rd | John H. Wilkins | 26.23 | 2.33 | 56.59 | — | James Whiting | 14.31 | 0.54 |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Nominations for Mayor". New England Farmer. December 3, 1853. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822-1908, Roxbury, 1846-1867, Charlestown, 1847-1873 and of the Selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822: Also of Various Other Town and Municipal Officers. City of Boston Printing Department. 1909. p. 52. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c "The City Election". Newspapers.com. New England Farmer. December 24, 1853. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Municipal Affairs". The Liberator. December 30, 1853. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Election of a Mayor". New England Farmer. January 14, 1854. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.