1844–45 Boston mayoral election
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The 1844–45 Boston mayoral election saw the election of Native American Party (Know Nothing) nominee Thomas Aspinwall Davis as mayor of Boston. The election took eight votes, as no candidate secured the needed majority in the first seven attempts. Incumbent Whig Party mayor Martin Brimmer was not a nominee reelection.[1]
Background
[edit]The election marked the rise of the city's newly founded Native American Party (Know Nothing) organization.[3] The election was characterized in part as a race between Presbyterians, largely regarded as backing the Native American Party cause, and the Unitarians, who were seen as backing the Whig Party.[4][5] It was alternatively described as reflecting dividing lines between party-line Whigs, locofocos, nativists, and abolitionists.[6]
Candidates gallery
[edit]| Know Nothing nominee |
|---|
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| Thomas Aspinwall Davis (Businessman) |
| Nominee for all votes |
| Whig nominees | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) |
 |
.jpg) |
|
| Josiah Quincy Jr. (former president of the Boston Common Council) |
Thomas Wetmore | Samuel Atkins Eliot (former mayor) |
William Parker (Boston alderman) |
| Nominee for 1st vote | Nominee for 2nd & 3rd votes | Nominee for 4th vote | Nominee for 5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th votes |
| Democratic nominees | ||
|---|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
|
| Adam W. Thaxter Jr. (merchant) |
Charles Gordon Greene (publisher of The Boston Post) |
Peter T. Homer |
| Nominee for 1st vote | Nominee for 2nd, 3rd, & 4th votes | Nominee for 5th, 6th, & 7th votes |
| Whig Young Men's nominee |
|---|
|
| William T. Eustis |
| Nominee for 5th vote |
First vote (December 9, 1844)
[edit]Candidates
- Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)[7][8]
- Adam W. Thaxter Jr. (Democratic Party/Locofoco),[7][9] merchant[10]
- Josiah Quincy Jr. (Whig),[7] former president of the Boston Common Council
Result
The Boston Post noted that the results did not reflect the typical party-alignment in elections held in Boston.[7] Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, there was no winner.[1][7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Josiah Quincy Jr. | 4,457 | 41.19 | |
| Know Nothing | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 4,017 | 37.12 | |
| Democratic | Adam W. Thaxter Jr. | 2,115 | 19.55 | |
| Scattering | Other | 232 | 21.44 | |
| Total votes | 10,821 | 100 | ||
Second vote (December 23, 1844)
[edit]The Whig Party parted with Quincy as their nominee and instead nominated Thomas Wetmore as their nominee for the second vote of the election.[11] With Thaxter, declining the Democratic party's nomination Charles Gordon Greene was nominated in his place.[12] Coinciding with the second vote was a similar second vote for five seats on the Boston Board of Aldermen.[13][14]
Candidates
- Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)[11][13][14]
- Charles Gordon Greene (Democratic Party/Locofoco), editor of the Boston Post[12][13][14]
- Thomas Wetmore (Whig)[11][13][14]
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Know Nothing | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 3,907 | 38.89 | |
| Whig | Thomas Wetmore | 3,767 | 37.56 | |
| Democratic | Charles Gordon Greene | 2,282 | 22.75 | |
| Scattering | Other | 90 | 0.90 | |
| Total votes | 10,030 | 100 | ||
Third vote (December 30, 1844)
[edit]Coinciding with the third vote was a similar third vote for five seats on the Boston Board of Aldermen.[15]
Candidates
- Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)[15]
- Charles Gordon Greene (Democratic Party/Locofoco), editor of the Boston Post[15]
- Thomas Wetmore (Whig)[15]
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Know Nothing | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 4,031 | 40.19 | |
| Whig | Thomas Wetmore | 3,456 | 34.46 | |
| Democratic | Charles Gordon Greene | 2,419 | 24.12 | |
| Scattering | Other | 124 | 1.24 | |
| Total votes | 10,046 | 100 | ||
Fourth vote (January 13, 1845)
[edit]Wetmore declined to run again and the Whig Party instead nominated former mayor Samuel Atkins Eliot.[16]
Candidates
- Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)[17][16]
- Samuel Atkins Eliot (Whig), former mayor[17][16]
- Charles Gordon Greene (Democratic Party/Locofoco), editor of the Boston Post[17][16]
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Know Nothing | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 3,993 | 40.65 | |
| Whig | Samuel Atkins Eliot | 3,712 | 37.79 | |
| Democratic | Charles Gordon Greene | 2,056 | 20.93 | |
| Scattering | Other | 63 | 0.64 | |
| Total votes | 9,824 | 100 | ||
Fifth vote (January 20, 1845)
[edit]The previous round's Whig nominee, Eliot, declined to run again. In their place, the party nominated William Parker.[17] The Previous round's Democratic nominee, Greene, also declined to run again.[17] He was replaced by Peter T. Homer.[18] A meeting was held at which the Whig Young Men's nominated William T. Eustis. It was speculated this was done with hopes of having him be a spoiler candidate and split the Know Nothing vote to prevent a Davis victory.[17]
A coinciding fifth vote was also held for the final two aldermanic seats, which saw victors emerge.[18]
Candidates
- Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)[18]
- William T. Eustis (Whig Young Men's)[18]
- Peter T. Homer (Democratic Party/Locofoco)[18]
- William Parker (Whig Party)[17]
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Know Nothing | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 4,289 | 46.39 | |
| Democratic | Peter T. Homer | 1,855 | 20.06 | |
| Whig Young Men's | William T. Eustis | 1,503 | 16.26 | |
| Whig | William Parker | 1,499 | 16.21 | |
| Scattering | Other | 99 | ||
| Total votes | 9,245 | 100 | ||
Sixth vote (January 30, 1845)
[edit]Candidates
- Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)[19]
- Peter T. Homer (Democratic Party/Locofoco)[19]
- William Parker (Whig Party)[19]
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Know Nothing | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 4,436 | 45.10 | |
| Whig | William Parker | 3,851 | 39.15 | |
| Democratic | Peter T. Homer | 1,513 | 15.38 | |
| Scattering | Other | 37 | 0.38 | |
| Total votes | 9,837 | 100 | ||
Seventh vote (February 12, 1845)
[edit]By the time of the seventh vote, the Boston Tribune, a Whig newspaper, was conceding that they did not believe that their party did not stand a chance of ultimately prevailing in the mayor's race.[20]
Candidates
- Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)[21]
- Peter T. Homer (Democratic Party/Locofoco)[21]
- William Parker (Whig Party)[21]
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Know Nothing | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 4,343 | 47.57 | |
| Whig | William Parker | 3,341 | 36.59 | |
| Democratic | Peter T. Homer | 1,430 | 15.66 | |
| Scattering | Other | 16 | 0.18 | |
| Total votes | 9,130 | 100 | ||
After the vote, a reporter wrote,
It is evident to close observers here, that the subject of religious opinion has much to do in the matter, or other word, that it is a contest in part between Orthodox and Unitarian sects. The former set have thrown their influence for the Natives and the latter for the regular Whig candidate. But for this unhappy division, the regular Whig ticket would have succeeded at the first trial. It is now confidently anticipated by all that the native candidate will be elected.[4]
Eighth vote (February 21, 1845)
[edit]The Democratic Party opted not to contest the eighth vote, leaving the vote to be a two-way race.[5] Davis won and was elected mayor.[1] He took the oath of office on February 27, 1845.[22]
Candidates
- Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)[5]
- William Parker (Whig Party)[5]
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Know Nothing | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 4,865 | 50.93 | |
| Whig | William Parker | 4,366 | 45.70 | |
| Scattering | Other | 322 | 3.37 | |
| Total votes | 9,553 | 100 | ||
Summary table of all votes
[edit]| Vote round | Whig Party | Know Nothing | Democratic Party | Other candidates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominee | % | Nominee | % | Nominee | % | Candidate | % | |
| 1st | Josiah Quincy Jr. | 41.19 | Thomas Aspinwall Davis | 37.12 | Adam W. Thaxter Jr. | 19.55 | — | — |
| 2nd | Thomas Wetmore | 37.50 | 38.89 | Charles Gordon Greene | 22.72 | |||
| 3rd | 34.46 | 40.19 | 24.12 | |||||
| 4th | Samuel Atkins Eliot | 37.79 | 40.65 | 20.93 | ||||
| 5th | William Parker | 16.21 | 46.39 | Peter T. Homer | 20.06 | William T. Eustis | 16.26 | |
| 6th | 39.15 | 45.10 | 15.38 | — | — | |||
| 7th | 36.59 | 47.57 | 15.66 | |||||
| 8th | 45.70 | 50.93 | — | — | ||||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. pp. 50–51. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Votes for Mayor of Boston, from 1841 to 1849". Boston Evening Transcript. November 23, 1849. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The "Native" Party—It's Past, Present, and Future". New York Daily Herald. February 5, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Boston City Election". Public Ledger. February 13, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Election in Boston-A Choice at Last". Public Ledger. February 24, 1845 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Times". Boon's Lick Times. February 1, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "The Boston Election". The Evening Post. December 11, 1844 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mayor of Boston". Baltimore Daily Commercial. December 19, 1844. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Boston Municipal Election". New-York Tribune. December 11, 1844 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ O'Brien, Megan (February 23, 2021). "Luxury Home of the Week: For $7.35m, a 22-room Beacon Hill home". www.boston.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Baltimore Daily Commercial 19 Dec 1844, page 1". Baltimore Daily Commercial. December 19, 1844. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Mr. Thaxter...". The Times-Picayune. December 31, 1844 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Boston Municipal Election". New York Daily Herald. December 25, 1844. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Boston Election". The Buffalo Commercial. December 27, 1844. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "No Mayor Yet". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 2, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Boston Municipal Election". Weekly Columbus Enquirer. January 29, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Boston Mayoralty". The Louisville Daily Courier. January 25, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Boston City Election". Hartford Courant. January 22, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Boston". Brooklyn Evening Star. February 1, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Boston Election". The Louisville Daily Courier. February 3, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Seventh Failure". The Pittsfield Sun. February 20, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mayor of Boston". New York Daily Herald. February 28, 1845. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.