1853–54 Boston mayoral election

1853–1854 Boston mayoral election

Dec. 12, 1853 (1st vote) Dec. 27, 1853 (2nd vote) Jan. 9, 1854 (3rd vote)

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%

Mayor before election Benjamin Seaver Whig Elected mayor Jerome V. C. Smith

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

• Frederick H. Allen
• Benjamin Seaver (Whig Party), incumbent mayor^[1]
• Jacob Sleeper (Young Men's League), member of the Boston Board of Aldermen^[1]
• Jerome V. C. Smith, physician and candidate for mayor in 1851 and 1852

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

• Aaron Hobart (Democratic)^[3]
• Jacob Sleeper
• Jerome V. C. Smith, physician and candidate for mayor in 1851 and 1852
• John P. Bigelow (Whig), former mayor^[3]

Result

Boston mayoral election second vote (December 27, 1854)^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jerome V. C. Smith	6,077	49.94%
	Whig	John P. Bigelow	4,489	36.89%
		Jacob Sleeper	775	6.37%
	Democratic	Aaron Hobart	748	6.15%
	Scattering	Other	79	6.49%
Total votes			12,168	100

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

• Aaron Hobart (Democratic),^[5] probate judge and former U.S. congressman
• Jerome V. C. Smith (Citizens Union Party),^[5] physician and candidate for mayor in 1851 and 1852
• James Whiting (Bay State Club and Liquor Union)^[5]
• John H. Wilkins (Whig)^[5]

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

• List of mayors of Boston, Massachusetts

References

1. "Nominations for Mayor". New England Farmer. December 3, 1853. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. 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.
3. "The City Election". Newspapers.com. New England Farmer. December 24, 1853. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
4. "Municipal Affairs". The Liberator. December 30, 1853. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Election of a Mayor". New England Farmer. January 14, 1854. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.