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.
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]
^ ab"Nominations for Mayor". New England Farmer. December 3, 1853. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcA 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.
^ abc"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.
^ abcd"Election of a Mayor". New England Farmer. January 14, 1854. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
April 25, 2024
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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 1853 1854 Boston mayoral election 1852 Dec 12 1853 1st vote Dec 27 1853 2nd vote Jan 9 1854 3rd vote December 1854 Candidate Jerome V C Smith Benjamin Seaver John P Bigelow Party Citizens Union Party Whig Whig First vote 4 69035 97 5 651 43 34 Did not contest Second vote 6 07749 94 Did not contest 4 48936 89 Third vote 6 84056 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 09716 08 Did not contest Second vote Did not contest 775 6 37 Did not contest Third vote 3 17126 23 Did not contest 1 73014 31 Candidate Aaron Hobart Party Democratic First vote Did not contest Second vote 7486 15 Third vote 2822 33 Mayor before election Benjamin Seaver Whig Elected Mayor Jerome V C Smith 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 Contents 1 First vote December 12 1853 2 Second vote December 27 1853 3 Third vote January 9 1854 4 Summary table of all votes 5 See also 6 ReferencesFirst vote December 12 1853 editCandidates 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 100Second vote December 27 1853 editAfter 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 100Third vote January 9 1854 editCitizens 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 100Summary table of all votes edit1853 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 54See also editList of mayors of Boston MassachusettsReferences edit 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w 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