The 1844–45 Boston mayoral election was held in eight rounds from December 9, 1844 through February 21, 1845. The eight ballot saw the election of Native American Party nominee Thomas Aspinwall Davis as mayor of Boston. Incumbent Whig Party mayor Martin Brimmer was not a candidate for reelection. The election took eight votes, as no candidate secured the needed majority in the first seven attempts.
Background The election marked the rise of the city's newly founded Native American Party (Know Nothing) organization. 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. It was alternatively described as reflecting dividing lines between party-line Whigs, locofocos, nativists, and abolitionists.
First vote The first vote was held as scheduled on December 9.
Candidates Thomas Aspinwall Davis, businessman (Native American and American Republican) Adam W. Thaxter Jr., merchant (Democratic and Locofoco) Josiah Quincy Jr., former president of the Boston Common Council (Whig)
Results The Boston Post noted that the results did not reflect the typical party-alignment in elections held in Boston. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, there was no winner.
Second vote The second ballot was held December 23.
Coinciding with the second vote was a similar second vote for five seats on the Boston Board of Aldermen.
Candidates Thomas Aspinwall Davis, businessman (Native American and American Republican) Charles Gordon Greene, editor of The Boston Post (Democratic and Locofoco) Thomas Wetmore (Whig)
The Whig Party parted with Quincy as their nominee and instead nominated Thomas Wetmore for the second vote of the election. With Thaxter declining the Democratic Party's nomination, Charles Gordon Greene was nominated in his place.
Results
Third vote The third ballot was held December 30.
Coinciding with the third vote was a similar third vote for five seats on the Boston Board of Aldermen.
Candidates Thomas Aspinwall Davis, businessman (Native American and American Republican) Charles Gordon Greene, editor of The Boston Post (Democratic and Locofoco) Thomas Wetmore (Whig)
Results
Fourth vote The fourth vote was held January 13, 1845.
Candidates Thomas Aspinwall Davis, businessman (Native American and American Republican) Samuel Atkins Eliot, former mayor (Whig) Charles Gordon Greene, editor of The Boston Post (Democratic and Locofoco)
Wetmore declined to run again and the Whig Party instead nominated former mayor Samuel Atkins Eliot.
Results
Fifth vote (January 20, 1845) The fifth vote was held January.
A coinciding fifth vote was also held for the final two aldermanic seats, which saw victors emerge.
Candidates Thomas Aspinwall Davis, businessman (Native American and American Republican) William T. Eustis (Whig Young Men's) Peter T. Homer (Democratic and Locofoco) William Parker (Whig)
The previous round's Whig nominee, Eliot, declined to run again. In their place, the party nominated William Parker. Greene also declined to run again. He was replaced by Peter T. Homer. 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.
Results
Sixth vote (January 30, 1845) The sixth vote was held January 30.
Candidates Thomas Aspinwall Davis, businessman (Native American and American Republican) Peter T. Homer (Democratic and Locofoco) William Parker (Whig)
Results
Seventh vote The seventh vote was held February 12.
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.
Candidates Thomas Aspinwall Davis, businessman (Native American and American Republican) Peter T. Homer (Democratic and Locofoco) William Parker (Whig)
Results
After the vote, a reporter wrote,
Eighth vote The eighth vote was held February 21.
The Democratic Party opted not to contest the eighth vote, leaving the vote to be a two-way race. Davis won and was elected mayor. He took the oath of office on February 27, 1845.
Candidates Thomas Aspinwall Davis, businessman (Native American and American Republican) William Parker (Whig)
Results
Summary table of all votes + 1844–1845 Boston mayoral election results 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 rowspan=4 rowspan=4 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 rowspan=3 rowspan=3 7th 36.59 47.57 15.66 8th 45.70 50.93
See also List of mayors of Boston, Massachusetts
References