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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]
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]
Know Nothing nominee |
---|
Thomas Aspinwall Davis (Businessman) |
Nominee for all votes |
Whig nominees | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 | ||
---|---|---|
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 |
Candidates
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 |
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
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 |
Coinciding with the third vote was a similar third vote for five seats on the Boston Board of Aldermen.[15]
Candidates
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 |
Wetmore declined to run again and the Whig Party instead nominated former mayor Samuel Atkins Eliot.[16]
Candidates
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 |
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
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 |
Candidates
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 |
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
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]
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
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 |
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 | — | — |
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