Benjamin Seaver

For the TV sitcom character of the same name, see Growing Pains.

Benjamin Seaver (April 12, 1795 – February 14, 1856) was an American politician, serving as the thirteenth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from January 5, 1852 to January 2, 1854.^[12]

Benjamin Seaver
Mayor of Boston
In office January 5, 1852[1] – January 2, 1854[2]
Preceded by	John P. Bigelow
Succeeded by	Jerome V. C. Smith
President of the Boston Common Council[3]
In office July 1, 1847[4] – January 7, 1850[5]
Preceded by	George Stillman Hillard[4]
Succeeded by	Francis Brinley[5]
Member of the Boston Common Council[6]
In office January 3, 1848[7] – January 7, 1850[5]
Constituency	Ward 4
In office July 6, 1845[8] – January 3, 1848[7]
Constituency	Ward 5
Personal details
Born	April 12, 1795[9] Roxbury, Massachusetts
Died	February 14, 1856(1856-02-14) (aged 60)[10]
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Sarah Johnson[9]
Children	Benjamin Francis (1820-1868), Henry Gardner (1822-1838), Mary Elizabeth (1825-?), Charles Milton (1829-?).[10]
Alma mater	Roxbury Grammar School[11]
Occupation	Auctioneer[11]

Early life

Seaver was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts^[13] In 1812 Seaver became an apprentice at the auction and commission store of Whitwell & Bond.^[13] In 1816 Seaver became a partner in the firm which was renamed Whitwell, Bond & Co.^[13] In 1818, Seaver purchased 5 shares of the Suffolk Bank, a clearinghouse bank on State Street in Boston.^[14]

Seaver married Sarah Johnson.^[9]

Political career

City of Boston Common Council

Seaver was first elected to represent Boston's Ward 5 as a member of the Boston Common Council in 1845. He was reelected to the Common Council from Ward 5 in 1846 and 1847. In 1848 Seaver moved to Ward 4 and was subsequently elected as a councilor from the new ward in 1848 and 1849.

In July 1847 Seaver was elected as the president of the Common Council and held that position for the two and a half years that he remained on the City of Boston Common Council.^[9]

Massachusetts legislature

From 1846 to 1848 Seaver served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and in 1850 and 1851 he was elected to the Massachusetts Senate.^[10]

See also

• Timeline of Boston, 1840s-1850s
• 1852 Boston mayoral election
• 1853–54 Boston mayoral election