Jonathan Chapman

For the professor of sustainable design, see Jonathan Chapman (academic).

Jonathan Chapman (January 23, 1807 – May 25, 1848) was an American politician who served as the eighth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1840 to 1842.

Jonathan Chapman
8th Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts
In office 1840–1843
Preceded by	Samuel A. Eliot
Succeeded by	Martin Brimmer
Member of the Boston Common Council[1]
In office 1838[1]–1838[1]
In office 1835[1]–1836[1]
Personal details
Born	January 23, 1807
Died	May 25, 1848(1848-05-25) (aged 41)[2]
Party	Whig[3]
Spouse	Lucinda Dwight (Born July 7, 1809; Married April 25, 1832)[1][4]
Children	Jonathan Chapman (b. March 11, 1836); Eliza Chapman (b. March 10, 1838)[5]
Alma mater	Phillips Exeter Academy[1]Harvard,[2] class of 1825.[1]
Profession	Attorney[1][2]

Early life

Jonathan Chapman was born on January 23, 1807, son of a man also named Jonathan Chapman. His father served as a member of the Town of Boston's Board of Selectmen.^[6]

Chapman attended Phillips Exeter Academy, graduated from Harvard College, and studied law under the direction of Judge Lemuel Shaw.^[6]

Mayoralty

Chapman was elected mayor of Boston in the December 1839 Boston mayoral election as the Whig candidate; he was sworn into office in 1840; he served three one-year terms.^[2]

Because of a large increase of the debt of the city of Boston in the 18 years since it was incorporated, Mayor Chapman had as a chief aim of his administration the reduction of the city's debt.^[2]

Although land had been purchased for a new city hall, Mayor Chapman did not favor that project. Because Suffolk County was constructing a new building for the Registry and Probate offices and was going to move out of the old courthouse building, Chapman instead recommended that the old Suffolk County Courthouse be remodeled for use as Boston's city hall.^[7]

Boston's City Hall from 1841 to 1865 (Old Suffolk County Courthouse 1810–1841)

The city occupied the renovated structure on March 18, 1841.^[2]

Steamship Service

Chapman spoke of the great importance of the establishment of the Cunard Lines^[2] steamship^[8] service between Boston and Liverpool, England.

The Western Railroad

Chapman also spoke of the great importance of the opening up of the Western Railroad from Boston to the Hudson River.^[2][8]

Chapman did not run for re-election in the 1842 Boston mayoral election.^[9]

Personal life

Chapman married Lucindia Dwight (born July 7, 1809) on April 25, 1832. They had two children together, Jonathan (born March 11, 1836) and Eliza (born March 10, 1838).

Chapman died on May 25, 1848, at the age of 41.^[6] He is the shortest-lived mayor of Boston.

See also

• Timeline of Boston, 1830s–1840s

References

• Image from Mayors of Boston: An Illustrated Epitome of who the Mayors Have Been and What they Have Done, Boston, MA: State Street Trust Company, Page 16, (1914).