1850 Boston mayoral election

The 1850 Boston mayoral election saw the reelection of incumbent Whig mayor John P. Bigelow to a third consecutive term. It was held on December 9, 1850.[1]

1850 Boston mayoral election
← 1849 December 9, 1850 1851 →
 
Candidate John P. Bigelow Charles Coffin Amory Sr.
Party Whig Ind. Whig
Popular vote 5,473 1,169
Percentage 63.45% 13.55%

 
Candidate Charles B. Goodrich Benjamin B. Mussey
Party Democratic Free Soil
Popular vote 1,094 882
Percentage 12.68% 9.53%

Mayor before election

John P. Bigelow
Whig

Elected mayor

John P. Bigelow
Whig

Candidates

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Incumbent mayor John P. Bigelow was renominated by the city's Whig Party. However, some leading Boston Whigs did not approve of Bigelow's renomination and instead wanted to field a candidate from the city's West End. At the last-minute ahead of the election, 400 individuals signed nominating papers for Charles Coffin Amory to run as an independent Whig candidate.[2]

Campaign

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Backers of Amory's last-minute candidacy of made last-minute accusations against Bigelow, painting him as lacking the "dignity" to hold his office. These accusations were levied so close to the election that there was effectively no time left for Bigelow to retort them. They also accused Bigelow of having designs of seeking the state's governorship in November 1951's gubernatorial election.[2]

Results

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1850 Boston mayoral election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig John P. Bigelow (incumbent) 5,473 63.45
Ind. Whig Charles Coffin Amory Sr. 1,169 13.55
Democratic Charles B. Goodrich 1,094 12.68
Free Soil Benjamin B. Mussey 822 9.53
Scattering Other 68 0.08
Total votes 8,626 100

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ a b c d "Our Boson Correspondence". New York Daily Heald. December 17, 1850. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "City Election". The Liberator. December 13, 1850. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.