1828 Boston mayoral election

1828 Boston mayoral election

←  1827 Dec. 8, 1828 (1st vote) Dec. 15, 1928 (2nd vote) Dec. 22, 1928 (3rd vote) 1829  →

Candidate Harris Gray Otis Josiah Quincy III Thomas C. Amory First vote unspecified share of write-in 1,958 (47.97%) 1,284 (31.46%) Second vote 2,561 (48.75%) 2,561 (48.75%) 1,400 (26.65%) Third vote 2,978 (65.51%) not a candidate for 3rd vote not a candidate for 3rd vote   Candidate Caleb Eddy Charles Wells First vote not a candidate for 1st vote not a candidate for 1st vote Second vote not a candidate for 2nd vote 969 (18.45%) Third vote 1,283 (28.22%) not a candidate for 3rd vote

Mayor before election Josiah Quincy III Federalist Elected mayor Harrison Gray Otis Federalist

The 1828 Boston mayoral election saw the election of Harrison Gray Otis. The election required three votes, because no candidate secured the required majority in the first two votes. ^[1] After failing in the first two votes, incumbent mayor Josiah Quincy III declined to run in the third round. ^[1]

First vote (December 8, 1828)

Boston mayoral election first vote (December 8, 1828) ^[1]

Candidate		Votes	%
Josiah Quincy III (incumbent)		1,958	47.97
Thomas C. Amory		1,284	31.46
Scattering/other (including Otis and Dunlap) [2]		840	20.58
Total votes		4,082	100

Second vote (December 15, 1828)

Running in the second round were Josiah Quincy III, Thomas C. Amory, Harrison Gray Otis, and Charles Wells. ^[3]

Boston mayoral election second vote (December 15, 1828) ^{[1] [4]}

Candidate		Votes	%
Josiah Quincy III (incumbent)		2,561	48.75
Thomas C. Amory		1,400	26.65
Charles Wells		969	18.45
Harrison Gray Otis		209	3.98
Other		113	2.15
Total votes		5,253	100

Third vote (December 22, 1828)

Quincy and Amory declined to run again in the third vote. ^[5]

Receiving a majority of the vote, Otis was elected mayor. ^[6]

Boston mayoral election third vote (December 22, 1828) ^[1]

Candidate		Votes	%
Harrison Gray Otis		2,978	65.51
Caleb Eddy		1,283	28.22
Other		285	6.27
Total votes		4,546	100

Summary table of all votes

1828 Boston mayoral election results (vote percent by round)

	Harrison Gray Otis	Josiah Quincy III (incumbent)	Thomas C. Armory	Caleb Eddy	Charles Wells	Scattering
1st vote	undisclosed share of write-in vote	47.97%	31.46%	—	—	20.58%
2nd vote	26.65%	48.75%	26.65%	—	18.45%	2.15%
3rd vote	65.51%	—	—	28.22%	—	6.27%

See also

• List of mayors of Boston, Massachusetts

References

1. 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. 49. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
2. "Election of Mayor for Boston" . The Charleston Mercury. December 19, 1828. Retrieved April 19, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Two attempts..." . Brattleboro' Messenger. December 26, 1828. Retrieved April 19, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Boston Mayor" . Martinsburg Gazette. December 25, 1828. Retrieved April 19, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
5. "The National Gazette" . The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 20, 1928. Retrieved April 19, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Mayor of Boston" . Lancaster Intelligencer. December 30, 1828. Retrieved April 19, 2023– via Newspapers.com.