1844–45 Boston mayoral election

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.

Background
The election marked the rise of the city's newly founded Native American Party (Know Nothing) organization. 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. It was alternatively described as reflecting dividing lines between party-line Whigs, locofocos, nativists, and abolitionists.

First vote (December 9, 1844)

 * Candidates
 * Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)
 * Adam W. Thaxter Jr. (Democratic Party/Locofoco), merchant
 * Josiah Quincy Jr. (Whig), former president of the Boston Common Council

The Boston Post noted that the results did not reflect the typical party-alignment in elections held in Boston. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, there was no winner.
 * Result

Second vote (December 23, 1844)
The Whig Party parted with Quincy as their nominee and instead nominated Thomas Wetmore as their nominee for the second vote of the election. With Thaxter, declining the Democratic party's nomination Charles Gordon Greene was nominated in his place. Coinciding with the second vote was a similar second vote for five seats on the Boston Board of Aldermen.


 * Candidates
 * Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)
 * Charles Gordon Greene (Democratic Party/Locofoco), editor of the Boston Post
 * Thomas Wetmore (Whig)


 * Result

Third vote (December 30, 1844)
Coinciding with the third vote was a similar third vote for five seats on the Boston Board of Aldermen.


 * Candidates
 * Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)
 * Charles Gordon Greene (Democratic Party/Locofoco), editor of the Boston Post
 * Thomas Wetmore (Whig)


 * Result

Fourth vote (January 13, 1845)
Wetmore declined to run again and the Whig Party instead nominated former mayor Samuel Atkins Eliot.


 * Candidates
 * Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)
 * Samuel Atkins Eliot (Whig), former mayor
 * Charles Gordon Greene (Democratic Party/Locofoco), editor of the Boston Post


 * Result

Fifth vote (January 20, 1845)
The previous round's Whig nominee, Eliot, declined to run again. In their place, the party nominated William Parker. The Previous round's Democratic nominee, Greene, also declined to run again. He was replaced by Peter T. Homer. 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.

A coinciding fifth vote was also held for the final two aldermanic seats, which saw victors emerge.


 * Candidates
 * Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)
 * William T. Eustis (Whig Young Men's)
 * Peter T. Homer (Democratic Party/Locofoco)
 * William Parker (Whig Party)


 * Result

Sixth vote (January 30, 1845)

 * Candidates
 * Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)
 * Peter T. Homer (Democratic Party/Locofoco)
 * William Parker (Whig Party)


 * Result

Seventh vote (February 12, 1845)
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.


 * Candidates
 * Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)
 * Peter T. Homer (Democratic Party/Locofoco)
 * William Parker (Whig Party)


 * Result

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."

Eighth vote (February 21, 1845)
The Democratic Party opted not to contest the eighth vote, leaving the vote to be a two-way race. Davis won and was elected mayor. He took the oath of office on February 27, 1845.


 * Candidates
 * Thomas Aspinwall Davis ("Native American"/"American "Republican" –Know Nothing)
 * William Parker (Whig Party)


 * Result