1853–54 Boston mayoral election

The Boston mayoral election of 1853–1854 saw the election of Citizens Union Party nominee Jerome V. C. Smith. The election took three votes, as no candidate secured the needed majority in the first two attempts. Incumbent Whig mayor Benjamin Seaver had run for reelection as his party’s nominee in the first vote, but opted not to compete in the second or third votes.

It was the sixth and final Boston mayoral election to require multiple general election attempts before a winner could be determined. The previous elections where this had occurred were the 1822, 1828, 1831, 1844–45, and 1851 mayoral elections.

First vote (December 12, 1853)

 * Candidates
 * Frederick H. Allen
 * Benjamin Seaver (Whig Party), incumbent mayor
 * Jacob Sleeper (Young Men's League), member of the Boston Board of Aldermen
 * Jerome V. C. Smith, physician and candidate for mayor in 1851 and 1852


 * Result

Second vote (December 27, 1853)
After he failed to win a majority in the first vote, Mayor Seaver refused to again run in the second vote. After this, the city's Whig Party committee nominated former mayor Josiah Quincy III, who declined. They then nominated Thomas Coffin Amory, who also declined. They then nominated former mayor John P. Bigelow. The Democratic Party nominated Aaron Hobart. As with the first vote, no winner was elected as no candidate won a majority share of the vote. Jerome V. C. Smith fell short of a majority by a mere nine votes.


 * Candidates
 * Aaron Hobart (Democratic)
 * Jacob Sleeper
 * Jerome V. C. Smith, physician and candidate for mayor in 1851 and 1852
 * John P. Bigelow (Whig), former mayor


 * Result

Third vote (January 9, 1854)
Citizens Union Party nominee Jerome V. C. Smith was elected after winning a majority in the third vote.

In the third vote, John H. Wilkins replaced Bigelow as there Whig Party's nominee.


 * Candidates
 * Aaron Hobart (Democratic), probate judge and former U.S. congressman
 * Jerome V. C. Smith (Citizens Union Party), physician and candidate for mayor in 1851 and 1852
 * James Whiting (Bay State Club and Liquor Union)
 * John H. Wilkins (Whig)


 * Result