1831 Boston mayoral election
{{short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1831 Boston mayoral election
| country =
| type = Presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1830 Boston mayoral election
| previous_year = 1830
| election_date = December 12, 1831 (first vote)
December 22, 1831 (second round)
| next_election = 1832 Boston mayoral election
| next_year = 1832
| 1blank = First vote
| 2blank = Second vote
| image1 = Charles Wells 5210004 015 004 (1).jpg
| candidate1 = Charles Wells
| party1 = National Republican Party
| 1data1 = 1,851
(41.23%)
| 2data1 = 3,316
(55.94%)
| image2 = Theodore Lyman, Jr. 5210004 015 005 (3x4a).jpg
| candidate2 = Theodore Lyman II
| colour2 = C0C0C0
| party2 = Grocer's Party
| 1data2 = 1,838
(40.94%)
| 2data2 = 2,389
(40.30%)
| image3 = 3x4.svg
| candidate3 = William Sullivan
| party3 = National Republican Party
| 1data3 = {{large|>}} 1,100
({{large|>}} 24.50%)
| 2data3 = not a candidate in second vote
| title = Mayor
| before_election = Charles Wells
| before_party = National Republican Party
| after_election = Charles Wells
| after_party = National Republican Party
}}
{{ElectionsMA|Boston}}
The 1831 Boston mayoral election saw the election of Charles Wells. The first vote, held on December 12, 1831, did not result in any candidate receiving the required majority of the vote, resulting in a second vote on December 22, 1831, which Wells won.
First vote (December 12, 1831)
Charles Wells was the city's National Republican Party's nominee. William Sullivan was an independent National Republican candidate nominated by a faction of the city's National Republicans.{{cite web |title=Mayor of Boston |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/816022986 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Alexandria Gazette |access-date=19 April 2023 |language=en |date=December 17, 1831}} Lyman was nominated by the Grocer's Party. Theodore Lyman II's opponents accused him of being a Jacksonian.{{cite web |title=Election of Mayor in Boston |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/39626175 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Evening Post (New York City) |access-date=19 April 2023 |language=en |date=December 14, 1831}} Lyman was seen as receiving support from a number of small parties, as well as many National Republicans. Lyman also was supported by part of the Anti-Tariff Party.
Result
Sullivan received in excess of 1,100 votes,{{cite web |title=Boston City Election |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/605064836 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The United States Gazette |access-date=19 April 2023 |language=en |date=December 16, 1831}} counted in the scattering
{{Election box begin no change| title= Boston mayoral election first vote (December 12, 1831){{cite book |title=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 |date=1909 |publisher=City of Boston Printing Department |page=49 |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=n_BMAAAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA49 |access-date=7 April 2023 |language=en}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|candidate = Charles Wells
|party = National Republican Party
|votes = 1,851
|percentage = 41.23
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|candidate = Theodore Lyman II
|party = Grocer's
|votes = 1,838
|percentage = 40.94
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|candidate = Other (including Sullivan)
|party = Scattering
|votes = 1,160
|percentage = 25.84
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 4,849
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
Second vote (December 22, 1831)
Sullivan did not run in the second vote, making it a two-way race.
{{Election box begin no change| title= Boston mayoral election second vote (December 22, 1831)
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|candidate = Charles Wells
|party = National Republican Party
|votes = 3,316
|percentage = 55.94
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|candidate = Theodore Lyman II
|party = Grocer's
|votes = 2,389
|percentage = 40.30
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|candidate = Other
|party = Scattering
|votes = 223
|percentage = 3.76
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 5,928
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}