| Election Name: | 1878 Boston mayoral election |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1877 Boston mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 1877 |
| Election Date: | December 10, 1878 |
| Next Election: | 1879 Boston mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 1879 |
| Image1: | Frederick O. Prince 5210004 015 024 (3x4e).jpg |
| Candidate1: | Frederick O. Prince |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 19,676 |
| Percentage1: | 51.59% |
| Candidate2: | Charles R. Codman |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 18,003 |
| Percentage2: | 47.20% |
| Mayor | |
| Before Election: | Henry L. Pierce |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Frederick O. Prince |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The Boston mayoral election of 1878 saw Republican Frederick O. Prince elected to return the mayoralty for a second nonconsecutive term. He defeated Democratic nominee Charles R. Codman and Greenback contender Davis J. King.
The city's Republicans nominated Charles R. Codman for mayor on a "Citizens'" ticket at a convention held on November 30.[1]
The city's Democrats formally nominated former mayor Frederick O. Prince on November 11, 1878.[2]
The Labor Reform Party and Workingman's Party (Greenbacks) formally nominated Davis J. King on December 6, 1878.[3] However, many of the city's backers of leading Greenback Benjamin Butler instead supported Prince's candidacy.[4] [5]