| Election Name: | 1899 Boston mayoral election |
| Country: | Boston |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1897 Boston mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 1897 |
| Election Date: | December 12, 1899 |
| Next Election: | 1901 Boston mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 1901 |
| Image1: | Thomas N. Hart 5210004 015 029 (3x4a).jpg |
| Candidate1: | Thomas N. Hart |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 40,838 |
| Percentage1: | 50.2% |
| Mayor | |
| Before Election: | Josiah Quincy |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Thomas N. Hart |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Candidate2: | Patrick Collins |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 38,557 |
| Percentage2: | 47.4% |
The Boston mayoral election of 1899 occurred on Tuesday, December 12, 1899. Republican candidate (and former mayor) Thomas N. Hart defeated Democratic nominee Patrick Collins and two other contenders, to become mayor for a second tenure. Incumbent mayor Josiah Quincy (a Democrat) had announced in July 1899 that he would not seek re-election.[1]
Hart benefitted from strife within the Democratic party, where John R. Murphy had lost the nomination to Collins.[2] Murphy subsequently announced his intent to cross party lines and vote for Hart.[3] The votes of Murphy and his followers in support of the Republican candidate contributed to Collins' defeat, and was referred to as a "knifing" in contemporary news reports.[4]
Hart was inaugurated on Monday, January 1, 1900.[5]
The Democratic convention was held on November 20, 1899, at Bumstead Hall. Incumbent mayor Patrick Collins defeated former state senator and state representative John R. Murphy.[6]
| Democratic Mayoral Ballot | |||
| Candidates | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 187 | 64.26% | ||
| 104 | 35.74% | ||
The Republican convention was held on November 21, 1899, at Association Hall. Former Mayor Thomas N. Hart defeated former common councilor, alderman, and state representative Alpheus Sanford.[7]
| Republican Mayoral Ballot | |||
| Candidates | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 239 | 69.08% | ||
| Alpheus Sanford | 107 | 30.92% | |
| Candidates | General Election[10] [11] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |||
| R | Thomas N. Hart | 40,838 | ||
| D | Patrick Collins | 38,557 | ||
| SLP | James F. Stevens | 978 | ||
| S | John Weaver Sherman | 976 | ||
| all others | 1 | |||