Wightman, Joseph M. (Joseph Milner), 1812-1885

Biography

The city's seventeenth mayor, Joseph Milner Wightman, was born in Boston, October 19, 1812, of English parents. He was apprenticed to a machinist, and took up mathematics, engineering, and physics in his spare time. He finally became a manufacturer of surgical instruments. The discussion about a city water supply enlisted his service, and led him to enter politics. He was on the School Committee for ten years, from 1845 to 1854, and served three years on the Board of Aldermen, from 1856 to 1859.

The refusal of Moses Kimball to give the old line and Webster Whigs the use of Faneuil Hall for a Webster meeting resulted in Webster's defeat for the mayoralty and the election of Wightman. Wightman showed no judgement in declining to allow antislavery agitators to hold a meeting in Tremont Hall. As the antislavery agitators feared that under Wightman, a Democrat, they would be denied free speech, they introduced a measure into the state Senate to give the state control of the police, which was eventually defeated. While action was pending on the matter, a meeting of antislavery advocates was held in Faneuil Hall, but the thirty police present made no effort to maintain order, and the meeting was soon interrupted by groans and hisses. At the request of the trustees of the building, who feared that there would be injuries, the mayor had the galleries cleared, but the trouble broke out again, and the meeting was adjourned until evening, when admission would be by ticket. When some of the disturbers said they would remain until evening, the mayor had the building cleared, and refused to allow the evening meeting.

Mayor Wightman displayed enthusiasm and energy in abundance, but was a man of poor judgement. He was successful though, in supplying money for the expenses of fitting out soldiers and in providing for their salaries. The cornerstone of the new city hall, now considered the old city hall, was laid during his administration, on December 23, 1862.

Taken from "Boston's 45 Mayors from John Phillips to Kevin H. White," City Record, Boston, 1979.

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