1854 New York City mayoral election

none January 2025 January 2025 1854 New York City mayoral election Presidential no 1852 New York City mayoral election 1852 1856 New York City mayoral election 1856 November 7, 1854 Fernando Wood (cropped).jpg Fernando Wood Democratic Party (United States) 20,003 33.5% 3x4.svg James W. Barker Know-Nothing 18,547 31.1% Wilson G. Hunt Independent Democratic 15,397 25.8% John J. Herrick Whig Party (United States) 5,696 9.5% 250px Results by Borough Mayor Jacob A. Westervelt Democratic Party (United States) Fernando Wood Democratic Party (United States) An election for Mayor of New York City was held on November 7, 1854. Incumbent mayor Jacob A. Westervelt was not a candidate for re-election to a second term in office. In a four-way race to succeed him, former U.S. representative Fernando Wood won the first of his three terms in office over American Party nominee James W. Barker, reformist Wilson G. Hunt, and Whig nominee John J. Herrick. Wood was the first mayor elected from Tammany Hall, opening a long period of the society's dominance of Democratic politics in the city. Background After his loss to Ambrose Kingsland in the 1850 mayoral election, Fernando Wood withdrew from politics to focus on his real estate portfolio and his growing family. The Whig Party collapsed and Tammany Hall remained torn among its various factions. Wood began to test the waters for a political return in November 1853, privately organizing against John Van Buren's Free Soil faction and supporting the Young America Movement. He was elected a committeeman by the Nineteenth Ward Democratic Committee once again.Mushkat 1990 31–37 Democratic nomination In early 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act further scrambled city politics, alienating the Free Soil Democrats and bringing the Hard Shell and Soft Shell factions in closer alliance. In response, Wood planned a rally to celebrate Stephen Douglas and Franklin Pierce and denounce John Van Buren and his Free Soil Democrats, presenting the image of a party unified in its condemnation of the Free Soilers.Mushkat 1990 31–37 Wood further cultivated his political image by siding with Governor Horatio Seymour in his veto of an alcohol prohibition bill, though he grounded his support in opposition to the regulation of private behavior, drawing a comparison between alcohol consumption and slavery. Perhaps most conniving of all, he secretly accepted a place on the Know-Nothing executive committee, despite his long standing political support among the New York immigrant community and his support for immigrant causes.Mushkat 1990 31–37Allen 1993 80 Wood won both the Soft and Hard nominations for mayor easily, though a faction of extreme Hards formed yet another ticket and nominated Wilson G. Hunt, a cloth merchant and philanthropist with ties to Peter Cooper.Mushkat 1990 31–37 General election Candidates James W. Barker (American) John J. Herrick (Whig) Wilson G. Hunt, cloth merchant and philanthropist (Reform Democratic) Fernando Wood, shipping magnate, former U.S. representative, and candidate for mayor in 1850 (Democratic) Campaign Running with the support of both major Democratic factions against a divided field, Wood had a strong advantage. However, his campaign was nearly upended when several Know-Nothings filed affidavits disclosing his membership in their committee. Wood denied the accusation and threatened to sue for libel.Mushkat 1990 31–37 Results On November 8, Wood was elected mayor of New York City with only 33.6% of the vote. The Know-Nothing nominee James W. Barker received 31% and Hunt received 25.8%. Despite the revelation of his Know-Nothingism, Wood's strongest support came from immigrant and low-income wards which would form the backbone of Tammany support for the next century.Mushkat 1990 36–37 1854 New York City mayoral election Fernando Wood (incumbent) Democratic Party (US) 20,003 33.54% James W. Barker Know-Nothing 18,547 31.10% Wilson G. Hunt Independent Democratic 15,397 25.82% John J. Herrick Whig Party (US) 5,696 9.55% 59,643 100.00% References Bibliography Allen Oliver E. https://archive.org/details/tigerrisefalloft00alle/page/52 The Tiger: The Rise and Fall of Tammany Hall 1993 Addison-Wesley Publishing Company 0-201-62463-X 52-53,63,67-76 registration MacLeod Donald https://archive.org/details/bioofhonwood00maclrich Biography of Hon. Fernando Wood, Mayor of the City of New York O.F. Parsons 1856 New York registration Mushkat Jerome https://archive.org/details/fernandowoodpoli0000mush/page/n13/mode/2up Fernando Wood: A Political Biography Kent State University Press 1990 087338413X Kent, Ohio registration 1854 New York City New York City mayoral Category:Tammany Hall Category:November 1854 New York City mayoral election