On December 9, 1884, Boston Elected Corkman Hugh O'Brien as its First Irish-Born Mayor

A new era in city government took hold on Monday, January 5, 1885, when Hugh O'Brien became Boston's first Irish-born mayor.  O'Brien's victory at the polls in December finally broke the hegemony of old-line Yankees who had run local government since Boston was incorporated as a city in 1822. 

O'Brien defeated incumbent mayor Augustus Pearl Martin by 3, 124 votes, with more than 52,000 citizens casting their votes.  Once Mayor Martin heard the news, he sent a note to O'Brien cordially congratulating him on his victory. 

O'Brien said in a statement that evening:  “As I have been elected, I am ready to assume the responsibilities of the position fearlessly and in good faith. In this connection I will say emphatically that there is no ring behind me, and there never will be. The nomination was tendered to and accepted by me without pledges of any kind, or of any name or nature. After living In Boston for upwards of half a century, being educated in her schools and proud of her growth and prosperity, my only ambition will be to make the record of the city government of 1885 'true to every trust' and economical in the expenditure of the public money. I reiterate what I said previous to the election, that high taxation is injurious to the best interests of the city, and I shall do all I can to reduce it to within reasonable limits. If I do not succeed, I shall consider my administration a failure."

The election of O'Brien was transformative for the city of Boston, since for decades many Bostonians had been anxious about the inevitable transition from Yankees to Irish leadership.  They feared the Irish would not have the leadership qualities and personal character needed to run a great city like Boston.

Indeed, many Bostonians looked down upon Irish immigrants, who had been settling in Boston and throughout New England since the Irish Famine of the 1840s drove many of them here.  In addition to an anti-Irish sentiment found among Yankees, there was also an anti-Catholic prejudice that had been in place since the Puritans settled here in 1630.

But O'Brien proved to be the perfect catalyst in making the political transition smooth and acceptable to citizens across the board.  The Boston Globe reported that O'Brien was hailed by Irish and non-Irish alike.  One man interviewed said, "See here boys.  The fact that he's Irish made but little difference.  It is the first time for a long while when the race issue has been kept in the background.  People are beginning to know that we are all American citizens, and that the best claim to popular favor is a good, clean record."

The Globe continued, "All over the city the Irish felt a natural pride that one of their countrymen should stand so high in the esteem of the people."

Born in County Cork, Ireland on July 13, 1827, O'Brien emigrated with his family to Boston in 1832 when he was five years old.  He attended a public school in Boston’s Fort Hill neighborhood, and at age 12 joined the Boston Courier newspaper as an apprentice.  By the age of 15, he had become foreman of a printing office, before starting his own publication, the Shipping and Commercial List.  He had a successful career as a businessman and gained the respect of city leaders as well as the Irish immigrant community that struggled to gain a foothold in Boston.

O'Brien launched his political career in 1875 on the Board of Alderman, and in 1884 ran against and defeated incumbent Boston Mayor Augustus Martin.  At that time, the term of office was one year, so O'Brien ran and won again in 1885, 1886, 1887 and 1888 before narrowly losing in December 1888 to Republican banker Thomas N. Hart. 

At his inaugural address, O’Brien said, “Boston is a model city and should take no steps backward. Our streets and public improvements are equal and in many respects superior, to any other city in the country. Our 410,000 inhabitants will compare in intelligence with any other city in the country or in the world."

At a dinner held in his honor at the Parker House that evening, O’Brien said, “I mean to do my duty impartially, and I only want you to support me when I do my work impartially... I feel that I am mayor of Boston, mayor not merely of the Democratic party, but mayor of all citizens."

While in office, O'Brien presided over the creation of the city's Emerald Necklace park system, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and he laid the cornerstone for the new Boston Public Library at Copley Square.  In 1887, the Hugh O'Brien Schoolhouse was opened at the corner of Dudley and Langdon Streets in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, one of the city's most Irish neighborhoods at the time.

Boston College Professor Thomas O'Connor wrote in his book Bibles, Brahmins, and Bosses that O'Brien's "preoccupation with holding down the tax rate, improving and widening the streets, and expanding the powers of the mayor, made him almost indistinguishable from the procession of Yankee mayors who had preceded him.”

During O’Brien’s time in office, the Boston Massacre Memorial was unveiled on Boston Common in November 1888.  Mayor O'Brien said, " I am aware that the monument to Crispus Attucks and his martyr associates has been the subject of more or less adverse criticism, and that by some they are looked upon as rioters, who deserved their fate.  I look upon it from a entirely different standpoint.  The Boston massacre was one of the most important and exciting events that preceded our revolution."

One of O’Brien’s most cherished causes was helping the city's orphans throughout his life.  He died on August 1, 1895, and at his funeral at Holy Cross Cathedral, the Republic Newspaper reported, "The largest and most conspicuous delegation was that from the St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum, 200 little children dressed alike, who sat immediately behind the family."

Bust of Hugh O'Brien by Sculptor John Donoghue, Boston Public Library

O'Brien is buried at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline MA.  A bust of Hugh O'Brien, made by sculptor John Donoghue, is on display at the Boston Public Library, which is along Boston's Irish Heritage Trail. 

Here is a list of Boston mayors claiming Irish ancestry from 1885 to the present.

Read more about O'Brien's historic inauguration on January 5, 1885 at MassMoments.

For information on ongoing cultural activities in Boston and throughout New England, visit IrishBoston.org.