The election took three votes, as no candidate secured the needed majority in the first two attempts.

After this, the city's Whig Party committee nominated former mayor Josiah Quincy III, who declined.

Jerome V. C. Smith fell short of a majority by a mere nine votes.

[4] Candidates Result Citizens Union Party nominee Jerome V. C. Smith was elected after winning a majority in the third vote.

In the third vote, John H. Wilkins replaced Bigelow as there Whig Party's nominee.