William Gaston Democrat Henry L. Pierce Republican The Boston mayoral election of 1872 saw the election of Republican nominee Henry L. Pierce, who narrowly unseated incumbent Democratic mayor William Gaston.

Incumbent Democratic mayor William Gaston was nominated on the ticket of the city's regular Democratic Party organization.

The city's Liberal Republican ticket nominated Gaston as well.

[2] Republican former congressman Henry L. Pierce was nominated on the ticket of the city's regular Republican Party organization.

He was additionally nominated on the tickets of the city's Citizens' Party (which ran as "The People's Ticket") and the Labor Reform ticket.