Joseph Milner Wightman (October 19, 1812 – January 25, 1885)[14] was an American politician who, from 1861 to 1863, served as the seventeenth Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.

Wightman was born the son of an immigrant tailor[5] at Elliot Street in Boston[15] on October 19, 1812.

[15] Wightman was apprenticed to a firm of mathematical and philosophical instrument makers owned by Mr. John Codman and Mr. Timothy Claxton.

Through his use of the library, Wightman acquired a working knowledge of mensuration, chemistry and electrical engineering.

They had seven children (Mary Ellen, Joseph Claxton, Henry Morse (January 5, 1840, to April 3, 1885),[21] Bethia M., Sarah Ernestine, Gertrude E. and Florence Ada).

In September 1837, Claxton and Wightman won a silver medal from the judges on Philosophical Instruments at Boston's First Mechanics' Fair.

In his Inaugural Address Wightman called for the construction of "a new City Hall of sufficient size to accommodate all the departments of the government.

"[38] He laid the cornerstone[17] of the city hall building at the stone laying ceremony of December 22, 1862.

[39] On January 24, 1861, the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society was holding its annual meeting at Tremont Temple in Boston.

[42] Mayor Wightman ended the meeting withdrew his offer of police protection and ordered the hall closed,[40] On October 30, 1861, the military base in Boston Harbor known as Fort Warren began to house prisoners from the Confederate army as well as political prisoners.

[44] In early November 1861 Mayor Wightman visited the fort and decided that immediate steps had to be taken to alleviate the situation.

[45] Mayor Wightman arranged for stores be delivered from Evans House a charity that had been established to assist Union servicemen.

[51] While he was Mayor Wightman successfully supplied funds for the fitting out of, and providing sustenance to, the soldiers in the field.

[53] In 1866 Wightman ran for the 40th United States Congress as the Democratic Party candidate for the Massachusetts' fourth Congressional district.

[55][56] Wightman was involved for many years in the civic affairs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston, serving in elected and unelected public and private offices.

[59] From 1858 until 1862 (when he resigned upon assuming the duties of Mayor)[48] Wightman served as an appointed trustee of the city owned Mt Hope Cemetery.

)[66] On February 13, 1868, Wightman was elected by the Boston City Council to serve a two-year term[67] as a Commissioner of the Cochituate Water Board.

In a letter to The Boston Journal dated August 12, 1874, Wightman explained that these were debts that he did not himself incur.