[4] Nathaniel Bradstreet Shurtleff Sr. was born on June 22, 1810, in Boston.

After graduating, he attended Harvard Medical School and followed his father's footsteps in becoming a physician.

Shurtleff was largely unaware how to run a city; and thus, struggled as mayor.

The city also gained ownership of the East Boston ferries and annexed Dorchester while he was mayor.

[8] Shurtleff was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1849.