Early Boston Mayor Chapman Favored Letting Citizens Consume Liquor For Sale

JONATHAN CHAPMAN (1807-1848) served as Mayor of Boston, MA, from 1840-1842. He made reducing the city’s debt, which had increased to more than $1.5 million, a cornerstone of his administration. Necessary improvements to the city’s vast property holdings resulted in the heavy debt. The epic event during his administration was the establishment of steam navigation between Boston and Liverpool in 1840. The Western Railroad was completed and opened connection to the Hudson in 1841. Chapman was the first head of the Boston city administration who seemed much concerned with licenses for selling liquor. He opposed a law that was in force. He believed the choice of indulging liquor should be left to the individual.

4 ¾ x 1 ¾ fragment, “& they will count to Thursday instead. I will make no objection. Yours truly, Jona Chapman.”

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