Albert Palmer (American politician)

Albert Palmer
Mayor of Boston
In office January 1, 1883 – January 7, 1884
Preceded by	Samuel Abbott Green
Succeeded by	Augustus Pearl Martin
Member of the Massachusetts State Senate[1]
In office 1875[1]–1879[1]
Preceded by	Moody Merrill
Succeeded by	Nathaniel Wales
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives First Norfolk District
In office 1872[1]–1874[1]
Personal details
Born	January 17, 1831 Candia, New Hampshire
Died	May 21, 1887(1887-05-21) (aged 56)[1]
Political party	Republican to 1879, Democratic[1]
Spouse	Martha Ann Newell[2]
Children	Joseph Newell Palmer, born January 1, 1865;[3] Wilson Newell Palmer, born July 7,[4] 1867.[3]
Education	Dartmouth College[1]
Profession	Schoolteacher;[1] Ice business[3]

Albert Palmer (January 17, 1831 – May 21, 1887) was an American schoolteacher,^[1] businessman,^[1] and politician from Candia New Hampshire, and Boston, Massachusetts, who served as mayor of Boston from January 1, 1883, to January 7, 1884.

Palmer was born in Candia, New Hampshire, he was the seventh^[3] of eleven children^[5] born to farmers Joseph and Abigail^[3] Palmer.^[6]

Palmer received his high school diploma from Phillips Exeter Academy,^[1] and his college degree from Dartmouth College,^[1] from which he graduated second in his class^[7] in 1858.^[3][8]

Palmer taught at Boston Latin School,^[1][6] and in the schools of West Cambridge, Massachusetts.^[1][3]

Palmer married Martha Ann Newell,^[2] they had two children: Joseph Newell Palmer (born January 1, 1865)^[2][3] and Wilson Newell Palmer (born July 7, 1867).^[3][4]

After he left teaching Palmer was engaged in the ice business^[6] in Boston^[3] with Nathan B. Prescott.^[8] under the name Prescott and Palmer. In 1872 the Jamaica Pond Ice Company was formed from the amalgamation of the Prescott and Palmer Ice Company and three other firms.^[9] Palmer served as the treasure^[1] and later president^[1] of the Jamaica Pond Ice Company.

In 1872 Palmer was elected to the Massachusetts State House of Representatives, serving until 1874. He acted as the chairman on the Joint Committee on Railroads.

He later served in the Massachusetts State Senate from 1875 to 1879 and was the chairman on the Committee for Federal Relations.^[1][7]

He exited the Republican Party in 1879 and became a supporter of Major General Benjamin Butler.^{[1] [7]}

In the 1881 mayoral election Palmer was defeated by Dr. Samuel A. Green.^[10][1]

In the Boston city election held on December 12, 1882,^[10] Palmer was elected Mayor,^[10] with a majority of 2,187 votes over Dr. Samuel A. Green, the candidate of the Republican and Citizens parties.^[10]

His efforts as mayor led to the foundation of Franklin Park.^[1][7]

Palmer married Martha Ann Newell,^[2] they had two children Joseph Newell Palmer, born January 1, 1865^[2][3] and Wilson Newell Palmer, born July 7,^[4] 1867.^[3]

Palmer died on May 21, 1887, at the age of 56.^[1]

• 1872 Massachusetts legislature
• 1873 Massachusetts legislature
• 1874 Massachusetts legislature
• 1875 Massachusetts legislature
• 1876 Massachusetts legislature
• 1878 Massachusetts legislature
• Timeline of Boston, 1880s

• Lund, Joseph W.:, Seventh Report of the Class of 1890 of Harvard College 1920 Thirtieth Anniversary, Concord, New Hampshire: The Rumford Press, p. 126, (1921).
• Mayors of Boston: An Illustrated Epitome of who the Mayors Have Been and What they Have Done, Boston, MA: State Street Trust Company, Page 37, (1914).
• Palmer, Wilson:, Reminiscences of Candia, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Riverside Press, p. 2 (1905).

• Political Graveyard information on Albert Palmer
• Mayor Albert Palmer Served 1883