The 1831 Boston mayoral election saw the election of Charles Wells. The first vote, held on December 12, 1831, did not result in any candidate receiving the required majority of the vote, resulting in a second vote on December 22, 1831, which Wells won.
Charles Wells was the city's National Republican Party's nominee. William Sullivan was an independent National Republican candidate nominated by a faction of the city's National Republicans. Lyman was nominated by the Grocer's Party. Theodore Lyman II's opponents accused him of being a Jacksonian. Lyman was seen as receiving support from a number of small parties, as well as many National Republicans. Lyman also was supported by part of the Anti-Tariff Party.
Result<br /> Sullivan received in excess of 1,100 votes, counted in the scattering
Sullivan did not run in the second vote, making it a two-way race.