The 1847 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 8.
Incumbent Whig Governor George N. Briggs was re-elected to a fifth term in office over Democrat Caleb Cushing. This was the last election in which the Whig Party received a majority of the vote; after the emergence of the Free Soil Party in 1848, Whigs only won pluralities before fading away entirely by the 1857 election.
Democratic nomination Candidates Henry W. Bishop Caleb Cushing, former U.S. minister to China and U.S. representative from Newburyport Isaac Davis, state senator from Worcester and nominee for governor in 1845 and 1846 David Henshaw, former U.S. secretary of the Navy
Convention 1847 Massachusetts Democratic Convention Ballot 1 2 Cushing 153 264Davis 117 87Henshaw 65 0 Bishop 14 0Others 19 10Total 368 361
General election Candidates Francis Baylies, former U.S. chargé d'affaires in Buenos Aires and U.S. representative from Taunton George N. Briggs, incumbent governor since 1844 (Whig) Caleb Cushing, former U.S. minister to China and U.S. representative from Newburyport (Democratic) Samuel Edmund Sewall, Liberty nominee for governor since 1842 (Liberty)
Results
See also 1847 Massachusetts legislature
References