Frederick William Mansfield (March 26, 1877 – November 6, 1958) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.

Early life

Mansfield was born in East Boston, Massachusetts, March 26, 1877. Mansfield was the son of Michael Read Mansfield and Catherine (McDonough) Mansfield, both of whom had immigrated from Ireland. Mansfield graduated from East Boston High School in 1894 and went on to Boston University School of Law, where he received a L.L.B. degree in 1902. Mansfield served as an apothecary in the U.S. Navy on the USS Vulcan during the Spanish–American War. After working as a pharmacist, Mansfield was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1902. From 1928 to 1931 he was president of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

Early political career

In 1913, Mansfield was elected treasurer and receiver general of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts serving from 1914 to 1915. In 1914, he lost his bid for re-election to Charles L. Burrill. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in 1916 and 1917.

Mayoralty

Mansfield ran for Mayor of Boston twice. He finished second to his bitter rival James Michael Curley in November 1929, then topped a field of six candidates in November 1933. He served as mayor from 1934 to 1938, during which he modernized the city's auditing and accounting systems while reducing the city's debt. Despite this, he was unsuccessful in his attempts to centralize the city's many departments. He took advantage of the Works Progress Administration to build the Huntington Avenue subway, a $1.715 million project the city only had to pay $539,227 for. He promoted the sales tax and favored low-income housing, as opposed to substandard housing. He was not eligible to run for re-election, as Massachusetts law at the time did not allow the Mayor of Boston to serve consecutive terms.

Personal life

Mansfield married Helen Elizabeth Roe on June 29, 1904. Mansfield's son, Walter Roe Mansfield, was born on July 1, 1911.

Death

Mansfield died in St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, November 6, 1958. He was buried in Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline, Massachusetts.