Daniel A. Whelton

Who was Daniel A. Whelton?

Daniel Aloysius Whelton was an American political figure. Whelton was the first native-born Irish-Catholic mayor of Boston, Massachusetts and remains the youngest person to hold that political office.

Born in Boston to Irish natives Daniel and Ann Curry Whelton, he lived in Boston's West End at 69 Billerica Street, When he was five years old, Whelton's father died and he was raised by his mother, who worked as a pastry cook for the admiral commanding the Charlestown Navy Yard. Whelton received his education at St. Mary's School, graduating in 1886. After Whelton graduated from St. Mary's, Whelton attended the Evening High School for a few months.

It was while he lived in the West End that Whelton became an associate of Ward 8 Democratic boss Martin Lomasney. Whelton became a member of Lomasney's Hendricks Club in the West End, where he began his political career by registering new voters.

Whelton served on the Common Council in 1894 and 1895, where he served on the Finance Committee.

Whelton was the Chairman of the Board of Aldermen in 1905.

During the long illness of Mayor Patrick Collins, Whelton, Chairman of the Board of Aldermen, served as Acting Mayor.