Herbert A. Wilson

Herbert A. Wilson (November 27, 1870–May 7, 1934) was an American politician who served as Commissioner of the Boston Police Department and member of the Massachusetts General Court.

Herbert A. Wilson
Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
In office
1922–1930
Preceded byEdwin Upton Curtis
Succeeded byEugene Hultman
Personal details
BornNovember 27, 1870
Brighton
DiedMay 7, 1934 (aged 63)
Brighton
NationalityAmerican
Political party Republican

Early life

Wilson was born on November 27, 1870 in Boston's Brighton neighborhood. He graduated from Brighton High School and studied civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[1] He spent many years as an assistant engineer for the city of Boston.[2] In 1908 he began working at the office of John Cheney, a bridge builder.[1][3] Wilson eventually started his own engineering business.[1]

Political career

From 1913 to 1916, Wilson was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. From 1917 to 1918 he represented the Norfolk and Suffolk District in the Massachusetts Senate.[3][2] On July 18, 1918 he was appointed by Boston Mayor Andrew James Peters to serve as the city's Building Commissioner. On April 3, 1922 Wilson was appointed by Governor Channing H. Cox to succeed the deceased Edwin Upton Curtis as Boston's police commissioner.[2] He was reappointed by Governor Alvan T. Fuller in 1927.[3] During his later years as commissioner, Wilson fought with Mayor James Michael Curley and District Attorney William J. Foley, who believed that there was a great deal of corruption in city government.[4] In 1930, the head of BPD's liquor and vice raiding squad, Oliver Garrett, was convicted on conspiracy charges.[3] Massachusetts Attorney General Joseph E. Warner found that Wilson had not taken part in any corruption, but faulted him for not discovering the corruption, negligence, and incompetency within his department and for awarding Garrett a fraudulent pension. Governor Frank G. Allen demanded Wilson's resignation, but he refused to quit.[5] On May 5, 1930, the Massachusetts Governor's Council voted unanimously to remove Wilson "for the better protection of the public welfare".[6][7]

Later life

After his departure from the police department, Wilson resumed his engineering practice.[1] He died on May 7, 1934 at his home in Brighton, Boston following several weeks of illness.[1][3]

See also

References
  1. "Herbert A. Wilson Dies at Brighton". The Boston Daily Globe. April 4, 1922.
  2. "Herbert A. Wilson New Police Commissioner". The Boston Daily Globe. April 4, 1922.
  3. "Herbert A. Wilson, 63, Ex-Police Head, Dead". The New York Times. May 8, 1934.
  4. "Wilson Lost Police Post in 1930". The Boston Daily Globe. July 8, 1957.
  5. "Wilson Fails to Quit Post". The Boston Daily Globe. May 3, 1930.
  6. "Wilson Quits Post as Split Develops". The Boston Daily Globe. May 6, 1930.
  7. "Governor Removes Boston Police Head". The New York Times. May 6, 1930.
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