Massachusetts's 12th congressional district is an obsolete district that was first active 1795–1803 in the District of Maine and 1803–1843 in Eastern Massachusetts. It was later active 1883–1893 in Western Massachusetts and 1893–1983 in Eastern Massachusetts. It was most recently eliminated as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census. Its last congressman was Gerry Studds, who was redistricted into the .
Notable persons elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 12th congressional district include John Quincy Adams, following his term as president, and James Michael Curley, four-time Mayor of Boston.
Cities and towns in the district
1790s–1830s
1880s–1900s
1910s Suffolk County: Boston Wards 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 24.
1920s Boston (Wards 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21).
1940s Boston (Wards 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17).
1950s–1980s
List of members representing the district Representative Party Years Congress Electoral history District location District created March 4, 1795 Henry Dearborn Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –March 3, 1797 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1795.Lost re-election. 1795–1803"1st Eastern district," District of Maine Isaac Parker Federalist March 4, 1797 –March 3, 1799 Elected in 1797 on the third ballot.Retired. Silas Lee Federalist March 4, 1799 –August 20, 1801 Elected in 1798.Re-elected in 1800.Resigned. Vacant August 20, 1801 –December 6, 1802 Samuel Thatcher Federalist December 6, 1802 –March 3, 1803 Elected July 29, 1802 on the fifth ballot to finish Lee's term and seated December 6, 1802.Redistricted to the . Thomson J. Skinner Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –August 10, 1804 Elected in 1802.Resigned. 1803–1815"Berkshire district" Vacant August 10, 1804 –November 5, 1804 Simon Larned Democratic-Republican November 5, 1804 –March 3, 1805 Elected September 17, 1804 to finish Skinner's term and seated November 5, 1804.Retired. Barnabas Bidwell Democratic-Republican March 4, 1805 –July 13, 1807 Elected in 1804.Re-elected in 1806.Resigned to become Massachusetts Attorney General. Vacant July 13, 1807 –November 2, 1807 Ezekiel Bacon Democratic-Republican November 2, 1807 –March 3, 1813 Elected sometime in 1807 to finish Bidwell's term and seated November 2, 1807.Re-elected in 1808.Re-elected in 1810.Retired. Daniel Dewey Federalist March 4, 1813 –February 24, 1814 Elected in 1812.Resigned to become Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Vacant February 24, 1814 –September 26, 1814 John W. Hulbert Federalist September 26, 1814 –March 3, 1815 Elected August 4, 1814 to finish Dewey's term and seated September 26, 1814.Redistricted to the . Solomon Strong Federalist March 4, 1815 –March 3, 1819 Elected in 1814.Re-elected in 1816.Retired. 1815–1823"Worcester North district" Jonas Kendall Federalist March 4, 1819 –March 3, 1821 Elected in 1818.Lost re-election. Lewis Bigelow Federalist March 4, 1821 –March 3, 1823 Elected in 1820.Lost re-election. Francis Baylies JacksonFederalist March 4, 1823 –March 3, 1825 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1822.Re-elected in 1825 on the second ballot.Lost re-election. 1823–1833"Bristol district" Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –March 3, 1827 James L. Hodges Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1827 on the third ballot.Re-elected in 1828.Re-elected in 1832.Retired. John Quincy Adams Anti-Masonic March 4, 1833 –March 3, 1837 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1833.Re-elected in 1834.Re-elected in 1836.Re-elected in 1838.Re-elected in 1840.Redistricted to the . 1833–1843 Whig March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1843 District eliminated March 3, 1843 District re-created March 4, 1883 George D. Robinson Republican March 4, 1883 –January 7, 1884 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1882.Resigned to become Governor of Massachusetts. 1883–1893 Vacant January 7, 1884 –January 17, 1884 Francis W. Rockwell Republican January 17, 1884 –March 3, 1891 Elected to finish Robinson's termRe-elected in 1884.Re-elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888.Lost re-election. John C. Crosby Democratic March 4, 1891 –March 3, 1893 Elected in 1890.Lost re-election. Elijah A. Morse Republican March 4, 1893 –March 3, 1897 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1892.Re-elected in 1894.Retired. 1893–1903 William C. Lovering Republican March 4, 1897 –March 3, 1903 Elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Redistricted to the . Samuel Leland Powers Republican March 4, 1903 –March 3, 1905 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1902.Retired. 1903–1913 John W. Weeks Republican March 4, 1905 –March 3, 1913 Elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Redistricted to the . James Michael Curley Democratic March 4, 1913 –February 4, 1914 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1912.Resigned to become Mayor of Boston. 1913–1933 Vacant February 4, 1914 –April 7, 1914 James A. Gallivan Democratic April 7, 1914 –April 3, 1928 Elected to finish Curley's term.Re-elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Died. Vacant April 3, 1928 –November 6, 1928 John W. McCormack Democratic November 6, 1928 –January 3, 1963 Elected to finish Gallivan's term.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Re-elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Redistricted to the . 1933–1943 1943–1953 1953–1963 Hastings Keith Republican January 3, 1963 –January 3, 1973 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970. 1963–1973 Gerry Studds Democratic January 3, 1973 –January 3, 1983 Elected in 1972Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Redistricted to the . 1973–1983 District eliminated January 3, 1983
Notes
References
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present