290:, political influence affected appointments to the department and that the "malign influence of politics" was interfering with its efficiency. On January 30, Hibbard wrote to Wells that he was "strongly of the opinion that the organization of the fire department at the present time is sadly lacking in discipline" and requested his resignation. Wells objected to Hibbard's criticisms and refused to resign. Later that day, Hibbard removed Wells from office "for the good of the service" effective the following day. He was replaced by
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Wells volunteered for a number of
Democratic campaigns. In 1890 he joined the Ward 11 Democratic City Committee and was elected secretary of Young Men's Democratic Club. He became chairman of the both organizations in 1894. For many years he was Ward 11's representative to the Democratic state
302:
After leaving the fire department, Wells worked in the real estate business. On
January 18, 1912, he went to the Puritan Club after several days of illness. After exiting his vehicle, Wells collapsed and died of heart disease. His funeral was held on January 20 at the
224:. In 1890 he founded the United States Fire Signal Company, a private automatic fire alarm service. He was the company's general manager until it merged with an older firm to become the Boston Automatic Fire Alarm Company, where Wells worked as treasurer.
901:
701:
330:
Men of
Progress: One Thousand Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Leaders in Business and Professional Life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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described as an "unusual complement". He took office the following day. In
October 1899, Wells was appointed acting water commissioner after
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200:(October 15, 1861 – January 18, 1912) was an American government official and political activist who served as commissioner of the
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282:. In January 1908, the finance committee of the board of alderman issued a report which contended that during the tenures of
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Wells was born in Boston on
October 15, 1861. He attended Hopkinson's School and graduated from
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in 1884. In 1886 he joined E. Williams & Co., a Boston shipping firm involved in trade in
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On
January 27, 1896, Wells was nominated for superintendent of streets by Boston Mayor
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with a number of political figures and members of the fire department in attendance.
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won the election and Wells was replaced as commissioner on
February 1, 1900.
245:. He was unanimously confirmed by the Board of Aldermen on February 3, which
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Brigham, Alasco
Delancey; Hayden, Henry Rogers (February 1, 1908).
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266:In 1905, Wells was appointed commissioner of the
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625:"Wells Removed, Parker New Fire Commissioner"
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902:Commissioners of the Boston Fire Department
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633:. January 31, 1908. pp. 1,
519:. October 17, 1899. pp. 1,
460:. February 4, 1896. pp. 1,
570:"Political Pull Will Not Count"
656:"Many Pay Last Honor To Wells"
550:. January 21, 1900. p. 16
432:. January 26, 1896. p. 24
399:. December 20, 1891. p. 9
368:. January 19, 1912. p. 13
1:
664:. January 21, 1912. p. 4
491:. February 5, 1896. p. 6
345:– via Internet Archive.
280:1907 Boston mayoral election
257:that year's mayoral election
672:– via Newspapers.com.
644:– via Newspapers.com.
586:– via Newspapers.com.
578:. March 21, 1905. p. 8
558:– via Newspapers.com.
530:– via Newspapers.com.
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360:"Firemen Will Escort Body"
81:Boston Street Commissioner
842:W. Fitzgerald (1966–1968)
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335:The New England Magazine
41:Boston Fire Commissioner
912:Massachusetts Democrats
305:Arlington Street Church
198:Benjamin Williams Wells
907:Harvard College alumni
712:Boston Fire Department
661:The Boston Daily Globe
630:The Boston Daily Globe
603:The Weekly Underwriter
575:The Boston Daily Globe
547:The Boston Daily Globe
516:The Boston Daily Globe
488:The Boston Daily Globe
457:The Boston Daily Globe
429:The Boston Daily Globe
396:The Boston Daily Globe
365:The Boston Daily Globe
268:Boston Fire Department
202:Boston Fire Department
860:Christian (2001–2006)
854:Stapleton (1984–1991)
155:Boston, Massachusetts
872:Burke (2022–present)
599:"Facts and Opinions"
483:"Getting Acquainted"
869:Dempsey (2020–2022)
839:Griffin (1961–1966)
278:was elected in the
112:Bertrand T. Wheeler
102:Bertrand T. Wheeler
863:Fraser (2006–2014)
857:Pierce (1991–2000)
424:"Wells Is The Man"
288:John F. Fitzgerald
255:resigned to enter
237:Government service
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752:Grady (1914–1919)
710:Commissioners of
605:. pp. 83, 85
542:"Mayor's Dilemma"
511:"Enters The Race"
391:"Democracy's Arm"
284:Daniel A. Whelton
276:George A. Hibbard
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151:(1912-01-18)
108:Succeeded by
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70:Succeeded by
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897:1912 deaths
892:1861 births
848:(1968–1975)
836:(1960–1961)
830:(1959–1960)
824:(1954–1959)
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794:(1938–1945)
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743:(1910–1912)
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731:(1905–1908)
725:(1895–1905)
233:committee.
160:Nationality
98:Preceded by
58:Preceded by
886:Categories
786:McLaughlin
774:McLaughlin
333:. Boston:
311:References
298:Later life
208:Early life
181:Alma mater
174:Democratic
132:1861-10-15
822:F. Cotter
816:J. Cotter
780:McSweeney
88:In office
48:In office
834:Scagnoli
828:O'Connor
810:Kelleher
609:July 28,
228:Politics
164:American
768:Hultman
723:Russell
804:Codman
792:Reilly
756:Murphy
735:Parker
139:Boston
846:Kelly
762:Glynn
729:Wells
747:Cole
741:Daly
670:2022
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611:2019
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286:and
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126:Born
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