The new city of Gloucester (20-Feb-1873) was divided into 8 wards, to be governed by a mayor, 8 aldermen and 24 common councilmen (3 from each ward) all to be elected annually. The first city election was held on Dec. 1, 1873. Selectman Robert R. Fears, running as a Democrat, defeated former selectman and state representative Addison Gilbert, the Republican candidate. Robert was the oldest of all his siblings and out-lived them all. He was re-elected the next year without opposition (1,400 votes).
