# Massachusetts's 12th congressional district

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 10th district.
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
### 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 (District home) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District created March 4, 1795 ||||||
| Henry Dearborn (Gardiner) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | 4th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1795. Lost re-election. | 1795–1803 "1st Eastern district," District of Maine |
| Isaac Parker (Castine) | Federalist | March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1799 | 5th | Elected in 1797 on the third ballot. Retired. | 1795–1803 "1st Eastern district," District of Maine |
| Silas Lee (Wiscasset) | Federalist | March 4, 1799 – August 20, 1801 | 6th 7th | Elected in 1798. Re-elected in 1800. Resigned. | 1795–1803 "1st Eastern district," District of Maine |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 20, 1801 – December 6, 1802 | 7th | | 1795–1803 "1st Eastern district," District of Maine |
| Samuel Thatcher (Warren) | Federalist | December 6, 1802 – March 3, 1803 | 7th | Elected July 29, 1802 on the fifth ballot to finish Lee's term and seated December 6, 1802. Redistricted to the 16th district. | 1795–1803 "1st Eastern district," District of Maine |
| Thomson J. Skinner (Williamstown) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – August 10, 1804 | 8th | Elected in 1802. Resigned. | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 10, 1804 – November 5, 1804 | 8th | | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| Simon Larned (Pittsfield) | Democratic-Republican | November 5, 1804 – March 3, 1805 | 8th | Elected September 17, 1804 to finish Skinner's term and seated November 5, 1804. Retired. | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| Barnabas Bidwell (Stockbridge) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1805 – July 13, 1807 | 9th 10th | Elected in 1804. Re-elected in 1806. Resigned to become Massachusetts Attorney General. | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 13, 1807 – November 2, 1807 | 10th | | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| Ezekiel Bacon (Pittsfield) | Democratic-Republican | November 2, 1807 – March 3, 1813 | 10th 11th 12th | Elected sometime in 1807 to finish Bidwell's term and seated November 2, 1807. Re-elected in 1808. Re-elected in 1810. Retired. | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| Daniel Dewey (Williamstown) | Federalist | March 4, 1813 – February 24, 1814 | 13th | Elected in 1812. Resigned to become Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 24, 1814 – September 26, 1814 | 13th | | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| John W. Hulbert (Pittsfield) | Federalist | September 26, 1814 – March 3, 1815 | 13th | Elected August 4, 1814 to finish Dewey's term and seated September 26, 1814. Redistricted to the 7th district. | 1803–1815 "Berkshire district" |
| Solomon Strong (Westminster) | Federalist | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1819 | 14th 15th | Elected in 1814. Re-elected in 1816. Retired. | 1815–1823 "Worcester North district" |
| Jonas Kendall (Leominster) | Federalist | March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1821 | 16th | Elected in 1818. Lost re-election. | 1815–1823 "Worcester North district" |
| Lewis Bigelow (Petersham) | Federalist | March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823 | 17th | Elected in 1820. Lost re-election. | 1815–1823 "Worcester North district" |
| Francis Baylies (Taunton) | Jackson Federalist | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th | Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1825 on the second ballot. Lost re-election. | 1823–1833 "Bristol district" |
| Francis Baylies (Taunton) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | 18th 19th | Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1825 on the second ballot. Lost re-election. | 1823–1833 "Bristol district" |
| James L. Hodges (Taunton) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1833 | 20th 21st 22nd | Elected in 1827 on the third ballot. Re-elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1832. Retired. | 1823–1833 "Bristol district" |
| John Quincy Adams (Quincy) | Anti-Masonic | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 | 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th | Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1834. Re-elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Redistricted to the 8th district. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| John Quincy Adams (Quincy) | Whig | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843 | 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th | Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1834. Re-elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Redistricted to the 8th district. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| District eliminated March 3, 1843 ||||||
| District re-created March 4, 1883 ||||||
| George D. Robinson (Chicopee) | Republican | March 4, 1883 – January 7, 1884 | 48th | Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1882. Resigned to become Governor of Massachusetts. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 7, 1884 – January 17, 1884 | 48th | | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Francis W. Rockwell (Pittsfield) | Republican | January 17, 1884 – March 3, 1891 | 48th 49th 50th 51st | Elected to finish Robinson's term Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Lost re-election. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| John C. Crosby (Pittsfield) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. Lost re-election. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Elijah A. Morse (Canton) | Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897 | 53rd 54th | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Retired. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| William C. Lovering (Taunton) | Republican | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1903 | 55th 56th 57th | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Redistricted to the 14th district. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| Samuel Leland Powers (Newton) | Republican | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | 58th | Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1902. Retired. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
| John W. Weeks (Newton) | Republican | March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1913 | 59th 60th 61st 62nd | Elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Redistricted to the 13th district. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
| James Michael Curley (Boston) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – February 4, 1914 | 63rd | Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 1912. Resigned to become Mayor of Boston. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 4, 1914 – April 7, 1914 | 63rd | | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| James A. Gallivan (Boston) | Democratic | April 7, 1914 – April 3, 1928 | 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th | 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. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 3, 1928 – November 6, 1928 | 70th | | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| John W. McCormack (Boston) | Democratic | November 6, 1928 – January 3, 1963 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | 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 9th district. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| John W. McCormack (Boston) | Democratic | November 6, 1928 – January 3, 1963 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | 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 9th district. | 1933–1943 [data missing] |
| John W. McCormack (Boston) | Democratic | November 6, 1928 – January 3, 1963 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | 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 9th district. | 1943–1953 [data missing] |
| John W. McCormack (Boston) | Democratic | November 6, 1928 – January 3, 1963 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | 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 9th district. | 1953–1963 [data missing] |
| Hastings Keith (West Bridgewater) | Republican | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1973 | 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd | Redistricted from the 9th district and re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. [data missing] | 1963–1973 [data missing] |
| Gerry Studds (Cohasset) | Democratic | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983 | 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th | Elected in 1972 Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 10th district. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| District eliminated January 3, 1983 ||||||