Edwin Upton Curtis

Biography

Edwin Upton Curtis (1861–1922) devoted his career to public service, first as mayor of Boston and later as the city’s police commissioner, where he sought to balance firm law enforcement with respect for civil liberties. His work was marked by an insistence on professionalism in the ranks he oversaw and an effort to keep the city safe during a turbulent era.

Curtis remained a steady presence in Boston civic life, offering counsel on public safety reforms and championing cooperation between community leaders and officials. He rests at Forest Hills Cemetery, a fitting place for a guardian of the city’s order.