1875 - December 4 – Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison and flees to Cuba, then to Spain.

On December 4, 1875, William M. “Boss” Tweed, notorious leader of New York City’s Democratic political machine, escaped from the Ludlow Street jail where he was being held and went into hiding in New York, while a civil case against him for misuse of city funds went forward. After Tweed was found guilty in absentia, he fled to Spain, where he was quickly captured and returned to New York City to serve out his sentence.

Tweed, a former bookkeeper, businessman, and member of several fraternal organizations, including the Masons, was elected an alderman in New York City in 1851. He was subsequently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for one term (1853-55). He then returned to local politics and worked his way up New York City’s Democratic hierarchy by holding various elected and unelected positions in the municipal government...