Mayors of the City of Philadelphia
1691-2000

Colonial Mayors
1691-1776

The first mayor of Philadelphia, Humphrey Morrey was appointed by William Penn, Proprietor of the colony of Pennsylvania. Under the provisions of the Charter of 1701, Edward Shippen was named Mayor of Philadelphia for a one-year term. Starting in 1702, the Common Council of Philadelphia elected a Mayor from among their members.

Name of Mayor	Date Term began	Term Number	Other Information
Humphrey Morrey	5/20/1691	1
Edward Shippen	10/25/1701	2
Edward Shippen	10/24/1702	3
Anthony Morris	10/5/1703	4
Griffith Jones	10/3/1704	5
Joseph Willcox	10/2/1705	6
Nathan Stanbury	10/1/1706	7	Thomas Story refused election
Thomas Masters	10/7/1707	8
Thomas Masters	10/5/1708	9	Elected by 14 votes
Richard Hill	10/4/1709	10
William Carter	10/3/1710	11
Samuel Preston	10/2/1711	12
Jonathan Dickinson	10/7/1712	13
George Roch	10/6/1713	14
Richard Hill	10/5/1714	15
Richard Hill	10/4/1715	16
Richard Hill	10/2/1716	17
Jonathan Dickinson	10/1/1717	18	Richard Hill refused election
Jonathan Dickinson	10/7/1718	19
William Fishbourn	10/6/1719	20
William Fishbourn	10/4/1720	21
William Fishbourn	10/3/1721	22
James Logan	10/2/1722	23	Isaac Norris refused election
Clement Plumsted	10/1/1723	24
Isaac Norris	10/6/1724	25
William Hudson	10/5/1725	26
Charles Read	10/4/1726	27
Thomas Lawrence	10/3/1727	28
Thomas Lawrence	10/2/1728	29
Thomas Griffitts	10/7/1729	30
Thomas Griffitts	10/6/1730	31
Samuel Hasell	10/6/1731	32
Samuel Hasell	10/3/1732	33
Thomas Griffitts	10/2/1733	34
Thomas Lawrence	10/1/1734	35
William Allen	10/7/1735	36
Clement Plumsted	10/5/1736	37
Thomas Griffitts	10/4/1737	38
Anthony Morris	10/3/1738	39
Edward Roberts	10/2/1739	40
Samuel Hasell	10/7/1740	41
Clement Plumsted	10/6/1741	42
William Till	10/5/1742	43
Benjamin Shoemaker	10/4/1743	44
Edward Shippen	10/2/1744	45
James Hamilton	10/1/1745	46	Alexander Taylor and Joseph Turner, refused election to the office of mayor
William Attwood	10/7/1746	47
William Attwood	10/9/1747	48	Anthony Morris elected 10-6-1747, disappeared as to not accept or refuse office.
Charles Willing	10/4/1748	49
Thomas Lawrence	10/3/1749	50
William Plumsted	10/2/1750	51
Robert Strettell	10/1/1751	52
Benjamin Shoemaker	10/3/1752	53
Thomas Lawrence	10/2/1753	54
Charles Willing	4/25/1754	55	Replaced Thomas Lawrence, deceased
Charles Willing	10/1/1754	56
William Plumsted	12/4/1754	57	Replaced Charles Willing, deceased
William Plumsted	10/7/1755	58
Attwood Shute	10/5/1756	59
Attwood Shute	10/4/1757	60
Thomas Lawrence	10/15/1758	61	John Mifflin refused election10/3/1758; Alexander Stedman refused 10/4/1758; William Coxe pleaded illness 10/15/1758
John Stamper	10/2/1759	62
Benjamin Shoemaker	10/7/1760	63
Jacob Duche	10/6/1761	64	Samuel Mifflin refused election
Henry Harrison	10/5/1762	65	William Coxe & Daniel Benezet, refused election
Thomas Willing	10/4/1763	66
Thomas Lawrence	10/2/1764	67
John Lawrence	10/1/1765	68
John Lawrence	10/7/1766	69
Isaac Jones	10/6/1767	70
Isaac Jones	10/4/1768	71
Samuel Shoemaker	10/3/1769	72
Samuel Shoemaker	10/2/1770	73
John Gibson	10/1/1771	74
John Gibson	10/6/1772	75
William Fisher	10/5/1773	76
Samuel Rhoads	10/4/1774	77
Samuel Powel	10/5/1775	78

In 1776, the city government was abolished and the city functions were operated by the Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania. The state government continued to run the city until a new charter for the city was granted on 11 March 1789 under an Act of Assembly approved on that date. No change in the election of the Mayor occurred from Colonial practices.

However, beginning in 1826, the Council had the right to elect any citizen of Philadelphia as Mayor, not just a member of Council. In 1839, the general electorate was first permitted to vote directly for Mayor. If no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, then the joint Councils of Philadelphia (Select and Common) would decide among the two leading candidates. John Swift became the first Mayor elected directly by the people in Philadelphia in the 1840 election.

Mayors of Philadelphia
1789 - 1854

Name of Mayor	Date Term began	Term Number	Election Results	Other Information
Samuel Powel	4/11/1789	79
Samuel Miles	4/12/1790	80
John Barclay	4/13/1791	81
Matthew Clarkson	4/13/1792	82		John Barclay & George Roberts, refusing
Matthew Clarkson	4/3/1793	83
Matthew Clarkson	4/15/1794	84
Matthew Clarkson	4/6/1795	85
Matthew Clarkson	5/5/1796	86
Hilary Baker	10/18/1796	87
Hilary Baker	10/17/1797	88
Robert Wharton	10/16/1798	89
Robert Wharton	10/11/1799	90	Won by vote of 21-0
John Inskeep	10/21/1800	91	Won by vote of 26-0	Elected after Robert Wharton declined nomination.
Matthew Lawler	10/16/1801	92	Matthew Lawler 23, John Clement Stocker 8
Matthew Lawler	10/19/1802	93	Matthew Lawler 25, Robert Wharton 3
Matthew Lawler	10/18/1803	94
Matthew Lawler	10/16/1804	95	Won by vote of 24-0
John Inskeep	10/15/1805	96	John Inskeep 23, Matthew Lawler 2
Robert Wharton	10/21/1806	97
Robert Wharton	10/20/1807	98
John Barker	10/18/1807	99
John Barker	10/17/1809	100
Robert Wharton	10/16/1810	101
Michael Keppele	10/15/1811	102		Robert Wharton declined
John Barker	10/20/1812	103	John Barker 21; Robert Wharton 8; John Geyer 2
John Geyer	10/19/1813	104	John Geyer 21; Robert Wharton 4; John Barker 4
Robert Wharton	10/18/1814	105	Robert Wharton 23; John Geyer 5
Robert Wharton	10/17/1815	106
Robert Wharton	10/15/1816	107	Elected unanimously
Robert Wharton	10/21/1817	108	Elected unanimously
Robert Wharton	10/20/1818	109	Elected unanimously
James Nelson Barker	10/19/1819	110	J.N. Barker 17, M. Lawler 11, R. Wharton 1	Elected on 5th Ballot
Robert Wharton	10/17/1820	111	R. Wharton 24, J. N. Barker 2, J. Geyer 1
Robert Wharton	10/16/1821	112	Won by vote of 26-0
Robert Wharton	10/15/1822	113	Won by vote of 29-0
Robert Wharton	10/21/1823	114	Won by vote of 27-0
Joseph Watson	10/19/1824	115	Won by vote of 25-0
Joseph Watson	10/18/1825	116	J. Watson 26; James N. Barker 1; Samuel Badger 1
Joseph Watson	10/18/1826	117	Won by vote of 25-0
Joseph Watson	10/16/1827	118	Won by vote of 25-0
George Mifflin Dallas	10/21/1828	119	G. M. Dallas 24; Joseph Watson 6
Benjamin Wood Richards	4/15/1829	120		Replaced George M. Dallas, who resigned.
William Milnor	10/20/1829	121	W. Milnor 17; B. W. Richards 14; John Swift 1
Benjamin Wood Richards	10/19/1830	122	Won by vote of 32-0
Benjamin Wood Richards	10/18/1831	123	Won by vote of 31-0
John Swift	10/16/1832	124	J. Swift 19; Samuel Rush 10	Elected on 2nd ballot
John Swift	10/15/1833	125	Won by vote of 29-0
John Swift	10/21/1834	126	Elected unanimously
John Swift	10/20/1835	127	J. Swift 19; Joseph Watson 11
John Swift	10/18/1836	128	Won by vote of 28-0
John Swift	10/17/1837	129	Won by vote of 30-0
Isaac Roach	10/16/1838	130	I. Roach 18; J. Swift 14; John C. Montgomery 1
John Swift	10/15/1839	131	Swift: 3,343; John K. Kane: 3,294; John C. Montgomery: 2,670	Swift won Council vote 26-0. First election by popular vote. As no candidate received majority, Council voted among the two top candidates
John Swift	10/20/1840	132	Swift: 6,355; Henry Horn: 4,820	First Mayor to be elected solely by popular vote.
John Morin Scott	10/19/1841	133	Scott: 5,658; Samuel Badger: 4,693
John Morin Scott	10/18/1842	134	Scott: 6,145; Richard Vaux 5,065; Others: 3
John Morin Scott	10/10/1843	135	Scott: 6,585; Samuel H. Perkins: 3,976; Others: 3
Peter McCall	10/15/1844	136	McCall (W): 5,506; Elhanan W. Keyser (Native Am.): 5,065; Samuel Badger (D): 4,032; Others: 7	Councils selected Peter McCall by vote of 30-0.
John Swift	10/21/1845	137	Swift: 4,979; Elhanan W. Keyser: 4,538; James Page: 3,946; John Bouvier: 78	Councils selected John Swift by a vote of 31-0.
John Swift	10/20/1846	138	Swift: 5,562; Richard Vaux: 3,402; Peter A. Brown: 3,244; Thomas Hansell: 31; Others: 11	Councils selected John Swift by a vote of 30-0.
John Swift	10/19/1847	139	Swift: 6.046; J. Altamont Phillips: 3,550; Peter Fritz: 2,530; James Hansell: 10; John M. Scott: 2; Others: 8	Councils selected John Swift by a vote of 29-0.
John Swift	10/17/1848	140	Swift: 8,440; Samuel Badger: 5,079; Thomas Wattson: 75
Joel Jones	10/16/1849	141	Jones (Ind.): 6,429; Charles Gilpin (Whig): 6,364; Other: 16
Charles Gilpin	10/15/1850	142	Gilpin (W): 7,363; Joel Jones: 5,081; W. J. A. Birkey: 46; Others: 16
Charles Gilpin	10/21/1851	143	Gilpin (W): 9,275; John Swift (D): 3,934
Charles Gilpin	10/19/1852	144	Gilpin (W): 8,792; William Badger: 4,328; John S. Warner: 408
Charles Gilpin	10/18/1853	145	Gilpin (W): 8,002; John Thompson: 4,392

On 2 February 1854, the Act of Assembly passed by the Pennsylvania Assembly which called for the Consolidation of the city and county of Philadelphia into one political and geographical unit was approved by the governor of Pennsylvania, William Bigler. This Act extended the term of the mayor from one to two years. Under provisions of the Act of 12 April 1861, the election was changed to the second Tuesday in October, and the term of Mayor extended to three years. The term started on the first Monday in January.

By the State Constitution of 1873, which went in to operation in January 1874, all elections for city and ward officers were changed to the third Tuesday in February.

By the Act of 10 March 1875, the term of Mayor was extended from January to April. The inaugeration of Mayor would be held on the first Monday of April.

Under the provisions of the Act of 1 June1885 (known as the Bullitt Bill), which reorganized city government beginning on 1 January 1887, the term reached its current length of four years.

A schedule of amendements to the State Constitution approved on 2 November 1909 extended the term of Mayor from the first Monday in April to the first Monday in December. An Act of 2 March 1911 provided that the term of Mayor shall hereafter begin on the first Monday in January following their election.

The City Charters of 1919 and 1951 did not disturb the length of the term served by the Mayor. The Act of1885 prohibited any mayor from succeeding himself. This prohibition was not lifted until the 1940s. Currently, under the terms of the Charter of 1951 (Philadelphia Home Rule Charter), a mayor may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

Mayors of Philadelphia
1854-present

Name of Mayor	Date Term began	Term Number	Election Results	Other Information
Robert Thomas Conrad	6/13/1854	146	Conrad (Whig): 29,507; Richard Vaux (Dem.) 21,011	First Mayor of Consolidated City of Philadelphia. Two-year term established under the Act of Consolidation
Richard Vaux	5/13/1856	147	Vaux (D): 29,534; Henry D. Moore (Am. Republican): 25,445; William B. Thomas: 275
Alexander Henry	5/11/1858	148	Henry (People's): 33,868; Richard Vaux (D): 28,934; C. Neal: 1; F. Pierson: 1
Alexander Henry	5/8/1860	149	Henry (R): 36,658; John Robbins (D): 35,776
Alexander Henry	1/1/1863	150	Henry (R): 34,613; Daniel Fox (D) 30,049	Three-year term established.
Morton McMichael	1/1/1866	151	McMichael (R): 44,617; Daniel Fox (D): 39,511
Daniel Fox	1/1/1869	152	Fox (D): 61,517; Hector Tynsdale (R): 59,679
William Strumberg Stokley	1/1/1872	153	Stokley (R): 58,508; James S. Biddle (D.-Reform): 50,307
William Strumberg Stokley	1/1/1875	154	Stokley (R): 60,128; Alexander K. McClure (Ind. & D.): 49,133
William Strumberg Stokley	1/1/1878	155	Stokley (R): 64,779; Joseph L. Caven (D. & Ind.): 61,913
Samuel George King	4/4/1881	156	King (D. & Citizens' Comm.): 78,215; William S. Stokley (R): 72,428; A.C. Baird (Greenback): 151
William Burns Smith	4/7/1884	157	W. B. Smith (R): 79,552; Samuel G. King (D): 70,440
Edwin Henry Fitler	4/4/1887	158	Fitler (R): 90,211; George deBenneville Keim (D): 62,263	4-year term established.
Edwin Sydney Stuart	4/6/1891	159	Stuart (R): 108,978; Albert H. Lardner (D): 69,913
Charles Franklin Warwick	4/1/1895	160	Warwick (R): 137,863; Robert E. Pattison (D): 79,879
Samuel Howell Ashbridge	4/3/1899	161	Ashbridge (R-Ind.): 145,778; Hoskins (D): 23,557; Bryan (Peo): 1,701; Eavenson (Pro.): 1,233; Hetzel (S.T.): 671
John Weaver	4/6/1903	162	Weaver (R): 168,781; Francis Fisher Kane (D): 32,769; Howard H. Caldwell: (Soc.): 1,500; Alfred D. Calvert: (Pro.) 1,015
John Edger Reyburn	4/1/1907	163	Reyburn: (R-Jeffersonian) 130,585; William Potter: (City-Dem.) 97,582; Charles Sehl: (Soc.) 1,649; L.L. Eavenson (Pro.): 405
Rudolph Blankenburg	12/4/1911	164	Blankenburg (Keystone-Democrat): 134,680; George H. Earle, Jr. (R): 130,185
Thomas B. Smith	1/3/1916	165	T. B. Smith (R): 166,643; George D. Porter (Franklin): 88,135; D. Gordon Bromley (D): 4,741
Joseph Hampton Moore	1/5/1920	166	Moore (R): 227,739; Harry Wescott (D): 30,408; Joseph S. McLaughlin (Charterite): 17,900; Charles Bauer (Socialist): 6,320
W. Freeland Kendrick	1/7/1924	167	Kendrick (R): 286,398; A. Raymond Raff (D): 37,239
Harry Arista Mackey	1/2/1928	168	Mackey (R): 296,959; J. Hampton Moore (Citizens'): 128,611; Thomas A. Logue (D): 9.902; J.S. McLaughlin (Charterite): 3,605
Joseph Hampton Moore	1/4/1932	169	Moore (R): 362,329; Michael Donahue (D): 31,330
Samuel Davis Wilson	1/6/1936	170	Wilson (R): 379,222; John B. Kelly (D): 333,825
George Connell	8/19/1939	171		Acting Mayor upon death of S. Davis Wilson.
Robert Eneas Lamberton	1/1/1940	172	Lamberton (R): 398,384; Robert C. White (D): 361,143
Bernard Samuel	8/22/1941	173		Acting Mayor upon death of Robert Lamberton
Bernard Samuel	1/3/1944	174	Samuel (R): 346,297; William C. Bullitt (D): 282,832
Bernard Samuel	1/5/1948	175	Samuel (R): 413,091; Richardson Dilworth (D): 321,469
Joseph Sill Clark Jr.	1/7/1952	176	Clark (D): 448,983; Daniel A. Poling (R): 324,283
Richardson Dilworth	1/2/1956	177	Dilworth (D): 423,035; W. Thatcher Longstreth (R): 293,329
Richardson Dilworth	1/4/1960	178	Dilworth (D): 438,278; Harold Stassen (R): 229,818
James Hugh Joseph Tate	2/13/1962	179		Assumed Mayoralty upon resignation of R. Dilworth on 2/12/1962.
James Hugh Joseph Tate	1/6/1964	180	Tate (D): 401,714; James T. McDermott (R): 333,446
James Hugh Joseph Tate	1/1/1968	181	Tate (D): 353,326; Arlen Specter (R): 342,398; Joseph J. Frieri (Constitutional) 9,931; Cecil B. Moore (Political Freedom Rights): 9,031;Leonard L. Smalls (Cons.) 6,675
Frank Lazarro Rizzo	1/3/1972	182	Rizzo (D): 394,067; W. Thatcher Longstreth (R): 345,912; Joseph J. Frieri (Constitutional) 2,456; Clarissa Cain (Cons.) 1,054; George S. Taylor (Soc. Labor): 948; Jean Savage (Soc. Workers), 919
Frank Lazarro Rizzo	1/5/1976	183	Rizzo (D): 311,879; Charles W. Bowser (I): 134,334; Thomas Foglietta (R): 101,001
William Joseph Green III	1/7/1980	184	Green (D): 313,345; David W. Marston (R): 174,083; Lucien Blackwell (Consumer): 108,447
Willie Wilson Goode	1/2/1984	185	Goode (D): 396,266; John Egan (R): 263,742; Thomas Leonard (Ind): 57,146
Willie Wilson Goode	1/4/1988	186	Goode (D): 333,254; F.L. Rizzo (R): 319,053
Edward Gene Rendell	1/6/1992	187	Rendell (D): 281,751; Joseph M. Egan, Jr. (R): 130,478
Edward Gene Rendell	1/1/1996	188	Rendell (D): 232,798; M. Joseph Rocks (R): 63,131; Lance Haver (Consumer): 6.872; Deborah O. Liatos (Socialist): 1,365
John F. Street	1/3/2000	189	Street (D): 211,136; Sam Katz (R): 203,908
John F. Street	1/5/2004	190	Street (D): 267,230; Sam Katz (R): 189,357; John Staggs (Socialist Workers): 1,291
Michael Nutter	1/7/2008	191	Nutter (D): 222,583; Al Taubenberger (R): 46,209; John Staggs (Socialist Workers): 1,001

---

Click on a folder to return to that level...
PhILS Home
Mayors of Philadelphia- you are here-->(Text-only version of this page).

---

Send your comments to phils@phila.gov
Last updated on 13 January 1998.