Mayor of Philadelphia

The mayor of Philadelphia is the chief executive of the government of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[1] as stipulated by the Charter of the City of Philadelphia. The current mayor of Philadelphia is Jim Kenney, whose term as mayor expires in 2024.

Mayor of Philadelphia
Incumbent
Jim Kenney
since January 4, 2016
Term lengthfour years
limited to two
consecutive terms
Inaugural holderHumphrey Morrey
Formation1691
Salary$218,000
WebsiteOffice of the Mayor

History

18th century

The first mayor of Philadelphia was Humphrey Morrey, who was appointed to the position by William Penn, the founder of the city and the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania, which became the state of Pennsylvania following the American Revolutionary War. Penn subsequently appointed Edward Shippen under the city charter of 1701. The Philadelphia City Council then elected Shippen to a second term. Subsequent mayors, who held office for one year, were elected by the Philadelphia City Council. The initial mayors of Philadelphia were not compensated and candidates sometimes objected strongly to being selected to the position, sometimes choosing even to pay a fine rather than serve in the position.

In 1704, alderman Griffith Jones was elected but declined to serve, for which he was fined twenty pounds. In 1706, Alderman Thomas Story was similarly fined for refusing office. In 1745, Alderman Abraham Taylor was fined thirty pounds for refusing the mayoralty; Council then elected Joseph Turner, who also refused and was likewise fined.[2] Others who refused election included Richard Hill (1717), Isaac Norris (1722), John Mifflin, and Alexander Stedman, while William Coxe pleaded illness (1758), Samuel Mifflin (1761), William Coxe and Daniel Benezet (1762), and John Barclay and George Roberts (1792). Robert Wharton declined in 1800 and 1811, amid serving for 14 one-year terms, making him the most-often-elected (16 times, including refusals) and longest-serving (14 years) mayor of Philadelphia.[3]

In 1747, at the request of retiring Mayor William Attwood, Council resolved to institute an annual salary of 100 pounds for the office.[2] Nevertheless, that same year, Anthony Morris secretly fled to Bucks County to avoid being notified of his election to the mayoralty. When he could not be located after three days, a new election had to be arranged, and Attwood was re-elected to a second term.

19th century

Beginning in 1826, Council could elect any citizen of Philadelphia to the mayoralty. From 1839, mayors were elected by popular vote. If no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, then the joint Councils (Select and Common) would decide between the two leading candidates. John Swift was the first mayor to be elected directly by the people in the 1840 election.

The term of office was extended to two years in 1854, three years in 1861, and four years in 1885. Further, The Act of 1885 prohibited mayors from succeeding themselves.[4]

20th century

The restriction was lifted in the 1940s allowing Bernard Samuel to run for re-election. In 1951, the city's Home Rule Charter established a two-term limit for mayors.[4] The term limit is consecutive, not lifetime.

The mayorship of Philadelphia has been held by Democrats since 1952. The only Republican who has come close to winning the position was Sam Katz, who in 1999 came within half a percentage point of being the first Republican mayor of Philadelphia elected in over 45 years.

List of Mayors

Parties

  Democratic (16)   Democratic-Republican (4)   Federalist (6)   Keystone (1)   National Republican (2)   Republican (19)   Whig (5)

Colonial mayors elected by the Common Council

No. Mayor Term start Term end Mayorship Term[5]
1Humphrey MorreyMay 20, 1691October 25, 170111
2Edward Shippen IOctober 25, 1701October 24, 170222
October 24, 1702October 5, 17033
3Anthony Morris IOctober 5, 1703October 3, 170434
4Griffith JonesOctober 3, 1704October 2, 170545
5Joseph WillcoxOctober 2, 1705October 1, 170656
6Nathan StanburyOctober 1, 1706October 7, 170767
7Thomas MastersOctober 7, 1707October 5, 170878
October 5, 1708October 4, 17099
8Richard HillOctober 4, 1709October 3, 1710810
9William CarterOctober 3, 1710October 2, 1711911
10Samuel PrestonOctober 2, 1711October 7, 17121012
11Jonathan DickinsonOctober 7, 1712October 6, 17131113
12George RochOctober 6, 1713October 5, 17141214
(8)Richard HillOctober 5, 1714October 4, 17151315
October 4, 1715October 2, 171616
October 2, 1716October 1, 171717
(11)Jonathan DickinsonOctober 1, 1717October 7, 17181418
October 7, 1718October 6, 171919
13William FishbournOctober 6, 1719October 4, 17201520
October 4, 1720October 3, 172121
October 3, 1721October 2, 172222
14James LoganOctober 2, 1722October 1, 17231623
15Clement PlumstedOctober 1, 1723October 6, 17241724
16Isaac NorrisOctober 6, 1724October 5, 17251825
17William HudsonOctober 5, 1725October 4, 17261926
18Charles ReadOctober 4, 1726October 3, 17272027
19Thomas Lawrence IOctober 3, 1727October 2, 17282128
October 2, 1728October 7, 172929
20Thomas GriffittsOctober 7, 1729October 6, 17302230
October 6, 1730October 6, 173131
21Samuel HasellOctober 6, 1731October 3, 17322332
October 3, 1732October 2, 173333
(20)Thomas GriffittsOctober 2, 1733October 1, 17342434
(19)Thomas Lawrence IOctober 1, 1734October 7, 17352535
22William AllenOctober 7, 1735October 5, 17362636
(15)Clement PlumstedOctober 5, 1736October 4, 17372737
(20)Thomas GriffittsOctober 4, 1737October 3, 17382838
23Anthony Morris IIOctober 3, 1738October 2, 17392939
24Edward RobertsOctober 2, 1739October 7, 17403040
(21)Samuel HasellOctober 7, 1740October 6, 17413141
(15)Clement PlumstedOctober 6, 1741October 5, 17423242
25William TillOctober 5, 1742October 4, 17433343
26Benjamin ShoemakerOctober 4, 1743October 2, 17443444
27Edward Shippen IIIOctober 2, 1744October 1, 1745[lower-alpha 1]3545
28James HamiltonOctober 1, 1745October 7, 17463646
29William AttwoodOctober 7, 1746October 6, 1747[lower-alpha 2]3747
October 9, 1747October 4, 174848
30Charles WillingOctober 4, 1748October 3, 17493849
(19)Thomas Lawrence IOctober 3, 1749October 2, 17503950
31William PlumstedOctober 2, 1750October 1, 17514051
32Robert StrettellOctober 1, 1751October 3, 17524152
(26)Benjamin ShoemakerOctober 3, 1752October 2, 17534253
(19)Thomas Lawrence IOctober 2, 1753April 25, 1754[lower-alpha 3]4354
(30)Charles WillingApril 25, 1754October 1, 17544455
October 1, 1754December 4, 1754[lower-alpha 3]56
(31)William PlumstedDecember 4, 1754October 7, 17554557
October 7, 1755October 5, 175658
33Attwood ShuteOctober 5, 1756October 4, 17574659
October 4, 1757October 3, 1758[lower-alpha 4]60
34Thomas Lawrence IIOctober 15, 1758October 2, 17594761
35John StamperOctober 2, 1759October 7, 17604862
(26)Benjamin ShoemakerOctober 7, 1760October 6, 1761[lower-alpha 5]4963
36Jacob DuchéOctober 6, 1761October 5, 1762[lower-alpha 6]5064
37Henry HarrisonOctober 5, 1762October 4, 17635165
38Thomas WillingOctober 4, 1763October 2, 17645266
(34)Thomas Lawrence IIOctober 2, 1764October 1, 17655367
39John LawrenceOctober 1, 1765October 7, 17665468
October 7, 1766October 6, 176769
40Isaac JonesOctober 6, 1767October 4, 17685570
October 4, 1768October 3, 176971
41Samuel ShoemakerOctober 3, 1769October 2, 17705672
October 2, 1770October 1, 177173
42John GibsonOctober 1, 1771October 6, 17725774
October 6, 1772October 5, 177375
43William FisherOctober 5, 1773October 4, 17745876
44Samuel RhoadsOctober 4, 1774October 5, 17755977
45Samuel PowelOctober 5, 1775July 4, 1776[lower-alpha 7]6078

Post-independence mayors elected by the common council

No. Mayor Term start Term end Party[4] Mayorship Term[5]
(45) Samuel PowelApril 11, 1789April 12, 1790Federalist6179
46 Samuel MilesApril 12, 1790April 13, 1791Federalist6280
47 John BarclayApril 13, 1791April 13, 1792[lower-alpha 8]Federalist6381
48 Matthew ClarksonApril 13, 1792April 3, 1793Federalist6482
April 3, 1793April 15, 179483
April 15, 1794April 6, 179584
April 6, 1795May 5, 179685
May 5, 1796October 18, 179686
49 Hilary BakerOctober 18, 1796October 17, 1797Federalist6587
October 17, 1797October 16, 179888
50 Robert WhartonOctober 16, 1798October 11, 1799Federalist6689
October 11, 1799October 21, 1800[lower-alpha 9]90
51 John InskeepOctober 21, 1800October 16, 1801Federalist[lower-alpha 10]6791
52 Matthew LawlerOctober 16, 1801October 19, 1802Democratic-
Republican
6892
October 19, 1802October 18, 180393
October 18, 1803October 16, 180494
October 16, 1804October 15, 180595
(51) John InskeepOctober 15, 1805October 21, 1806Federalist6996
(50) Robert WhartonOctober 21, 1806October 20, 1807Federalist7097
October 20, 1807October 18, 180898
53 John BarkerOctober 18, 1808October 17, 1809Democratic-
Republican
7199
October 17, 1809October 16, 1810100
(50) Robert WhartonOctober 16, 1810October 15, 1811[lower-alpha 11]Federalist72101
54 Michael KeppeleOctober 15, 1811October 20, 1812Democratic-
Republican
73102
(53) John BarkerOctober 20, 1812October 19, 1813Democratic-
Republican
74103
55 John GeyerOctober 19, 1813October 18, 1814Democratic-
Republican
75104
(50) Robert WhartonOctober 18, 1814October 17, 1815Federalist[6]76105
October 17, 1815October 15, 1816106
October 15, 1816October 21, 1817107
October 21, 1817October 20, 1818108
October 20, 1818October 19, 1819109
56 James N. BarkerOctober 19, 1819October 17, 1820Democratic-
Republican[6]
77110
(50) Robert WhartonOctober 17, 1820October 16, 1821Federalist[6]78111
October 16, 1821October 15, 1822112
October 15, 1822October 21, 1823113
October 21, 1823October 19, 1824114
57 Joseph WatsonOctober 19, 1824October 18, 1825National
Republican
79115
October 18, 1825October 18, 1826116
October 18, 1826October 16, 1827117
October 16, 1827October 21, 1828118
58 George M. DallasOctober 21, 1828April 15, 1829[lower-alpha 12]Democrat80119
59 Benjamin W. RichardsApril 15, 1829October 20, 1829Democratic81120
60 William MilnorOctober 20, 1829October 19, 1830National
Republican
82121
(59) Benjamin W. RichardsOctober 19, 1830October 18, 1831Democratic83122
October 18, 1831October 16, 1832123
61 John SwiftOctober 16, 1832October 15, 1833Whig84124
October 15, 1833October 21, 1834125
October 21, 1834October 20, 1835126
October 20, 1835October 18, 1836127
October 18, 1836October 17, 1837128
October 17, 1837October 16, 1838129
62 Isaac RoachOctober 16, 1838October 15, 1839Democratic85130
No. Image Mayor Term start Term end Party Mayorship Term[5]
(61) John SwiftOctober 15, 1839October 20, 1840Whig86131
October 20, 1840October 19, 1841132
63 John M. ScottOctober 19, 1841October 18, 1842Whig87133
October 18, 1842October 10, 1843134
October 10, 1843October 15, 1844135
64 Peter McCallOctober 15, 1844October 21, 1845Whig88136
(61) John SwiftOctober 21, 1845October 20, 1846Whig89137
October 20, 1846October 19, 1847138
October 19, 1847October 17, 1848139
October 17, 1848October 16, 1849140
65 Joel JonesOctober 16, 1849October 15, 1850Democratic[lower-alpha 13]90141
66 Charles GilpinOctober 15, 1850October 21, 1851Whig91142
October 21, 1851October 19, 1852143
October 19, 1852October 18, 1853144
October 18, 1853June 13, 1854145

Mayors elected following the Act of Consolidation

No. Image Mayor Term start Term end Party Mayorship Term[lower-alpha 14]
67 Robert T. ConradJune 13, 1854May 13, 1856Whig[lower-alpha 15]92146
68 Richard VauxMay 13, 1856May 11, 1858Democratic93147
69 Alexander HenryMay 11, 1858May 8, 1860Republican94148
May 8, 1860January 1, 1863[lower-alpha 16]149
January 1, 1863January 1, 1866150
70 Morton McMichaelJanuary 1, 1866January 1, 1869Republican95151
71 Daniel M. FoxJanuary 1, 1869January 1, 1872Democratic96152
72 William S. StokleyJanuary 1, 1872January 1, 1875Republican97153
January 1, 1875January 1, 1878154
January 1, 1878April 4, 1881155
73 Samuel G. KingApril 4, 1881April 7, 1884Democratic98156
74 William B. SmithApril 7, 1884April 4, 1887Republican99157
75 Edwin H. FitlerApril 4, 1887April 6, 1891[lower-alpha 17]Republican100158
76 Edwin S. StuartApril 6, 1891April 1, 1895Republican101159
77 Charles F. WarwickApril 1, 1895April 3, 1899Republican102160
78 Samuel H. AshbridgeApril 3, 1899April 6, 1903Republican103161
79 John WeaverApril 6, 1903April 1, 1907Republican104162
80 John E. ReyburnApril 1, 1907December 4, 1911Republican105163
81 Rudolph BlankenburgDecember 4, 1911January 3, 1916Keystone[lower-alpha 18]106164
82 Thomas B. SmithJanuary 3, 1916January 5, 1920Republican107165
83 J. Hampton MooreJanuary 5, 1920January 7, 1924Republican108166
84 W. Freeland KendrickJanuary 7, 1924January 2, 1928Republican109167
85 Harry A. MackeyJanuary 2, 1928January 4, 1932Republican110168
(83) J. Hampton MooreJanuary 4, 1932January 6, 1936Republican111169
86 Samuel D. WilsonJanuary 6, 1936August 19, 1939[lower-alpha 3]Republican112170
87 George ConnellAugust 9, 1939January 1, 1940Republican113171
88 Robert E. LambertonJanuary 1, 1940August 22, 1941[lower-alpha 3]Republican114172
89 Bernard SamuelAugust 22, 1941January 3, 1944[lower-alpha 19]Republican115173
January 3, 1944January 5, 1948174
January 5, 1948January 7, 1952175

Mayors elected under the Home Rule Charter of 1951

No. Image Mayor Term start Term end Party Mayorship Term[lower-alpha 20]
90 Joseph S. Clark Jr.January 7, 1952January 2, 1956Democratic116176
91 Richardson DilworthJanuary 2, 1956January 4, 1960Democratic117177
January 4, 1960February 13, 1962[lower-alpha 21]178
92 James TateFebruary 13, 1962January 6, 1964Democratic118179
January 6, 1964January 1, 1968180
January 1, 1968January 3, 1972181
93 Frank RizzoJanuary 3, 1972January 5, 1976Democratic119182
January 5, 1976January 7, 1980183
94 William J. Green IIIJanuary 7, 1980January 2, 1984Democratic120184
95 Wilson GoodeJanuary 2, 1984January 4, 1988Democratic121185
January 4, 1988January 6, 1992186
96 Ed RendellJanuary 6, 1992January 1, 1996Democratic122187
January 1, 1996January 3, 2000188
97 John F. StreetJanuary 3, 2000January 5, 2004Democratic123189
January 5, 2004January 7, 2008190
98 Michael NutterJanuary 7, 2008January 2, 2012Democratic124191
January 2, 2012January 4, 2016192
99 Jim KenneyJanuary 4, 2016January 7, 2020Democratic125193
January 7, 2020incumbent194

See also

Notes

  1. Alexander Taylor and Joseph Turner refused election to the office of mayor.
  2. After Attwood's first term, Anthony Morris II was elected mayor but fled to avoid taking office. Attwood was elected to a second term three days later.
  3. Died in office.
  4. John Mifflin, Alexander Stedman, and William Coxe refused election.
  5. Samuel Mifflin refused election.
  6. William Coxe and Daniel Benezet refused election.
  7. When the American Revolution began, the state abolished the city government, including the office of mayor.
  8. John Barclay and George Roberts declined election.
  9. Wharton declined reelection to a third term in 1800.
  10. As the Federalist Party collapsed in Pennsylvania, many Philadelphia politicians, including Inskeep, identified themselves as "Federal Republicans".
  11. Wharton declined reelection to a sixth term in 1811.
  12. Resigned to become the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
  13. Jones was a Democrat elected with the support of the Know Nothing party.
  14. In 1854, the entire county was consolidated into the city, and the mayoral term was extended to two years.
  15. Conrad was a Whig elected with the Know Nothings' support.
  16. In 1861, the mayoral term was extended to three years.
  17. In 1887, the mayoral term was extended to four years. Mayors could not serve consecutive terms.
  18. Blankenburg was elected on the Keystone Party ticket with the support of the Democrats.
  19. During Samuel's first term, the prohibition on consecutive mayoral terms was removed.
  20. Under the City Charter of 1951, the mayor is limited to two consecutive, four-year terms.
  21. Resigned to run for governor.

References

  1. "Mayors of Philadelphia". Phila.gov. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2021. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  2. John Thomas Scharf, Thompson Westcott, History of Philadelphia, 1609–1884, Lippincott, Phila., 1884.
  3. Committee of Seventy's Historical List of Philadelphia Mayors Archived 2007-03-10 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Timeline: A look back at Philly's mayors". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  5. Philadelphia 2012.
  6. Young 1898, pp. 206–207.

Sources

Books

Websites

  • "Mayors of Philadelphia". City of Philadelphia. 13 January 1998. Retrieved 2019-12-22. Official Philadelphia Government list
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