# Mayor of Philadelphia

The mayor of Philadelphia is the chief executive of the government of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as stipulated by the Charter of the City of Philadelphia. The current mayor of Philadelphia is Cherelle Parker, who is the first woman to hold the position.

## 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, Thomas Story, also an alderman, was similarly fined for refusing office.
In 1745, Abraham Taylor, a Philadelphia alderman, was fined thirty pounds for refusing to assume the office. The city council then elected Joseph Turner, who also refused and was likewise fined. Others who refused election included Richard Hill (1717), Issac Norris (1722), John Mifflin, and Alexander Stedman. In other cases, 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, and ended up 14 one-year terms, making him the most-often-elected (16 times, including refusals) and longest-serving (14 years) mayor in Philadelphia history.
In 1747, at the request of retiring Mayor William Attwood, Council resolved to institute an annual salary of 100 pounds for the office. The same year, Anthony Morris secretly fled to Bucks County to avoid being notified of his election as the city's mayor. When he could not be located after three days of searching, a new election was scheduled, and Attwood was reelected to a second term.

### 19th century

In 1826, the Philadelphia City Council altered its protocols for electing a mayor, permitting any Philadelphia citizen to run for the office. Beginning in 1839, mayors were elected by popular vote. If no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, then the joint Councils (Select and Common) determined the winner between the two leading candidates. John Swift was the first mayor to be elected directly by the people in the 1840 Philadelphia mayoral election.
The term of office for the mayor was extended to two years in 1854, to three years in 1861, and to four years in 1885. The Act of 1885 also prohibited mayors from succeeding themselves.

### 20th century

The consecutive term limitation for mayor was lifted in the 1940s, which permitted incumbent Bernard Samuel to run for reelection. In 1951, the city's Home Rule Charter established a two-term limit for Philadelphia mayors. The term limit is consecutive, not lifetime.
The mayor of Philadelphia has been held by Democrats for over seven decades, since 1952. The only Republican who has been competitive in the general election for mayor since then was Sam Katz, who came within half a percentage point of being the first Republican mayor of Philadelphia elected in 1999.

## List of Mayors
### Parties

Democratic (18)  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 |
| 1 | Humphrey Morrey | May 20, 1691 | October 25, 1701 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Edward Shippen I | October 25, 1701 | October 24, 1702 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Edward Shippen I | October 24, 1702 | October 5, 1703 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Anthony Morris I | October 5, 1703 | October 3, 1704 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Griffith Jones | October 3, 1704 | October 2, 1705 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Joseph Willcox | October 2, 1705 | October 1, 1706 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Nathan Stanbury | October 1, 1706 | October 7, 1707 | 6 | 7 |
| 7 | Thomas Masters | October 7, 1707 | October 5, 1708 | 7 | 8 |
| 7 | Thomas Masters | October 5, 1708 | October 4, 1709 | 7 | 9 |
| 8 | Richard Hill | October 4, 1709 | October 3, 1710 | 8 | 10 |
| 9 | William Carter | October 3, 1710 | October 2, 1711 | 9 | 11 |
| 10 | Samuel Preston | October 2, 1711 | October 7, 1712 | 10 | 12 |
| 11 | Jonathan Dickinson | October 7, 1712 | October 6, 1713 | 11 | 13 |
| 12 | George Roach | October 6, 1713 | October 5, 1714 | 12 | 14 |
| (8) | Richard Hill | October 5, 1714 | October 4, 1715 | 13 | 15 |
| (8) | Richard Hill | October 4, 1715 | October 2, 1716 | 13 | 16 |
| (8) | Richard Hill | October 2, 1716 | October 1, 1717 | 13 | 17 |
| (11) | Jonathan Dickinson | October 1, 1717 | October 7, 1718 | 14 | 18 |
| (11) | Jonathan Dickinson | October 7, 1718 | October 6, 1719 | 14 | 19 |
| 13 | William Fishbourn | October 6, 1719 | October 4, 1720 | 15 | 20 |
| 13 | William Fishbourn | October 4, 1720 | October 3, 1721 | 15 | 21 |
| 13 | William Fishbourn | October 3, 1721 | October 2, 1722 | 15 | 22 |
| 14 | James Logan | October 2, 1722 | October 1, 1723 | 16 | 23 |
| 15 | Clement Plumsted | October 1, 1723 | October 6, 1724 | 17 | 24 |
| 16 | Isaac Norris | October 6, 1724 | October 5, 1725 | 18 | 25 |
| 17 | William Hudson | October 5, 1725 | October 4, 1726 | 19 | 26 |
| 18 | Charles Read | October 4, 1726 | October 3, 1727 | 20 | 27 |
| 19 | Thomas Lawrence I | October 3, 1727 | October 2, 1728 | 21 | 28 |
| 19 | Thomas Lawrence I | October 2, 1728 | October 7, 1729 | 21 | 29 |
| 20 | Thomas Griffitts | October 7, 1729 | October 6, 1730 | 22 | 30 |
| 20 | Thomas Griffitts | October 6, 1730 | October 6, 1731 | 22 | 31 |
| 21 | Samuel Hasell | October 6, 1731 | October 3, 1732 | 23 | 32 |
| 21 | Samuel Hasell | October 3, 1732 | October 2, 1733 | 23 | 33 |
| (20) | Thomas Griffitts | October 2, 1733 | October 1, 1734 | 24 | 34 |
| (19) | Thomas Lawrence I | October 1, 1734 | October 7, 1735 | 25 | 35 |
| 22 | William Allen | October 7, 1735 | October 5, 1736 | 26 | 36 |
| (15) | Clement Plumsted | October 5, 1736 | October 4, 1737 | 27 | 37 |
| (20) | Thomas Griffitts | October 4, 1737 | October 3, 1738 | 28 | 38 |
| 23 | Anthony Morris II | October 3, 1738 | October 2, 1739 | 29 | 39 |
| 24 | Edward Roberts | October 2, 1739 | October 7, 1740 | 30 | 40 |
| (21) | Samuel Hasell | October 7, 1740 | October 6, 1741 | 31 | 41 |
| (15) | Clement Plumsted | October 6, 1741 | October 5, 1742 | 32 | 42 |
| 25 | William Till | October 5, 1742 | October 4, 1743 | 33 | 43 |
| 26 | Benjamin Shoemaker | October 4, 1743 | October 2, 1744 | 34 | 44 |
| 27 | Edward Shippen III | October 2, 1744 | October 1, 1745 | 35 | 45 |
| 28 | James Hamilton | October 1, 1745 | October 7, 1746 | 36 | 46 |
| 29 | William Attwood | October 7, 1746 | October 6, 1747 | 37 | 47 |
| 29 | William Attwood | October 9, 1747 | October 4, 1748 | 37 | 48 |
| 30 | Charles Willing | October 4, 1748 | October 3, 1749 | 38 | 49 |
| (19) | Thomas Lawrence I | October 3, 1749 | October 2, 1750 | 39 | 50 |
| 31 | William Plumsted | October 2, 1750 | October 1, 1751 | 40 | 51 |
| 32 | Robert Strettell | October 1, 1751 | October 3, 1752 | 41 | 52 |
| (26) | Benjamin Shoemaker | October 3, 1752 | October 2, 1753 | 42 | 53 |
| (19) | Thomas Lawrence I | October 2, 1753 | April 25, 1754 | 43 | 54 |
| (30) | Charles Willing | April 25, 1754 | October 1, 1754 | 44 | 55 |
| (30) | Charles Willing | October 1, 1754 | December 4, 1754 | 44 | 56 |
| (31) | William Plumsted | December 4, 1754 | October 7, 1755 | 45 | 57 |
| (31) | William Plumsted | October 7, 1755 | October 5, 1756 | 45 | 58 |
| 33 | Attwood Shute | October 5, 1756 | October 4, 1757 | 46 | 59 |
| 33 | Attwood Shute | October 4, 1757 | October 3, 1758 | 46 | 60 |
| 34 | Thomas Lawrence II | October 15, 1758 | October 2, 1759 | 47 | 61 |
| 35 | John Stamper | October 2, 1759 | October 7, 1760 | 48 | 62 |
| (26) | Benjamin Shoemaker | October 7, 1760 | October 6, 1761 | 49 | 63 |
| 36 | Jacob Duché | October 6, 1761 | October 5, 1762 | 50 | 64 |
| 37 | Henry Harrison | October 5, 1762 | October 4, 1763 | 51 | 65 |
| 38 | Thomas Willing | October 4, 1763 | October 2, 1764 | 52 | 66 |
| (34) | Thomas Lawrence II | October 2, 1764 | October 1, 1765 | 53 | 67 |
| 39 | John Lawrence | October 1, 1765 | October 7, 1766 | 54 | 68 |
| 39 | John Lawrence | October 7, 1766 | October 6, 1767 | 54 | 69 |
| 40 | Isaac Jones | October 6, 1767 | October 4, 1768 | 55 | 70 |
| 40 | Isaac Jones | October 4, 1768 | October 3, 1769 | 55 | 71 |
| 41 | Samuel Shoemaker | October 3, 1769 | October 2, 1770 | 56 | 72 |
| 41 | Samuel Shoemaker | October 2, 1770 | October 1, 1771 | 56 | 73 |
| 42 | John Gibson | October 1, 1771 | October 6, 1772 | 57 | 74 |
| 42 | John Gibson | October 6, 1772 | October 5, 1773 | 57 | 75 |
| 43 | William Fisher | October 5, 1773 | October 4, 1774 | 58 | 76 |
| 44 | Samuel Rhoads | October 4, 1774 | October 5, 1775 | 59 | 77 |
| 45 | Samuel Powel | October 5, 1775 | July 4, 1776 | 60 | 78 |

### Post-independence mayors elected by the common council

| No. | Mayor | Term start | Term end | Party | Mayorship | Term |
| (45) | Samuel Powel | April 11, 1789 | April 12, 1790 | Federalist | 61 | 79 |
| 46 | Samuel Miles | April 12, 1790 | April 13, 1791 | Federalist | 62 | 80 |
| 47 | John Barclay | April 13, 1791 | April 13, 1792 | Federalist | 63 | 81 |
| 48 | Matthew Clarkson | April 13, 1792 | April 3, 1793 | Federalist | 64 | 82 |
| 48 | Matthew Clarkson | April 3, 1793 | April 15, 1794 | Federalist | 64 | 83 |
| 48 | Matthew Clarkson | April 15, 1794 | April 6, 1795 | Federalist | 64 | 84 |
| 48 | Matthew Clarkson | April 6, 1795 | May 5, 1796 | Federalist | 64 | 85 |
| 48 | Matthew Clarkson | May 5, 1796 | October 18, 1796 | Federalist | 64 | 86 |
| 49 | Hilary Baker | October 18, 1796 | October 17, 1797 | Federalist | 65 | 87 |
| 49 | Hilary Baker | October 17, 1797 | October 16, 1798 | Federalist | 65 | 88 |
| 50 | Robert Wharton | October 16, 1798 | October 11, 1799 | Federalist | 66 | 89 |
| 50 | Robert Wharton | October 11, 1799 | October 21, 1800 | Federalist | 66 | 90 |
| 51 | John Inskeep | October 21, 1800 | October 16, 1801 | Federalist | 67 | 91 |
| 52 | Matthew Lawler | October 16, 1801 | October 19, 1802 | Democratic- Republican | 68 | 92 |
| 52 | Matthew Lawler | October 19, 1802 | October 18, 1803 | Democratic- Republican | 68 | 93 |
| 52 | Matthew Lawler | October 18, 1803 | October 16, 1804 | Democratic- Republican | 68 | 94 |
| 52 | Matthew Lawler | October 16, 1804 | October 15, 1805 | Democratic- Republican | 68 | 95 |
| (51) | John Inskeep | October 15, 1805 | October 21, 1806 | Federalist | 69 | 96 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 21, 1806 | October 20, 1807 | Federalist | 70 | 97 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 20, 1807 | October 18, 1808 | Federalist | 70 | 98 |
| 53 | John Barker | October 18, 1808 | October 17, 1809 | Democratic- Republican | 71 | 99 |
| 53 | John Barker | October 17, 1809 | October 16, 1810 | Democratic- Republican | 71 | 100 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 16, 1810 | October 15, 1811 | Federalist | 72 | 101 |
| 54 | Michael Keppele | October 15, 1811 | October 20, 1812 | Democratic- Republican | 73 | 102 |
| (53) | John Barker | October 20, 1812 | October 19, 1813 | Democratic- Republican | 74 | 103 |
| 55 | John Geyer | October 19, 1813 | October 18, 1814 | Democratic- Republican | 75 | 104 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 18, 1814 | October 17, 1815 | Federalist | 76 | 105 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 17, 1815 | October 15, 1816 | Federalist | 76 | 106 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 15, 1816 | October 21, 1817 | Federalist | 76 | 107 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 21, 1817 | October 20, 1818 | Federalist | 76 | 108 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 20, 1818 | October 19, 1819 | Federalist | 76 | 109 |
| 56 | James N. Barker | October 19, 1819 | October 17, 1820 | Democratic- Republican | 77 | 110 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 17, 1820 | October 16, 1821 | Federalist | 78 | 111 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 16, 1821 | October 15, 1822 | Federalist | 78 | 112 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 15, 1822 | October 21, 1823 | Federalist | 78 | 113 |
| (50) | Robert Wharton | October 21, 1823 | October 19, 1824 | Federalist | 78 | 114 |
| 57 | Joseph Watson | October 19, 1824 | October 18, 1825 | National Republican | 79 | 115 |
| 57 | Joseph Watson | October 18, 1825 | October 18, 1826 | National Republican | 79 | 116 |
| 57 | Joseph Watson | October 18, 1826 | October 16, 1827 | National Republican | 79 | 117 |
| 57 | Joseph Watson | October 16, 1827 | October 21, 1828 | National Republican | 79 | 118 |
| 58 | George M. Dallas | October 21, 1828 | April 15, 1829 | Democrat | 80 | 119 |
| 59 | Benjamin W. Richards | April 15, 1829 | October 20, 1829 | Democratic | 81 | 120 |
| 60 | William Milnor | October 20, 1829 | October 19, 1830 | National Republican | 82 | 121 |
| (59) | Benjamin W. Richards | October 19, 1830 | October 18, 1831 | Democratic | 83 | 122 |
| (59) | Benjamin W. Richards | October 18, 1831 | October 16, 1832 | Democratic | 83 | 123 |
| 61 | John Swift | October 16, 1832 | October 15, 1833 | Whig | 84 | 124 |
| 61 | John Swift | October 15, 1833 | October 21, 1834 | Whig | 84 | 125 |
| 61 | John Swift | October 21, 1834 | October 20, 1835 | Whig | 84 | 126 |
| 61 | John Swift | October 20, 1835 | October 18, 1836 | Whig | 84 | 127 |
| 61 | John Swift | October 18, 1836 | October 17, 1837 | Whig | 84 | 128 |
| 61 | John Swift | October 17, 1837 | October 16, 1838 | Whig | 84 | 129 |
| 62 | Isaac Roach | October 16, 1838 | October 15, 1839 | Democratic | 85 | 130 |

### Mayors chosen by popular election

| No. | Mayor | Term start | Term end | Party | Mayorship | Term |
| (61) | John Swift | October 15, 1839 | October 20, 1840 | Whig | 86 | 131 |
| (61) | John Swift | October 20, 1840 | October 19, 1841 | Whig | 86 | 132 |
| 63 | John M. Scott | October 19, 1841 | October 18, 1842 | Whig | 87 | 133 |
| 63 | John M. Scott | October 18, 1842 | October 10, 1843 | Whig | 87 | 134 |
| 63 | John M. Scott | October 10, 1843 | October 15, 1844 | Whig | 87 | 135 |
| 64 | Peter McCall | October 15, 1844 | October 21, 1845 | Whig | 88 | 136 |
| (61) | John Swift | October 21, 1845 | October 20, 1846 | Whig | 89 | 137 |
| (61) | John Swift | October 20, 1846 | October 19, 1847 | Whig | 89 | 138 |
| (61) | John Swift | October 19, 1847 | October 17, 1848 | Whig | 89 | 139 |
| (61) | John Swift | October 17, 1848 | October 16, 1849 | Whig | 89 | 140 |
| 65 | Joel Jones | October 16, 1849 | October 15, 1850 | Democratic | 90 | 141 |
| 66 | Charles Gilpin | October 15, 1850 | October 21, 1851 | Whig | 91 | 142 |
| 66 | Charles Gilpin | October 21, 1851 | October 19, 1852 | Whig | 91 | 143 |
| 66 | Charles Gilpin | October 19, 1852 | October 18, 1853 | Whig | 91 | 144 |
| 66 | Charles Gilpin | October 18, 1853 | June 13, 1854 | Whig | 91 | 145 |

### Mayors elected following the Act of Consolidation

| No. | Mayor | Term start | Term end | Party | Mayorship | Term |
| 67 | Robert T. Conrad | June 13, 1854 | May 13, 1856 | Whig | 92 | 146 |
| 68 | Richard Vaux | May 13, 1856 | May 11, 1858 | Democratic | 93 | 147 |
| 69 | Alexander Henry | May 11, 1858 | May 8, 1860 | Republican | 94 | 148 |
| 69 | Alexander Henry | May 8, 1860 | January 1, 1863 | Republican | 94 | 149 |
| 69 | Alexander Henry | January 1, 1863 | January 1, 1866 | Republican | 94 | 150 |
| 70 | Morton McMichael | January 1, 1866 | January 1, 1869 | Republican | 95 | 151 |
| 71 | Daniel M. Fox | January 1, 1869 | January 1, 1872 | Democratic | 96 | 152 |
| 72 | William S. Stokley | January 1, 1872 | January 1, 1875 | Republican | 97 | 153 |
| 72 | William S. Stokley | January 1, 1875 | January 1, 1878 | Republican | 97 | 154 |
| 72 | William S. Stokley | January 1, 1878 | April 4, 1881 | Republican | 97 | 155 |
| 73 | Samuel G. King | April 4, 1881 | April 7, 1884 | Democratic | 98 | 156 |
| 74 | William B. Smith | April 7, 1884 | April 4, 1887 | Republican | 99 | 157 |
| 75 | Edwin H. Fitler | April 4, 1887 | April 6, 1891 | Republican | 100 | 158 |
| 76 | Edwin S. Stuart | April 6, 1891 | April 1, 1895 | Republican | 101 | 159 |
| 77 | Charles F. Warwick | April 1, 1895 | April 3, 1899 | Republican | 102 | 160 |
| 78 | Samuel H. Ashbridge | April 3, 1899 | April 6, 1903 | Republican | 103 | 161 |
| 79 | John Weaver | April 6, 1903 | April 1, 1907 | Republican | 104 | 162 |
| 80 | John E. Reyburn | April 1, 1907 | December 4, 1911 | Republican | 105 | 163 |
| 81 | Rudolph Blankenburg | December 4, 1911 | January 3, 1916 | Keystone | 106 | 164 |
| 82 | Thomas B. Smith | January 3, 1916 | January 5, 1920 | Republican | 107 | 165 |
| 83 | J. Hampton Moore | January 5, 1920 | January 7, 1924 | Republican | 108 | 166 |
| 84 | W. Freeland Kendrick | January 7, 1924 | January 2, 1928 | Republican | 109 | 167 |
| 85 | Harry A. Mackey | January 2, 1928 | January 4, 1932 | Republican | 110 | 168 |
| (83) | J. Hampton Moore | January 4, 1932 | January 6, 1936 | Republican | 111 | 169 |
| 86 | Samuel D. Wilson | January 6, 1936 | August 19, 1939 | Republican | 112 | 170 |
| 87 | George Connell | August 9, 1939 | January 1, 1940 | Republican | 113 | 171 |
| 88 | Robert E. Lamberton | January 1, 1940 | August 22, 1941 | Republican | 114 | 172 |
| 89 | Bernard Samuel | August 22, 1941 | January 3, 1944 | Republican | 115 | 173 |
| 89 | Bernard Samuel | January 3, 1944 | January 5, 1948 | Republican | 115 | 174 |
| 89 | Bernard Samuel | January 5, 1948 | January 7, 1952 | Republican | 115 | 175 |

### Mayors elected under the Home Rule Charter of 1951

| No. | Mayor | Term start | Term end | Party | Mayorship | Term |
| 90 | Joseph S. Clark Jr. | January 7, 1952 | January 2, 1956 | Democratic | 116 | 176 |
| 91 | Richardson Dilworth | January 2, 1956 | January 4, 1960 | Democratic | 117 | 177 |
| 91 | Richardson Dilworth | January 4, 1960 | February 13, 1962 | Democratic | 117 | 178 |
| 92 | James Tate | February 13, 1962 | January 6, 1964 | Democratic | 118 | 179 |
| 92 | James Tate | January 6, 1964 | January 1, 1968 | Democratic | 118 | 180 |
| 92 | James Tate | January 1, 1968 | January 3, 1972 | Democratic | 118 | 181 |
| 93 | Frank Rizzo | January 3, 1972 | January 5, 1976 | Democratic | 119 | 182 |
| 93 | Frank Rizzo | January 5, 1976 | January 7, 1980 | Democratic | 119 | 183 |
| 94 | William J. Green III | January 7, 1980 | January 2, 1984 | Democratic | 120 | 184 |
| 95 | Wilson Goode | January 2, 1984 | January 4, 1988 | Democratic | 121 | 185 |
| 95 | Wilson Goode | January 4, 1988 | January 6, 1992 | Democratic | 121 | 186 |
| 96 | Ed Rendell | January 6, 1992 | January 1, 1996 | Democratic | 122 | 187 |
| 96 | Ed Rendell | January 1, 1996 | January 3, 2000 | Democratic | 122 | 188 |
| 97 | John F. Street | January 3, 2000 | January 5, 2004 | Democratic | 123 | 189 |
| 97 | John F. Street | January 5, 2004 | January 7, 2008 | Democratic | 123 | 190 |
| 98 | Michael Nutter | January 7, 2008 | January 2, 2012 | Democratic | 124 | 191 |
| 98 | Michael Nutter | January 2, 2012 | January 4, 2016 | Democratic | 124 | 192 |
| 99 | Jim Kenney | January 4, 2016 | January 7, 2020 | Democratic | 125 | 193 |
| 99 | Jim Kenney | January 7, 2020 | January 1, 2024 | Democratic | 125 | 194 |
| 100 | Cherelle Parker | January 2, 2024 | incumbent | Democratic | 126 | 195 |