# New York City Fire Commissioner

The New York City fire commissioner is the civilian administrator of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and is appointed by the mayor of the City of New York. Prior to 1865, the New York City Fire Department was staffed by volunteers. On March 30, 1865 the New York State legislature passed a law organizing the Metropolitan Fire Department as a paid firefighting force that took control of all the powers and authority of the volunteer department, as well as all the assets such as the fire trucks, equipment, and buildings. The law also created a commission to oversee the department, and for its administration and functioning. After a lawsuit contesting the constitutionality of the law was dismissed by the New York Court of Appeals, it immediately started to operate.
During the remainder of the 19th century, the number of commissioners was periodically changed by the New York State legislature, until a single commissioner was put in charge of the FDNY when Manhattan and the Bronx consolidated with Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island to form The City of New York on January 1, 1898. Since then, there have been 35 commissioners excluding acting fire commissioners, and 39 commissioners including acting fire commissioners. The current commissioner is Robert Tucker, who was appointed on August 12, 2024.

## List of fire commissioners
### Pre-consolidated City of New York

During this period, the commissioners elected their own president who ran the commission meetings, and treasurer, who was the fiscal officer and responsible for reporting the department's finances to the mayor and the Board of Aldermen.
| Date | Commissioners | Commissioners | Commissioners | Commissioners | Commissioners | Commissioners | Commissioners | Commissioners | Commissioners | Commissioners |
| As a commission of four, nominated by the Governor, by and with the consent of the State Senate |||||||||||
| May 3, 1865 | Charles C. Pinckney | Charles C. Pinckney | James W. Booth | James W. Booth | James W. Booth | Philip W. Engs | Philip W. Engs | Philip W. Engs | Martin B. Brown | Martin B. Brown |
| May 4, 1865 | elected president | elected president | | | | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | | |
| August 30, 1865 | | | resigned, position vacant | resigned, position vacant | resigned, position vacant | | | | | |
| September 1, 1865 | | | Joshua G. Abbe | Joshua G. Abbe | Joshua G. Abbe | | | | | |
| March 30, 1867 | | | | | | | | | resigned, position vacant | resigned, position vacant |
| As a commission of five, nominated by the Governor, by and with the consent of the State Senate |||||||||||
| May 1, 1867 | Alexander Shaler elected president | Joshua G. Abbe elected treasurer | Joshua G. Abbe elected treasurer | Joshua G. Abbe elected treasurer | Theodorus Bailey Myers | Theodorus Bailey Myers | James Galway | James Galway | James Galway | Monmouth B. Wilson |
| September 21, 1868 | | died, position vacant | died, position vacant | died, position vacant | | | | | | |
| September 26, 1868 | | | | | | | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | |
| November 18, 1868 | | James M. McLean | James M. McLean | James M. McLean | | | | | | |
| As a commission of five, nominated by the Mayor, with the consent of the City Aldermen |||||||||||
| late April 1870 | Alexander Shaler | William Hitchman | William Hitchman | William Hitchman | James S. Hennessy | James S. Hennessy | James Galway | James Galway | James Galway | John J. Blair |
| April 30, 1870 | | elected president | elected president | elected president | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | | | | |
| As a commission of three, nominated by the Mayor, with the consent of the City Aldermen |||||||||||
| May 16, 1873 | Joseph L. Perley | Joseph L. Perley | Joseph L. Perley | Roswell D. Hatch | Roswell D. Hatch | Roswell D. Hatch | Roswell D. Hatch | Cornelius Van Cott | Cornelius Van Cott | Cornelius Van Cott |
| May 19, 1873 | elected president | elected president | elected president | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | | | |
| May 1, 1875 | | | | | | | | term ended Vincent C. King | term ended Vincent C. King | term ended Vincent C. King |
| May 1, 1877 | | | | term ended | term ended | term ended | term ended | | | |
| May 3, 1877 | | | | John J. Gorman | John J. Gorman | John J. Gorman | John J. Gorman | | | |
| May 5, 1877 | | | | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected president | elected president | elected president |
| May 1, 1879 | term ended, position vacant | term ended, position vacant | term ended, position vacant | | | | | | | |
| May 20, 1879 | Van Cott (second non-consec. term) | Van Cott (second non-consec. term) | Van Cott (second non-consec. term) | | | | | | | |
| May 1, 1881 | | | | | | | | term ended, position vacant | term ended, position vacant | term ended, position vacant |
| May 9, 1881 | elected president | elected president | elected president | | | | | | | |
| August 10, 1881 | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected president | elected president | elected president | elected president | | | |
| September 14, 1881 | | | | | | | | Henry D. Purroy | Henry D. Purroy | Henry D. Purroy |
| May 10, 1883 | elected president | elected president | elected president | | | | | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer |
| November 16, 1883 | | | | resigned Richard Croker | resigned Richard Croker | resigned Richard Croker | resigned Richard Croker | | | |
| May 1, 1885 | term ended | term ended | term ended | | | | | | | |
| May 9, 1885 | remaining term taken by Purroy elected president | remaining term taken by Purroy elected president | remaining term taken by Purroy elected president | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | resigned to take Van Cott’s remaining term Elward Smith | resigned to take Van Cott’s remaining term Elward Smith | resigned to take Van Cott’s remaining term Elward Smith |
| May 9, 1887 | | | | resigned to take Smith's remaining term position vacant | resigned to take Smith's remaining term position vacant | resigned to take Smith's remaining term position vacant | resigned to take Smith's remaining term position vacant | term ended Croker (second term) | term ended Croker (second term) | term ended Croker (second term) |
| May 10, 1888 | | | | Fitz John Porter | Fitz John Porter | Fitz John Porter | Fitz John Porter |
| April 9, 1889 | | | | | | | | resigned to become City Chamberlain position vacant | resigned to become City Chamberlain position vacant | resigned to become City Chamberlain position vacant |
| May 2, 1889 | resigned to take Porter's remaining term Anthony Eickhoff elected treasurer | resigned to take Porter's remaining term Anthony Eickhoff elected treasurer | resigned to take Porter's remaining term Anthony Eickhoff elected treasurer | Purroy (second term) | Purroy (second term) | Purroy (second term) | Purroy (second term) | S. Howland Robbins | S. Howland Robbins | S. Howland Robbins |
| May 29, 1891 | Eickhoff (reappointed to second term) | Eickhoff (reappointed to second term) | Eickhoff (reappointed to second term) | | | | | | | |
| January 1, 1893 | | | | resigned to become New York County Clerk position vacant | resigned to become New York County Clerk position vacant | resigned to become New York County Clerk position vacant | resigned to become New York County Clerk position vacant |
| January 10, 1893 | | | | John J. Scannell | John J. Scannell | John J. Scannell | John J. Scannell | elected president | elected president | elected president |
| May 1, 1893 | | | | reapppointed/moved to an empty full term Henry Winthrop Gray | reapppointed/moved to an empty full term Henry Winthrop Gray | reapppointed/moved to an empty full term Henry Winthrop Gray | reapppointed/moved to an empty full term Henry Winthrop Gray | term ended Scannell (full term) | term ended Scannell (full term) | term ended Scannell (full term) |
| May 2, 1893 | | | | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected president | elected president | elected president | elected president |
| February 2, 1894 | | | | resigned replaced by S. Howland Robbins | resigned replaced by S. Howland Robbins | resigned replaced by S. Howland Robbins | resigned replaced by S. Howland Robbins | | | |
| March 5, 1895 | | | | | | | | resigned/removed replaced by Oscar H. La Grange elected president | resigned/removed replaced by Oscar H. La Grange elected president | resigned/removed replaced by Oscar H. La Grange elected president |
| March 7, 1895 | resigned/removed James R. Sheffield | resigned/removed James R. Sheffield | resigned/removed James R. Sheffield | | | | | | | |
| May 1, 1895 | | | | term ended Austin E. Ford | term ended Austin E. Ford | term ended Austin E. Ford | term ended Austin E. Ford | | | |
| June 30, 1896 | | | | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | | | |
| September 17, 1896 | | | | died, position vacant | died, position vacant | died, position vacant | died, position vacant | | | |
| September 26, 1896 | | | | Thomas Sturgis | Thomas Sturgis | Thomas Sturgis | Thomas Sturgis | | | |
| September 28, 1896 | elected president | elected president | elected president | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | elected treasurer | | | |
| January 1, 1898 | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) | replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table) |

### City of New York

| Number | Name | Dates in Office | Administration | Notes and References | Deputy |
| 1 | John J. Scannell | January 1, 1898 – December 31, 1901 | Robert Anderson Van Wyck | His salary was $5,000 per year (approximately $175,000 today) | James H. Tully |
| 2 | Thomas Sturgis | January 1, 1902 – December 31, 1903 | Seth Low | Previously served as a pre-consolidation fire commissioner. | Richard H. Laimbeer |
| 3 | Nicholas J. Hayes | January 1, 1904 – December 31, 1905 | George B. McClellan Jr. | | William A. Doyle |
| | John H. O'Brien | January 1, 1906 – October 10, 1906 | George B. McClellan Jr. | Resigned before completing his term. | |
| 5 | Francis J. Lantry | October 10, 1906 – February 10, 1908 | George B. McClellan Jr. | Resigned before completing his term. | |
| 6 | Hugh Bonner | February 10, 1908 – March 13, 1908 | George B. McClellan Jr. | Died before completing his term. | |
| | Nicholas J. Hayes | March 13, 1908 – January 3, 1910 | George B. McClellan Jr. | This was his second non-consecutive term. | Charles C. Wise |
| 7 | Rhinelander Waldo | January 3, 1910 – May 23, 1911 | William Jay Gaynor | Resigned less than two months after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to become the 8th New York City Police Commissioner. He was also Chief of the Aqueduct Police. Now the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police. | Arthur J. O'Keeffe |
| 8 | Joseph Johnson | May 23, 1911? – June 1, 1911 (acting) June 1, 1911 – December 31, 1913 | William Jay Gaynor, Ardolph L. Kline | Acting New York City Fire Commissioner, then promoted to New York City Fire Commissioner. | Philip J. Farley |
| 9 | Robert Edward Adamson | January 1, 1914 – December 31, 1917 | John Purroy Mitchel | | Richard H. Laimbeer |
| 10 | Thomas J. Drennan | January 1, 1918 – April 30, 1926 | John Francis Hylan, Jimmy Walker | Resigned before completing his term. | |
| 11 | John J. Dorman | May 5, 1926 – December 31, 1933 | Jimmy Walker, Joseph V. McKee, John P. O'Brien | | |
| | Francis S. Giacome | January 1, 1934 – January 18, 1934 (acting) | Fiorello H. La Guardia | Acting New York City Fire Commissioner. | |
| 12 | John J. McElligott | January 18, 1934 – February 23, 1940 | Fiorello H. La Guardia | Resigned during a corruption scandal before completing his term. | |
| 13 | Elmer Mustard | February 23, 1940 – February 26, 1940 (acting) | Fiorello H. La Guardia | Acting New York City Fire Commissioner during a corruption scandal. | |
| | John J. McElligott | February 26, 1940 – May 8, 1941 | Fiorello H. La Guardia | Second non-consecutive term. Resigned during a corruption scandal before completing his term. | |
| 14 | Patrick Walsh | May 8, 1941 – December 31, 1945 | Fiorello H. La Guardia | | |
| 15 | Frank J. Quayle Jr. | January 1, 1946 – November 13, 1950 | William O'Dwyer, Vincent R. Impellitteri | Resigned before completing his term. | |
| | Nathan C. Horwitz | November 13, 1950 – December 27, 1950 (acting) | Vincent R. Impellitteri | Acting New York City Fire Commissioner. | |
| 16 | George P. Monaghan | December 27, 1950 – July 9, 1951 | Vincent R. Impellitteri | Resigned to become New York City Police Commissioner. | |
| | Nathan C. Horwitz | July 9, 1951 – August 2, 1951 (acting) | Vincent R. Impellitteri | This was his second non-consecutive term as Acting New York City Fire Commissioner. | |
| 17 | Jacob B. Grumet | August 2, 1951 – February 15, 1954 | Vincent R. Impellitteri | | |
| 18 | Edward Francis Cavanagh Jr. | February 15, 1954 – December 31, 1961 | Robert F. Wagner Jr. | | |
| 19 | Edward Thompson | January 1, 1962 – August 6, 1964 | Robert F. Wagner Jr. | Resigned before completing his term. | |
| 20 | Martin Scott | August 6, 1964 – December 31, 1965 | Robert F. Wagner Jr. | | |
| 21 | Robert Oliver Lowery | January 1, 1966 – September 29, 1973 | John Lindsay | First African-American New York City Fire Commissioner, resigned before completing his term. | |
| 22 | John T. O'Hagan | October 11, 1973 – January 17, 1978 | John Lindsay, Abraham Beame | | |
| 23 | Augustus A. Beekman | January 17, 1978 – November 5, 1980 | Ed Koch | Second African-American New York City Fire Commissioner, resigned before completing his term because of illness preceding his death. | |
| 24 | Charles J. Hynes | November 5, 1980 – October 22, 1982 | Ed Koch | Resigned before completing his term. | |
| 25 | Joseph E. Spinnato | October 22, 1982 – February 17, 1983 (interim) February 17, 1983 – November 16, 1987 | Ed Koch | Resigned before completing his term. | |
| 26 | Joseph F. Bruno | November 16, 1987 – December 31, 1989 | Ed Koch | | |
| 27 | Carlos M. Rivera | January 1, 1990 – August 31, 1993 | David Dinkins | Resigned before completing his term. | |
| 28 | William M. Feehan | August 31, 1993 – November 24, 1993 (acting) November 24, 1993 – December 31, 1993 | David Dinkins | Acting New York City Fire Commissioner, then promoted to New York City Fire Commissioner. Died in the September 11 attacks. | |
| 29 | Howard Safir | January 1, 1994 – April 15, 1996 | Rudy Giuliani | Resigned to become the 39th New York City Police Commissioner. | |
| 30 | Thomas Von Essen | April 15, 1996 – December 31, 2001 | Rudy Giuliani | | |
| 31 | Nicholas Scoppetta | January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2009 | Michael Bloomberg | | |
| 32 | Salvatore Cassano | January 1, 2010 – June 7, 2014 | Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio | Replaced by Bill De Blasio with Daniel A. Nigro | |
| 33 | Daniel A. Nigro | June 7, 2014 – February 16, 2022 | Bill de Blasio, Eric Adams | | |
| 34 | Laura Kavanagh | February 16, 2022 – October 27, 2022 (interim) October 27, 2022 – August 7, 2024 | Eric Adams | | |
| | Joseph W. Pfeifer | August 7, 2024 – August 12, 2024 (acting) | Eric Adams | | |
| 35 | Robert Tucker | August 12, 2024 – current | Eric Adams | |