List of mayors of Albany, New York
Nineteenth century
Table:
Mayor
Start
End
Comment

Elisha Jenkins
1816
1819
Key figure in an early Albany scandal in 1807, when he was assaulted by General Solomon Van Rensselaer after passing a resolution questioning Van Rensselaer's honesty. A riot ensued, and Jenkins' nephew, Francis Bloodgood, struck and seriously wounded Van Rensselaer with a cane. Suits and countersuits were filed. Jenkins' appointment as mayor has been viewed as a politically motivated move and further slight against the Van Rensselaer family; Jenkins resigned in 1819 and his term was completed by Philip Schuyler Van Rensselaer. Bloodgood later became Mayor of Albany as well. Jenkins also served as New York State Senator, State Comptroller, Secretary of State and Quartermaster to the General Northern Department during the War of 1812.

Philip Schuyler Van Rensselaer
1819
1820
See first term entry above

Charles E. Dudley
1821
1824
Merchant. Key early petitioner for the Erie Canal, helped found Cohoes Company to tap the power of the Mohawk River. The Albany Basin of Erie Canal completed during his term and canal began operation. His widow donated funds to found Dudley Observatory.

Ambrose Spencer
1824
1826
His wife was the sister of Governor DeWitt Clinton; also Attorney General of New York and Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court, and member of the United States House of Representatives.

James Stevenson
1826
1828
Lawyer, one of the first governors of Albany City Hospital. During his term, a large celebration was held in Albany on the effective date of the emancipation of slaves in New York; resigned in 1828.

Charles E. Dudley
1828
1829
See first term entry above; resigned in 1829

John Townsend
1829
1830
Laid the cornerstone for Albany's old City Hall in 1829; major cholera outbreak during his term. Advised DeWitt Clinton in Erie Canal matters. Also president of National Commercial Bank, president of the Albany Exchange Company, president of the Water Commission, vice president of Albany Savings Bank.

Francis Bloodgood
1831
1831
Clerk of the New York State Supreme Court, president of New York State Bank. See entry under Elisha Jenkins above for his role in a politically motivated brawl in 1807.

John Townsend
1832
1832
See first term entry above

Francis Bloodgood
1833
1833
See first term entry above

Erastus Corning
1834
1837
Founder of the New York Central Railroad and member of the United States House of Representatives; resigned in 1837.

Teunis Van Vechten
1837
1839
President of Albany Insurance Company and attorney to Patroon Stephen Van Rensselaer; first locomotive arrived from Boston during his term, though passengers disembarked in Greenbush (Rensselaer) and crossed the river by ferry; resigned in 1839.

Jared Lewis Rathbone
1839
1841
Last Mayor chosen by the common council, appointed to complete Mayor Van Vechten's term. President of Albany Medical College. Also served as alderman. Father of Henry Rathbone

Teunis Van Vechten
1841
1842
See first term entry above

Barent Philip Staats
1842
1843
Physician, alderman, strong temperance sensibilities.

Friend Humphrey
1843
1845
Born in Connecticut, relocated to Albany in 1811. Albany Rural Cemetery was consecrated and Albany's first telegraph office opened during his term. Advocate for public morality, he closed public markets on Sundays. New York State Senator.

John Keyes Paige
1845
1846
New York State Supreme Court Clerk from 1825 until his election as mayor. President of the Canal Bank.

William Parmelee
1846
1848
Lawyer. Also served as city attorney, judge and recorder.

John Taylor
1848
1849
Brewer. Known for his fine private library.

Friend Humphrey
1849
1850
See first term entry above

Franklin Townsend
1850
1851
Adjutant General of the State of New York, Assemblyman, President of New York State National Bank, Vice-President of Albany Savings Bank; nephew of Mayor John Townsend

Eli Perry
1851
1854
Merchant in livestock and provisions. Contracted to supply Union forces during the Civil War but lost his fortune in the process. Cousin of Commodore William Perry; Albany Law School organized during his tenure as mayor. Also served as alderman and Member of United States House of Representatives. Organized Albany Orphan Asylum.

William Parmelee
1854
1856
See first term entry above; died in office

Charles Watson Godard
1856
1856
Appointed by common council on the death of William Parmalee. Also served as captain of the Port of New York, and was a prominent lecturer and philanthropist.

Eli Perry
1856
1860
See first term entry above

George Hornell Thacher
1860
1862
Owned Thacher Carwheel Co., headed Albany's substantial humanitarian efforts during the Civil War. Also served as an alderman.

Eli Perry
1862
1866
See first term entry above

George Hornell Thacher
1866
1868
See first term entry above

Charles Edward Bleecker
1868
1870
Planned Washington Park. During his term, construction of the Capitol began. First Mayor to have veto power.

George Hornell Thacher
1870
1874
See first term entry above; resigned during electoral challenge

John G. Burch
1874
1874
Coal and wood dealer and alderman. Appointed to serve as mayor during contested election between George Hornell Thacher and Edmund Lewis Judson.

Edmund L. Judson
1874
1876
Flour and provision merchant. Election was contested by George Thacher; contest dragged through the courts for two years; Judson was declared the winner only weeks before his first term ended. Also served as alderman.

Anthony Bleecker Banks
1876
1878
Principal partner of Banks & Brothers, law publishers, booksellers, and importers; one of the oldest legal publishing houses in the United States. Served in New York State Assembly, New York State Senate. President of the Greenbush Bridge Company.

Michael N. Nolan
1878
1883
Born in Ireland, also served in United States House of Representatives. Albany's City Hall was destroyed by fire during his term; he resigned in 1883. He was the first Roman Catholic Mayor of Albany.

John Swinburne
1883
1884
Physician who served as a Medical Officer during the Civil War, and Surgeon-in-Chief of American Ambulance Corps during the Franco-Prussian War. Electric streetlights installed in Albany during his time as mayor. His election was contested, and he was not formally seated until near the end of his elected term. He was one of the four founding physicians involved in establishing Albany Medical College.

Anthony Bleecker Banks
1884
1886
See first term entry above

John Boyd Thacher
1886
1888
Author, philanthropist, bibliophile. Son of Mayor George Hornell Thacher, uncle of Mayor John Boyd Thacher II. Also served as New York State Senator. In 1914, his widow donated the family land that formed the nucleus of the present-day John Boyd Thacher State Park.

Edward Augustin Maher
1888
1890
President of Union Railway Company and South End Bank.

James Hilton Manning
1890
1894
Son of Daniel Manning. Publisher, President of the Weed Parsons Printing Company. Albany Railway Company (operator of Albany's trolleys) converted to electric power during his term, eliminating horse-drawn carriages. Also President of the Hudson River Telephone Company and President of National Savings Bank.

Oren Elbridge Wilson
1894
1895
President of the Board of Education, Chief Accountant for Whitney's Dry Goods Company. Also served as School Commissioner and President of the Board of Education. Appointed a Water Board favorable to building a filtration plant for the city, and significantly increased the size of the fire department. (Note: from this point forward, terms end on December 31, and the next Mayor's term begins on January 1, hence non-overlapping years)

John Boyd Thacher
1896
1897
See first term entry above

Thomas J. Van Alstyne
1898
1899
Civil War veteran, attorney; first public water filtration plant opened during his term. Also served as Judge, member of United States House of Representatives, and as a trustee of the Albany Institute.

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