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List of lord mayors of London facts for kids

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The Lord Mayor of London is a very important leader for the City of London, which is the historic heart of London. This person is like the "first citizen" of the City. The role involves leading the City of London Corporation, which is the local government for this special area.

For a long time, until 1354, the leader was simply called the Mayor of London. After that, the title changed to Lord Mayor of London. In 2006, the longer title Lord Mayor of the City of London was sometimes used to avoid confusion with the mayor of London, who leads the wider Greater London area. However, the official and most common title is still Lord Mayor of London.

The Lord Mayor is usually chosen on Michaelmas Day (September 29th), unless that day falls on a Sunday. The new Lord Mayor officially starts their job in the second week of November. So, the year they are elected isn't always the main year they serve.

John Boydell by Sir William Beechey
John Boydell, who was the Lord Mayor of London in 1790.

Who are the Lord Mayors of London?

The Lord Mayor of London is a very old and important position. This person is the head of the City of London Corporation, which is like the local government for the "Square Mile" of London. This area is known for its financial businesses. The Lord Mayor acts as a global ambassador for the UK's financial services.

What is a Livery Company?

Many Mayors and Lord Mayors have been part of a "livery company". These are ancient trade groups or guilds in London. They started hundreds of years ago to protect the interests of different trades, like Mercers (cloth merchants) or Goldsmiths. Today, they are mostly charitable and social organizations, but they still play a big role in choosing the Lord Mayor.

Early Mayors (Before 1354)

The very first Mayor of London was Henry fitz Ailwin, who started in 1189. He served for a very long time, 24 terms, and died while still in office! In these early days, the Mayor was a powerful figure in the city. Sometimes, the King would even appoint a "Royal Warden" instead of the city electing its own Mayor.

Here are a few examples of early Mayors and their livery companies:

Term Name Mother Livery Company Notes
1189–1212 Henry FitzAilwin (Draper) First Mayor of London.
1214 Serlo le Mercer (Mercer) Served five terms.
1231–1237 Andrew Buckerell (Pepperer) Served seven terms; died in office.
1274–1280 Gregory de Rokesley (Goldsmith) Served eight terms.
1285–1289 Sir Ralph Sandwich n/a Served as Royal Warden.

The First Lord Mayors (From 1354)

The title changed to "Lord Mayor" in 1354. Sir Thomas Legge was the very first person to hold this new title. He had already served as Mayor before. Many Lord Mayors served multiple terms, showing their importance and influence in the city.

Here are some examples of Lord Mayors from different centuries:

14th Century Lord Mayors

Elected Name Mother Livery Company Notes
1354 Sir Thomas Legge Skinner First Lord Mayor of London.
1374 Sir William Walworth Fishmonger Famous for his role in the Peasants' Revolt.
1397 Sir Richard Whittington Mercer Served four terms; a very famous Lord Mayor.

15th Century Lord Mayors

Elected Name Mother Livery Company Notes
1406 Sir Richard Whittington Mercer Served his third term.
1445 Sir Simon Eyre Draper
1482 Sir Edmund Shaa Goldsmith

16th Century Lord Mayors

Elected Name Mother Livery Company Notes
1501 Sir John Shaw Goldsmith
1537 Sir Richard Gresham Mercer Father of Sir Thomas Gresham, who founded the Royal Exchange.
1583 Sir Edward Osborne Clothworker

17th Century Lord Mayors

Elected Name Mother Livery Company Notes
1601 Sir John Gerard Haberdasher
1641 Sir Richard Gurney, 1st Baronet Clothworker
1666 Sir William Bolton Merchant Taylor Served during the Great Fire of London.

18th Century Lord Mayors

Elected Name Mother Livery Company Notes
1701 Sir William Gore Mercer
1762 Sir William Beckford, MP Goldsmith Served two terms.
1790 John Boydell Stationer

19th Century Lord Mayors

Elected Name Mother livery company Notes
1801 Sir John Eamer Salter
1815–1816 Sir Matthew Wood, 1st Baronet Fishmonger
1884 George Nottage Spectacle Maker The last Lord Mayor to die in office.

20th Century Lord Mayors

Elected Name Mother Livery Company Notes
1901 Sir Joseph Dimsdale, 1st Baronet Grocer
1915 Sir Charles Wakefield, 1st Baronet Haberdasher Later became Viscount Wakefield.
1983 Dame Mary Donaldson Gardener The first female Lord Mayor.

21st Century Lord Mayors

Coat of Arms of The City of London
The official coat of arms for the City of London.
Elected Name Mother Livery Company Notes
2001 Sir Michael Oliver Ironmonger
2013 Dame Fiona Woolf Solicitor The second female Lord Mayor.
2019–2020 Sir William Russell Haberdasher Served a two-year term because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023–2024 Michael Mainelli World Trader The first American-born Lord Mayor.
2024–present Alastair King Mason

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List of lord mayors of London Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.