List of mayors of Charleston, South Carolina facts for kids
The mayor is the top elected leader in Charleston, South Carolina. Since the city was officially formed in 1783, the person in charge has been chosen directly by voters. The only time this changed was from 1867 to 1868, when federal officials picked the mayors. Before 1836, this leader was called an intendant. After that, the title became "mayor." In 2012, the mayor's yearly salary was about $162,815.90.
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What is a Mayor?
A mayor is like the chief executive officer of a city. They are responsible for leading the city government, making important decisions, and representing the city. In Charleston, the mayor is elected by the people to serve a term and help the city run smoothly.
Charleston's Leaders: Intendants and Mayors
For many years, Charleston's top leader was called an intendant. This was just another name for the city's main official. In 1836, the title officially changed to "mayor," which is what we use today. These leaders have guided Charleston through many important times in its history.
A Look at Charleston's Mayors Through History
Charleston has had many different mayors over the centuries. They have come from various backgrounds and political parties, each playing a role in shaping the city. The table below lists all the people who have served as Charleston's top leader, from the first intendant to the current mayor.
# | Mayor | Party | Sworn in | Left office | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Richard Hutson | 1783 | 1785 | ||
2 | Arnoldus Vanderhorst | 1785 | 1786 | ||
3 | John Faucheraud Grimké | 1786 | 1788 | ||
4 | Rawlins Lowndes | 1788 | 1789 | ||
5 | Thomas Jones | 1789 | 1790 | ||
(2) | Arnoldus Vanderhorst | 1790 | 1792 | ||
6 | John Huger | 1792 | 1794 | ||
7 | John Bee Holmes | 1794 | 1795 | ||
8 | John Edwards | 1795 | 1797 | ||
9 | Henry William de Saussure | Federalist | 1797 | 1799 | |
10 | Thomas Roper | 1799 | 1801 | ||
11 | John Ward | 1801 | 1802 | ||
12 | David Deas | 1802 | 1803 | ||
13 | John Drayton | Democratic-Republican | 1803 | 1804 | |
14 | Thomas Winstanley | 1804 | 1805 | ||
15 | Charles Cochran | 1805 | 1806 | ||
16 | John Dawson Jr. | 1806 | 1808 | ||
17 | Benjamin Boyd | 1808 | 1808 | ||
18 | William Rouse | 1808 | 1810 | ||
19 | Thomas H. McCalla | 1810 | 1812 | ||
20 | Thomas Bennett Jr. | Democratic-Republican | 1812 | 1813 | |
21 | Thomas Rhett Smith | Federalist | 1813 | 1815 | |
22 | Elias Horry | 1815 | 1817 | ||
23 | John Geddes | Democratic-Republican | 1817 | 1818 | |
24 | Daniel Stevens | 1819 | 1820 | ||
(22) | Elias Horry | 1820 | 1821 | ||
25 | James Hamilton Jr. | Democratic-Republican | 1821 | 1822 | |
(23) | John Geddes | Democratic-Republican | 1823 | 1824 | |
26 | Samuel Prioleau | Federalist | 1824 | 1825 | |
27 | Joseph Johnson | Whig | 1825 | 1827 | |
28 | John Gadsden | 1827 | 1829 | ||
29 | Henry L. Pinckney | Democrat (Nullifier) | 1829 | 1830 | |
30 | James R. Pringle | Democrat (Unionist) | 1830 | 1831 | |
(29) | Henry L. Pinckney | Democrat (Nullifier) | 1831 | 1833 | |
31 | Edward W. North | 1833 | 1836 | ||
32 | Robert Young Hayne | Democrat (Nullifier) | 1836 | 1837 | First chief executive officer of Charleston known as Mayor of Charleston |
(29) | Henry L. Pinckney | Democrat (Nullifier) | 1837 | 1840 | |
33 | Jacob F. Mintzing | Democrat (Unionist) | 1840 | 1842 | |
34 | John Schnierle | Democrat | 1842 | 1846 | |
35 | Thomas Leger Hutchinson | Democrat | 1846 | 1850 | |
(34) | John Schnierle | Democrat | 1850 | 1852 | |
(35) | Thomas Leger Hutchinson | Democrat | 1852 | 1855 | |
36 | William Porcher Miles | Democrat | 1855 | 1857 | |
37 | Charles Macbeth | Democrat | 1857 | 1865 | |
38 | Peter Charles Gaillard | Democrat | 1865 | 1868 | Gaillard was removed from office by Federal authorities. |
39 | William Wallace Burns | Military appointment | 1868 | 1868 | |
40 | Milton Cogswell | Military appointment | 1868 | 1868 | |
41 | George Washington Clark | Military appointment | 1868 | 1868 | |
42 | Gilbert Pillsbury | Republican | 1868 | 1871 | Pillsbury was Charleston's Reconstruction mayor. |
43 | Johann Andreas Wagener | Democrat | 1871 | 1873 | |
44 | George I. Cunningham | Republican | 1873 | 1877 | |
45 | William W. Sale | Democrat | 1877 | 1879 | |
46 | William Ashmead Courtenay | Democrat | 1879 | 1887 | |
47 | George D. Bryan | Democrat | 1887 | 1891 | |
48 | John F. Ficken | Democrat | 1891 | 1895 | |
49 | James Adger Smyth | Democrat | 1895 | 1903 | |
50 | R. Goodwyn Rhett | Democrat | 1903 | 1911 | |
51 | John P. Grace | Democrat | 1911 | 1915 | The John P. Grace Memorial Bridge was named to honor him. |
52 | Tristram T. Hyde | Democrat | 1915 | 1919 | |
(51) | John P. Grace | Democrat | 1919 | 1923 | |
53 | Thomas Porcher Stoney | Democrat | 1923 | 1931 | |
54 | Burnet Rhett Maybank | Democrat | 1931 | 1938 | |
55 | Henry Whilden Lockwood | Democrat | 1938 | 1944 | |
56 | E. Edward Wehman Jr. | Democrat | 1944 | 1947 | |
57 | William McG. Morrison | Democrat | 1947 | 1959 | |
58 | J. Palmer Gaillard Jr. | Democrat | 1959 | 1975 | |
59 | Arthur B. Schirmer Jr. | Democrat | 1975 | 1975 | |
60 | Joseph P. Riley Jr. | Democrat | 1975 | 2016 | Riley was the city's longest-serving executive. |
61 | John Tecklenburg | Democrat | 2016 | 2023 | |
62 | William S. Cogswell Jr. | Republican | 2023 | Present | William was the first Republican mayor of Charleston since 1877. |