List of mayors of Detroit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of the City of Detroit |
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![]() Flag of the City of Detroit
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![]() Seal of the City of Detroit
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Residence | Manoogian Mansion |
Term length | Four years |
Constituting instrument | Detroit City Charter |
Formation | 1824 |
First holder | John R. Williams |
Website | Mayor's Office |
This article lists the mayors of Detroit, a major city in Michigan, United States. The current mayor is Mike Duggan, who started his term on January 1, 2014.
Contents
How Detroit's Leaders Changed Over Time
In its early days, Detroit was a military outpost. French and then British military leaders were in charge. After American forces took over, civil leaders became more important. The city was led by appointed officials, elected boards, and later, elected mayors. There was a short period from 1806 to 1809 when the mayor's job was mostly for show.
Detroit's current system, where the mayor has a lot of power, began with the city's charter in 1824. From 1824 to 1857, mayors were elected for one-year terms. From 1858 to 1953, terms were two years. After 1953, mayoral terms became four years long.
Early French and British Leaders
In Detroit's first years, French and British military commanders were in charge. Here are some of the French commanders:
- Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (1701–1710)
- François de la Forêt (1710–1714)
- Jacques-Charles Renaud Dubuisson (1714)
- Pierre Alphonse de Tonty (1717–1727)
- Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Ours Deschaillons (1728–1729)
- Louis Henry Deschamps , Sieur de Boishebert (1730–1733)
- Jacques-Hugues Péan de Livaudière (1733–1736)
- Pierre-Jacques Payen de Noyan , Sieur de Charvis (1739–1742)
- Pierre Joseph Celoron (1742–1744)
- Paul Joseph le Moyne, Chevalier de Longueuil (1744–1748)
- Pierre Joseph Celoron (second term, 1750–1754)
- Jacques-Pierre Daneau de Muy (1754–1758)
- Francois Marie Picote, Sieur de Belestre (1758–1760)
Seventeen British commanders led Detroit between 1760 and 1796.
- Major Robert Rogers (1760)
- Captain Donald Campbell (1760–1762)
- Major Henry Gladwin (1762–1764)
- Colonel John Bradstreet (1764)
- Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell (1765–1766)
- George Turnbull (1766–1769)
- Captain James Stephenson (1770–1772)
- Captain George Etherington (1772)
- Major Henry Bassett (1772–1774)
- Captain Richard Beringer Lernoult (1774–1779)
- Colonel Arent Schuyler de Peyster (1779–1784)
- Major William Ancrum (1785–1786)
- Thomas Bennett (1786)
- Captain Robert Matthews (1787–1788)
- Major Patrick Murray (1788–1790)
- Major John Smith (1790–1792)
- Colonel Richard England (1792–1796)
Early American Leadership
When Detroit became part of the United States in 1796, Colonel Jean François Hamtramck became its commander until 1803.
Detroit was officially made a town in 1802. It was governed by a board of trustees. The chairman of this board was the top leader. James Henry was the first chairman in 1802. Other chairmen included:
- James Henry (1802–1803)
- James May (1803–1804)
- Solomon Sibley (1804–1805)
- Joseph Wilkinson (elected 1805)
The 1806 Charter and Mayors
In 1805, a huge fire destroyed Detroit. The government was restarted in 1806 with an appointed mayor. However, this job had little power. Solomon Sibley and Elijah Brush both resigned quickly because of this. The mayoral position was removed in 1809. Detroit had no mayor or board until after the War of 1812.
Second Board of Trustees
After the War of 1812, a new law in 1815 gave political control back to Detroit's citizens through a Board of Trustees. These trustees were elected every year. Solomon Sibley was elected the first chair in October 1815. Other chairs included:
- Solomon Sibley (1815–1816)
- George McDougall (1816–1817)
- Abraham Edwards (1817–1818)
- John R. Williams (1818–1819)
- James McCloskey (1819–1820)
- James Abbott (1820–1821)
- Andrew G. Whitney (1821–1822; 1822–1823)
- James Abbott (second term, 1823–1824)
The 1824 Charter and Elected Mayors
In 1824, John R. Williams created a new city charter. For the first time, this charter allowed citizens to directly elect the mayor, who would have much more power. After the state approved it, Williams became Detroit's first elected mayor.
Non-Partisan Elections Since 1918
In June 1918, Detroit adopted its first "home-rule" city charter. This new charter made all city offices, including mayor, non-partisan. This means that candidates do not run as members of a political party, and their party is not listed on the ballot. This rule has stayed the same through all later city charter changes.
Because of this, all mayoral elections in Detroit since 1918 have been non-partisan. Mayors officially serve without a political party. Any party listed for mayors after 1918 is based on what historians believe about their political leanings, not an official party membership.
The Mayor's Official Home
Since 1966, the official home for the Mayor of Detroit has been the Manoogian Mansion. It is located on Dwight Street, facing the Detroit River. The mansion was given to the city by Alex Manoogian, who founded the Masco Corporation.
First Mayors (1806 Charter)
Two mayors served under the 1806 charter.
# | Name | Term | Party | Notes | |
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1 | Solomon Sibley | 1806 | Democratic | Solomon Sibley helped write Detroit's first city charter. He resigned as mayor because the job had little power. | |
2 | Elijah Brush | 1806 | Elijah Brush was appointed mayor after Sibley. He also resigned quickly because the position had little power. |
Mayors Under the 1824 Charter
The following mayors served under the stronger mayoral system that began with the 1824 charter:
# | Mayor | Term | Party | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John R. Williams | 1824–1825 | Democratic | John R. Williams wrote the City Charter and was Detroit's first elected mayor. He served multiple terms. | |
2 | Henry Jackson Hunt | 1826 | Democratic | Henry Jackson Hunt was a successful merchant. He died while in office in September 1826. | |
3 | Jonathan Kearsley | 1826 | Democratic | Jonathan Kearsley served in the War of 1812. He was mayor twice, once appointed and once elected. | |
4 | John Biddle | 1827–1828 | Whig | John Biddle was active in Detroit politics and civic life. He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives. | |
5 | Jonathan Kearsley | 1829 | Democratic | (See above) | |
6 | John R. Williams | 1830 | Democratic | (See above) | |
7 | Marshall Chapin | 1831 | Whig | Marshall Chapin was a medical doctor and opened Detroit's first drugstore. He served as mayor twice. | |
8 | Levi Cook | 1832 | Whig | Levi Cook held many government positions in Detroit and Michigan, including mayor multiple times. | |
9 | Marshall Chapin | 1833 | Whig | (See above) | |
10 | Charles Christopher Trowbridge | 1834 | Whig | Trowbridge served as mayor briefly during a cholera epidemic. He was also a private secretary to Governor Lewis Cass. | |
11 | Andrew Mack | 1834 | Democratic | Andrew Mack won a special election to become mayor after the previous mayor resigned during a cholera epidemic. | |
12 | Levi Cook | 1835–1836 | Whig | (See above) | |
13 | Henry Howard | 1837 | Democratic | Henry Howard managed a lumber business in Detroit. He served one term as mayor and was also state treasurer. | |
14 | Augustus Seymour Porter | 1838 – March 14, 1839 | Whig | Augustus Porter practiced law in Detroit. He resigned as mayor to become a United States Senator for Michigan. | |
15 | Asher B. Bates | March 15, 1839 – April 18, 1839 | Whig | Asher Bates was acting mayor for a short time after Porter resigned. | |
16 | De Garmo Jones | 1839 | Whig | De Garmo Jones was involved in many businesses, including the Michigan Central Railroad. He also served as a state senator. | |
17 | Zina Pitcher | 1840–1841 | Whig | Zina Pitcher was a medical doctor and served three terms as mayor. He helped establish the medical school at the University of Michigan. | |
18 | Douglass Houghton | 1842 | Democratic | Douglass Houghton was Michigan's state geologist and a professor. He died in a storm on Lake Superior. | |
19 | Zina Pitcher | 1843 | Whig | (See above) | |
20 | John R. Williams | 1844–1846 | Democratic | (See above) | |
21 | James A. Van Dyke | 1847 | Whig | James A. Van Dyke was a lawyer and served as mayor. He was also important in the early organization of the Detroit Fire Department. | |
22 | Frederick Buhl | 1848 | Whig | Frederick Buhl had a successful business in hats and furs. He also served on the city council and was a bank director. | |
23 | Charles Howard | 1849 | Whig | Charles Howard was involved in shipping and railroad construction. He was also president of two banks. | |
24 | John Ladue | 1850 | Democratic | John Ladue was a popular businessman who manufactured leather. He was elected mayor in 1850. | |
25 | Zachariah Chandler | 1851 | Whig | After being mayor, Zachariah Chandler served 18 years in the United States Senate. | |
26 | John H. Harmon | 1852–1853 | Democratic | John Harmon purchased the Detroit Free Press newspaper. He served as an alderman and two years as mayor. | |
27 | Oliver Moulton Hyde | 1854 | Whig | Oliver Moulton Hyde owned a hardware store and later a foundry. He served as mayor multiple times. | |
28 | Henry Ledyard | 1855 | Democratic | Henry Ledyard was the son of a prominent New York lawyer. He served as mayor and later as a state senator. | |
29 | Oliver Moulton Hyde | 1856–1857 | Whig | (See above) | |
30 | John Patton | 1858–1859 | Democratic | John Patton was a carriagemaker from Ireland. He held many city positions, including mayor and sheriff. | |
31 | Christian H. Buhl | 1860–1861 | Republican | Christian H. Buhl was a successful businessman in furs and hardware. He also helped organize several companies. | |
32 | William C. Duncan | 1862–1863 | Democratic | William C. Duncan was a brewer who became popular in Detroit. He served as alderman, mayor, and state senator. | |
33 | Kirkland C. Barker | 1864–1865 | Democratic | Kirkland C. Barker had a successful tobacco business. He was also an avid outdoorsman. | |
34 | Merrill I. Mills | 1866–1867 | Democratic | Merrill I. Mills started a general store in Detroit and later traded in furs and tobacco. | |
35 | William W. Wheaton | 1868–1871 | Democratic | William W. Wheaton built a successful wholesale grocery business. He was elected mayor in 1868. | |
36 | Hugh Moffat | 1872–1875 | Republican | Hugh Moffat was a carpenter who built a successful lumber business. He was known as "Honest Hugh Moffat." | |
37 | Alexander Lewis | 1876–1877 | Democratic | Alexander Lewis started his own forwarding business. He also served as Police Commissioner. | |
38 | George C. Langdon | 1878–1879 | Democratic | George C. Langdon made a fortune in brewing. He served as mayor for one term. | |
39 | William G. Thompson | 1880–1883 | Republican | William G. Thompson was a Republican mayor who later became a Democrat. He also served as a state senator. | |
40 | Stephen Benedict Grummond | 1884–1885 | Republican | Stephen Benedict Grummond made his fortune in the shipping industry. He served one term as mayor. | |
41 | Marvin H. Chamberlain | 1886–1887 | Democratic | Marvin H. Chamberlain was a wholesale liquor distributor. He served as president of the Detroit City Council. | |
42 | John Pridgeon Jr. | 1888–1889 | Democratic | John Pridgeon Jr. joined his father's shipping business. He was elected mayor in 1887. | |
43 | Hazen S. Pingree | 1890–1897 | Republican | Hazen Pingree was a Civil War veteran and shoe factory owner. He was elected mayor four times and later Governor of Michigan. | |
44 | William Richert | March 22, 1897 – April 5, 1897 | Republican | William Richert served as acting mayor for a short time after Pingree resigned. | |
45 | William C. Maybury | 1897–1904 | Democratic | William C. Maybury was a city attorney and served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected mayor multiple times. | |
46 | George P. Codd | 1905–1906 | Republican | George P. Codd was a lawyer and served as mayor. He was also a regent of the University of Michigan. | |
47 | William Barlum Thompson | 1907–1908 | Democratic | William Barlum Thompson served as an alderman and was elected mayor for two terms. | |
48 | Philip Breitmeyer | 1909–1910 | Republican | Philip Breitmeyer joined his family's florist business and became its sole owner. He was elected mayor for one term. | |
49 | William Barlum Thompson | 1911–1912 | Democratic | (See above) | |
50 | Oscar Marx | 1913–1918 | Republican | Oscar Marx turned a bankrupt optical firm into a large company. He served three terms as Detroit's mayor. |
Mayors in Non-Partisan Elections
A new city charter began in 1918, making all city offices non-partisan. The mayors below were elected without official party labels on the ballot. The party affiliations shown are based on their personal and political history, not official status.
# | Mayor | Term | Party | Notes | |
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51 | James J. Couzens | 1919–1922 | Republican | James J. Couzens was an early investor in the Ford Motor Company. He resigned as mayor to become a United States Senator. | |
52 | John C. Lodge | December 5, 1922 – April 9, 1923 | Republican | John C. Lodge served on the Detroit City Council for over 30 years. He was acting mayor twice and later elected mayor. | |
53 | Frank Ellsworth Doremus | April 9, 1923 – June 10, 1924 | Democratic | Frank Ellsworth Doremus was a newspaperman and lawyer. He resigned as mayor due to health reasons. | |
54 | Joseph A. Martin | June 10, 1924 – August 2, 1924 | Republican | Joseph A. Martin was Commissioner of Public Works. He served as acting mayor briefly. | |
55 | John C. Lodge | August 2, 1924 – November 21, 1924 | Republican | (See above) | |
56 | John W. Smith | November 21, 1924 – January 9, 1928 | Republican | John W. Smith was appointed postmaster of Detroit before becoming mayor. He later served on the City Council. | |
57 | John C. Lodge | January 10, 1928 – January 14, 1930 | Republican | (See above) | |
58 | Charles Bowles | January 14, 1930 – September 22, 1930 | Republican | Charles Bowles was elected mayor in 1929. He was removed from office by a special recall election. | |
59 | Frank Murphy | September 23, 1930 – May 10, 1933 | Democratic | Frank Murphy was a judge before becoming mayor. He later served as Governor of Michigan and a Supreme Court Justice. | |
60 | Frank Couzens | May 10, 1933 – September 8, 1933 | Republican | Frank Couzens was the son of former mayor James J. Couzens. He became acting mayor when Frank Murphy resigned. | |
61 | John W. Smith | September 8, 1933 – January 2, 1934 | Republican | (See above) | |
62 | Frank Couzens | January 2, 1934 – January 3, 1938 | Republican | (See above) | |
63 | Richard Reading | January 4, 1938 – January 1, 1940 | Republican | Richard Reading was City Clerk before becoming mayor. He was later convicted of accepting bribes. | |
64 | Edward Jeffries | January 2, 1940 – January 5, 1948 | Republican | Edward Jeffries served four terms as mayor. He was also president of the Detroit City Council. | |
65 | Eugene Van Antwerp | January 6, 1948 – January 2, 1950 | Democratic | Eugene Van Antwerp was a civil engineer and served in the Detroit City Council before becoming mayor. | |
66 | Albert Cobo | January 3, 1950 – September 12, 1957 | Republican | Albert Cobo served seven terms as city treasurer before becoming mayor. He died in office. | |
67 | Louis Miriani | September 12, 1957 – January 2, 1962 | Republican | Louis Miriani was council president before becoming acting mayor. He was later elected mayor. | |
68 | Jerome Cavanagh | January 2, 1962 – January 5, 1970 | Democratic | Jerome Cavanagh was a popular mayor who appointed a reformer police chief. His reputation was affected by the 1967 riots. | |
69 | Roman Gribbs | January 6, 1970 – January 1, 1974 | Democratic | Roman Gribbs served as a prosecutor and sheriff before becoming mayor. He later became a circuit court judge. | |
70 | Coleman Young | January 1, 1974 – January 3, 1994 | Democratic | Coleman Young was Detroit's first African-American mayor. He served a record five terms, becoming the longest-serving mayor. | |
71 | Dennis Archer | January 3, 1994 – December 31, 2001 | Democratic | Dennis Archer was a law professor and a Michigan Supreme Court Justice. He served two terms as mayor. | |
72 | Kwame Kilpatrick | January 1, 2002 – September 18, 2008 | Democratic | Kwame Kilpatrick was twice elected mayor. He resigned from office in 2008. | |
73 | Kenneth Cockrel Jr. | September 18, 2008 – May 11, 2009 | Democratic. | Kenneth Cockrel Jr. was elected council president and became mayor after Kwame Kilpatrick's resignation. | |
74 | Dave Bing | May 11, 2009 – December 31, 2013 | Democratic | Dave Bing was a famous basketball player before starting a manufacturing business. He was elected mayor in 2009. | |
75 | Mike Duggan | January 1, 2014 – present | Democratic | Mike Duggan was CEO of the Detroit Medical Center. He became mayor after a successful write-in campaign. |
See also
- Timeline of Detroit
- History of Detroit
- Decline of Detroit