List of mayors of Hamburg facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids First Mayor of Hamburg
Coat of arms of Hamburg
Incumbent Peter Tschentscher since 28 March 2018
Member of	Senate of Hamburg
Appointer	Hamburg Parliament
Term length	Pending resignation or the election of a successor
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Hamburg
Formation	1293
Deputy	Second Mayor

The following is a chronological list of mayors of Hamburg, a city-state in Germany. The mayors are the head of the city-state, part of the government of Hamburg. Since 1861, according to the constitution of 28 September 1860, the state has been governed by the ten-member Senate, which had previously been called the council (in the German language of that time: Rath). It is headed by the first mayor of Hamburg (German title: Erster Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg) as the president of the Senate. The deputy is the second mayor.

For much of its history, Hamburg was a free imperial city and later a sovereign state; the position of First Mayor historically was equivalent to that of a sovereign head of state. In the 1871–1918 German Empire, the Hamburg First Mayor was equivalent to the federal princes of the 23 German monarchies (4 of whom held the title of King and the others holding titles such as Grand Duke, Duke or Sovereign Prince). Since 1918, the position is equivalent to that of the minister-presidents of the (West) German states.

Prior to World War I, the two mayors were elected for one-year terms. Until 1997, the first mayor was primus inter pares among, and was elected by, the members of the Senate. Since then, the Hamburg Parliament (German: Hamburgische Bürgerschaft) has elected the first mayor; the first mayor is able to appoint and dismiss other senators.

1293–1860
Hamburg (1860–1919)
German Reich (1871–1945)
Hamburg (1945–present)

1293–1860

The function of burgomaster (mayor) was usually held simultaneously by three persons, serving as an executive college. One of the three being burgomaster in chief for a year, the second being the prior burgomaster in chief, the third being the upcoming one. Therefore, sometimes up to three names are mentioned for one year, since the names of the three appear in deeds, signed with or mentioning their names. The names in the list from 1239 until 1820 were archived in a book by Johann August Meister (1820). This is an incomplete list of burgomasters and uses the spelling in Meister's book, which is preserved in the Hamburg state library. After 1820 the list were added by hand. On 6 August 1806 Hamburg gained sovereignty as an independent country. From 1811 to 1814 Hamburg was part of France in the Bouches-de-l'Elbe.

If another reference is not noted, all mayors are taken from: Domizlaff. Das Hamburger Rathaus.

Name	In office	Note
Hartwicus de Erteneborch	1293
Werner de Metzendorp	1293
Johann Miles	1300
Henricus Longus	1300
Johann, filius Oseri	1300
Johann de Monte	1325
Henricus de Hetfield	1325
Nicolaus Fransoisser	1341
Nicolaus de Monte	1341
Hellingbernus Hetvelt	1341
Johann Horborch	1343
Thidericus uppen Perde	1343
Johann Militis	1347
Hinrich Hoop	1350
Thidericus uppen Perde	1350
Henricus de Monte	1356
Henricus Hoyeri	1361	Also known as Hein Hoyer
Bertrammus Horborch	1366
Werner de Wighersen	1367
Ludolfus de Holdenstedte	1375
Christian Militis	1378	Also known as Kersten Miles
Henricus (Heino) Ybing	1381
Johannes Hoyeri	1389
Marquard Schreye	1319
Meinard Buxtehude	1397
Hilmar Lopow	1401
Johann Lüneborg	1411
Henricus de Monte	1413
Henricus Hoyeri	1417
Johannes Wighe (Wye)	1420
Bernhard Borstelt	1422
Vicco de Hove	1431
Simon van Utrecht	1433
Hinrich Köting	1493
Thidericus Lüneborg	1443
Detlev Bremer	1447
Henricus Lopow	1451
Thidericus Gerlefstorp	1492
Henricus Lesemann	1458
Erich de Tzevena	1464
Albert Schilling	1464
Hinrich Murmester	1466
Johann Meiger	1472
Johann Huge	1478
Nicolaus de Schworen	1480
Hermann Langenbeck	1481
Henning Büring	1486
Christian Berchampe	1492
Erich von Tzeven	1499
Detlev Bremer	1499
Bartholomäus vom Rhyne	1505
Marquard vam Lo	1507–1519
Johann Spreckelsen	1512
Nicolaus Thode	1517
Thidericus Hohusen	1517
unoccupied	1519–1520	Second Mayor was Dietrich [Thidericus?] Hohusen (1517–1546)
Erhard vom Holte	1520–1529	Also Gerhard vom Holte
Hinrich Salsborg	1523
Johann Hülpe	1524
Johann Wetken	1529–1533
Paul Grote	1531
Albert Westede	1533–1538
Johann Rodenborg	1536
Peter von Spreckelsen	1538–1553
Jürgen Plate	1546
Matthias Rheder	1547
Ditmar Koel	1548
Albert Hackmann	1553–1580
unoccupied	1580–1581	Second Mayor was Paul Grote (1580–1584)
Lorenz Niebur	1557
Hermann Wetken	1564
Eberhard Moller	1571
Paul Grote	1580
Johann Niebur	1557	(1581–1590)
Nicolaus Vögeler	1581
Joachim vom Kape	1588
Diedrich von Eitzen	1589
unoccupied	1590–1591	Second Mayor: Joachim von Kape (1588–1594)
Erich von der Fechte	1591–1613
Joachim Bekendorp	1593
Diederich vom Holte	1595
Vincent Moller	1599
Eberhard Twestreng	1606
Hieronimus Vögeler	1609
unoccupied	1613–1614	Second Mayor: Hieronymus Vögeler (1609–1642)
Sebastian von Bergen	1614–1623
Johann Wetken	1614
Bartholomäus Beckmann	1617
Joachim Clan	1622
Albert von Eitzen	1623
unoccupied	1623–1624
Ulrich Winkel	1624–1649
Johannes Brand	1633–1652
Bartholomäus Moller	1643
unoccupied	1649–1650	Second Mayor: Bartholomäus Moller (1643–1667)
Nicolaus Jarre	1650–1678
Johann Schlebusch	1653
Peter Lütkens	1654
Wolfgang Meurer	1660
Bartholomäus Twestreng	1663
Johannes Schötteringk	1667
Johann Schulte	1668
Broderus Pauli	1670–1680
Johann Schröder	1676
Heinrich Meurer	1678–1684	(First term)
Diedrich Moller	1680
Johann Schlüter	1684–1688
Joachim Lemmermann	1684
Heinrich Meurer	1686	(1688–1690) Second term
Peter Lütkens	1687–1717
Johannes Schafshausen	1690–1697
Hieronimus Harticus Moller	1697
Peter von Lengerke (or Lengerks)	1697–1709
Julius Surland	1702
Gerhard Schröder	1703
Paul Paulsen	1704
Lucas von Borstel	1709–1716
Ludwig Becceler	1712
Bernhard Matfeldt	1716–1720
Garlieb Sillem	1717
Hinrich Diedrich Wiese	1720–1728	(or Heinrich Dietrich Wiese)
Hans Jacob Faber	1722
Johann Anderson	1723
Rütger Rulant	1728–1742
Daniel Stockfleth	1729
Martin Lucas Schele	1733
Johann H. Luis	1739
Cornelius Poppe	1741
Conrad Widow	1742–1754	(1743–1754)
Nicolaus Stempeel	1743
Clemens Samuel Lipstrop	1749
Lucas von Spreckelsen	1750
Martin H. Schele	1751
Lucas Corthum	1751
Nicolaus Schuback	1759	(1754–1783)
Peter Greve	1759
Vincent Rumpff	1765
Johann Schlüter	1774
Albert Schulte	1778
Frans Doormann	1780
Jacob Albrecht von Sienen	1781
Johann Anderson	1781	(1783–1790)
Johann Luis	1784
Johann Adolph Poppe	1786
Martin Dorner	1788
Franz Anton Wagener	1790–1801
Daniel Lienau	1798
Peter Hinrich Widow	1800–1802
Friedrich von Graffen	1801–1810	First term
Wilhelm Amsinck	1802
Johann Arnold Heise	1807
Amandus Augustus Abendroth	1811–1813	Not included in the Meister's book.
Friedrich von Graffen	1815–1820	Second term
Christian Matthias Schröder	1816
Johann Heinrich Bartels	1820–1850
Johann Daniel Koch	1821
Martin Garlieb Sillem	1829
Amandus Augustus Abendroth	1831
Martin Hieronymus Schrötteringk	1832
Christian Daniel Benecke	1835
Heinrich Kellinghusen	1842
Johann Ludwig Dammert	1843
Nicolaus Binder	1855
unoccupied	1850–1861	Second Mayor: Christian Daniel Benecke (1835–1851) Third Mayor: Heinrich Kellinghusen (1842–1880) Fourth Mayor: Nicolaus Binder (1855–1861) All:

Hamburg (1860–1919)

Since 1860 Hamburg had a constitution. Members of the Hamburg senate were elected by the Hamburg Parliament—not coopted by the existing senate. They were lifelong members of the senate. From the three eldest and juristic trained members the senate elected annually the First Mayor of Hamburg (German title: Erster Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg) – the presiding head – and his deputy (Second Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic city of Hamburg, German title: Zweiter Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg).

Description of the method

Year	First mayor	Second mayor	„sabbatical year"
1	Senator A	Senator B	Senator C
2	Senator B	Senator C	Senator A
3	Senator C	Senator A	Senator B
4	Senator A	Senator B	Senator C

All mayors are taken from Domizlaff: Das Hamburger Rathaus and are listed in Erste Bürgermeister Hamburgs 1507–2008, only changes in dates are marked by an added reference.

Name	In office	Note
Friedrich Sieveking	1861–1862
Ferdinand Haller	1863–1864
Friedrich Sieveking	1865
Ferdinand Haller	1866–1867	(−1868)
Friedrich Sieveking	1868
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer	1869
Ferdinand Haller	1870

German Reich (1871–1945)

German Empire (1871–1918)

Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Term of office			Political party
Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Days	Political party
German Empire (1871–1918)
City of the German Reich
	Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1871	31 December 1872	730
	Ferdinand Haller (1805–1876)	1 January 1873	31 December 1873	364
	Hermann Goßler (1802–1877)	1 January 1874	31 December 1874	364
	Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1875	31 December 1875	364
	Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1876	31 December 1877	730
	Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1878	31 December 1878	364
	Hermann Weber (1822–1886)	1 January 1879	31 December 1879	729
	Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1880	31 December 1880	365
	Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1881	31 December 1881	364
	Hermann Weber (1822–1886)	1 January 1882	31 December 1882	364
	Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1883	31 December 1883	364
	Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1884	31 December 1884	365
	Hermann Weber (1822–1886)	1 January 1885	31 December 1885	364
	Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1886	31 December 1886	364
	Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1887	3 March 1887	61
	Johannes Versmann (1820–1899)	14 March 1887	31 December 1888	658
	Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1889	31 December 1889	364
	Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1890	31 December 1890	364
	Johannes Versmann (1820–1899)	1 January 1891	31 December 1891	364
	Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1892	31 December 1892	365
	Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1893	31 December 1893	364
	Johannes Versmann (1820–1899)	1 January 1894	31 December 1894	364
	Johannes Lehmann (1826–1901)	1 January 1895	31 December 1895	364
	Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1896	31 December 1896	365
	Johannes Versmann (1820–1899)	1 January 1897	31 December 1897	364
	Johannes Lehmann (1826–1901)	1 January 1898	31 December 1898	364
	Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1899	31 December 1899	364
	Johannes Lehmann (1826–1901)	1 January 1900	15 September 1900	257
	Gerhard Hachmann (1838–1904)	19 November 1900	31 December 1901	407
	Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1902	31 December 1902	364
	Johann Heinrich Burchard (1852–1912)	1 January 1903	31 December 1903	364
	Gerhard Hachmann (1838–1904)	1 January 1904	5 July 1904	186
	Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	5 July 1904	31 December 1905	544
	Johann Heinrich Burchard (1852–1912)	1 January 1906	31 December 1906	364
	Johann Otto Stammann (1835–1909)	1 January 1907	31 December 1907	364
	Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1908	27 March 1908	365
	Johann Heinrich Burchard (1852–1912)	3 April 1908	31 December 1909	637
	Max Predöhl (1854–1923)	1 January 1910	31 December 1911	729
	Johann Heinrich Burchard 1852–1912)	1 January 1912	6 September 1912	249
	Carl August Schröder (1855–1945)	3 September 1912	31 December 1913	484
	Max Predöhl (1854–1923)	1 January 1914	31 December 1914	364
	Werner von Melle (1853–1937)	1 January 1915	31 December 1915	364
	Carl August Schröder (1855–1945)	1 January 1916	31 December 1916	365
	Max Predöhl (1854–1923)	1 January 1917	31 December 1917	364
	Werner von Melle (1853–1937)	1 January 1918	12 November 1918	315

List of Second Mayors from 1860 to 1919
Name	Image	In office	Note
Ascan Wilhelm Lutteroth		1862–1863
Friedrich Sieveking		1864
Ascan Wilhelm Lutteroth Legat		1865–1866
Friedrich Sieveking		1867
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1868
Ferdinand Haller		1869
Hermann Goßler		1870–1871
Ferdinand Haller		1872
Hermann Goßler		1873
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1874
Ferdinand Haller		1875
Hermann Weber		1876
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1877
Hermann Weber		1878
Carl Friedrich Petersen		1879
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1880
Hermann Weber		1881
Carl Friedrich Petersen		1882
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1883
Hermann Weber		1884
Carl Friedrich Petersen		1885
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1886
Johannes Versmann		1 January 1887 – 14 March 1887
Max Theodor Hayn		14 March 1887 – 31 December 1887
Carl Friedrich Petersen		1888
Johann Georg Mönckeberg		1889
Johannes Versmann		1890
Carl Friedrich Petersen		1891
Johann Georg Mönckeberg		1892
Johannes Versmann		1893
Johannes Lehmann		1894
Johann Georg Mönckeberg		1895
Johannes Versmann		1896
Johannes Lehmann		1897
Johann Georg Mönckeberg		1898
Johannes Versmann		1899
Johannes Lehmann		5 July 1899 – 31 December 1899
Gerhard Hachmann		1 January 1900 – 19 November 1900
Johann Georg Mönckeberg		19 November 1900 – 1901
Johann Heinrich Burchard		1902
Gerhard Hachmann		1903
Johann Georg Mönckeberg		1 January 1904 – 11 July 1904
Johann Heinrich Burchard		11 July 1904 – 1905
Johann Otto Stammann		1906
Johann Georg Mönckeberg		1907
Johann Heinrich Burchard		1 January 1908 – 3 April 1908
William Henry O'Swald		3 April 1908 – 1909
Carl August Schröder		1910
Johann Heinrich Burchard		1911
Carl August Schröder		1 January 1912 – 13 September 1912
Max Predöhl		13 September 1912 – 1913
Werner von Melle		1914
Carl August Schröder		1915
Max Predöhl		1916
Werner von Melle		1917
Carl August Schröder		1918–1919

Weimar Republic (1919–1933)

During the German Revolution of 1918–1919 an Arbeiter- und Soldatenrat (workers' and soldiers' council) was formed. From 12 November 1918 to 1919, a chairman was the head of state and city government: Heinrich Lauffenberg (−1919), Carl Hense (1919). This is not mentioned in Domizlaff: Das Hamburger Rathaus. The period in Germany after the First World War until the takeover of power – by the Nazi Party in 1933 – is called Weimar Republic. The Hamburg Parliament was democratically elected.

First Mayor of Hamburg

Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Term of office			Political party
Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Days	Political party
	Werner von Melle (1853–1937)	31 March 1919	31 December 1919	275
	Friedrich Sthamer (1856–1931)	1 January 1920	1 February 1920	31
	Arnold Diestel (1857–1924)	2 February 1920	31 December 1923	1428	German Democratic Party
	Carl Wilhelm Petersen (1868–1933)	1 January 1924	31 December 1929	2191	German Democratic Party
	Rudolf Ross (1872–1951)	1 January 1930	31 December 1931	729	Social Democratic Party
	Carl Wilhelm Petersen (1868–1933)	1 January 1932	30 January 1933	760	German Democratic Party

Second Mayor of Hamburg

	Party	Took office	Left office
Otto Stolten	SPD	31 March 1919	1925
Max Schramm	SPD	1925	4 April 1928
Rudolf Ross	SPD	5 April 1928	31 December 1929
Carl Wilhelm Petersen	DDP	1 January 1930	31 December 1931
Rudolf Ross	SPD	1 January 1932	30 January 1933

Nazi Germany (1933–1945)

In Nazi Germany the "Law on the Reconstruction of the Reich" (Gesetz über den Neuaufbau des Reiches) of 30 January 1934 abandoned the concept of a federal republic. The political institutions of the Länder were abolished altogether, passing all powers to the central government. The Hamburg Parliament was dissolved. The First Mayor was appointed by the Reich Interior Minister, though Hitler himself reserved the right to appoint him (as was also the case with Berlin and Vienna). The actual head of the Hamburg executive was the Reichsstatthalter (Regional Governor) Karl Kaufmann (1933–1945).

Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Carl Wilhelm Petersen	30 January 1933	7 March 1933	German People’s Party
Carl Vincent Krogmann	8 March 1933	3 May 1945	NSDAP

Second Mayor

Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Rudolf Ross	30 January 1933	3 March 1933	Social Democratic Party
Wilhelm Burchard-Motz	8 March 1933	18 May 1933	German People's Party

Colonel Robert Gordon Kitchen VI, Governor of Hamburg during the control of the British Army 1945–1946.

Hamburg (1945–present)

Mayors during the federal parliamentary republic of Germany.

Political party key: SPD CDU

First Mayor and President of the Senate of Hamburg
Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Term of office			Political party
Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Days	Political party
Hamburg (1945–1949)
British occupation zone in Allied-occupied Germany
–	Rudolf Petersen (1878–1962) Appointed by the British military	15 May 1945	22 November 1946	556	Christian Democratic Union
1	Max Brauer First term (1887–1973)	22 November 1946	23 May 1949	913	Social Democratic Party
Hamburg (1949–present)
City-state of the Federal Republic of Germany
(1)	Max Brauer First term (1887–1973)	23 May 1949	2 December 1953	1654	Social Democratic Party
2	Kurt Sieveking (1897–1986)	2 December 1953	4 December 1957	1463	Christian Democratic Union
2 (1)	Max Brauer Second term (1887–1973)	4 December 1957	31 December 1960 (resigned)	1123	Social Democratic Party
4	Paul Nevermann (1902–1979)	1 January 1961	9 June 1965 (resigned)	1620	Social Democratic Party
5	Herbert Weichmann (1896–1983)	9 June 1965	9 June 1971 (resigned)	2191	Social Democratic Party
6	Peter Schulz (1930–2013)	9 June 1971	4 November 1974 (resigned)	1244	Social Democratic Party
7	Hans-Ulrich Klose (1937–2023)	12 November 1974	22 May 1981 (resigned)	2383	Social Democratic Party
8	Klaus von Dohnanyi (born 1928)	24 June 1981	8 June 1988	2541	Social Democratic Party
9	Henning Voscherau (1941–2016)	8 June 1988	8 October 1997 (resigned)	3409	Social Democratic Party
10	Ortwin Runde (born 1944)	12 November 1997	31 October 2001	1449	Social Democratic Party
11	Ole von Beust (born 1955)	31 October 2001	25 August 2010 (resigned)	3220	Christian Democratic Union
12	Christoph Ahlhaus (born 1969)	25 August 2010	7 March 2011	194	Christian Democratic Union
13	Olaf Scholz (born 1958)	7 March 2011	13 March 2018 (resigned)	2563	Social Democratic Party
14	Peter Tschentscher (born 1966)	28 March 2018	Incumbent	2622	Social Democratic Party

Second Mayor of Hamburg
Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Adolph Schönfelder (1875–1966)	6 June 1945	15 November 1946	Social Democratic Party
Christian Koch (1878–1955)	19 November 1946	18 February 1950	Free Democratic Party
Paul Nevermann (1902–1979)	24 February 1950	2 December 1953	Social Democratic Party
Edgar Engelhard (1917–1979)	2 December 1953	27 April 1966	Free Democratic Party
Wilhelm Drexelius (1906–1974)	27 April 1966	2 April 1970	Social Democratic Party
Peter Schulz (1930–2013)	22 April 1970	9 June 1971	Social Democratic Party
Helmuth Kern (1926–2016)	9 June 1971	3 October 1972	Social Democratic Party
Hans Rau (1925–1995)	3 October 1972	30 April 1974	Free Democratic Party
Dieter Biallas (1936–2016)	30 April 1974	28 June 1978	Free Democratic Party
Helga Elstner (1924–2012)	28 June 1978	13 June 1984	Social Democratic Party
Alfons Pawelczyk (born 1933)	13 June 1984	2 September 1987	Social Democratic Party
Ingo von Münch (born 1932)	2 September 1987	26 June 1991	Free Democratic Party
Hans-Jürgen Krupp (1933–2024)	26 June 1991	1 December 1993	Social Democratic Party
Erhard Rittershaus (1931–2006)	15 December 1993	12 November 1997	Statt party
Krista Sager (born 1953)	12 November 1997	31 October 2001	Alliance '90/The Greens
Ronald Schill (born 1958)	31 October 2001	19 August 2003	Party for a Rule of Law Offensive
Mario Mettbach (born 1952)	21 August 2003	17 March 2004	Party for a Rule of Law Offensive
Birgit Schnieber-Jastram (born 1946)	17 March 2004	7 May 2008	Christian Democratic Union
Christa Goetsch (born 1952)	7 May 2008	29 November 2010	Alliance '90/The Greens
Dietrich Wersich (born 1964)	30 November 2010	7 March 2011	Christian Democratic Union
Dorothee Stapelfeldt (born 1956)	7 March 2011	15 April 2015	Social Democratic Party
Katharina Fegebank (born 1977)	15 April 2015	Incumbent	Alliance '90/The Greens

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