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List of mayors of Manchester, New Hampshire facts for kids

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This is a list of mayors of Manchester, New Hampshire.

Political party designations are shown for some mayors, where known. However, municipal elections are officially non-partisan.

Throughout most of the previous century, elections have been held in odd-numbered years. Mayors are elected for a two-year term of office. The first city election in Manchester, New Hampshire occurred on August 19, 1846.

The administrative and executive powers of the city are vested in the mayor. The mayor must be a resident of the city for at least a year prior to filing for the office of mayor. The mayor has the power to supervise the administrative affairs of the city and presides over meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The mayor is the de facto head of the Board of School Committee, which oversees the city’s schools.

From 1846 to 1857, mayors served for a one-year term, expiring on the third Tuesday in March. From 1857 to 1872, the mayor's term expired on the last day of December. In 1873, the term ended annually on the Third Tuesday in March, up until 1880, when it became a two-year term.

List

Mayor Term Party Birth–death Notes Photo
Hiram Brown 1846–1847 Whig January 23, 1801 – September 7, 1890 Elected the city's first mayor, August 19, 1846. Hiram Brown.png
Jacob F. James 1847–1849 Whig d, April 15, 1892 Elected May 22, 1847, after two previous elections had been invalidated, since no candidate had won the required number of votes. He was re-elected April 26, 1848, after two elections had failed to yield the need number of votes to declare a winner. Jacob Franklin James (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 337 crop).jpg
Warren L. Lane 1849–1850 Democrat d. March 4, 1861 Elected in Oct. 1849 special election after elections in both April and May 1849 election yielded no clear winner. Warren Lovejoy Lane (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 377 crop).jpg
Moses Fellows 1851–1852 Moses Fellows (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 287 crop).jpg
Frederick Smyth 1852–1855 March 9, 1819 – April 22, 1899 Frederick Smyth (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 488 crop).jpg
Theodore T. Abbott 1855–1857 American March 22, 1799 – 1886 Elected March 1855, re-elected March 1856.
Jacob F. James 1857 Elected Nov. 1856. Jacob Franklin James (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 337 crop).jpg
Alonzo Smith 1858 May 21, 1808 – April 17, 1865
Edward W. Harrington 1859–1860 Edward Weatherbee Harrington (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 307 crop).jpg
David A. Bunton 1861–1862 Republican October 18, 1805 – July 10, 1890 David A. Bunton (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 95 crop).jpg
Theodore T. Abbott 1863 American March 22, 1799 – 1886
Frederick Smyth 1864 Republican March 9, 1819 – April 22, 1899) Smyth won election almost unanimously with numerous candidates receiving 5 votes or less. Elected governor of New Hampshire in 1865. Frederick Smyth (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 488 crop).jpg
Darwin J. Daniels 1865 – August 15, 1865 d. August 15, 1865 Died in office, aged 50. [1]
John Hosley August 1865 – 1866 Elected to fill vacancy. John Hosley (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 327 crop).jpg
Joseph B. Clark 1867 Joseph B. Clark (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 217 crop).jpg
James A. Weston 1868 Democrat Governor of New Hampshire, 1871–1872 James Adams Weston (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 558 crop).jpg
Isaac W. Smith 1869 Republican May 18, 1825 – 1898
James A. Weston 1870–1871 Democrat James Adams Weston (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 558 crop).jpg
Person Colby Cheney 1872 Republican Governor of New Hampshire 1875–77. Appointed U.S. Senator 1886–1887 to fill vacancy. Person Colby Cheney (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 207 crop).jpg
Charles H. Bartlett 1873 October 15, 1833–January 25, 1900 Elected December 12, 1872, resigned February 18, 1873 because he was Clerk of the U.S. District Court, and could not hold a state or municipal elected office. Charles Henry Bartlett (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 55 crop).jpg
John P. Newell 1873 Chosen mayor by Aldermen and the Common Council to fill vacancy. John P. Newell (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 418 crop).jpg
James A. Weston 1874–1875 Democrat James Adams Weston (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 558 crop).jpg
Alpheus Gay 1875–1876
Ira Cross 1876–1877 Republican July 23, 1833 – February 11, 1914 Resigned.
John L. Kelly 1877–1880
Horace B. Putnam 1881–1884 November 5, 1825 – April 20, 1888
George H. Stearns 1885–1886 April 22, 1838 – August 21, 1929 Died at the age of 91.
John Hosley 1887–1888 John Hosley (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 327 crop).jpg
David B. Varney 1889–1890 David B. Varney (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 518 crop).jpg
Edgar J. Knowlton 1891 – May 10, 1894 Resigned May 10, 1894. David B. Varney de facto mayor, July 1894 – June 1895.
William C. Clarke 1895–1902 William C. Clarke (IA manchesterbriefr00cla) (page 247 crop).jpg
Eugene E. Reed 1903–1910 Democrat April 23, 1866 – December 15, 1940 U.S. Congress, 1913 – 1915, defeated 1914. Candidate for U.S. Senate, 1918. Eugene E. Reed (New Hampshire Congressman).jpg
Edward C. Smith 1911–1912 Republican October 24, 1864 – August 25, 1926
Charles C. Hayes 1913–1914 Republican
Harry W. Spaulding 1915–1917 Republican Harry W. Spaulding 1 (a).jpg
Moise Verrette 1918–1921 Democrat Executive Councillor 1916–1918
George E. Trudel 1922–1925
Arthur E. Moreau 1926–1931 Republican
Damase Caron 1932–1941 Democrat
Wilfred A. Laflamme 1942–1943 Republican
Josephat T. Benoit 1944–1961 Democrat March 3, 1900 – May 14, 1976 Served a record nine consecutive terms. Born a Canadian citizen and moved to the United States at the age of seven. Held two doctorates.
John C. Mongan 1962–1963 Republican April 17, 1925 – June 10, 2013 Inaugurated at Memorial High School, first mayor since 1946 inaugurated outside of City Hall.
Roland S. Vallee 1964–1967 Democrat November 13, 1929 – October 27, 1997 Known as the "singing mayor."
John C. Mongan 1968–1969 Republican April 17, 1925 – June 10, 2013
Henry J. Pariseau 1970 Republican April 1, 1918 – May 30, 1970 Died in office
Charles R. "Dick" Stanton 1970–1971 Democrat April 10, 1929 – May 10, 1985 City Clerk Stanton was chosen by Board of Mayor and Aldermen to fill remainder of Pariseau's two-year term.
Sylvio L. Dupuis 1972–1975 Democrat b. 1934 Resigned, May 1975, to be one of the founders of Catholic Medical Center. Sylvio Dupuis (26485877204) (a).jpg
Charles R. "Dick" Stanton 1975–1981 Democrat April 10, 1929 – May 1985 Subsequent to his reappointment as City Clerk, Stanton was chosen by Board of Mayor and Aldermen to fill remainder of Dupuis' two-year term, then won three terms as mayor in his own right in 1975, 1977 and 1979.
Emile Beaulieu 1982–1983 Democrat April 2, 1931 – December 30, 2016 Lost reelection to Robert F. Shaw, 1983.
Robert F. Shaw 1984–1987 Republican May 29, 1934 – August 17, 2004 Switched to Democratic Party in 1995. Killed in auto accident on Route 93 in Manchester.
Emile Beaulieu 1988–1989 Democrat April 2, 1931 – December 30, 2016 Lost reelection to Raymond J. Wieczorek, 1989. Switched to Republican Party in 1995.
Raymond Wieczorek 1989–2000 Republican December 9, 1928 – November 22, 2022 Lost reelection to Robert A. Baines, 1999. Later served as an Executive Councillor 2002–2012. Mayor Raymond.jpg
Robert A. Baines 2000–2006 Democrat b. 1946 Lost reelection to Frank Guinta, 2005.
Frank Guinta 2006–2010 Republican b. September 26, 1970 Inaugurated January 3, 2006. Youngest Manchester mayor in over 150 years. Later served as U.S. Representative 2011–2013; 2015–2017. Frank Guinta official portrait 114th Congress.jpg
Theodore "Ted" Gatsas 2010–2018 Republican b. May 22, 1950 Inaugurated January 5, 2010. Lost reelection to Joyce Craig, 2017. Now serving as an Executive Councillor 2019– Ted Gatsas (1).jpg
Joyce Craig 2018–2024 Democratic Inaugurated January 2, 2018. First female elected mayor of Manchester. Joyce Craig.jpg
Jay Ruais 2024–present Republican Inaugurated January 2, 2024. Manchester NH Mayor Jay Ruais Inauguration (cropped).jpg

See also

  • Mayoral elections in Manchester, New Hampshire
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