List of mayors of Memphis, Tennessee facts for kids
This page tells you about the people who have served as the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. A mayor is like the main leader of a city. They help make important decisions and keep the city running smoothly.
Contents
A Look Back at Memphis Mayors
Memphis has a long history, and its mayors have played a big part in shaping it. Sometimes, the city faced tough times. For example, in 1879, a serious sickness called yellow fever spread through Memphis. Many people left the city because of it.
When Memphis Didn't Have a Mayor
Because so many people left, Memphis actually lost its official city status for a while. This meant it didn't have a mayor from 1879 to 1895. During this time, the city was managed by leaders called "President of the Taxing District." These leaders included David T. Porter (1879-1881), John Overton (1881-1883), David P. Hadden (1883-1891), William D. Bethell (1891-1893), and Walter L. Clapp (1893-1895). Walter L. Clapp then became the first mayor when Memphis became a city again in 1895. You can learn more about this time in the article History of Memphis, Tennessee.
List of Memphis Mayors
Here is a list of the people who have served as mayor of Memphis. Some mayors served more than one term, meaning they were elected again after their first time.
Image | Mayor | Years Served | Notes |
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Marcus B. Winchester | 1827–1829 | ||
Isaac Rawlings | 1829–1831 | ||
Seth Wheatley | 1831–1832 | ||
Robert Lawrence | 1832–1833 | ||
Isaac Rawlings (2nd term) |
1833–1836 | ||
Enoch Banks | 1836–1837 | ||
John H. Morgan | 1837–1838 | ||
Enoch Banks (2nd term) |
1838–1839 | ||
Thomas Dixon | 1839–1841 | ||
William Spickernagle | 1841–1842 | ||
Edwin Hickman | 1842–1845 | ||
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Jesse J. Finley | 1845–1846 | |
Edwin Hickman (2nd term) |
1846–1847 | ||
Enoch Banks (3rd term) |
1847–1848 | ||
Gardner E. Locke | 1848–1849 | ||
Edwin Hickman (3rd term) |
1849–1852 | ||
A. B. Taylor | 1852–1855 | ||
Addison H. Douglass | 1855–1856 | ||
Thomas B. Carroll | 1856–1857 | ||
Richard D. Baugh | 1857–1861 | ||
John Park | 1861–1864 | ||
Thomas H. Harris | 1864 | ||
Channing Richards | 1864–1865 | ||
John Park (2nd term) |
1865–1866 | ||
William Lofland | 1866–1868 | ||
Edgar M. McDavitt | 1868 | ||
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John W. Leftwich | 1868–1869 | |
John T. Swayne | 1869 | ||
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John W. Leftwich (2nd term) |
1869–1870 | |
John Johnson | 1870–1874 | ||
John Loague | 1874–1876 | ||
John R. Flippin | 1876–1879 | ||
(None) | 1879–1895 | As explained above, Memphis lost its city status due to a yellow fever epidemic. The city leaders during this time were called "President of the Taxing District." | |
Walker L. Clapp | 1895–1898 | ||
Joseph John "JJ" Williams | 1898–1906 | ||
James H. Malone | 1906–1910 | ||
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E. H. "Boss" Crump | 1910–1915 | |
George C. Love | 1915–1916 | ||
Thomas C. Ashcroft | 1916–1917 | ||
Harry H. Litty | 1917–1918 | ||
Frank L. Monteverde | 1918–1919 | ||
Rowlett Paine | 1920–1927 | ||
Watkins Overton | 1928–1939 | ||
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E. H. "Boss" Crump (2nd term) |
1940 | |
Joseph P. Boyle | 1940 | ||
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Walter Chandler | 1940–1946 | |
Joseph P. Boyle (2nd term) |
1946 | ||
Sylvanus W. Polk, Sr. | 1946–1947 | ||
James J. Pleasants, Jr. | 1947–1949 | ||
Watkins Overton | 1949–1953 | ||
Frank T. Tobey | 1953–1955 | ||
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Walter Chandler | 1955 | |
Edmund Orgill | 1956–1959 | ||
Henry Loeb | 1960–1963 | ||
Claude Armour | 1963 | ||
William B. Ingram | 1963–1967 | ||
Henry Loeb (2nd term) |
1968–1971 | ||
J. Wyeth Chandler | 1972–1982 | He left office to become a judge. | |
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J.O. Patterson, Jr. | 1982 | He served as a temporary mayor. He was the first African-American mayor of Memphis. |
Wallace Madewell | 1982 | ||
Richard C. Hackett | 1982–1991 | ||
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W. W. Herenton | 1992–2009 | He was the first African-American mayor to be elected by the people. |
Myron Lowery | 2009 (Mayor pro tem) |
He was the third African-American mayor. A "Mayor pro tem" is a temporary mayor. | |
A C Wharton | 2009–2015 | He was the second African-American mayor elected by the people. | |
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Jim Strickland | 2016–2024 | |
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Paul Young | 2024–present | He is the fifth African-American mayor of Memphis. |