kids encyclopedia robot

List of mayors of New Bedford, Massachusetts facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

New Bedford, Massachusetts, is a historic city with a long line of leaders. These leaders are called mayors. A mayor is like the chief manager of a city. They help make important decisions for everyone living there.

What Does a Mayor Do?

A mayor is the top elected official in a city. They work to make the city a better place. This includes things like keeping streets clean. They also help with schools and public safety. Mayors lead city meetings and represent the city. They work with city council members.

How Mayors Are Chosen

In New Bedford, people vote for their mayor. Mayors serve for a set period of time. This period is called a "term." After their term, they can run for election again. This allows citizens to choose who leads their city.

The Role of a Mayor in the Community

Mayors are important community figures. They often attend local events. They listen to what citizens need. They also work to bring new businesses to the city. Their goal is to improve life for all residents.

A Look at New Bedford's Mayors

New Bedford has had many mayors since 1847. Each mayor has helped shape the city. They have worked through different times in history. Some mayors served for many years. Others had shorter terms.

Early Mayors of New Bedford

The first mayor of New Bedford was Abraham H. Howland. He served from 1847 to 1851. Many early mayors helped build the city. They saw New Bedford grow. It was a time when the city was famous for whaling.

  • Abraham H. Howland (1st Mayor): 1847–1851
  • William J. Rotch (2nd Mayor): 1852
  • Rodney French (3rd Mayor): 1853–1854
  • George Howland Jr. (4th Mayor): 1855–1856
  • George H. Dunbar (5th Mayor): 1857–1858
  • Willard Nye (6th Mayor): 1859
  • Isaac C. Taber (7th Mayor): 1860–1862
  • George Howland Jr. (8th Mayor): 1862 (3 months), 1863–1865
  • John H. Perry (9th Mayor): 1866–1867
  • Andrew G. Pierce (10th Mayor): 1868–1869 (Republican)
  • George B. Richmond (11th Mayor): 1870–1872
  • George H. Dunbar (12th Mayor): 1873
  • George B. Richmond (13th Mayor): 1874
  • Abraham H. Howland Jr. (14th Mayor): 1875–1876
  • Alanson Borden (15th Mayor): 1877
  • George B. Richmond (16th Mayor): 1878
  • William T. Soule (17th Mayor): 1879–1880
  • George Wilson (18th Mayor): 1881–1884
  • Morgan Rotch (19th Mayor): 1885–1888 (Republican)
  • Walter Clifford (20th Mayor): 1889–1890

Mayors of the 20th Century

The 20th century brought many changes to New Bedford. Mayors during this time faced new challenges. They helped the city adapt and grow. Charles S. Ashley served many terms. He was mayor for a long time.

  • Charles S. Ashley (21st Mayor): 1891–1892 (Democratic)
  • Jethro C. Brock (22nd Mayor): 1893
  • Stephen Allen Brownell (23rd Mayor): 1894
  • David Parker (24th Mayor): 1895–1896
  • Charles S. Ashley (25th Mayor): 1897–1905 (Democratic)
  • Thomas Thompson (26th Mayor): 1906
  • Charles S. Ashley (27th Mayor): 1907 (Democratic)
  • William J. Bullock (28th Mayor): 1908–1909 (Republican)
  • Charles S. Ashley (29th Mayor): 1910–1914 (Democratic)
  • Edward R. Hathaway (30th Mayor): 1915–1916
  • Charles S. Ashley (31st Mayor): 1917–1921 (Democratic)
  • Walter H.B. Remington (32nd Mayor): 1922–1924
  • Edward R. Hathaway (33rd Mayor): 1925–1926
  • Charles S. Ashley (34th Mayor): 1927–1936 (Democratic)
  • Leo E.J. Carney (35th Mayor): 1937–1940
  • Mathew A. Glynn (36th Mayor): 1941–1942
  • Arthur N. Harriman (37th Mayor): 1943–1951
  • Edward C. Peirce (38th Mayor): 1952–1953
  • Francis J. Lawler (Interim Mayor): 1953 (Served as interim mayor when Peirce was unable to serve.)
  • Arthur N. Harriman (39th Mayor): 1954–1955
  • Francis J. Lawler (40th Mayor): 1956–1961
  • Edward F. Harrington (41st Mayor): 1962–1969
  • George Rogers (42nd Mayor): 1970–1971 (Democrat)
  • John A. Markey (43rd Mayor): 1972–1982 (Resigned to become a judge.)
  • Cynthia G. Kruger (Acting Mayor): 1982–1983 (Served as acting mayor after Markey resigned.)
  • Nelson Macedo (Acting Mayor): 1983 (Served as acting mayor until a special election.)
  • Brian J. Lawler (44th Mayor): 1983–1985
  • John K. Bullard (45th Mayor): 1986–1991
  • Rosemary S. Tierney (46th Mayor): 1992–1998
  • Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. (47th Mayor): 1998–2006

Recent Mayors of New Bedford

In recent years, New Bedford has continued to grow. Mayors have focused on modern challenges. These include economic development and community projects. They work to keep New Bedford a great place to live.

  • Scott W. Lang (48th Mayor): 2006–2012
  • Jon Mitchell (49th Mayor): 2012–present
# Term Name Picture Party Notes
1st 1847–1851 Abraham H. Howland Abraham H. Howland - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590904828) (cropped).jpg
2nd 1852 William J. Rotch William J. Rotch - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590904828) (cropped).jpg
3rd 1853–1854 Rodney French Rodney French - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590904828) (cropped).jpg
4th 1855–1856 George Howland Jr. George Howland Jr. - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590904828) (cropped).jpg
5th 1857–1858 George H. Dunbar George H. Dunbar - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590904828) (cropped).jpg
6th 1859 Willard Nye Willard Nye - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590904828) (cropped).jpg
7th 1860–1862 Isaac C. Taber Isaac Taber - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14592473659) (cropped).jpg
8th 1862 (3 months), 1863–1865 George Howland Jr. George Howland Jr. - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590904828) (cropped).jpg
9th 1866–1867 John H. Perry John H. Perry - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14592473659) (cropped).jpg
10th 1868–1869 Andrew G. Pierce Andrew G. Pierce.png Republican
11th 1870–1872 George B. Richmond
12th 1873 George H. Dunbar
13th 1874 George B. Richmond
14th 1875–1876 Abraham H. Howland Jr. George Howland Jr. - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590904828) (cropped).jpg
15th 1877 Alanson Borden Alanson Borden - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590909478) (cropped).jpg
16th 1878 George B. Richmond
17th 1879–1880 William T. Soule William Soule - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590909478) (cropped).jpg
18th 1881–1884 George Wilson George Wilson - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590909478) (cropped).jpg
19th 1885–1888 Morgan Rotch Morgan Rotch-New Bedford.png Republican
20th 1889–1890 Walter Clifford Walter Clifford - New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions (1889) (14590909478) (cropped).jpg
21st 1891–1892 Charles S. Ashley Ashley 4626430173 8e6bb09c1a o (cropped and retouched).jpg Democratic
22nd 1893 Jethro C. Brock
23rd 1894 Stephen Allen Brownell
24th 1895–1896 David Parker
25th 1897–1905 Charles S. Ashley Ashley 4626430173 8e6bb09c1a o (cropped and retouched).jpg Democratic
26th 1906 Thomas Thompson
27th 1907 Charles S. Ashley Ashley 4626430173 8e6bb09c1a o (cropped and retouched).jpg Democratic
28th 1908–1909 William J. Bullock William J. Bullock.png Republican
29th 1910–1914 Charles S. Ashley Ashley 4626430173 8e6bb09c1a o (cropped and retouched).jpg Democratic
30th 1915–1916 Edward R. Hathaway
31st 1917–1921 Charles S. Ashley Ashley 4626430173 8e6bb09c1a o (cropped and retouched).jpg Democratic
32nd 1922 - 1924(2 Year Terms Started 1923) Walter H.B. Remington
33rd 1925–1926 Edward R. Hathaway
34th 1927–1936 Charles S. Ashley Ashley 4626430173 8e6bb09c1a o (cropped and retouched).jpg Democratic
35th 1937–1940 Leo E.J. Carney
36th 1941–1942 Mathew A. Glynn
37th 1943–1951 Arthur N. Harriman
38th 1952 - 1953 Edward C. Peirce 1945 Edward Peirce senator Massachusetts.jpg
Interim 1953 Francis J. Lawler Served As Interim Mayor From May To December 1953 while Peirce was in prison.
39th 1954–1955 Arthur N. Harriman
40th 1956–1961 Francis J. Lawler
41st 1962–1969 Edward F. Harrington
42nd 1970–1971 George Rogers 1967 George Rogers Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Democrat
43rd 1972–1982 John A. Markey Resigned to accept a judicial appointment
Acting 1982 - 1983 Cynthia G. Kruger Served as acting Mayor following Markey's resignation
Acting 1983 Nelson Macedo Succeeded Kruger as council president. Served as acting Mayor until a special election was held.
44th 1983–1985 Brian J. Lawler
45th 1986–1991 John K. Bullard
46th 1992–1998 Rosemary S. Tierney
47th 1998–2006 Frederick M. Kalisz Jr.
48th 2006–2012 Scott W. Lang Scott W. Lang (cropped).jpg
49th 2012- Jon Mitchell Event celebrating new zero-emission school buses in New Bedford FxEf8A1XwAUOh5Y (Jon Mitchell).jpg

Images for kids

kids search engine
List of mayors of New Bedford, Massachusetts Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.