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Mayor of Philadelphia facts for kids

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Mayor of Philadelphia
Seal of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.svg
Councilmember Cherelle Parker.jpg
Incumbent
Cherelle Parker
since January 1, 2024
Term length four years
limited to two
consecutive terms
Inaugural holder Humphrey Morrey
Formation 1691
Salary $218,000
Website Office of the Mayor

The mayor of Philadelphia is the chief executive of the government of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as stipulated by the Charter of the City of Philadelphia. The current mayor of Philadelphia is Cherelle Parker, who is the first woman to hold the position.

History

18th century

The first mayor of Philadelphia was Humphrey Morrey, who was appointed to the position by William Penn, the founder of the city and the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania, which became the state of Pennsylvania following the American Revolutionary War. Penn subsequently appointed Edward Shippen under the city charter of 1701. The Philadelphia City Council then elected Shippen to a second term. Subsequent mayors, who held office for one year, were elected by the Philadelphia City Council. The initial mayors of Philadelphia were not compensated and candidates sometimes objected strongly to being selected to the position, sometimes choosing even to pay a fine rather than serve in the position.

In 1704, alderman Griffith Jones was elected but declined to serve, for which he was fined twenty pounds. In 1706, Thomas Story, also an alderman, was similarly fined for refusing office.

In 1745, Abraham Taylor, a Philadelphia alderman, was fined thirty pounds for refusing to assume the office. The city council then elected Joseph Turner, who also refused and was likewise fined. Others who refused election included Richard Hill (1717), Issac Norris (1722), John Mifflin, and Alexander Stedman. In other cases, William Coxe pleaded illness (1758), Samuel Mifflin (1761), William Coxe and Daniel Benezet (1762), and John Barclay and George Roberts (1792). Robert Wharton declined in 1800 and 1811, and ended up 14 one-year terms, making him the most-often-elected (16 times, including refusals) and longest-serving (14 years) mayor in Philadelphia history.

In 1747, at the request of retiring Mayor William Attwood, Council resolved to institute an annual salary of 100 pounds for the office. The same year, Anthony Morris secretly fled to Bucks County to avoid being notified of his election as the city's mayor. When he could not be located after three days of searching, a new election was sheduled, and Attwood was reelected to a second term.

19th century

In 1826, the Philadelphia City Council altered its protocols for electing a mayor, permitting any Philadelphia citizen to run for the office. Beginning in 1839, mayors were elected by popular vote. If no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, then the joint Councils (Select and Common) determined the winner between the two leading candidates. John Swift was the first mayor to be elected directly by the people in the 1840 Philadelphia mayoral election.

The term of office for the mayor was extended to two years in 1854, to three years in 1861, and to four years in 1885. The Act of 1885 also prohibited mayors from succeeding themselves.

20th century

The consecutive term limitation for mayor was lifted in the 1940s, which permitted incumbent Bernard Samuel to run for reelection. In 1951, the city's Home Rule Charter established a two-term limit for Philadelphia mayors. The term limit is consecutive, not lifetime.

The mayor of Philadelphia has been held by Democrats for over seven decades, since 1952. The only Republican who has been competitive in the general election for mayor since then was Sam Katz, who came within half a percentage point of being the first Republican mayor of Philadelphia elected in 1999.

List of Mayors

Parties

      Democratic (18)       Democratic-Republican (4)       Federalist (6)       Keystone (1)       National Republican (2)       Republican (19)       Whig (5)

Colonial mayors elected by the Common Council

No. Mayor Term start Term end Mayorship Term
1 Humphrey Morrey May 20, 1691 October 25, 1701 1 1
2 Edward Shippen I October 25, 1701 October 24, 1702 2 2
October 24, 1702 October 5, 1703 3
3 Anthony Morris I October 5, 1703 October 3, 1704 3 4
4 Griffith Jones October 3, 1704 October 2, 1705 4 5
5 Joseph Willcox October 2, 1705 October 1, 1706 5 6
6 Nathan Stanbury October 1, 1706 October 7, 1707 6 7
7 Thomas Masters October 7, 1707 October 5, 1708 7 8
October 5, 1708 October 4, 1709 9
8 Richard Hill October 4, 1709 October 3, 1710 8 10
9 William Carter October 3, 1710 October 2, 1711 9 11
10 Samuel Preston October 2, 1711 October 7, 1712 10 12
11 Jonathan Dickinson October 7, 1712 October 6, 1713 11 13
12 George Roch October 6, 1713 October 5, 1714 12 14
(8) Richard Hill October 5, 1714 October 4, 1715 13 15
October 4, 1715 October 2, 1716 16
October 2, 1716 October 1, 1717 17
(11) Jonathan Dickinson October 1, 1717 October 7, 1718 14 18
October 7, 1718 October 6, 1719 19
13 William Fishbourn October 6, 1719 October 4, 1720 15 20
October 4, 1720 October 3, 1721 21
October 3, 1721 October 2, 1722 22
14 James Logan October 2, 1722 October 1, 1723 16 23
15 Clement Plumsted October 1, 1723 October 6, 1724 17 24
16 Isaac Norris October 6, 1724 October 5, 1725 18 25
17 William Hudson October 5, 1725 October 4, 1726 19 26
18 Charles Read October 4, 1726 October 3, 1727 20 27
19 Thomas Lawrence I October 3, 1727 October 2, 1728 21 28
October 2, 1728 October 7, 1729 29
20 Thomas Griffitts October 7, 1729 October 6, 1730 22 30
October 6, 1730 October 6, 1731 31
21 Samuel Hasell October 6, 1731 October 3, 1732 23 32
October 3, 1732 October 2, 1733 33
(20) Thomas Griffitts October 2, 1733 October 1, 1734 24 34
(19) Thomas Lawrence I October 1, 1734 October 7, 1735 25 35
22 William Allen October 7, 1735 October 5, 1736 26 36
(15) Clement Plumsted October 5, 1736 October 4, 1737 27 37
(20) Thomas Griffitts October 4, 1737 October 3, 1738 28 38
23 Anthony Morris II October 3, 1738 October 2, 1739 29 39
24 Edward Roberts October 2, 1739 October 7, 1740 30 40
(21) Samuel Hasell October 7, 1740 October 6, 1741 31 41
(15) Clement Plumsted October 6, 1741 October 5, 1742 32 42
25 William Till October 5, 1742 October 4, 1743 33 43
26 Benjamin Shoemaker October 4, 1743 October 2, 1744 34 44
27 Edward Shippen III October 2, 1744 October 1, 1745 35 45
28 James Hamilton October 1, 1745 October 7, 1746 36 46
29 William Attwood October 7, 1746 October 6, 1747 37 47
October 9, 1747 October 4, 1748 48
30 Charles Willing October 4, 1748 October 3, 1749 38 49
(19) Thomas Lawrence I October 3, 1749 October 2, 1750 39 50
31 William Plumsted October 2, 1750 October 1, 1751 40 51
32 Robert Strettell October 1, 1751 October 3, 1752 41 52
(26) Benjamin Shoemaker October 3, 1752 October 2, 1753 42 53
(19) Thomas Lawrence I October 2, 1753 April 25, 1754 43 54
(30) Charles Willing April 25, 1754 October 1, 1754 44 55
October 1, 1754 December 4, 1754 56
(31) William Plumsted December 4, 1754 October 7, 1755 45 57
October 7, 1755 October 5, 1756 58
33 Attwood Shute October 5, 1756 October 4, 1757 46 59
October 4, 1757 October 3, 1758 60
34 Thomas Lawrence II October 15, 1758 October 2, 1759 47 61
35 John Stamper October 2, 1759 October 7, 1760 48 62
(26) Benjamin Shoemaker October 7, 1760 October 6, 1761 49 63
36 Jacob Duché October 6, 1761 October 5, 1762 50 64
37 Henry Harrison October 5, 1762 October 4, 1763 51 65
38 Thomas Willing October 4, 1763 October 2, 1764 52 66
(34) Thomas Lawrence II October 2, 1764 October 1, 1765 53 67
39 John Lawrence October 1, 1765 October 7, 1766 54 68
October 7, 1766 October 6, 1767 69
40 Isaac Jones October 6, 1767 October 4, 1768 55 70
October 4, 1768 October 3, 1769 71
41 Samuel Shoemaker October 3, 1769 October 2, 1770 56 72
October 2, 1770 October 1, 1771 73
42 John Gibson October 1, 1771 October 6, 1772 57 74
October 6, 1772 October 5, 1773 75
43 William Fisher October 5, 1773 October 4, 1774 58 76
44 Samuel Rhoads October 4, 1774 October 5, 1775 59 77
45 Samuel Powel October 5, 1775 July 4, 1776 60 78

Post-independence mayors elected by the common council

No. Mayor Term start Term end Party Mayorship Term
(45)   Samuel Powel April 11, 1789 April 12, 1790 Federalist 61 79
46   Samuel Miles April 12, 1790 April 13, 1791 Federalist 62 80
47   John Barclay April 13, 1791 April 13, 1792 Federalist 63 81
48   Matthew Clarkson April 13, 1792 April 3, 1793 Federalist 64 82
April 3, 1793 April 15, 1794 83
April 15, 1794 April 6, 1795 84
April 6, 1795 May 5, 1796 85
May 5, 1796 October 18, 1796 86
49   Hilary Baker October 18, 1796 October 17, 1797 Federalist 65 87
October 17, 1797 October 16, 1798 88
50   Robert Wharton October 16, 1798 October 11, 1799 Federalist 66 89
October 11, 1799 October 21, 1800 90
51   John Inskeep October 21, 1800 October 16, 1801 Federalist 67 91
52   Matthew Lawler October 16, 1801 October 19, 1802 Democratic-
Republican		 68 92
October 19, 1802 October 18, 1803 93
October 18, 1803 October 16, 1804 94
October 16, 1804 October 15, 1805 95
(51)   John Inskeep October 15, 1805 October 21, 1806 Federalist 69 96
(50)   Robert Wharton October 21, 1806 October 20, 1807 Federalist 70 97
October 20, 1807 October 18, 1808 98
53   John Barker October 18, 1808 October 17, 1809 Democratic-
Republican		 71 99
October 17, 1809 October 16, 1810 100
(50)   Robert Wharton October 16, 1810 October 15, 1811 Federalist 72 101
54   Michael Keppele October 15, 1811 October 20, 1812 Democratic-
Republican		 73 102
(53)   John Barker October 20, 1812 October 19, 1813 Democratic-
Republican		 74 103
55   John Geyer October 19, 1813 October 18, 1814 Democratic-
Republican		 75 104
(50)   Robert Wharton October 18, 1814 October 17, 1815 Federalist 76 105
October 17, 1815 October 15, 1816 106
October 15, 1816 October 21, 1817 107
October 21, 1817 October 20, 1818 108
October 20, 1818 October 19, 1819 109
56   James N. Barker October 19, 1819 October 17, 1820 Democratic-
Republican		 77 110
(50)   Robert Wharton October 17, 1820 October 16, 1821 Federalist 78 111
October 16, 1821 October 15, 1822 112
October 15, 1822 October 21, 1823 113
October 21, 1823 October 19, 1824 114
57   Joseph Watson October 19, 1824 October 18, 1825 National
Republican		 79 115
October 18, 1825 October 18, 1826 116
October 18, 1826 October 16, 1827 117
October 16, 1827 October 21, 1828 118
58   George M. Dallas October 21, 1828 April 15, 1829 Democrat 80 119
59   Benjamin W. Richards April 15, 1829 October 20, 1829 Democratic 81 120
60   William Milnor October 20, 1829 October 19, 1830 National
Republican		 82 121
(59)   Benjamin W. Richards October 19, 1830 October 18, 1831 Democratic 83 122
October 18, 1831 October 16, 1832 123
61   John Swift October 16, 1832 October 15, 1833 Whig 84 124
October 15, 1833 October 21, 1834 125
October 21, 1834 October 20, 1835 126
October 20, 1835 October 18, 1836 127
October 18, 1836 October 17, 1837 128
October 17, 1837 October 16, 1838 129
62   Isaac Roach October 16, 1838 October 15, 1839 Democratic 85 130

Mayors chosen by popular election

No. Image Mayor Term start Term end Party Mayorship Term
(61)   John-Swift-Mayor-of-Philadelphia-e1486412581340 (1).jpg John Swift October 15, 1839 October 20, 1840 Whig 86 131
October 20, 1840 October 19, 1841 132
63   John Morin Scott, 1789-1858.(page 242 crop).jpg John M. Scott October 19, 1841 October 18, 1842 Whig 87 133
October 18, 1842 October 10, 1843 134
October 10, 1843 October 15, 1844 135
64   Albrect Bernhard Uhle (1847-1930), Portrait of Peter McCall (1809-1880) (cropped).jpg Peter McCall October 15, 1844 October 21, 1845 Whig 88 136
(61)   John-Swift-Mayor-of-Philadelphia-e1486412581340 (1).jpg John Swift October 21, 1845 October 20, 1846 Whig 89 137
October 20, 1846 October 19, 1847 138
October 19, 1847 October 17, 1848 139
October 17, 1848 October 16, 1849 140
65   Joel Jones (1795–1860).png Joel Jones October 16, 1849 October 15, 1850 Democratic 90 141
66   Charles Gilpin.png Charles Gilpin October 15, 1850 October 21, 1851 Whig 91 142
October 21, 1851 October 19, 1852 143
October 19, 1852 October 18, 1853 144
October 18, 1853 June 13, 1854 145

Mayors elected following the Act of Consolidation

No. Image Mayor Term start Term end Party Mayorship Term
67   Robert T. Conrad.jpg Robert T. Conrad June 13, 1854 May 13, 1856 Whig 92 146
68   Richard Vaux portrait photograph (1).jpg Richard Vaux May 13, 1856 May 11, 1858 Democratic 93 147
69   Alexander Henry (1).jpg Alexander Henry May 11, 1858 May 8, 1860 Republican 94 148
May 8, 1860 January 1, 1863 149
January 1, 1863 January 1, 1866 150
70   Portrait of Morton McMichael from Men of the Century, 1896.png Morton McMichael January 1, 1866 January 1, 1869 Republican 95 151
71   Daniel M. Fox January 1, 1869 January 1, 1872 Democratic 96 152
72   William Stokley.jpg William S. Stokley January 1, 1872 January 1, 1875 Republican 97 153
January 1, 1875 January 1, 1878 154
January 1, 1878 April 4, 1881 155
73   Samuel George King.jpg Samuel G. King April 4, 1881 April 7, 1884 Democratic 98 156
74   William Burns Smith.jpg William B. Smith April 7, 1884 April 4, 1887 Republican 99 157
75   Edwin H. Fitler (Philadelphia Mayor).jpg Edwin H. Fitler April 4, 1887 April 6, 1891 Republican 100 158
76   Edwin S Stuart 1909.jpg Edwin S. Stuart April 6, 1891 April 1, 1895 Republican 101 159
77   CharlesFWarwick.tif Charles F. Warwick April 1, 1895 April 3, 1899 Republican 102 160
78   Samuel Ashbridge.jpg Samuel H. Ashbridge April 3, 1899 April 6, 1903 Republican 103 161
79   Mayor John Weaver (1).png John Weaver April 6, 1903 April 1, 1907 Republican 104 162
80   John Edgar Reyburn (Pennsylvania Congressman Philadelphia Mayor).jpg John E. Reyburn April 1, 1907 December 4, 1911 Republican 105 163
81   Portrait of Rudolph Blankenburg.jpg Rudolph Blankenburg December 4, 1911 January 3, 1916 Keystone 106 164
82   Thomas B. Smith at Franklin's Grave, Phila Pa.jpg Thomas B. Smith January 3, 1916 January 5, 1920 Republican 107 165
83   J. Hampton Moore LCCN2014708567.jpg J. Hampton Moore January 5, 1920 January 7, 1924 Republican 108 166
84   City of Philadelphia Mayor, W. Freeland Kendrick.jpg W. Freeland Kendrick January 7, 1924 January 2, 1928 Republican 109 167
85   Harry Arista Mackey (cropped).jpg Harry A. Mackey January 2, 1928 January 4, 1932 Republican 110 168
(83)   J. Hampton Moore LCCN2014708567.jpg J. Hampton Moore January 4, 1932 January 6, 1936 Republican 111 169
86   Samuel Davis Wilson - Washington (1).jpg Samuel D. Wilson January 6, 1936 August 19, 1939 Republican 112 170
87   George Connell August 9, 1939 January 1, 1940 Republican 113 171
88   Robert E. Lamberton January 1, 1940 August 22, 1941 Republican 114 172
89   Bernard Samuel August 22, 1941 January 3, 1944 Republican 115 173
January 3, 1944 January 5, 1948 174
January 5, 1948 January 7, 1952 175

Mayors elected under the Home Rule Charter of 1951

No. Image Mayor Term start Term end Party Mayorship Term
90   Joseph S. Clark Jr. 1957.jpg Joseph S. Clark Jr. January 7, 1952 January 2, 1956 Democratic 116 176
91   Richardson Dilworth 1947 Edit.jpg Richardson Dilworth January 2, 1956 January 4, 1960 Democratic 117 177
January 4, 1960 February 13, 1962 178
92   James H. J. Tate 1962 (a).jpg James Tate February 13, 1962 January 6, 1964 Democratic 118 179
January 6, 1964 January 1, 1968 180
January 1, 1968 January 3, 1972 181
93   Frank Rizzo 1972 (1).jpg Frank Rizzo January 3, 1972 January 5, 1976 Democratic 119 182
January 5, 1976 January 7, 1980 183
94   William J. Green III (PA Mayor).png William J. Green III January 7, 1980 January 2, 1984 Democratic 120 184
95   Wilson Goode (1).jpg Wilson Goode January 2, 1984 January 4, 1988 Democratic 121 185
January 4, 1988 January 6, 1992 186
96   Mayor Ed Rendell.jpg Ed Rendell January 6, 1992 January 1, 1996 Democratic 122 187
January 1, 1996 January 3, 2000 188
97   John F Street.jpg John F. Street January 3, 2000 January 5, 2004 Democratic 123 189
January 5, 2004 January 7, 2008 190
98   Michael Nutter (cropped).jpg Michael Nutter January 7, 2008 January 2, 2012 Democratic 124 191
January 2, 2012 January 4, 2016 192
99   Jim Kenney (2019) (cropped).jpg Jim Kenney January 4, 2016 January 7, 2020 Democratic 125 193
January 7, 2020 January 1, 2024 194
100   Councilmember Cherelle Parker.jpg Cherelle Parker January 2, 2024 incumbent Democratic 126 195

See also

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