List of mayors of Wilmington, Delaware facts for kids

The mayor of Wilmington, Delaware is like the main leader of the city's government. They are in charge of making sure the city runs smoothly, following the rules set by the city's official document, called a charter. The person who is currently the mayor of Wilmington is John Carney. He will start his term in 2025.

Mayors of Wilmington, Delaware

First mayor Richard H. Bayard

20th mayor William G. Whiteley

Wilmington officially became a city in 1832. Since then, many people have served as its mayor. The mayor's job is very important for the city's residents.

Mayors of Wilmington, Delaware

Rank	Image	Mayor	Start	End	Party	Note
1		Richard Bayard	1832	1834	Whig	Wilmington became a city in 1832.
2		Nicholas Williamson	1834	1843	Whig
3		David C. Wilson	1843	1845	Whig
4		Alexander Porter	1845	1848	Whig
5		William Huffington	1848	1850	Democratic
6		Joshua Driver	1850	1851
7		Columbus Evans	1851	1852	Whig	He was the editor of the Delaware Republican newspaper.
8		William Hemphill Jones	1852	1853		He was the first mayor chosen by a public vote.
9		John Alderdice	1853	1854		He published The Journal newspaper.
10		Heyward, James F.	1854	1855
11		William Wiggins	1855	1856
12		William Huffington	1856	1857	Democratic	He served more than one term, but not back-to-back.
13		George Sparks	1857	1858
14		Thomas Young	1858	1860
15		Vincent Glipin	1860	1863
16		John Turner	1863	1865
17		Joshua Maris	1865	1867
18		Joshua Valentine	1867	1872
19		Joshua Simms	1872	1875	Democratic
20		William G. Whiteley	1875	1878	Democratic
21		John Allmond	1878	1882
22		John Wales	1882	1885		He was the son of Senator John Wales.
23		Calvin Rhoads	1885	1891	Democratic	He was also a choir director.
		Sandsbury Wiley	1891	1893	Republican	The mayor's term changed to two years.
		E. G. Shortridge	1893	1894	Republican
		Charles Jefferies	1895	?	Democratic
		John Fahey	1899	?	Democratic
		George Fisher	1903	1903
		Charles Bird	1903	?	Democratic
		Horace Wilson	1905	1907	Republican
		Harrison Howell	1911	1915	Republican
		John Lawson	1919	?
		LeRoy Harvey	1921	1923?		He started the Wilmington Music School.
		William Taylor	?	1925	Republican	He was lost at sea.
		George Forrest	1923	1931		He was the first intern at Delaware Hospital.
		Frank Sparks	1931	1933	Republican
		William Speer	1933	1935	Democratic
		Walter Bacon	1935	1940	Republican	He left office when he was elected governor.
		Albert James	1941	1944	Republican	He finished Governor Bacon's term.
		Thomas Herlihy	1945	1946	Republican	He resigned to become Chief Judge of Municipal Court.
		Joseph Wilson	1947	1949	Republican
		James Hearn	1949	1953	Republican
		August Walz	1954	1955	Republican
47		Eugene Lammot	1957	1960	Democratic	He resigned when he was elected Lt. Governor.
48		John Babiarz	1961	1969	Democratic	He was mayor during the 1968 Occupation.
49		Harry Haskell	1969	1973	Republican
50		Thomas Maloney	1973	1977	Democratic
51		William McLaughlin	1977	1984	Democratic
52		Daniel Frawley	1985	1993	Democratic	A stadium is named after him.
53		James Sills	1993	2001	Democratic	He was the first African American mayor of Wilmington.
54		James Baker	2001	2013	Democratic	He was the first mayor to serve three 4-year terms.
55		Dennis Williams	2013	2017	Democratic	He also served in the Delaware House of Representatives.
56		Mike Purzycki	2017	2025	Democratic	He led the successful Riverfront redevelopment project.
57		John Carney	2025	Incumbent	Democratic	He is the first mayor who previously served as State Governor.

Chief Burgesses of Wilmington

Before Wilmington became a city with a mayor, it was a "borough." A borough is a type of town or district. The leader of a borough was called a Chief Burgess. These leaders helped manage Wilmington before it grew into the city we know today.

More About Delaware Leaders

• Timeline of Wilmington, Delaware
• List of governors of Delaware
• List of lieutenant governors of Delaware
• List of United States senators from Delaware
• List of United States representatives from Delaware