List of mayors of Boston, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Mayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
. The Mayor’s Office is in Boston City Hall
Boston City Hall
Boston City Hall is the seat of the municipal government of Boston, Massachusetts. Architecturally, it is an example of the brutalist style. It was designed by Kallmann McKinnell & Knowles...
, in Government Center
Government Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Government Center is an area in downtown Boston, bounded by Cambridge, Court, Congress, and Sudbury Streets. Formerly the site of Scollay Square, it is now the location of Boston City Hall, two Suffolk County courthouses, two state office buildings, and two federal office buildings, a major MBTA...
. There was no Mayor of Boston until 1822 because up to that point Boston was still incorporated as a town. The current mayor is Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
.
This is a list of the mayors of Boston, Massachusetts. "A" denotes an acting mayor:
| # | Mayor | Picture | Term | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | John Phillips John Phillips (mayor) John Phillips was an American politician, serving as the first mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1822 to 1823. He was the father of abolitionist Wendell Phillips.-Biography:... |
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May 1, 1822 – May 1, 1823 | Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801... |
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| 2nd | Josiah Quincy III Josiah Quincy III Josiah Quincy III was a U.S. educator and political figure. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives , Mayor of Boston , and President of Harvard University... |
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May 1, 1823 – January 5, 1829 | Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801... |
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| 3rd | Harrison Gray Otis Harrison Gray Otis (lawyer) Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists... |
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January 5, 1829 – January 2, 1832 | Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801... |
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| 4th | Charles Wells Charles Wells (politician) Charles Wells was an American politician, who served in both branches of the Massachusetts legislature, as a member of Boston's Common Council in 1822, on the Board of Aldermen from 1829 to 1830 and as the fourth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1832 to 1833.-Marriage and family:Wells married... |
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January 2, 1832 – January 6, 1834 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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| 5th | Theodore Lyman Theodore Lyman (militiaman) Theodore Lyman II was an American philanthropist, politician, and author, born in Boston, the son of Theodore Lyman and Lydia Pickering Williams. He graduated at Harvard in 1810, visited Europe , studied law, and with Edward Everett, revisited Europe in 1817-19... |
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January 6, 1834 – January 4, 1836 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... and Workingmen parties |
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| 6th | Samuel T. Armstrong Samuel Turell Armstrong Samuel Turell Armstrong was a U.S. political figure. Born in 1784 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he was a bookseller in Boston, and among other works published a stereotype edition of Scott's family Bible, which was widely circulated.Orphaned at the age of thirteen, Samuel Armstrong attended public... |
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January 4, 1836 – January 1, 1838 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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| 7th | Samuel A. Eliot Samuel Atkins Eliot (politician) Samuel Atkins Eliot , was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts.... |
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January 1, 1838 – January 6, 1840 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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| 8th | Jonathan Chapman Jonathan Chapman Jonathan Chapman was an American politician, serving as the eighth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1840 to 1842.Chapman's father also named Jonathan Chapman served as a member of the Town of Boston's Board of Selectmen.... |
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January 6, 1840 – January 2, 1843 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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| 9th | Martin Brimmer Martin Brimmer Martin Brimmer was an American businessman and politician, who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, in the Boston Board of Alderman, and as the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.-Early life:... |
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January 2, 1843 – January 6, 1845 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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| A | William Parker William Parker (Boston) William Parker was an American businessman and politician, who served as acting mayor of Boston, Massachusetts in early 1845.-Early life:Parker was one of thirteen children... |
January 6, 1845 – February 27, 1845 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
From the close of Mayor Brimmer's term on January 6, 1845 until his successor Thomas Aspinwall Davis Thomas Aspinwall Davis Thomas Aspinwall Davis was a silversmith and businessman who served as mayor of Boston for nine months in 1845.-Early life:... assumed office on February 27, 1845, William Parker, Chairman of the Board of Aldermen, performed the duties of mayor. Parker ran for mayor but lost to Davis in the election held on February 21, 1845. |
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| 10th | Thomas Aspinwall Davis Thomas Aspinwall Davis Thomas Aspinwall Davis was a silversmith and businessman who served as mayor of Boston for nine months in 1845.-Early life:... |
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February 27, 1845 – November 22, 1845 | Native American Party | Died in office, November 22, 1845 |
| A | Benson Leavitt Benson Leavitt Benson Leavitt was a Boston, Massachusetts, businessman, born in New Hampshire, who served as an Alderman of Boston, and later as Acting Mayor after the incumbent became incapacitated and died while in office.... |
November 22, 1845 – December 11, 1845 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
Chairman of the Board of Aldermen served as Acting Mayor from November 22, 1845 to December 11, 1845. | |
| 11th | Josiah Quincy, Jr. Josiah Quincy, Jr. Josiah Quincy, Jr. was mayor of Boston , as was his father Josiah Quincy III and grandson Josiah Quincy . He was the author of Figures in the Past . As a member of the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1837, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Massachusetts Board of Education... |
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December 11, 1845 – January 1, 1849 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
After he was elected Mayor on December 8, 1845 for the term beginning January 5, 1846, Quincy was appointed by the City Council, on December 11, 1845, to serve out Mayor Davis' term. |
| 12th | John P. Bigelow John P. Bigelow John Prescott Bigelow was an American politician, who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Secretary of State of Massachusetts, and most prominently as the twelfth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1849 to 1851... |
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January 1, 1849 – January 5, 1852 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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| 13th | Benjamin Seaver Benjamin Seaver Benjamin Seaver was an American politician, serving as the thirteenth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from January 5, 1852 to January 2, 1854.... |
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January 5, 1852 – January 2, 1854 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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| 14th | Jerome V.C. Smith Jerome V.C. Smith Jerome Van Croninsfield Smith was an American politician, serving as the fourteenth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1854 to 1855.... |
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January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856 | Native American Party | |
| 15th | Alexander H. Rice Alexander H. Rice Alexander Hamilton Rice was Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1856–1857, a U.S. Congressman during the American Civil War, and the 30th Governor of Massachusetts from 1876–78.-Biography:... |
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January 7, 1856 – January 4, 1858 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... and Citizens |
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| 16th | Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr. Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr. (politician) Frederic Walker Lincoln, Jr. was an American manufacturer and politician, serving as the sixteenth and eighteenth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1858–1860 and 1863–1867, respectively.-Notes:... |
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January 4, 1858 – January 7, 1861 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... and Fanueuil Hall Candidate |
A Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... , in the 1857 election Lincoln was a so called Fanueuil Hall candidate; he was put forward by a group of citizens who had gathered at Fanueuil Hall. |
| 17th | Joseph Wightman Joseph Wightman Joseph Milner Wightman was an American politician who, from 1861 to 1863, served as the seventeenth Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.-Early years:... |
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January 7, 1861 January 5, 1863 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Two terms |
| 18th | Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr. Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr. (politician) Frederic Walker Lincoln, Jr. was an American manufacturer and politician, serving as the sixteenth and eighteenth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1858–1860 and 1863–1867, respectively.-Notes:... |
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January 5, 1863 – January 7, 1867 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Second time |
| 19th | Otis Norcross Otis Norcross Otis C. Norcross served as the nineteenth Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, from January 7, 1867 to January 6, 1868 during the Reconstruction era of the United States... |
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January 7, 1867 – January 6, 1868 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... ; former "Webster Whig" |
His time in office was "conducted upon purely business principles, employing the adoption of a 'rigid economy'." |
| 20th | Nathaniel B. Shurtleff Nathaniel B. Shurtleff Nathaniel Bradstreet Shurtleff, Sr. was an American politician, serving as the twentieth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from January 6, 1868 to January 2, 1871.... |
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January 6, 1868 – January 2, 1871 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Shurtleff, who had been the defeated Know-Nothing candidate in 1855, was elected mayor in 1867 as a Democrat. |
| 21st | William Gaston William Gaston (Massachusetts) William Gaston was the 29th Governor of Massachusetts in 1875-1876.William Gaston had established a successful legal practice in the City of Roxbury, Massachusetts before entering politics. He served as a Representative in the State Legislature , as Roxbury's City Solicitor , and as its Mayor... |
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January 2, 1871 – January 6, 1873 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 22nd | Henry L. Pierce Henry L. Pierce Henry Lillie Pierce was a United States Representative fromMassachusetts. He was born in Stoughton on August 23, 1825. He pursued... |
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January 6, 1873 – November 29, 1873 | Non Partisan | Normally a Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... , Pierce was elected mayor as an independent non-partisan candidate. Pierce resigned after he was elected to fill the vacancy in the United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... caused by the death of William Whiting William Whiting (politician) William Whiting was a United States Representative from Massachusetts. He was born in Concord on March 3, 1813. He attended Concord Academy and graduated from Harvard University. He taught school in Plymouth and Concord. Whiting graduated from Harvard Law School in 1838. He was admitted to the... . |
| A | Leonard R. Cutter Leonard R. Cutter Leonard Richardson Cutter , Chairman of the Board of Aldermen of Boston, Massachusetts, ascended on November 29, 1873 to the office of Acting Mayor, with all the powers of mayor except that he did not have mayoral veto authority. Cutter served out the term of Henry L... |
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November 29, 1873 – January 5, 1874 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Acting Mayor after Pierce resigns to serve in Congress United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... . |
| 24th | Samuel C. Cobb Samuel C. Cobb Samuel Crocker Cobb, was a businessman and politician who served on the city councils of the cities Roxbury, Massachusetts and Boston, Massachusetts and who served three consecutive terms as the Mayor of Boston.- Early life:... |
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January 5, 1874 – January 1, 1877 | Non Partisan | |
| 25th | Frederick O. Prince Frederick O. Prince Frederick Octavius Prince was an American lawyer, politician, and mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.He was the father of financier Frederick H. Prince.-Biography:... |
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January 1, 1877 – January 7, 1878 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 26th | Henry L. Pierce Henry L. Pierce Henry Lillie Pierce was a United States Representative fromMassachusetts. He was born in Stoughton on August 23, 1825. He pursued... |
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January 7, 1878 – January 6, 1879 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Second time |
| 27th | Frederick O. Prince Frederick O. Prince Frederick Octavius Prince was an American lawyer, politician, and mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.He was the father of financier Frederick H. Prince.-Biography:... |
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January 6, 1879 – January 2, 1882 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Second time |
| 28th | Samuel A. Green Samuel Abbott Green Samuel Abbott Green was an American politician from Massachusetts who served as mayor of Boston in 1882.-Biography:... |
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January 2, 1882 – January 1, 1883 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... and Citizens |
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| 29th | Albert Palmer |  |
January 1, 1883 – January 7, 1884 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 30th | Augustus P. Martin Augustus Pearl Martin Augustus Pearl Martin was an American politician and soldier from Massachusetts who served as the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, in 1884. He also was a leading artillery officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was the leader of the state's Military Order of the Loyal Legion of... |
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January 7, 1884 – January 5, 1885 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... and Citizens |
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| 31st | Hugh O'Brien Hugh O'Brien Hugh O'Brien was the 31st mayor of Boston, from 1884–1888. O'Brien is notable as Boston's first Irish mayor, having emigrated from Ireland to America in the early 1830s... |
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January 5, 1885 – January 7, 1889 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
First Irish Mayor of Boston |
| 32nd | Thomas N. Hart Thomas N. Hart Thomas Norton Hart was an American manufacturer, businessman, and politician from Massachusetts who served as mayor of Boston from 1889 to 1890 and from 1900 to 1902.- References :... |
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January 7, 1889–1890 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
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| 33rd | Nathan Matthews, Jr. Nathan Matthews, Jr. Nathan Matthews, Jr. was an American politician from Massachusetts who served as Mayor of Boston from 1891–1894.-Biography:... |
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1891–1894 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 34th | Edwin Upton Curtis Edwin Upton Curtis Edwin Upton Curtis was an American attorney and politician from Massachusetts who served as the 34th Mayor of Boston in 1895... |
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1895–1895 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
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| 35th | Josiah Quincy |  |
1896–1899 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 36th | Thomas N. Hart Thomas N. Hart Thomas Norton Hart was an American manufacturer, businessman, and politician from Massachusetts who served as mayor of Boston from 1889 to 1890 and from 1900 to 1902.- References :... |
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1900–1902 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Second time |
| 37th | Patrick Collins Patrick Collins (mayor) Patrick Andrew Collins was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and mayor of Boston.-Early life:Patrick Collins was born March 12, 1844 near Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.... |
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1902–1905 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| A | Daniel A. Whelton Daniel A. Whelton Daniel Aloysius Whelton was an American political figure. Whelton was the first native-born Irish-Catholic mayor of Boston, Massachusetts and remains the youngest person to hold that political office.... |
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1905–1906 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Acting mayor after Collins died in office; First native born Irish Mayor; First Native Born Catholic Mayor |
| 38th | John F. Fitzgerald |  |
1906–1908 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 39th | George A. Hibbard George A. Hibbard George Albee Hibbard was a U.S. political figure. Hibbard was the Mayor of Boston from 1908 to 1910.-Election as Mayor:... |
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1908–1910 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
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| 40th | John F. Fitzgerald | |
1910–1914 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Second time |
| 41st | James M. Curley James Michael Curley James Michael Curley was an American politician famous for his four terms as mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. He also served twice in the United States House of Representatives and one term as 53rd Governor of Massachusetts.-Early life:Curley's father, Michael Curley, left Oughterard, County... |
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1914–1918 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 42nd | Andrew J. Peters Andrew James Peters Andrew James Peters was an American politician. He was born on April 3, 1872 in Jamaica Plain, a section of Boston. His family had been in Massachusetts since the first Andrew Peters arrived there in 1657. Peters attended Harvard University and Harvard Law School. He served two terms in the... |
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1918–1922 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 43rd | James M. Curley James Michael Curley James Michael Curley was an American politician famous for his four terms as mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. He also served twice in the United States House of Representatives and one term as 53rd Governor of Massachusetts.-Early life:Curley's father, Michael Curley, left Oughterard, County... |
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1922–1926 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Second time |
| 44th | Malcolm Nichols Malcolm Nichols Malcolm E. Nichols was a Journalist and a U.S. political figure. Nichols served as the mayor of Boston in the late 1920s as well as the last Republican to serve in that post to date.-Family life:... |
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1926–1930 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Last Republican elected to date. |
| 45th | James M. Curley James Michael Curley James Michael Curley was an American politician famous for his four terms as mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. He also served twice in the United States House of Representatives and one term as 53rd Governor of Massachusetts.-Early life:Curley's father, Michael Curley, left Oughterard, County... |
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1930–1934 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Third time |
| 46th | Frederick Mansfield Frederick Mansfield Frederick William Mansfield was a U.S. political figure.-Early life:Mansfield was born in East Boston, Massachusetts, March 26, 1877. Mansfield was the son of Michael Read Mansfield and Catherine Mansfield.... |
1934–1938 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| 47th | Maurice J. Tobin Maurice J. Tobin Maurice Joseph Tobin was a Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, the 56th Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, and U.S. Secretary of Labor.... |
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1938–1945 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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| A | John E. Kerrigan John E. Kerrigan John E. Kerrigan was the acting mayor ofBoston in 1945 when Maurice J. Tobin was elected Governor. Kerrigan waslater given full mayoral powers by the Legislature but was defeated in... |
1945–1946 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Acting mayor after Tobin elected Governor | |
| 48th | James M. Curley James Michael Curley James Michael Curley was an American politician famous for his four terms as mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. He also served twice in the United States House of Representatives and one term as 53rd Governor of Massachusetts.-Early life:Curley's father, Michael Curley, left Oughterard, County... |
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1946–1950 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Fourth time; jailed for 5 months during term |
| A | John B. Hynes John Hynes John B. Hynes , a Massachusetts politician, was mayor of Boston 1950-1960.Family backgroundHynes was the son of Bernard Hynes, Abbey Street, Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland, who emigrated to Boston about 1890... |
1947 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Acting mayor during incarceration of Curley | |
| 49th | John B. Hynes John Hynes John B. Hynes , a Massachusetts politician, was mayor of Boston 1950-1960.Family backgroundHynes was the son of Bernard Hynes, Abbey Street, Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland, who emigrated to Boston about 1890... |
1950–1960 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Three terms | |
| 50th | John F. Collins John F. Collins John Frederick Collins was the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States from 1960 to 1968.-Biography:John Collins was born in Roxbury, Boston on July 20, 1919. In 1941 he graduated from Suffolk University Law School. He served a tour in the Army during World War II and four years later was... |
1960–1968 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Two terms | |
| 51st | Kevin H. White | 1968–1984 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Four terms | |
| 52nd | Raymond L. Flynn Raymond Flynn Raymond Leo Flynn , also known as Ray Flynn, served as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton.-Early life:... |
January 2, 1984 – July 12, 1993 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Three terms | |
| 53rd | Thomas M. Menino Thomas Menino Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor... |
|
July 12, 1993 – Present | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Incumbent; fifth term; longest-serving mayor to date |
Living former mayors
Currently, there are two former mayors who are still alive, the older being Kevin H. White (1968–1984, born 1929). The most recent mayor to die was John F. CollinsJohn F. Collins
John Frederick Collins was the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States from 1960 to 1968.-Biography:John Collins was born in Roxbury, Boston on July 20, 1919. In 1941 he graduated from Suffolk University Law School. He served a tour in the Army during World War II and four years later was...
(1960–1968), on November 23, 1995.
| Name | Mayoral term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin H. White | 1968–1984 | September 25, 1929 |
| Raymond L. Flynn Raymond Flynn Raymond Leo Flynn , also known as Ray Flynn, served as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton.-Early life:... |
1984–1993 | July 22, 1939 |
See also
- Past Members of the Boston City Council
- Mayors of Charlestown, Massachusetts.
- Mayors of Roxbury, Massachusetts.