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mayor of Boston

{{Short description|Head of municipal government in Boston, Massachusetts, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = Mayor

| body = Boston

| native_name =

| flag =

| flagsize =

| flagborder =

| flagcaption =

| insignia = Seal of the Office of the Mayor of the City of Boston.png

| insigniasize =

| insigniacaption = Seal

| image = Michelle Wu 53455940403 bd5ebc2ca6 o (2).jpg

| imagesize =

| alt =

| incumbent = Michelle Wu

| acting = no

| incumbentsince = November 16, 2021

| type = Chief executive

| status =

| department =

| style = His/Her Honor

| abbreviation =

| member_of = Board of Aldermen
(1822-1854)

| reports_to =

| residence = None official

| seat = Boston City Hall

| nominator = Non-partisan nominating petition

| appointer = Popular vote

| appointer_qualified =

| termlength = Four years

| termlength_qualified =

| constituting_instrument = Boston City Charter

| precursor = Boston Board of Selectmen

| formation = Original Post:
1822
Current form:
1909

| first = John Phillips

| last =

| abolished =

| succession =

| unofficial_names =

| deputy =

| salary = $199,000 (2018)

| website = {{URL|https://www.boston.gov/departments/mayors-office}}

}}

{{Sidebar

| style =

| name=

| outertitle=

| pretitle =

| title = Boston mayoral elections

| image =

| headingstyle =

| contentstyle =

| above =

| heading1 =

| content1 =

One-year terms:

1854

1855

1856

1857

1858

1859

1860

1861

1862

1863

1864

1865

1866

1867

1868

1869

1870

1871

1872

1873

1874

1875

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880

1881

1882

1883

1884

1885

1886

1887

1888

1889

1890

1891

1892

1893

1894


Two-year terms:

1895

1897

1899

1901

1903

1905

1907


Four-year terms:

1910

1914

1917

1921

1925

1929

1933

1937

1941

1945

1949

1951

1955

1959

1963

1967

1971

1975

1979

1983

1987

1991

1993

1997

2001

2005

2009

2013

2017

2021

2025

 

}}

The mayor of Boston is the head of the municipal government in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Boston has a mayor–council government. Boston's mayoral elections are nonpartisan (as are all municipal elections in Boston), and elect a mayor to a four-year term; there are no term limits. The mayor's office is in Boston City Hall, in Government Center.

The current mayor of Boston is Michelle Wu.

History

Prior to 1822, there was no mayor of Boston, because Boston was incorporated as a town. In Massachusetts, a town is typically governed by a town meeting, with a board of selectmen handling regular business. Boston was the first community in Massachusetts to receive a city charter, which was granted in 1822.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18595155/untitled/ |title=(untitled) |newspaper=Weekly Raleigh Register |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=3 |date=March 22, 1822 |access-date=March 24, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}} Under the terms of the new charter, the mayor was elected annually. In June 1895, the charter was amended, and the mayor's term was increased to two years.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116536375/charter-amended-part-1/ |title=Charter Amended |newspaper=The Boston Globe |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116536460/charter-amended-part-2/ 6] |date=June 2, 1895 |access-date=2023-01-15 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1909, the Republican-controlled state legislature enacted strong-mayor charter changes it hoped would dampen the rising power of Democratic Irish Americans.O'Neill, pp. 39–42 Adopted by public vote in the November 1909 general election, changes included extending the mayoral term to four years, and making the post formally non-partisan.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18384700/new_boston_charter_is_the_worst_defeat/ |title=New Boston Charter is the Worst Defeat Ever Given Boss Rule |newspaper=The Marion Daily Mirror |location=Marion, Ohio |date=November 3, 1909 |access-date=March 17, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}} The reforms did not have the intended effect; the first mayor elected under the new charter was Democrat John F. Fitzgerald ("Honey Fitz"), and every mayor since Republican Malcolm Nichols (1926–1930) has been known to be a Democrat.

In a bid to temper the rising power of James Michael Curley, the state legislature in 1918 passed legislation barring the mayor of Boston from serving consecutive terms in office;{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54325212/the-boston-globe/ |title=Report Bill to Stop Consecutive Terms |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=6 |date=February 26, 1918 |access-date=2023-01-15 |via=Newspapers.com}} Curley was prevented from running for re-election twice by this law (November 1925 and November 1933). The law was repealed in 1939,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116536795/elections-part-1/ |title=Elections |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116536895/elections-part-2/ 14] |date=November 8, 1939 |access-date=2023-01-15 |via=Newspapers.com}} after Curley's political career appeared to be in decline.Allison and Bulger, pp. 86–87

Another charter change was enacted in 1949, partly in response to Curley's fourth term (1946–1950), during which he served prison time for crimes committed in an earlier term. Changes included adding a preliminary election to narrow the field to two mayoral candidates in advance of the general election, changing the Boston City Council from having 22 members (one from each city ward) to having nine members (elected at-large), and giving the council ability to override some mayoral vetoes.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116537055/plan-a-wins-boston-to-get-new-charter/ |title=Plan A Wins; Boston to Get New Charter |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=1 |date=November 9, 1949 |access-date=2023-01-15 |via=Newspapers.com}} These changes went into effect in 1951, resulting in the first term of John B. Hynes being shortened to two years.

From 1951 through 1991, Boston mayoral elections were held the year before presidential elections (e.g. mayoral election in 1951, presidential election in 1952). Starting in 1993, due to the election held following Raymond Flynn's appointment as United States Ambassador to the Holy See, Boston mayoral elections are held the year following presidential elections (e.g. presidential election in 1992, mayoral election in 1993).

=Salary=

In June 2018, the council voted to increase the salary of the mayor to $207,000, effective after the mayoral election of November 2021 (term starting in January 2022); this increased the salary of councillors to $103,500, effective after the council elections of November 2019 (terms starting in January 2020). In October 2022, the council voted to increase the salary of the mayor to $250,000. {{cite news |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/06/29/editorial-elected-leaders-profit-as-we-pay/ |title=Editorial: Elected leaders profit as we pay |newspaper=Boston Herald |date=June 29, 2018 |access-date=March 23, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29817479/mayor_councilors_could_get_4_raises/ |title=Mayor, councilors could get 4% raises |first=Milton J. |last=Valencia |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=B5 |date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=March 23, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}

=Numbering=

There is no official count of Boston's mayors. The City of Boston does not number its mayors{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.gov/departments/archives-and-records-management/quick-look-bostons-history |title=Past Mayors of Boston |website=boston.gov |date=July 8, 2016 |access-date=March 22, 2021}} and numbering has been inconsistent over time. For example, Thomas Menino was referred to as the 47th mayor at the time he was sworn in,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74162723/new-council-support-seen-for-roache-as/ |title=New council support seen for Roache as president |first=Anthony |last=Flint |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=27 |date=January 1, 1998 |accessdate=March 23, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} yet his successor, Marty Walsh, was identified as the 54th.{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2014/01/06/is-walsh-mayor-54-or-48-or-58 |title=Is Walsh mayor 54? Or 48? Or 58? |first=Andrew |last=Ryan |website=Boston.com |date=January 6, 2014 |accessdate=March 23, 2021}} The Walsh administration cited Wikipedia for its use of 54.{{efn|This web page itself first applied numbers to the list of mayors in August 2007, without citing a specific source for the numbering.}} That numbering scheme counted persons who served as elected mayors and counted those who served non-consecutive terms more than once (for example, James Michael Curley served four non-consecutive terms and was counted four times), however, for reasons that are unclear, Leonard R. Cutter, who served as acting mayor in late 1873, was also included in the count. Kim Janey, who became acting mayor in March 2021, referred to herself as the 55th mayor.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/03/27/what-number-mayor-is-kim-janey-actually/ |title=Analysis: What number mayor is Kim Janey, actually? |first=Sean Philip |last=Cotter |website=Boston Herald |date=March 27, 2021 |accessdate=March 27, 2021}}

{{clear}}

{{visible anchor|List}} of mayors

class="wikitable sortable"

! rowspan=2 colspan=2 |Mayor

! colspan=2 |Term

! colspan=2 |In office

! rowspan=2 class=unsortable | 

! rowspan=2 style="border-left-style:hidden;padding:0.1em 0em"|Party

Start

! End

! Terms won

! Duration

data-sort-value=Philips, John| 95px

|{{sortname|John|Phillips|dab=mayor}}

| May 1, 1822

| May 1, 1823

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Federalist Party}}|

| Federalist

data-sort-value= Quincy, Josiah III|95px

| {{sortname|Josiah|Quincy III}}

| May 1, 1823

| January 5, 1829

| align=center| 6

| align=center| {{sort|05y08m|5 years, 8 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Federalist Party}}|

| Federalist

data-sort-value= Otis, Harrison G.|95px

| {{sortname|Harrison G.|Otis|Harrison Gray Otis (politician)}}

| January 5, 1829

| January 2, 1832

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y00m|3 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Federalist Party}}|

| Federalist

data-sort-value= Wells, Josiah III|95px

| {{sortname|Charles|Wells|dab=American politician}}

| January 2, 1832

| January 6, 1834

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value= Lyman, Theodore|95px

| {{sortname|Theodore|Lyman|dab=militiaman}}

| January 6, 1834

| January 4, 1836

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Armstrong, Samuel T.|95px

| {{sortname|Samuel T.|Armstrong|Samuel Turell Armstrong}}

| January 4, 1836

| January 1, 1837

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Eliot, Samuel A.|95px

| {{sortname|Samuel A.|Eliot|Samuel Atkins Eliot (politician)}}

| January 1, 1837

| January 6, 1840

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y00m|3 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Chapman, Jonathan|95px

| {{sortname|Jonathan|Chapman}}

| January 6, 1840

| January 2, 1843

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y00m|3 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Brimmer, Martin|95px

| {{sortname|Martin|Brimmer}}

| January 2, 1843

| January 6, 1845

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Parker, William|95px

| {{sortname|William|Parker|dab=Boston}} {{double dagger}}

| January 6, 1845

| February 27, 1845

| align=center| {{sort|0|—}}

| align=center| {{sort|00y02m|2 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Davis, Thomas Aspinwall|95px

| {{sortname|Thomas Aspinwall|Davis|Thomas Aspinwall Davis}} {{dagger}}

| February 27, 1845

| November 22, 1845

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|00y09m|9 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Know Nothing}}|

| Native American{{ref|KN|KN}}

data-sort-value=Leavitt, Benson|95px

| {{sortname|Benson|Leavitt}} {{double dagger}}

| November 22, 1845

| December 11, 1845

| align=center| {{sort|0|—}}

| align=center| {{sort|00y01m|1 month}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Quincy, Josiah IV.|95px

| {{sortname|Josiah|Quincy IV.}}

| December 11, 1845

| January 1, 1849

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y01m|3 years, 1 month}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Bigelow, John P.|95px

| {{sortname|John P.|Bigelow}}

| January 1, 1849

| January 5, 1852

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y00m|3 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Seaver, Benjamin|95px

| {{sortname|Benjamin|Seaver}}

| January 5, 1852

| January 2, 1854

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

| Whig

data-sort-value=Smith, Jerome V. C.|95px

| {{sortname|Jerome V. C.|Smith}}

| January 2, 1854

| January 7, 1856

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Know Nothing}}|

| American{{ref|KN|KN}}

data-sort-value=Rice, Alexander H.|95px

| {{sortname|Alexander H.|Rice}}

| January 7, 1856

| January 4, 1858

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Independent}}|

| Independent

data-sort-value=Lincoln, Frederic W. Jr.|95px

| {{sortname|Frederic W.|Lincoln Jr.}}

| January 4, 1858

| January 7, 1861

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y00m|3 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value=Wightman, Joseph|95px

| {{sortname|Joseph|Wightman}}

| January 7, 1861

| January 5, 1863

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Lincoln, Frederic W. Jr.|95px

| {{sortname|Frederic W.|Lincoln Jr.}}

| January 5, 1863

| January 7, 1867

| align=center| 4

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value=Norcross, Otis|95px

| {{sortname|Otis|Norcross}}

| January 7, 1867

| January 6, 1868

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value=Shurtleff, Nathaniel B.|95px

| {{sortname|Nathaniel B.|Shurtleff}}

| January 6, 1868

| January 2, 1871

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y00m|3 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Gaston, William|95px

| {{sortname|William|Gaston|dab=Massachusetts politician}}

| January 2, 1871

| January 6, 1873

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Pierce, Henry L. |95px

| {{sortname|Henry L.|Pierce}}

| January 6, 1873

| November 29, 1873

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|00y11m|11 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Independent (politician)}}|

| None

data-sort-value=Cutter, Leonard|95px

| {{sortname|Leonard R.|Cutter}} {{double dagger}}

| November 29, 1873

| January 5, 1874

| align=center| {{sort|0|—}}

| align=center| {{sort|00y01m|1 month}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Cobb, Samuel|95px

| {{sortname|Samuel C.|Cobb}}

| January 5, 1874

| January 1, 1877

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y00m|3 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Independent (politician)}}|

| None

data-sort-value=Prince, Frederick O.|95px

| {{sortname|Frederick O.|Prince}}

| January 1, 1877

| January 7, 1878

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Pierce, Henry L. |95px

| {{sortname|Henry L.|Pierce}}

| January 7, 1878

| January 6, 1879

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value=Prince, Frederick O.|95px

| {{sortname|Frederick O.|Prince}}

| January 6, 1879

| January 2, 1882

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|03y00m|3 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Green, Samuel Abbott|95px

| {{sortname|Samuel A.|Green|Samuel Abbott Green}}

| January 2, 1882

| January 1, 1883

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value=Palmer, Albert|95px

| {{sortname|Albert|Palmer|dab=American politician}}

| January 1, 1883

| January 7, 1884

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Martin, Augustus Pearl|95px

| {{sortname|Augustus Pearl|Martin|Augustus Pearl Martin}}

| January 7, 1884

| January 5, 1885

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value=O'Brien, Hugh|95px

| {{sortname|Hugh|O'Brien}}

| January 5, 1885

| January 7, 1889

| align=center| 4

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Hart, Thomas N.|95px

| {{sortname|Thomas N.|Hart}}

| January 7, 1889

| December 31, 1890

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value=Matthews, Nattan Jr. |95px

| {{sortname|Nathan|Matthews Jr.}}

| January 1, 1891

| January 7, 1895

| align=center| 4

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Curtis, Edwin Upton|95px

| {{sortname|Edwin Upton|Curtis}}

| January 7, 1895

| January 6, 1896

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

class=sortbottom

| colspan=8|{{center|Mayoral term increased to two years.}}

data-sort-value=Quincy, Josiah|95px

| {{sortname|Josiah|Quincy|dab=1859–1919}}

| January 6, 1896

| January 1, 1900

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Hart, Thomas N.|95px

| {{sortname|Thomas N.|Hart}}

| January 1, 1900

| January 6, 1902

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value=Collins, Patrick|95px

| {{sortname|Patrick|Collins|dab=mayor}} {{dagger}}

| January 6, 1902

| September 13, 1905

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|03y09m|3 years, 9 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Whelton, Daniel A.|95px

| {{sortname|Daniel A.|Whelton}} {{double dagger}}

| September 15, 1905

| January 1, 1906

| align=center| {{sort|0|—}}

| align=center| {{sort|00y03m|3 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Fitzgerald, John F.|95px

| {{sortname|John F.|Fitzgerald}}

| January 1, 1906

| January 6, 1908

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Hibbar, George A.|95px

| {{sortname|George A.|Hibbard}}

| January 6, 1908

| February 7, 1910

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|02y00m|2 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

class=sortbottom

| colspan=8|{{center|Mayoral term increased to four years.}}

data-sort-value=Fitzgerald, John F.|95px

| {{sortname|John F.|Fitzgerald}}

| February 7, 1910

| February 2, 1914

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Curley, James Michael| 95px

| {{sortname|James Michael|Curley}}

| February 2, 1914

| February 4, 1918

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Peters, Andrew J.|95px

| {{sortname|Andrew J.|Peters|Andrew James Peters}}

| February 4, 1918

| February 6, 1922

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Curley, James Michael| 95px

| {{sortname|James Michael|Curley|James Michael Curley}}

| February 6, 1922

| January 4, 1926

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Nichols, Malcolm|95px

| {{sortname|Malcolm|Nichols}}

| January 4, 1926

| January 6, 1930

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

data-sort-value= Curly, James Michael |95px

| {{sortname|James Michael|Curley|James Michael Curley}}

| January 6, 1930

| January 1, 1934

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Mansfield, Frederick|95px

| {{sortname|Frederick|Mansfield}}

| January 1, 1934

| January 3, 1938

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Tobin, Maurice J.|95px

| {{sortname|Maurice J.|Tobin}}

| January 3, 1938

| January 4, 1945

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|07y00m|7 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value=Kerrigan, John E. |95px

| {{sortname|John E.|Kerrigan}} {{double dagger}}

| January 4, 1945

| January 7, 1946

| align=center| {{sort|0|—}}

| align=center| {{sort|01y00m|1 year}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Curly, James Michael |95px

| {{sortname|James Michael|Curley|James Michael Curley}}

| January 7, 1946

| January 2, 1950

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Hynes, John B.|95px

| {{sortname|John B.|Hynes|John Hynes (politician)}}

| January 2, 1950

| January 4, 1960

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|10y00m|10 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Collins, John F.|95px

| {{sortname|John F.|Collins}}

| January 4, 1960

| January 1, 1968

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|08y00m|8 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= White, Kevin|95px

| {{sortname|Kevin|White|dab=politician}}

| January 1, 1968

| January 2, 1984

| align=center| 4

| align=center| {{sort|16y00m|16 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Flynn, Raymond|95px

| {{sortname|Raymond|Flynn}}

| January 2, 1984

| July 12, 1993

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|09y06m|9 years, 6 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Menino, Thomas|95px

| {{sortname|Thomas|Menino}}

| July 12, 1993

| January 6, 2014

| align=center| 5

| align=center| {{sort|20y06m|20 years, 6 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Walsh, Marty|125x125px

| {{sortname|Marty|Walsh}}

| January 6, 2014

| March 22, 2021

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|07y02m|7 years, 2 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Janey, Kim|95px

| {{sortname|Kim|Janey}} {{double dagger}}

| March 22, 2021

| November 16, 2021

| align=center| —

| align=center| {{sort|00y08m|8 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

data-sort-value= Wu, Michelle|95px

| {{sortname|Michelle|Wu}}

| November 16, 2021

| Incumbent

| align=center| 1

| align=center| {{age in years and months|2021|11|16}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

{{dagger}} died in office

{{double dagger}} acting mayor only

{{note|KN|KN}} Native American Party and American Party were formal names of the "Know Nothing" movement.

=Mayors serving non-consecutive terms=

class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan=2 |Mayor

! rowspan=2 |Start of
first term

! rowspan=2 |End of
final term

! colspan=2 |In office

! rowspan=2 class=unsortable | 

! rowspan=2 style="border-left-style:hidden;padding:0.1em 0em"|Party

Terms won

! Duration

{{sortname|Frederic W.|Lincoln Jr.}}

| January 4, 1858

| January 7, 1867

| align=center| 7

| align=center| {{sort|07y00m|7 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

{{sortname|Henry L.|Pierce}}

| January 6, 1873

| January 6, 1879

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|01y11m|1 year, 11 months}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

{{sortname|Frederick O.|Prince}}

| January 1, 1877

| January 2, 1882

| align=center| 4

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

{{sortname|Thomas N.|Hart}}

| January 7, 1889

| January 7, 1902

| align=center| 3

| align=center| {{sort|04y00m|4 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

| Republican

{{sortname|John F.|Fitzgerald}}

| January 5, 1906

| February 2, 1914

| align=center| 2

| align=center| {{sort|06y00m|6 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

{{sortname|James Michael|Curley|James Michael Curley}}

| February 2, 1914

| January 2, 1950

| align=center| 4

| align=center| {{sort|16y00m|16 years}}

| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

| Democratic

=Acting mayors=

Image:ThomasMenino.jpg

Boston's city charter stipulates that the City Council president serves as acting mayor whenever the mayor is absent from the city, unable to serve, or the office is vacant. An acting mayor cannot make permanent appointments, and can only perform urgent tasks "not admitting of delay" (which is somewhat open to interpretation).{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/01/22/boston-acting-mayor |title=What's actually the difference between being mayor and acting mayor? |first=Nik |last=DeCosta-Klipa |website=Boston.com |date=January 22, 2021 |access-date=January 22, 2021}}

The following individuals served as acting mayor during a vacancy in the office.

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Name

! Explanation

! Ref.

1845

| William Parker

| Served as acting mayor during multiple deadlocked elections.

|

1845

| Benson Leavitt

| Served as acting mayor following the death of Thomas A. Davis.

|

1853

| Benjamin L. Allen

| Served as acting mayor during multiple deadlocked elections.

|

1873

| Leonard R. Cutter

| Served as acting mayor following Henry L. Pierce's election to Congress.
Was not a candidate in the 1873 Boston mayoral election.

| {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18242397/resignation_of_the_mayor_of_boston/ |title=Resignation of the Mayor of Boston |newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |page=4 |date=November 25, 1873 |access-date=March 12, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=727518 |title=Boston Mayor Race - Dec 09, 1873 |website=ourcampaigns.com |access-date=March 12, 2018}}

1905

| Daniel A. Whelton

| Served as acting mayor following the death of Patrick Collins.
Was not a candidate in the 1905 Boston mayoral election.

| {{cite news |title=Whelton is Acting Mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116537242/whelton-is-acting-mayor-part-1/ |date=September 15, 1905 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116537303/whelton-is-acting-mayor-part-2/ 8] |access-date=2023-01-15 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=696356 |title=Boston Mayor Race - Dec 12, 1905 |website=ourcampaigns.com |access-date=March 12, 2018}}

1945

| John E. Kerrigan

| Served as acting mayor upon Maurice J. Tobin becoming Governor of Massachusetts.
Subsequently lost the 1945 Boston mayoral election.

| {{cite news |title=Kerrigan First World War II Vet to Head City Government |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79395724/kerrigan-first-world-war-ii-vet-to-head/ |date=January 26, 1945 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116537611/kerrigan-first-world-war-ii-vet-to-head/ 8] |last=Doherty |first=Joseph |access-date=2023-01-15 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=546199 |title=Boston Mayor Race - Nov 06, 1945 |website=ourcampaigns.com |access-date=March 12, 2018}}

1947

| John B. Hynes

| Served as acting mayor during the absence (incarceration) of James M. Curley.
Subsequently won the 1949 Boston mayoral election.

| {{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=546198 |title=Boston Mayor Race - Nov 08, 1949 |website=ourcampaigns.com |access-date=March 13, 2018}}

1993

| Thomas Menino

| Served as acting mayor upon Raymond Flynn becoming Ambassador to the Holy See.
Subsequently won the 1993 Boston mayoral election.

| {{cite web |title=Menino, 'a neighborhood guy,' now at center stage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79394095/menino-a-neighborhood-guy-now-at/ |first=Brian |last=McGrory |page=12 |date=July 13, 1993 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=2023-01-15 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=176291 |title=Boston Mayor Race - Nov 02, 1993 |website=ourcampaigns.com |access-date=March 12, 2018}}

2021

| Kim Janey

| Served as acting mayor upon Marty Walsh becoming United States Secretary of Labor.
Eliminated in preliminary stage of the 2021 Boston mayoral election.

| {{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2021/03/22/kim-janey-become-bostons-acting-mayor |title=Kim Janey becomes Boston's acting mayor, makes history as first Black person, woman to hold the office |first=Christopher |last=Gavin |website=Boston Herald |date=March 22, 2021 |accessdate=March 22, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections/unofficial-election-results |title=Unofficial Election Results |website=Boston.gov |date=October 3, 2016 |accessdate=September 15, 2021}}

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

Sources

  • {{cite book|last1=Allison|first1=Robert|last2=Bulger|first2=William|title=James Michael Curley|publisher=Applewood Books|year=2011|isbn=9781933212753}}
  • {{cite book|last=O'Neill|first=Gerard|title=Rogues and Redeemers|publisher=Crown Publisher|location=New York|year=2012|isbn=9780307405364}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book |title=Mayors of Boston: Illustrated Epitome of Who the Mayors Have Been and What They Have Done |author=State Street Trust Company |publisher=Walter Advertising and Printing |location=Boston |date=1914 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5oWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP1 |via=Google Books}}
  • {{cite web | url = https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2021/02/mayors-of-boston/ | title = Mayors of Boston | date = February 22, 2021 | last= Child | first = Christopher C. |website= americanancestors.org | publisher = New England Historic Genealogical Society }}

External links

{{commons category|Mayors of Boston}}

  • [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MA/ofc/boston.html Lists of Mayors of Boston at The Political Graveyard]

{{BostonMA|state=expanded}}

{{BostonMayors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Mayors Of Boston}}

Category:1822 establishments in Massachusetts

Mayors of Boston

Category:Government of Boston

Boston