Below is a list of mayors of Washington, D.C., and associated political entities.

History of offices

The federal district of the United States was first designated by the amended Residence Act of 1790. That Act designated that the President could appoint three commissioners to locate, define and survey an area not exceeding ten miles square as the capital district, following the Constitutional mandate to do so.[1] From 1791 to 1802 the District was managed by that three-member Board of Commissioners of the Federal City as listed below.

With the passage of the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, the District was brought under the direct political control of Congress. The Board of Commissioners was dissolved. That Act made no provision for an executive for the District as a whole. The District consisted of five political subdivisions: three cities with their own municipal governments, and two rural counties. The pre-existing city of Georgetown and its mayors are listed below. The pre-existing city of Alexandria, Virginia, had its own list of mayors before, during and after its inclusion in the District. And the new City of Washington was chartered shortly after the District, in 1802. Its mayors also appear below. The rural county west of the Potomac, formerly Virginia, was Alexandria County. Finally to the east and outside the cities, formerly Maryland, lay Washington County, D.C. (Both counties were governed by levy courts made of providentially appointed Justices of the Peace, whose members do not appear below. Prior to 1802, those Justices of the Peace were appointed by the governors of Maryland and Virginia, after which they were appointed by the President until they were abolished in 1871).

In 1846, Alexandria County and the City of Alexandria returned to Virginia, leaving the District with two independent cities and one county.

In 1871, with the District of Columbia Organic Act, those three subdivisions within the District were unified into a single government, whose chief executive was a territorial Governor. As listed below, only two served before this office was abolished in 1874, and replaced with a temporary three-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the President. The board was made permanent in 1878 and this system continued until 1967, when it was replaced by a single mayor-commissioner and city council appointed by the President. Finally, in 1974, the District of Columbia Home Rule Act allowed for District residents to elect their own mayor.

Currently, the Mayor of the District of Columbia is popularly elected to a four-year term with no term limits. Even though District of Columbia is not a state, the district government also has certain state-level responsibilities, making some of the mayor's duties analogous to those of United States governors. The current mayor of the District of Columbia is Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, who has served in the role since January 2, 2015.

The lists on this page include all of the chief executives of the District of Columbia in their various forms.

Commissioners of the Federal City (1791–1802)

The 1790 Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States, Act of March 3, 1791, 1 Stat. 214, set up a board of three commissioners to survey and define the territory of the Federal City, and to purchase land for development and oversee the construction of all federal buildings. Some reports name Thomas Johnson as the chairman of the Board of Commissioners, but it appears there was no chair, even if Johnson acted in the manner of a chair. The commission had very little to do with the municipal regulation of the District and when their board was dissolved their powers were transferred to the "Superintendent", "Commissioner to Superintend Public Buildings" and the "Chief Engineer of the United States Army." The local public affairs were instead governed by a Levy Court made up of Justices of the Peace who, until passage of the Organic Act of 1801 were commissioned by the governors of Virginia (for Arlington County) and Maryland (for Prince George's and Montgomery County – the north part of the District remained part of these counties until 1801), and in the Federal city their powers were transferred to the Mayor and local government.[2] During this time William Thornton, Robert Bowie, Daniel Carroll, and Robert Brent were some of the men who served on the Levy Court of Prince George's County.[3]

#ImageMemberTerm beganTerm endedStatePolitical party
1David StuartJanuary 22, 1791September 12, 1794VirginiaIndependent
2Thomas JohnsonJanuary 22, 1791August 23, 1794MarylandFederalist
3Daniel CarrollMarch 4, 1791May 21, 1795MarylandIndependent
4Gustavus ScottAugust 23, 1794December 25, 1800MarylandIndependent
5William ThorntonSeptember 12, 1794July 1, 1802PennsylvaniaIndependent
6Alexander WhiteMay 21, 1795July 1, 1802VirginiaPro-Administration Party
7William CranchJanuary 14, 1801March 3, 1801MassachusettsFederalist
8Tristram DaltonMarch 10, 1801July 1, 1802MassachusettsPro-Administration

[4]

Mayors of the City of Washington (1802–1871)

The persons listed below are the mayors of the now-defunct City of Washington, which was officially granted a formal government in 1802. The Mayor of Washington had authority over city services, appointments, and local tax assessments; however, the duties of the mayor mostly consisted of requesting appropriations from Congress to finance the city. From 1802 to 1812, the mayor was appointed by the President of the United States. Between 1812 and 1820, the city's mayors were then selected by a city council. From 1820 to 1871 the mayor was popularly elected. The present-day boundaries of the "Old City" were Rock Creek to the west, Florida Avenue to the north, and the Anacostia River to the east and south.

Starting in March 1801 the County of Washington, which included the city (or corporation) of Washington and the city of Georgetown, was governed by a Levy Court, of unfixed number, made up of Justices of the Peace chosen by the President. It was one of these Justice of the Peace appointments, made in the 24 hours between the passage of the Organic Act of 1801 and the end of John Adams' term that became the subject of Marbury v. Madison. In 1804, the Levy Court lost the power to tax the residents of Washington City, but in 1808 the city was required to contribute to the revenue of the county and in 1826 the Levy Court lost the power to tax those in Georgetown.[3] An 1812 law fixed the number of judges to seven, two from east of Rock Creek but outside of Washington City, two from west of Rock Creek but outside of Georgetown and three from Georgetown, with none from Washington City until an 1848 law added four members from the city. Even when the City of Washington was not represented on the Levy Court, they were still required to contribute to the costs of the county, except for bridges and roads outside its boundaries. The court was again changed in 1863 when it was reduced to nine members, three from the city of Washington, one from Georgetown, and five from county lands outside the city. The Levy Court was disbanded in 1871 with the Mayor when congress consolidated all the remaining governments in DC. Some of the more prominent members of the Levy Court include Thomas Corcoran, John Cox, George W. Riggs, and Sayles J. Bown[2]

ImageMayor[5]Term beganTerm endedPolitical party
Robert BrentJune 1, 1802June 8, 1812Democratic-Republican Party
Daniel RapineJune 8, 1812June 14, 1813Independent
James H. BlakeJune 14, 1813June 9, 1817Independent
Benjamin G. OrrJune 9, 1817June 14, 1819Independent
Samuel N. SmallwoodJune 14, 1819June 14, 1822Independent
Thomas CarberyJune 14, 1822June 14, 1824Independent
Samuel N. SmallwoodJune 14, 1824September 30, 1824Independent
Roger C. WeightmanOctober 4, 1824June 11, 1827Independent
Joseph GalesJune 11, 1827June 14, 1830Independent
John Peter Van NessJune 14, 1830June 9, 1834Democratic-Republican
William A. BradleyJune 9, 1834June 13, 1836Independent
Peter ForceJune 13, 1836June 8, 1840Whig Party
William Winston SeatonJune 8, 1840June 10, 1850Whig Party
Walter LenoxJune 10, 1850June 14, 1852Independent
John W. MauryJune 14, 1852June 12, 1854Democratic
John T. TowersJune 12, 1854June 9, 1856Know Nothing
William B. MagruderJune 9, 1856June 14, 1858Anti-Know-Nothing-Party
James G. BerretJune 14, 1858August 26, 1861Anti-Know-Nothing-Party,

Democratic

Richard WallachAugust 26, 1861June 8, 1868Republican
Sayles J. BowenJune 8, 1868June 7, 1870Republican
Matthew G. Emery[6]June 7, 1870February 28, 1871Republican

[7]

Mayors of Georgetown (1790–1871)

From 1751 to 1789, Georgetown was governed by Commissioners who were either appointed by an act of Maryland or were elected by the other commissioners to fill vacancies. in 1790 the government was changed to include a Mayor, a Recorder, Aldermen and a Common Council. During this time it was governed by nineteen different commissioners.[8]

Georgetown was a town in Maryland until 1801, when it became a municipality within the District of Columbia. From 1802 until 1871, mayors of Georgetown were elected to one-year terms, with no term limits.[9] Like the City of Washington and Washington County, Georgetown's local government ceased to exist in 1871, when Congress merged the three entities into the single District government.[10]

#ImageMayor[5]Term beganTerm ended
1Robert Peter17901791
2Thomas Beale17911792
3Uriah Forrest17921793
4John Threlkeld17931794
5Pedro Casenave17941795
6Thomas Turner17951796
7Daniel Reintzel17961797
8Lloyd Beall17971799
9Daniel Reintzel17991804
10Thomas Corcoran18051806
11Daniel Reintzel18061807
12Thomas Corcoran18081810
13David Wiley18111812
14Thomas Corcoran18121813
15John Peter18131818
16Henry Foxall18191820
17John Peter18211822
18John Cox18231845
19Henry Addison18451857
20Richard R. Crawford18571861
21Henry Addison18611867
22Charles D. Welch18671869
23Henry M. Sweeney18691871

Governors of the District of Columbia (1871–1874)

In 1871, Congress created a territorial government for the entire District of Columbia, which was headed by a governor appointed by the President of the United States to a four-year term. Due to alleged mismanagement and corruption, including allegations of contractors bribing members of the District legislature to receive contracts,[11] the territorial government was discontinued in 1874.

#ImageGovernor[5]Term beganTerm endedPolitical party
1 Henry D. CookeFebruary 28, 1871September 13, 1873Republican
2 Alexander R. Shepherd[12]September 13, 1873June 20, 1874Republican

Commissioners of the District of Columbia (1874–1878)

From 1874 to 1878 the District was administered by a three-member, temporary Board of Commissioners with both legislative and executive authority, all appointed by the President. They were assisted by an engineer (Captain Richard L. Hoxie). The law made no provision for a President to this board of temporary Commissioners, and none was ever elected, but Commissioner Dennison acted in that capacity at all board meetings he attended.

#ImageMemberTerm beganTerm endedPolitical party
1 William DennisonJuly 1, 1874July 1, 1878Republican
2 Henry T. BlowJuly 1, 1874December 31, 1874Republican
3 John H. KetchamJuly 3, 1874June 30, 1877Republican
4 Seth Ledyard PhelpsJanuary 18, 1875June 30, 1878Republican
5 Thomas Barbour BryanDecember 3, 1877July 1, 1878Republican

[4]

Presidents of the Board of Commissioners (1878–1967)

In 1878, the Board of Commissioners was made permanent and re-organized. From 1878 to 1967, the District was administered by this new three-member Board of Commissioners with both legislative and executive authority, all appointed by the President. The board comprised one Democrat, one Republican, and one civil engineer with no specified party. The three Commissioners would then elect one of their number to serve as president of the board. While not quite analogous to the role of a mayor, the president of the board was the district's Chief Executive.

  Denotes an Acting President
#ImagePresident[13]Term beganTerm endedPolitical party
1 Seth Ledyard PhelpsJuly 1, 1878November 29, 1879Republican
2 Josiah DentNovember 29, 1879July 17, 1882Democratic
3 Joseph Rodman WestJuly 17, 1882March 29, 1883Republican
4 James Barker EdmondsMarch 29, 1883January 1, 1886Democratic
5 William Benning WebbJanuary 1, 1886May 21, 1889Republican
6 John Watkinson DouglassMay 21, 1889March 1, 1893Republican
7 John Wesley RossMarch 1, 1893June 1, 1898Democratic
8 John Brewer WightJune 1, 1898May 9, 1900Republican
9 Henry Brown Floyd MacFarlandMay 9, 1900January 24, 1910Republican
10 Cuno Hugo RudolphJanuary 24, 1910February 28, 1913Republican
11 Oliver Peck NewmanFebruary 28, 1913October 9, 1917Democratic
12 Louis BrownlowOctober 9, 1917September 17, 1920Democratic
 Charles Willauer KutzSeptember 17, 1920September 25, 1920Independent
13 John Thilman HendrickSeptember 25, 1920March 4, 1921Democratic
14 Cuno Hugo RudolphMarch 15, 1921December 4, 1926Republican
15 Proctor Lambert DoughertyDecember 4, 1926April 10, 1930Republican
16 Luther Halsey ReichelderferApril 10, 1930November 16, 1933Republican
17 Melvin Colvin HazenNovember 16, 1933July 15, 1941Democratic
18 John Russell Young July 15, 1941 July 29, 1941 Republican
July 29, 1941 June 2, 1952
19 F. Joseph DonohueJune 2, 1952April 6, 1953Democratic
20 Samuel SpencerApril 6, 1953April 6, 1956Republican
21 Robert E. McLaughlinApril 6, 1956July 27, 1961Republican
22 Walter Nathan TobrinerJuly 27, 1961November 7, 1967Democratic

[14]

Mayor-Commissioner (1967–1975)

In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson presented to Congress a plan to reorganize the District's government.[15] The three-commissioner system was replaced by a government headed by a single mayor-commissioner, an assistant mayor-commissioner, and a nine-member district council, all appointed by the president.[15] The mayor-commissioner and his assistant served four-year terms,[16] while the councilmembers served three-year terms.[15] While the council was officially nonpartisan, no more than six of Councilmembers could be of the same political party.[16] Councilmembers were expected to work part-time.[15] All councilmembers and either the mayor-commissioner or his assistant was required to have been a resident of the District of Columbia for the three years preceding appointment.[16] All must be District residents while serving their terms in office.[16]

Council members had the quasi-legislative powers of the former Board of Commissioners, approving the budget and setting real estate tax rates.[15] The mayor-commissioner could, without any Congressional approval, consolidate District agencies and transfer money between agencies, powers that the preceding Board of Commissioners had not possessed since 1952.[17] The mayor-commissioner could veto the actions of the council, but the council could override the veto with a three-fourths vote.[15]

Despite a push by many Republicans and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives to reject Johnson's plan, the House of Representatives accepted the new form of government for the District by a vote of 244 to 160.[18] Johnson said that the new District government would be more effective and efficient.[15]

Walter E. Washington was appointed the first mayor-commissioner, and Thomas W. Fletcher was appointed the first assistant mayor-commissioner.[19] The first Council appointments were Chairman John W. Hechinger, Vice Chairman Walter E. Fauntroy, Stanley J. Anderson, Margaret A. Haywood, John A. Nevius, William S. Thompson, J.C. Turner, Polly Shackleton, and Joseph P. Yeldell.[19]

#Mayor-Commissioner[5]Term startTerm endParty
1Walter Washington[20]November 7, 1967January 2, 1975Democratic

Mayors of the District of Columbia (1975–present)

Since 1975, the District has been administered by a popularly elected mayor and district council.

Parties

  Democratic (7)

# Mayor Term of office Party Term Previous office
1
Walterwashington.jpg
 Walter Washington[21]
(1915–2003)		 January 2, 1975
–
January 2, 1979		 Democratic 1
(1974)		 Mayor-Commissioner of the District of Columbia
2
Marion Barry, 1996 in Washington, D.C (cropped).jpg
 Marion Barry[21]
(1936–2014)		 January 2, 1979
–
January 2, 1991		 Democratic 2
(1978)		 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
from the At-large district
(1975–1979)
3
(1982)
4
(1986)
3
Mayor Sharon Pratt.jpg
 Sharon Pratt Kelly[21][22]
(born 1944)		 January 2, 1991
–
January 2, 1995		 Democratic 5
(1990)		 Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee
(1985–1989)
4
Marion Barry, 1996 in Washington, D.C (cropped).jpg
 Marion Barry[21]
(1936–2014)		 January 2, 1995
–
January 2, 1999		 Democratic 6
(1994)		 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
from Ward 8
(1993–1995)
5
Mayor Williams Anthony.jpg
 Anthony A. Williams[21]
(born 1951)		 January 2, 1999
–
January 2, 2007		 Democratic 7
(1998)		 D.C. Chief Financial Officer
(1995–1998)
8
(2002)
6
Adrian Fenty, 2006.jpg
 Adrian Fenty[21]
(born 1970)		 January 2, 2007
–
January 2, 2011		 Democratic 9
(2006)		 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
from Ward 4
(2001–2007)
7
Vincentgray.jpg
 Vincent C. Gray[21]
(born 1942)		 January 2, 2011
–
January 2, 2015		 Democratic 10
(2010)		 Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia
(2007–2011)
8
Muriel Bowser dc.gov photo.jpg
 Muriel Bowser[21]
(born 1972)		 January 2, 2015
–
Incumbent		 Democratic 11
(2014)		 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
from Ward 4
(2007–2015)
12
(2018)
13
(2022)

Succession

See also

References

  1. ↑ A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774–1875; text of Residence Act dated July 16 1790. US Gov't Library of Congress. p. 130. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 Tindall, William. Origin and Government of the District of Columbia. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 6. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 Bryan, W. B. (1914). A History of the Nation's Capitol. p. 422.
  4. 1 2 Tindall, William (1903). "Origin and Government of the District of Columbia". Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Larner, John B. (1920). "List of Principal Municipal Authorities of the Cities of Washington, Georgetown, and the District of Columbia". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 23: 180–7.
  6. ↑ "Washington Election Yesterday". Baltimore American and Commercial Advertiser. June 7, 1870.
  7. ↑ Clark, Allen C. (1916). "The Mayors of the Corporation of Washington: Thomas Carbery". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 19: 61–62. JSTOR 40067058. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  8. ↑ Tindall, William (1922). "The Executives and Voters of Georgetown, District of Columbia". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 24: 89–117. JSTOR 40067161.
  9. ↑ Ecker, Grace Dunlop (1933). A Portrait of Old Georgetown. Garrett & Massie. p. 8.
  10. ↑ "New Government in Columbia" (PDF). The New York Times. January 21, 1871.
  11. ↑ "Bribes Paid by Contractors" (PDF). The New York Times. March 29, 1974.
  12. ↑ "The District of Columbia Governorship" (PDF). The New York Times. September 13, 1873.
  13. ↑ Gilmore, Matthew (July 2001). "Who were the Commissioners of the District, 1874–1967?". H-DC. Humanities & Social Sciences Online. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  14. ↑ "DCPL: MLK: Washingtoniana Division: FAQs: DC Commissioners". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Carper, Elsie (June 2, 1967). "Johnson Orders New D.C. Rule: Hill Has 60 Days To Act on Plan, But Can't Alter It". The Washington Post. p. A1. ProQuest 143089272.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "How the District Will Be Run Under Single Head, Council". The Washington Post. August 10, 1967. p. A1. ProQuest 143177148.
  17. ↑ Kaiser, Robert G. (June 2, 1967). "Reorganization Plan Redistributes Current Powers". The Washington Post. p. A7. ProQuest 143135451.
  18. ↑ Carper, Elsie; Milius, Peter (August 10, 1967). "House Accepts New D.C. Rule". The Washington Post. p. A1. ProQuest 143033620.
  19. 1 2 Asher, Robert L. (November 2, 1967). "Senate Confirms Council: White House Oath Taking Likely for 9". The Washington Post. p. A1. ProQuest 143013366.
  20. ↑ "Walter Edward Washington, 88; Mayor of D.C. Prevented Big Riots". Los Angeles Times. October 28, 2003. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Mayors of the District of Columbia Since Home Rule". DC.gov. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  22. ↑ Elected as "Sharon Pratt Dixon," but remarried in December 1991.
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