Mayors 1837-1885

Mayors 1835-1885  |   Mayors 1887-2011

Inauguration dates are not available until 1869. Inauguration dates and times were gathered from the Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Chicago. In a few cases no formal inauguration was held and dates given reflect the mayor’s first council meeting and the installation of new aldermen.

Mayors served two year terms up to 1907 when it was changed to four year terms. Carter Harrison, Sr, Anton Cermak, Richard J. Daley and Harold Washington all died while in office.

No.
Mayor
Party
Elected
Inauguration
1
William Ogden
Democrat
2 May 1837
2 May 1837
2
Buckner Morris
Whig
6 Mar 1838
6 Mar 1838
3
Benjamin Raymond
Whig
5 Mar 1839
7 Mar 1839
4
Alexander Lloyd
Democrat
3 Mar 1840
7 Mar 1840
5
Francis Sherman
Democrat
5 Mar 1841
4 Mar 1841
3
Benjamin Raymond
Whig
5 Mar 1842
7 Mar 1842
6
Augustus Garrett
Democrat
7 Mar 1843
7 Mar 1843
7
Alson Sherman
Ind Democrat
2 Mar 1844
2 Apr 1844
6
Augustus Garrett
Democrat
5 Mar 1845
7 Mar 1845
8
John Chapin
Whig
6 Mar 1846
3 Mar 1846
9
James Curtiss
Democrat
2 Mar 1847
9 Mar 1847
10
James Woodworth
Ind Democrat
7 Mar 1848
14 Mar 1848
10
James Woodworth
Ind Democrat
6 Mar 1849
16 Mar 1849
9
James Curtiss
Democrat
5 Mar 1850
12 Mar 1850
11
Walter S. Gurnee
Democrat
4 Mar 1851
11 Mar 1851
11
Walter S. Gurnee
Democrat
2 Mar 1852
2 Mar 1852
12
Charles Gray
Democrat
14 Mar 1853
7 Mar 1853
13
Isaac Miliken
Democrat
13 Mar 1854
15 Mar 1854
14
Levi Day Boone
Know-Nothing
8 Mar 1855
13 Mar 1855
15
Thomas Dyer
Pro-Neb Dem
10 Mar 1856
11 Mar 1856
16
John Wentworth
Republican
3 Mar 1857
10 Mar 1857
17
John Haines
Republican
2 Mar 1858
2 Mar 1858
17
John Haines
Republican
1 Mar 1859
16 Mar 1859
16
John Wentworth
Republican
6 Mar 1860
22 Mar 1860
18
Julian Rumsey
Republican
16 Apr 1861
6 May 1861
5
Francis Sherman
Democrat
15 Apr 1862
5 May 1862
5
Francis Sherman
Democrat
21 Apr 1863
4 May 1863
19
John Rice
Republican
18 Apr 1865
3 May 1865
19
John Rice
Republican
16 Apr 1867
6 May 1867
20
Roswell Mason
Citizens’
2 Nov 1869
6 Dec 1869
21
Joseph Medill
Fireproof
7 Nov 1871
4 Dec 1871
22
Harvey Colvin
People’s
4 Nov 1873
1 Dec 1873
23
Monroe Heath
Republican
12 July 1876
24 Jul 1876
23
Monroe Heath
Republican
3 Apr 1877
30 Apr 1877
24
Carter H. Harrison, Sr.
Democrat
1 Apr 1879
28 Apr 1878
24
Carter H. Harrison, Sr.
Democrat
5 Apr 1881
9 May 1881
24
Carter H. Harrison, Sr.
Democrat
3 Apr 1883
14 May 1883
24
Carter H. Harrison, Sr.
Democrat
7 Apr 1885
8 Jun 1885