The first mayor of Philadelphia, Humphrey Morrey was appointed by William Penn, Proprietor of the colony of Pennsylvania. Under the provisions of the Charter of 1701, Edward Shippen was named Mayor of Philadelphia for a one-year term. Starting in 1702, the Common Council of Philadelphia elected a Mayor from among their members.
disappeared as to not accept or refuse office.
In 1776, the city government was abolished and the city functions were operated by the Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania. The state government continued to run the city until a new charter for the city was granted on 11 March 1789 under an Act of Assembly approved on that date. No change in the election of the Mayor occurred from Colonial practices.
However, beginning in 1826, the Council had the right to elect any citizen of Philadelphia as Mayor, not just a member of Council. In 1839, the general electorate was first permitted to vote directly for Mayor. If no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, then the joint Councils of Philadelphia (Select and Common) would decide among the two leading candidates. John Swift became the first Mayor elected directly by the people in Philadelphia in the 1840 election.
John Inskeep 10/21/1800 91 Won by vote of 26-0 Elected after Robert Wharton declined nomination.
Benjamin Wood Richards 4/15/1829 120 Replaced George M. Dallas, who resigned.
John Swift 10/15/1839 131 Swift: 3,343; John K. Kane: 3,294; John C. Montgomery: 2,670 Swift won Council vote 26-0. First election by popular vote.
John Swift 10/20/1840 132 Swift: 6,355; Henry Horn: 4,820 First Mayor to be elected solely by popular vote.
Peter McCall 10/15/1844 136 McCall (W): 5,506; Elhanan W. Keyser (Native Am.): 5,065; Samuel Badger (D): 4,032; Others: 7 Councils selected Peter McCall by vote of 30-0.
John Swift 10/21/1845 137 Swift: 4,979; Elhanan W. Keyser: 4,538; James Page: 3,946; John Bouvier: 78 Councils selected John Swift by a vote of 31-0.
John Swift 10/20/1846 138 Swift: 5,562; Richard Vaux: 3,402; Peter A. Brown: 3,244; Thomas Hansell: 31; Others: 11 Councils selected John Swift by a vote of 30-0.
John Swift 10/19/1847 139 Swift: 6.046; J. Altamont Phillips: 3,550; Peter Fritz: 2,530; James Hansell: 10; John M. Scott: 2; Others: 8 Councils selected John Swift by a vote of 29-0.
On 2 February 1854, the Act of Assembly passed by the Pennsylvania Assembly which called for the Consolidation of the city and county of Philadelphia into one political and geographical unit was approved by the governor of Pennsylvania, William Bigler. This Act extended the term of the mayor from one to two years. Under provisions of the Act of 12 April 1861, the election was changed to the second Tuesday in October, and the term of Mayor extended to three years. The term started on the first Monday in January.
By the State Constitution of 1873, which went in to operation in January 1874, all elections for city and ward officers were changed to the third Tuesday in February.
By the Act of 10 March 1875, the term of Mayor was extended from January to April. The inaugeration of Mayor would be held on the first Monday of April.
Under the provisions of the Act of 1 June1885 (known as the Bullitt Bill), which reorganized city government beginning on 1 January 1887, the term reached its current length of four years.
A schedule of amendements to the State Constitution approved on 2 November 1909 extended the term of Mayor from the first Monday in April to the first Monday in December. An Act of 2 March 1911 provided that the term of Mayor shall hereafter begin on the first Monday in January following their election.
The City Charters of 1919 and 1951 did not disturb the length of the term served by the Mayor. The Act of1885 prohibited any mayor from succeeding himself. This prohibition was not lifted until the 1940s. Currently, under the terms of the Charter of 1951 (Philadelphia Home Rule Charter), a mayor may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
Alexander Henry 1/1/1863 150 Henry (R): 34,613; Daniel Fox (D) 30,049 Three-year term established.
Edwin Henry Fitler 4/4/1887 158 Fitler (R): 90,211; George deBenneville Keim (D): 62,263 4-year term established.
George Connell 8/19/1939 171 Acting Mayor upon death of S. Davis Wilson.
James Hugh Joseph Tate 2/13/1962 179 Assumed Mayoralty upon resignation of R. Dilworth on 2/12/1962.
Last updated on 13 January 1998.