List of mayors of Buffalo, New York

Last updated

The following is a list of people who have served as mayors of the city of Buffalo in the U.S. state of New York.

Contents

Mayor of the City of Buffalo
Seal of Buffalo, New York.svg
Seal of the City of Buffalo
Flag of Buffalo, New York.svg
Flag of the City of Buffalo
since October 15, 2024
Government of Buffalo
Style The Honorable
(formal)
Mr. Mayor
(informal)
Seat Buffalo City Hall
Term length Four years; renewable
Constituting instrumentBuffalo City Charter
Inaugural holder Ebenezer Johnson
Formation1832
SuccessionDeputy Mayor of Buffalo
DeputyDeputy Mayor of Buffalo
Salary$178,519 (2024)
Website www.city-buffalo.com/Home/Leadership/Mayor

List of mayors

No.NamePicturePartyTerm in officeElectionNotes
1 Ebenezer Johnson 1832johnson.jpeg Democratic-RepublicanMay 1832

March 1833
1832 Doctor during the War of 1812 [1]
2 Major Andre Andrews 1833andrewss.jpg IndependentMarch 1833

1834
1833 Founding member of the first Bank of Buffalo [1]
3 Ebenezer Johnson 1832johnson.jpeg Democratic-Republican1834

1835
1834
4 Hiram Pratt 1835pratts.jpg Whig1835

1836
1835
5 Samuel Wilkeson Samuel Wilkeson.png Independent1836

March 14, 1837
1836
6 Josiah Trowbridge Buffalo medical journal (1901) (14598115658).jpg WhigMarch 14, 1837

December 21, 1837
1837
7 Pierre A. Barker IndependentDecember 21, 1837

March 13, 1838
8 Ebenezer Walden 1838waldens.jpg WhigMarch 13, 1838

1839
1838
9 Hiram Pratt 1835pratts.jpg Whig1839

1840
1839
10 Sheldon Thompson 1840thompsons.jpg Whig1840

March 2, 1841
1840
11 Isaac R. Harrington 1841harringtons.jpg WhigMarch 2, 1841

March 8, 1842
1841
12 George William Clinton 1842clintons.jpg IndependentMarch 8, 1842

1843
1842 Served as the 7th United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York
13 Joseph G. Masten MayorMasten.jpg Democratic1843

1844
1843
14 William Ketchum Whig1844

1845
1844
15 Joseph G. Masten MayorMasten.jpg Democratic1845

1846
1845
16 Solomon G. Haven 1846havens.jpg Whig1846

1847
1846
17 Elbridge G. Spaulding Elbridge G. Spaulding - Brady-Handy.jpg Whig1847

1848
1847 Served as New York State Treasurer from 1854–1855 and was twice elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
18 Orlando Allen Whig1848

1849

1848

19 Hiram Barton 1849bartons.jpg Whig1849

1850
1849
20 Henry K. Smith Henry Kendall Smith, mayor of Buffalo.jpg Democratic1850

March 4, 1851
1850
21 James Wadsworth DemocraticMarch 4, 1851

March 9, 1852
1851
22 Hiram Barton 1849bartons.jpg WhigMarch 9, 1852

1853
1852
23 Eli Cook Democratic1853

1855
March 1853

November 1853

24 Frederick P. Stevens Democratic1856

1857
1855
25 Timothy T. Lockwood 1858lockwoods.jpg Democratic1858

January 2, 1860
1857
26 Franklin A. Alberger 1860albergers.jpg RepublicanJanuary 2, 1860

January 6, 1862
1859
27 William G. Fargo 1862fargos.jpg DemocraticJanuary 6, 1862

1866
1861

1863

Co-founded the modern day financial firms of American Express and Wells Fargo [2]
28 Chandler J. Wells 1866wellss.jpg Republican1866

1867
1865
29 William F. Rogers MajGenRogers.jpg Democratic1868

1869
1867
30 Alexander Brush 1870brush.jpg Republican1870

1873
1869

1872 (special)

31 Lewis P. Dayton 1874daytons.jpg Democratic1874

1875
1873
32 Philip Becker 1876beckers.jpg Republican1876

January 7, 1878
1875
33 Solomon Scheu 1878scheus.jpg DemocraticJanuary 7, 1878

January 1880
1877
34 Alexander Brush 1870brush.jpg RepublicanJanuary 1880

January 2, 1882
1879
35 Grover Cleveland President Grover Cleveland Restored.jpg DemocraticJanuary 2, 1882

November 20, 1882
1881 Elected 22nd & 24th President of the United States. The only American President to be mayor of a major city.
36 Marcus M. Drake Capt.MarcusM.Drake.jpg RepublicanNovember 20, 1882

December 29, 1882
37 Harmon S. Cutting DemocraticDecember 29, 1882

January 16, 1883
38 John B. Manning 1883mannings.jpg DemocraticJanuary 16, 1883

January 6, 1884
1883 (special)
39 Jonathan Scoville 1884scovilles.jpg DemocraticJanuary 6, 1884

1885
1883
40 Philip Becker 1876beckers.jpg Republican1886

1890
1885

1887

41 Charles F. Bishop 1890bishops.jpg Democratic1890

1894
1889

1891

42 Edgar B. Jewett 1895jewetts.jpg Republican1895

1897
1894
43 Conrad Diehl 1898diehls1.jpg Democratic1898

1901
1897
44 Erastus C. Knight 1902knights.jpg Republican1902

1905
1900
45 James N. Adam 1906adams.jpg Democratic1906

1909
1905
46 Louis P. Fuhrmann 1910fuhrmanns.jpg Democratic1910

1917
1909

1913

47 George S. Buck George Sturgess Buck (1875-1931), 1918.jpg Republican1918

1921
1917
48 Frank X. Schwab Frank X Schwab - 1922directory.jpg Republican1922

1929
1921

1925

49 Charles E. Roesch Charles E Roesch - 1932 BPDReport.jpg Republican1930

1933
1929
50 George J. Zimmermann Democratic1934

1937
1933
51 Thomas L. Holling Democratic1938

1941
1937
52 Joseph J. Kelly Joseph J Kelly - Buffalo War Council.jpg Democratic1942

1945
1941
53 Bernard J. Dowd Republican1946

1949
1945
54 Joseph Mruk Joseph Mruk.jpg RepublicanJanuary 1, 1950

December 31, 1953
1949
55 Steven Pankow DemocraticJanuary 1, 1954

December 31, 1957
1953
56 Frank A. Sedita Frank A Sedita - 1965 BPDReport.jpg DemocraticJanuary 1, 1958

December 31, 1961
1957
57 Chester A. Kowal Chester Kowal - 1962 BPDReport.jpg RepublicanJanuary 1, 1962

December 31, 1965
1961
58 Frank A. Sedita Frank A Sedita - 1965 BPDReport.jpg DemocraticJanuary 1, 1966

March 5, 1973
1965

1969

59 Stanley M. Makowski Stanley M Makowski - 1973 BPDReport.jpg DemocraticMarch 5, 1973

December 31, 1977

1973

60 James D. Griffin James D. Griffin at Groundbreaking of Pilot Field (now Sahlen Field), July 1986 (cropped).jpg DemocraticJanuary 1, 1978

December 31, 1993
1977

1981


1985


1989

61 Anthony Masiello Tony Masiello (cropped).jpg DemocraticJanuary 1, 1994

December 31, 2005
1993

1997


2001

62 Byron Brown Mayor Byron W. Brown Buffalo NY (cropped).jpg DemocraticJanuary 1, 2006

October 15, 2024
2005

2009


2013


2017


2021

63 Christopher Scanlon DemocraticOctober 15, 2024

Number of mayors by party affiliation

PartyMayors
Democratic 30
Democratic-Republican 2
Republican 15
Whig 12
No Party4

History

In 1853, the charter of the city was amended to include the town of Black Rock and the city proper was divided into thirteen wards. In addition, the term of city offices, including mayor changed from a one-year term to a two-year term and was elected directly by the people. [3]

Mayoral elections

(winners are in bold)

DateCandidates 
November 8, 1881 Grover Cleveland Milton Beebe
 15,12011,528
January 9, 1883 John B. Manning Robert R. Hefford
 11,0367,321
November 6, 1973 Stanley M. Makowski Stewart M. LevyJohn A. WestraPatrick W. GiagnacovaIra Liebowitz
 77,56924,4232,6401,147597
November 2, 1993 Anthony Masiello Richard A. Grimm Eugene Fahey
 36,0929,2777,566
November 8, 2005 Byron Brown Kevin HelferJudith EinachCharles Flynn
 46,61319,8533,5253,082
November 3, 2009 Byron Brown Michael P. Kearns
 17,728158
November 5, 2013 Byron Brown Sergio Rodriguez
 26,12010,733
November 7, 2017 Byron Brown Mark J F Schroeder Anita HowardTerrence RobinsonTaniqua Simmons
 29,68811,4461,3571,276102
November 2, 2021 Byron Brown India Walton Ben CarlisleJaz MilesWilliam O'Dell
 38,33825,773219238

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo, New York</span> City in New York, United States

Buffalo is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the county seat of Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River on the Canada–United States border. With a population of 278,349 according to the 2020 census, Buffalo is the second-most populous city in New York state after New York City, and the 81st-most populous city in the U.S. Buffalo and the city of Niagara Falls together make up the two-county Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 1.2 million in 2020, making it the 49th-largest metro area in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Fargo</span> American businessman and politician (1818–1881)

William George Fargo was an American businessman and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayor of Philadelphia</span> Chief executives of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The mayor of Philadelphia is the chief executive of the government of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as stipulated by the Charter of the City of Philadelphia. The current mayor of Philadelphia is Cherelle Parker, who is the first woman to hold the position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byron Brown</span> American politician (born 1958)

Byron William Brown II is an American politician who is the former mayor of Buffalo, New York. He is Buffalo's 62nd mayor and has served since January 2006. He is the city's first African-American mayor and longest-serving mayor of Buffalo. He previously served Western New York as a member of the New York State Senate and Buffalo Common Council. He is the first African-American politician elected to the New York State Senate to represent a district outside New York City and the first member of any minority race to represent a majority-white New York State Senate district. He announced in a September press conference that he will resign as mayor of Buffalo sometime in October. Effective October 15, 2024, Christopher Scanlon will take over, serving as acting mayor until the next mayoral election in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph J. Kelly</span> American politician

Joseph J. Kelly was an Irish-American attorney and politician serving as mayor of Buffalo, New York. He held the office from 1942 to 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Common Council</span>

The Buffalo Common Council is the legislative branch of the city of Buffalo, New York government. It is a representative assembly, with one elected member from each of nine districts: Niagara, Delaware, Masten, Ellicott, Lovejoy, Fillmore, North, University, and South. In the past, the Common Council also had as many as five at-large members and a Council President who were elected citywide. Each council seat is elected for a four-year term, with elections occurring during off-years, between mid-term elections and presidential elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Findlay Rogers</span> American politician

William Findlay Rogers was an American politician who served one term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York from 1883 to 1885.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon G. Haven</span> American politician

Solomon George Haven was a U.S. Representative from New York and Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving in 1846–1847.

Orlando Allen (1803–1874) was a member of the New York State Assembly and the 18th mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York. Allen began his political career as city treasurer, followed by two separate terms as Second Ward Alderman. He served an extended single term as mayor after being appointed in January 1848. He was elected to a full term in March of that year, and served until the term expired in 1849, when he declined to run for a second term. He was a member of the State Assembly in 1850 and 1851. He later served on the Buffalo Board of Supervisors, representing the Second Ward in 1856–1857, before winning one final term in the State Assembly in 1860. He ran for most of his offices as a Whig, however, after the collapse of that party, he served his final term in the Assembly as a Republican.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebenezer Johnson</span> American politician

Ebenezer Johnson (1786–1849) was an American businessman and politician. He served as the first mayor of Buffalo, New York from May 1832 – March 1833 and 1834–1835.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiram Pratt</span> American politician

Hiram Pratt was an American politician and mayor of Buffalo, New York, serving 1835–1836 and 1839–1840.

James Wadsworth was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving 1851–1852.

Eli Cook (1814–1865) was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving in 1853 and from 1854 to 1855. He was born in Palatine Bridge, New York on January 23, 1814. He took up law in 1830, passed the bar exam, and in 1837 he practiced in Tennessee and Mississippi with rebel General Simon B. Buckner. In 1838, he moved to Buffalo where he became one of the leading criminal lawyers. He married around 1838, but his wife died soon after; he re-married in 1843, to Sarah L. He was appointed city attorney in 1845, and again in 1851.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Brush</span> Scotland-born American politician

Alexander Brush was a Scottish Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving 1870–1873 and 1880–1881.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis P. Dayton</span> American politician (1821–1900)

Lewis P. Dayton was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving from 1874 to 1875.

Harmon Sydney Cutting was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving from December 1882 to January 1883, in the aftermath after the resignation of Grover Cleveland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conrad Diehl</span> American politician

Conrad Diehl (1843–1918) was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving from 1898 to 1901. He was born in Buffalo on July 17, 1843. He graduated from the University of Buffalo with a medical degree in 1866. On May 5, 1869, he married Caroline Trautmann in New York City; she died in 1888 and he remarried in 1892 to Lois Masten, head nurse at Buffalo General Hospital. From 1870 to 1878, he was surgeon and major of the 65th Regiment, of the New York National Guard. From 1874 on, he was either attending or consulting physician at Buffalo General Hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis P. Fuhrmann</span> American politician

Louis P. Fuhrmann (1868–1931) was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving 1910–1917. He was born in Buffalo, New York on November 7, 1868. He grew up on the city's east side, graduated from Central High School, and began working in the meat packing industry. In 1892, he started his own meat-packing business at 1010 Clinton Street. He married Alice S. Meald on July 13, 1900.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George S. Buck</span> American politician

George Sturgess Buck (1875–1931) was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving 1918–1922. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 10, 1875, and moved to Buffalo the following year. He graduated from Buffalo's Central High School in 1892, and received a B. A. from Yale University in 1896. He graduated from the Buffalo Law School in 1898, and was admitted to the bar the same year. He married Ellen Louise Hussey on October 6, 1903.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Buffalo mayoral election</span>

The 2021 Buffalo mayoral election was held on November 2, 2021. Democratic Mayor Byron Brown won his fifth term in office as a write-in candidate. Brown's victory marked the first time since 1985 that Buffalo did not elect the Democratic nominee for mayor.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dr. Ebenezer Johnson". Through The Mayor's Eyes, The Only Complete History of the Mayor's of Buffalo, New York, Compiled by Michael Rizzo. The Buffalonian is produced by The Peoples History Union. 2009-05-27. Archived from the original on 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  2. Grossman, Peter Z. (1987). American Express: The Unofficial History of the People Who Built the Great Financial Empire. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN   1-58798-283-8.
  3. Fargo, Francis F. (1876). Memorial of the City and County Hall Opening Ceremonies. Buffalo, N.Y.: Courier Company, printers. p.  142 . Retrieved 16 August 2016. Elbridge G. Spaulding mayor of buffalo term.