List of mayors of Hamburg
The following is a chronological list of mayors of Hamburg, a city-state in Germany. The mayors are the head of the city-state, part of the government of Hamburg. Since 1861 according to the constitution of 28 September 1860 the state has been governed by the ten-member Senate, which had been called council before that time. It is headed by the First Mayor of Hamburg as the President of the Senate. His deputy is the Second Mayor.
As Hamburg for much of its history was a free imperial city and later a sovereign state, the position of First Mayor historically was equivalent to that of a sovereign head of state. In the 1871–1918 German Empire, the Hamburg First Mayor was equivalent to the federal princes of the 23 German monarchies. Since 1918, his position is equivalent to that of the ministers-president of the German states.
Prior to World War I the two mayors were elected for one-year-terms. Until 1997 the First Mayor was primus inter pares among his colleagues in the Senate, by whom he was elected. Since then, he has been elected by the Hamburg Parliament and been able to appoint and dismiss other Senators.
1293–1860
The function of burgomaster was usually held simultaneously by three persons, serving as an executive college. One of the three being burgomaster in chief for a year, the second being the prior burgomaster in chief, the third being the upcoming one. Therefore, sometimes up to three names are mentioned for one year, since the names of the three appear in deeds, signed with or mentioning their names. The names in the list from 1239 until 1820 were archived in a book by Johann August Meister. This is an incomplete list of burgomasters and uses the spelling in Meister's book, which is preserved in the Hamburg state library. After 1820 the list were added by hand. On 6 August 1806 Hamburg gained sovereignty as an independent country. From 1811 to 1814 Hamburg was part of France in the Bouches-de-l'Elbe.If another reference is not noted, all mayors are taken from: Domizlaff. Das Hamburger Rathaus.
| Name | Image | In office | Note |
| Hartwicus de Erteneborch | 1293 | ||
| Werner de Metzendorp | 1293 | ||
| Johann Miles | 1300 | ||
| Henricus Longus | 1300 | ||
| Johann, filius Oseri | 1300 | ||
| Johann de Monte | 1325 | ||
| Henricus de Hetfield | 1325 | ||
| Nicolaus Fransoisser | 1341 | ||
| Nicolaus de Monte | 1341 | ||
| Hellingbernus Hetvelt | 1341 | ||
| Johann Horborch | 1343 | ||
| Thidericus uppen Perde | 1343 | ||
| Johann Militis | 1347 | ||
| Hinrich Hoop | 1350 | ||
| Thidericus uppen Perde | 1350 | ||
| Henricus de Monte | 1356 | ||
| Henricus Hoyeri | 1361 | Also known as Hein Hoyer | |
| Bertrammus Horborch | 1366 | ||
| Werner de Wighersen | 1367 | ||
| Ludolfus de Holdenstedte | 1375 | ||
| Christian Militis | 1378 | Also known as Kersten Miles | |
| Henricus Ybing | 1381 | ||
| Johannes Hoyeri | 1389 | ||
| Marquard Schreye | 1319 | ||
| Meinard Buxtehude | 1397 | ||
| Hilmar Lopow | 1401 | ||
| Johann Lüneborg | 1411 | ||
| Henricus de Monte | 1413 | ||
| Henricus Hoyeri | 1417 | ||
| Johannes Wighe | 1420 | ||
| Bernhard Borstelt | 1422 | ||
| Vicco de Hove | 1431 | ||
| Simon van Utrecht | 1433 | ||
| Hinrich Köting | 1493 | ||
| Thidericus Lüneborg | 1443 | ||
| Detlev Bremer | 1447 | ||
| Henricus Lopow | 1451 | ||
| Thidericus Gerlefstorp | 1492 | ||
| Henricus Lesemann | 1458 | ||
| Erich de Tzevena | 1464 | ||
| Albert Schilling | 1464 | ||
| Hinrich Murmester | 1466 | ||
| Johann Meiger | 1472 | ||
| Johann Huge | 1478 | ||
| Nicolaus de Schworen | 1480 | ||
| Hermann Langenbeck | 1481 | ||
| Henning Büring | 1486 | ||
| Christian Berchampe | 1492 | ||
| Erich von Tzeven | 1499 | ||
| Detlev Bremer | 1499 | ||
| Bartholomäus vom Rhyne | 1505 | ||
| Marquard vam Lo | 1507–1519 | ||
| Johann Spreckelsen | 1512 | ||
| Nicolaus Thode | 1517 | ||
| Thidericus Hohusen | 1517 | ||
| unoccupied | 1519–1520 | Second Mayor was Dietrich Hohusen | |
| Erhard vom Holte | 1520–1529 | Also Gerhard vom Holte | |
| Hinrich Salsborg | 1523 | ||
| Johann Hülpe | 1524 | ||
| Johann Wetken | 1529–1533 | ||
| Paul Grote | 1531 | ||
| Albert Westede | 1533–1538 | ||
| Johann Rodenborg | 1536 | ||
| Peter von Spreckelsen | 1538– 1553 | ||
| Jürgen Plate | 1546 | ||
| Matthias Rheder | 1547 | ||
| Ditmar Koel | 1548 | ||
| Albert Hackmann | 1553–1580 | ||
| unoccupied | 1580–1581 | Second Mayor was Paul Grote | |
| Lorenz Niebur | 1557 | ||
| Hermann Wetken | 1564 | ||
| Eberhard Moller | 1571 | ||
| Paul Grote | 1580 | ||
| Johann Niebur | 1557 | ||
| Nicolaus Vögeler | 1581 | ||
| Joachim vom Kape | 1588 | ||
| Diedrich von Eitzen | 1589 | ||
| unoccupied | 1590–1591 | Second Mayor: Joachim von Kape | |
| Erich von der Fechte | 1591–1613 | ||
| Joachim Bekendorp | 1593 | ||
| Diederich vom Holte | 1595 | ||
| Vincent Moller | 1599 | ||
| Eberhard Twestreng | 1606 | ||
| Hieronimus Vögeler | 1609 | ||
| unoccupied | 1613–1614 | Second Mayor: Hieronymus Vögeler | |
| Sebastian von Bergen | 1614–1623 | ||
| Johann Wetken: | 1614 | ||
| Bartholomäus Beckmann | 1617 | ||
| Joachim Claen | 1622 | ||
| Albert von Eitzen | 1623 | ||
| unoccupied | 1623–1624 | ||
| Ulrich Winkel | 1624–1649 | ||
| Johannes Brand | 1633–1652 | ||
| Bartholomäus Moller | 1643 | ||
| unoccupied | 1649–1650 | Second Mayor: Bartholomäus Moller | |
| Nicolaus Jarre | 1650–1678 | ||
| Johann Schlebusch | 1653 | ||
| Peter Lütkens | 1654 | ||
| Wolfgang Meurer | 1660 | ||
| Bartholomäus Twestreng | 1663 | ||
| Johannes Schötteringk | 1667 | ||
| Johann Schulte | 1668 | ||
| Bruderus Pauli | 1670–1680 | ||
| Johann Schröder | 1676 | ||
| Heinrich Meurer | 1678–1684 | ||
| Diedrich Moller | 1680 | ||
| Johann Schlüter | 1684–1688 | ||
| Joachim Lemmermann | 1684 | ||
| Heinrich Meurer | 1686 | Second term | |
| Peter Lütkens | 1687–1717 | ||
| Johannes Schafshausen | 1690–1697 | ||
| Hieronimus Harticus Moller | 1697 | ||
| Peter von Lengerke | 1697–1709 | ||
| Julius Surland | 1702 | ||
| Gerhard Schröder | 1703 | ||
| Paul Paulsen | 1704 | ||
| Lucas von Borstel | 1709–1716 | ||
| Ludwig Becceler | 1712 | ||
| Bernhard Matfeld | 1716–1720 | ||
| Garlieb Sillem | 1717 | ||
| Hinrich Diedrich Wiese | 1720–1728 | ||
| Hans Jacob Faber | 1722 | ||
| Johann Anderson | 1723 | ||
| Rütger Rulant | 1728–1742 | ||
| Daniel Stockfleth | 1729 | ||
| Martin Lucas Schele | 1733 | ||
| Johann H. Luis | 1739 | ||
| Cornelius Poppe | 1741 | ||
| Conrad Widow | 1742–1754 | ||
| Nicolaus Stempeel | 1743 | ||
| Clemens Samuel Lipstrop | 1749 | ||
| Lucas von Spreckelsen | 1750 | ||
| Martin H. Schele | 1751 | ||
| Lucas Corthum | 1751 | ||
| Nicolaus Schuback | 1759 | ||
| Peter Greve | 1759 | ||
| Vincent Rumpff | 1765 | ||
| Johann Schlüter | 1774 | ||
| Albert Schule | 1778 | ||
| Frans Doormann | 1780 | ||
| Jacob Albrecht von Sienen | 1781 | ||
| Johann Anderson | 1781 | ||
| Johann Luis | 1784 | ||
| Johann Adolph Poppe | 1786 | ||
| Martin Dorner | 1788 | ||
| Franz Anton Wagener | 1790–1801 | ||
| Daniel Lienau | 1798 | ||
| Peter Hinrich Widow | 1800–1802 | ||
| Friedrich von Graffen | 1801–1810 | First term | |
| Wilhelm Amsinck | 1802 | ||
| Johann Arnold Heise | 1807 | ||
| Amandus Augustus Abendroth | 1811–1813 | Not included in the Meister's book. | |
| Friedrich von Graffen | 1815–1820 | Second term | |
| Christian Matthias Schröder | 1816 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Bartels | 1820–1850 | ||
| Johann Daniel Koch | 1821 | - | |
| Martin Garlieb Sillem | 1829 | ||
| Amandus Augustus Abendroth | 1831 | ||
| Martin H. Schötteringk | 1832 | ||
| Christian Daniel Benecke | 1835 | ||
| Heinrich Kellinghusen | 1842 | ||
| Johann Ludwig Dammert | 1843 | ||
| Nicolaus Binder | 1855 | ||
| unoccupied | 1850–1861 | Second Mayor: Christian Daniel Benecke Third Mayor: Heinrich Kellinghusen Fourth Mayor: Nicolaus Binder All: |
After the constitutional changes of 1860–1919
Since 1860 Hamburg had a constitution. Members of the Hamburg senate were elected by the Hamburg Parliament—not coopted by the existing senate. They were lifelong members of the senate. From the three eldest and juristic trained members the senate elected annually the First Mayor of Hamburg – the presiding head – and his deputy.;Description of the method
| Year | First mayor | Second mayor | „sabbatical year" |
| 1 | Senator A | Senator B | Senator C |
| 2 | Senator B | Senator C | Senator A |
| 3 | Senator C | Senator A | Senator B |
| 4 | Senator A | Senator B | Senator C |
All mayors are taken from Domizlaff: Das Hamburger Rathaus and are listed in Erste Bürgermeister Hamburgs 1507–2008, only changes in dates are marked by an added reference.
| Name | Image | In office | Note |
| Friedrich Sieveking | 1861–1862 | ||
| Ferdinand Haller | 1863–1864 | ||
| Friedrich Sieveking | 1865 | ||
| Ferdinand Haller | 1866–1867 | ||
| Friedrich Sieveking | 1868 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1869 | ||
| Ferdinand Haller | 1870 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1871–1872 | ||
| Ferdinand Haller | 1873 | ||
| Hermann Goßler | 1874 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1875 | ||
| Carl Petersen | 1876–1877 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1878 | ||
| Hermann Weber | 1879 | ||
| Carl Petersen | 1880 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1881 | ||
| Hermann Weber | 1882 | ||
| Carl Petersen | 1883 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1884 | ||
| Hermann Weber | 1885 | The list Erste Bürgermeister Hamburgs 1507–2008 state Carl Friedrich Petersen. | |
| Carl Petersen | 1886 | List: Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | |
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1887 | List: Johannes Georg Andreas Versmann | |
| Johannes Versmann | 14 March 1887 – 1888 | ||
| Carl Petersen | 1889 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1889 | Not mentioned in Domizlaff: Das Hamburger Rathaus | |
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1890 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1891 | ||
| Carl Petersen | 1892 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1893 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1894 | ||
| Johannes Lehmann | 1895 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1896 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1897 | ||
| Johannes Lehmann | 1898 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1899 | ||
| Johannes Lehmann | 1 January 1900 – 15 September 1900 | ||
| Gerhard Hachmann | 19 November 1900 – 1901 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1902 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Burchard | 1903 | ||
| Gerhard Hachmann | until 11 July 1904 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 11 July 1904 – 1905 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Burchard | 1906 | ||
| Johann Otto Stammann | 1907 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | until 27 March 1908 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Burchard | 3 April 1908 – 1909 | ||
| Max Predöhl | 1910–1911 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Burchard | 1912 | ||
| Carl August Schröder | 3 September 1912 – 1913 | ||
| Max Predöhl | 1914 | ||
| Werner von Melle | 1915 | ||
| Carl August Schröder | 1916 | ||
| Max Predöhl | 1917 | ||
| Werner von Melle | 1918–1919 |
| Name | Image | In office | Note |
| Ascan Wilhelm Lutteroth | 1862–1863 | ||
| Friedrich Sieveking | 1864 | ||
| Ascan Wilhelm Lutteroth Legat | 1865–1866 | ||
| Friedrich Sieveking | 1867 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1868 | ||
| Ferdinand Haller | 1869 | ||
| Hermann Goßler | 1870–1871 | ||
| Ferdinand Haller | 1872 | ||
| Hermann Goßler | 1873 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1874 | ||
| Ferdinand Haller | 1875 | ||
| Hermann Weber | 1876 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1877 | ||
| Hermann Weber | 1878 | ||
| Carl Friedrich Petersen | 1879 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1880 | ||
| Hermann Weber | 1881 | ||
| Carl Friedrich Petersen | 1882 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1883 | ||
| Hermann Weber | 1884 | ||
| Carl Friedrich Petersen | 1885 | ||
| Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer | 1886 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1 January 1887 – 14 March 1887 | ||
| Max Theodor Hayn | 14 March 1887 – 31 December 1887 | ||
| Carl Friedrich Petersen | 1888 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1889 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1890 | ||
| Carl Friedrich Petersen | 1891 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1892 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1893 | ||
| Johannes Lehmann | 1894 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1895 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1896 | ||
| Johannes Lehmann | 1897 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1898 | ||
| Johannes Versmann | 1899 | ||
| Johannes Lehmann | 5 July 1899 – 31 December 1899 | ||
| Gerhard Hachmann | 1 January 1900 – 19 November 1900 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 19 November 1900 – 1901 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Burchard | 1902 | ||
| Gerhard Hachmann | 1903 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1 January 1904 – 11 July 1904 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Burchard | 11 July 1904 – 1905 | ||
| Johann Otto Stammann | 1906 | ||
| Johann Georg Mönckeberg | 1907 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Burchard | 1 January 1908 – 3 April 1908 | ||
| William Henry O'Swald | 3 April 1908 – 1909 | ||
| Carl August Schröder | 1910 | ||
| Johann Heinrich Burchard | 1911 | ||
| Carl August Schröder | 1 January 1912 – 13 September 1912 | ||
| Max Predöhl | 13 September 1912 – 1913 | ||
| Werner von Melle | 1914 | ||
| Carl August Schröder | 1915 | ||
| Max Predöhl | 1916 | ||
| Werner von Melle | 1917 | ||
| Carl August Schröder | 1918–1919 |
Weimar Republic 1919–1933
During the German Revolution of 1918–1919 an Arbeiter- und Soldatenrat was formed. From 12 November 1918 to 1919, a chairman was the head of state and city government: Heinrich Lauffenberg, Carl Hense. This is not mentioned in Domizlaff: Das Hamburger Rathaus. The period in Germany after the First World War until the takeover of power – by the Nazi Party in 1933 – is called Weimar Republic. The Hamburg Parliament was democratically elected.;First Mayor of Hamburg
| Image | Party | In office | Note | |
| Werner von Melle | 31 March 1919 – 31 December 1919 | |||
| Friedrich Sthamer | 1 January 1920 – 1 February 1920 | |||
| Arnold Diestel | German Democratic Party | 2 February 1920 – 31 December 1923 | ||
| Carl Wilhelm Petersen | DDP | 1 January 1924 – 31 December 1929 | ||
| Rudolf Ross | Social Democratic Party | 1 January 1930 – 31 December 1931 | ||
| Carl Wilhelm Petersen | DDP | 1 January 1932 – 7 March 1933 |
;Second Mayor
| Image | Party | In office | Note | |
| Otto Stolten | SPD | 31 March 1919 – 1925 | ||
| Max Schramm | SPD | 1925 – 4 April 1928 | ||
| Rudolf Ross | SPD | 5 April 1928 – 31 December 1929 | ||
| Carl Wilhelm Petersen | DDP | 1 January 1930 – 31 December 1931 | ||
| Rudolf Ross | SPD | 1 January 1932 – 3 March 1933 |
Third Reich 1933–1945
In Nazi Germany the Gesetz über den Neuaufbau des Reiches abandoned the concept of a federal republic. The political institutions of the Länder were practically abolished altogether, passing all powers to the central government. The Hamburg Parliament had been dissolved. The First Mayor was appointed by the Reich Interior Minister, though Hitler himself reserved the right to appoint him. The real head of the Hamburg executive was the Reichsstatthalter Karl Kaufmann: 1933–1945.| Image | Party | In office | Note | |
| Carl Vincent Krogmann | NSDAP | 8 March 1933 – 3 May 1945 |
;Second Mayor
| Image | Party | In office | Note | |
| Wilhelm Amsinck Burchard-Motz | DVP | 8 March – 18 May 1933 |
Colonel Robert Gordon Kitchen VI, Governor of Hamburg during the control of the British Army 1945–1946.
Appointed by the British occupation forces 1945–1946
After the Second World War until 1949, Hamburg was in the British occupation zone.| Image | Party | In office | Note | |
| Rudolf Hieronymus Petersen | Christian Democratic Union | 15 May 1945 – 22 November 1946 |
;Second Mayor
| Image | Party | In office | Note | |
| Adolph Schönfelder | SPD | 6 June 1945 – 15 November 1946 |
Since 1946
Mayors during the federal parliamentary republic of Germany.| Image | Party | In office | Note | |
| Max Brauer | SPD | 22 November 1946 – 2 December 1953 | ||
| Kurt Sieveking | CDU | 2 December 1953 – 4 December 1957 | ||
| Max Brauer | SPD | 4 December 1957 – 31 December 1960 | ||
| Paul Nevermann | SPD | 1 January 1961 – 9 June 1965 | ||
| Herbert Weichmann | SPD | 9 June 1965 – 9 June 1971 | ||
| Peter Schulz | SPD | 9 June 1971 – 4 November 1974 | ||
| Hans-Ulrich Klose | SPD | 12 November 1974 – 22 May 1981 | ||
| Klaus von Dohnanyi | SPD | 24 June 1981 – 8 June 1988 | ||
| Henning Voscherau | SPD | 8 June 1988 – 8 October 1997 | ||
| Ortwin Runde | SPD | 12 November 1997 – 31 October 2001 | ||
| Ole von Beust | CDU | 31 October 2001 – 25 August 2010 | ||
| Christoph Ahlhaus | CDU | 25 August 2010 – 7 March 2011 | ||
| Olaf Scholz | SPD | 7 March 2011 – 13 March 2018 | ||
| Katharina Fegebank | Alliance '90/The Greens | 13 March 2018 - 28 March 2018 | ||
| Peter Tschentscher | SPD | Since 28 March 2018 |
;Second Mayor
| Image | Party | In office | Note | |
| Christian Koch | Free Democratic Party | 19 November 1946 – 18 February 1950 | ||
| Paul Nevermann | SPD | 24 February 1950 – 2 December 1953 | ||
| Edgar Engelhard | FDP | 2 December 1953 – 27 April 1966 | ||
| Wilhelm Drexelius | 27 April 1966 – 2 April 1970 | |||
| Peter Schulz | SPD | 22 April 1970 – 9 June 1971 | ||
| Helmuth Kern | SPD | 9 June 1971 – 3 October 1972 | ||
| Hans Rau | FDP | 3 October 1972 – 30 April 1974 | ||
| Dieter Biallas | FDP | 30 April 1974 – 28 June 1978 | ||
| Helga Elstner | SPD | 28 June 1978 – 13 June 1984 | ||
| Alfons Pawelczyk | SPD | 13 June 1984 – 2 September 1987 | ||
| Ingo von Münch | FDP | 2 September 1987 – 26 June 1991 | ||
| Hans-Jürgen Krupp | SPD | 26 June 1991 – 1 December 1993 | ||
| Erhard Rittershaus | STATT | 15 December 1993 – 12 November 1997 | ||
| Krista Sager | GAL | 12 November 1997 – 31 October 2001 | ||
| Ronald B. Schill | Partei Rechtsstaatlicher Offensive | 31 October 2001 – 19 August 2003 | ||
| Mario Mettbach | PRO | 21 August 2003 – 17 March 2004 | ||
| Birgit Schnieber-Jastram | CDU | 17 March 2004 – 7 May 2008 | ||
| Christa Goetsch | GAL | 7 May 2008 – 29 November 2010 | ||
| Dietrich Wersich | CDU | 30 November 2010 – 7 March 2011 | ||
| Dorothee Stapelfeldt | SPD | 7 March 2011 – 15 April 2015 | ||
| Katharina Fegebank | Alliance '90/The Greens | Since 15 April 2015 |