List of mayors of Hamburg

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Hamburg greater coat of arms used by the Hamburg Senate.

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 (in the German language of that time: Rath) before that time. It is headed by the First Mayor of Hamburg (German title: Erster Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt 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 (4 of whom holding the title King and the others holding titles such as Grand Duke, Duke or Sovereign Prince).

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 (German: Hamburgische Bürgerschaft) and been able to appoint and dismiss other Senators.

1293–1860

The function of burgomaster (mayor) 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 (1820). 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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 (Heino) 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 (Wye)		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	[2]
Johann Spreckelsen		1512
Nicolaus Thode		1517
Thidericus Hohusen		1517
unoccupied		1519–1520	Second Mayor was Dietrich [Thidericus?] Hohusen (1517–1546)[2]
Erhard vom Holte		1520–1529	Also Gerhard vom Holte[2]
Hinrich Salsborg		1523
Johann Hülpe		1524
Johann Wetken		1529–1533	[2]
Paul Grote		1531
Albert Westede		1533–1538	[2]
Johann Rodenborg		1536
Peter von Spreckelsen		1538– 1553	[2]
Jürgen Plate		1546
Matthias Rheder		1547
Ditmar Koel		1548
Albert Hackmann		1553–1580	[2]
unoccupied		1580–1581	Second Mayor was Paul Grote (1580–1584)[2]
Lorenz Niebur		1557
Hermann Wetken		1564
Eberhard Moller		1571
Paul Grote		1580
Johann Niebur		1557	(1581–1590)[2]
Nicolaus Vögeler		1581
Joachim vom Kape		1588
Diedrich von Eitzen		1589
unoccupied		1590–1591	Second Mayor: Joachim von Kape (1588–1594)[2]
Erich von der Fechte		1591–1613	[2]
Joachim Bekendorp		1593
Diederich vom Holte		1595
Vincent Moller		1599
Eberhard Twestreng		1606
Hieronimus Vögeler		1609
unoccupied		1613–1614	Second Mayor: Hieronymus Vögeler (1609–1642)[2]
Sebastian von Bergen		1614–1623	[2]
Johann Wetken:		1614
Bartholomäus Beckmann		1617
Joachim Claen		1622
Albert von Eitzen		1623
unoccupied		1623–1624
Ulrich Winkel		1624–1649	[2]
Johannes Brand		1633–1652
Bartholomäus Moller		1643
unoccupied		1649–1650	Second Mayor: Bartholomäus Moller (1643–1667)[2]
Nicolaus Jarre		1650–1678	[2]
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	(First term)[2]
Diedrich Moller		1680
Johann Schlüter		1684–1688	[2]
Joachim Lemmermann		1684
Heinrich Meurer		1686	(1688–1690) Second term[2]
Peter Lütkens		1687–1717
Johannes Schafshausen		1690–1697	[2]
Hieronimus Harticus Moller		1697
Peter von Lengerke (or Lengerks)		1697–1709	[2]
Julius Surland		1702
Gerhard Schröder		1703
Paul Paulsen		1704
Lucas von Borstel		1709–1716	[2]
Ludwig Becceler		1712
Manfred Matfeld		1716–1720	[2]
Garlieb Sillem		1717
Hinrich Diedrich Wiese		1720–1728	(or Heinrich Dietrich Wiese)[2]
Hans Jacob Faber		1722
Johann Anderson		1723
Rütger Rulant		1728–1742	[2]
Daniel Stockfleth		1729
Martin Lucas Schele		1733
Johann H. Luis		1739
Cornelius Poppe		1741
Conrad Widow		1742–1754	(1743–1754)[2]
Nicolaus Stempeel		1743
Clemens Samuel Lipstrop		1749
Lucas von Spreckelsen		1750
Martin H. Schele		1751
Lucas Corthum		1751
Nicolaus Schuback		1759	(1754–1783)[2]
Peter Greve		1759
Vincent Rumpff		1765
Johann Schlüter		1774
Albert Schule		1778
Frans Doormann		1780
Jacob Albrecht von Sienen		1781
Johann Anderson		1781	(1783–1790)[2]
Johann Luis		1784
Johann Adolph Poppe		1786
Martin Dorner		1788
Franz Anton Wagener		1790–1801	[2]
Daniel Lienau		1798
Peter Hinrich Widow		1800–1802
Friedrich von Graffen		1801–1810	First term[2]
Wilhelm Amsinck		1802
Johann Arnold Heise		1807
Amandus Augustus Abendroth		1811–1813[2]	Not included in the Meister's book.[3]
Friedrich von Graffen		1815–1820	Second term[2]
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 (1835–1851) Third Mayor: Heinrich Kellinghusen (1842–1880) Forth Mayor: Nicolaus Binder (1855–1861) All:[2]

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 (German title: Erster Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg) – the presiding head – and his deputy (Second Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic city of Hamburg, German title: Zweiter Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg).

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	(−1868)[2]
Friedrich Sieveking		1868
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1869
Ferdinand Haller		1870
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1871–1872
Ferdinand Haller		1873	(1872–1873)[2]
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	(1888)[2]
Johannes Versmann		1889	[2] 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

List of Second Mayors from 1860–1919

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 (Council of the Workers and Soldiers) was formed. From 12 November 1918 to 1919, a chairman was the head of state and city government: Heinrich Lauffenberg (−1919), Carl Hense (1919).^[2] 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	(−1920)[2]
Friedrich Sthamer			1 January 1920 – 1 February 1920
Arnold Diestel		German Democratic Party (DDP)	2 February 1920 – 31 December 1923	(−1924)[2]
Carl Wilhelm Petersen		DDP	1 January 1924 – 31 December 1929
Rudolf Ross		Social Democratic Party (SPD)	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 Adolf Wilhelm 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 (Law concerning the reconstruction of the Reich) (30 January 1934) 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 (as was also the case with Berlin and Vienna). The real head of the Hamburg executive was the Reichsstatthalter (Regional governor or imperial governor) Karl Kaufmann: 1933–1945^[4]

	Image	Party	In office	Note
Carl Vincent Krogmann		NSDAP	8 March 1933 – 3 May 1945	(−1936)[2]

Second Mayor

	Image	Party	In office	Note
Wilhelm Amsinck Burchard-Motz		DVP	8 March – 18 May 1933

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 (CDU)	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	[5]
Klaus von Dohnanyi		SPD	24 June 1981 – 8 June 1988	[6]
Henning Voscherau		SPD	8 June 1988 – 8 October 1997	[7][8]
Ortwin Runde		SPD	12 November 1997 – 31 October 2001	[9]
Ole von Beust		CDU	31 October 2001 – 25 August 2010	[10]
Christoph Ahlhaus		CDU	25 August 2010 – 7 March 2011
Olaf Scholz		SPD	Since 7 March 2011

Second Mayor

	Image	Party	In office	Note
Christian Koch		Free Democratic Party (FDP)	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	[11]
Ronald B. Schill		Partei Rechtsstaatlicher Offensive (PRO)	31 October 2001 – 19 August 2003	[9]
Mario Mettbach		PRO	21 August 2003 – 17 March 2004	[12]
Birgit Schnieber-Jastram		CDU	17 March 2004 – 7 May 2008	[13]
Christa Goetsch		GAL	7 May 2008 – 29 November 2010	[14]
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

Notes and references

1. Verg, Erik; Verg, Martin (2007). Das Abenteuer das Hamburg heißt (in German) (4th ed.). Hamburg: Ellert&Richter. p. 264. ISBN 978-3-8319-0137-1.
2. "Erste Bürgermeister Hamburgs 1507–2008" (PDF) (in German). Senat der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg, Senatskanzlei. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
3. "Abendroth, Amandus Augustus". Leipzig: Historische Commission bei der Königl. Akademie der Wissenschaften. 1875. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 2008-09-30. Retrieved from Elektronische Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (German) (Sütterlin script)
4. Verg, pp 161–163
5. Last mayor in Domizlaff as no. 182
6. "Dr Klaus von Dohnanyi". Celebrity Speakers Ltd. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
7. "Henning Voscherau: Langjähriger Bürgermeister Hamburgs" (in German). NDR online. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
8. "Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek" (in German). German National Library. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
9. "Schroeder's Party Appears to Lose Pivotal Vote". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
10. "Mayor von Beust to govern alone after victory in Hamburg election". Deutsche Welle. 2004. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
11. Martin Christensen. "German Parties". Retrieved 2008-10-06.
12. "Hamburg's conservative government collapses after another farce". City Mayors Archive. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
13. "Senatorin Schnieber-Jastram zieht sich zurück" (in German). Welt online. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
14. Sloan, Gene. "Christa Goetsch (Greens Party) newly elected ..". USAtoday Cruise log. Retrieved 2008-10-06.

General

• (1293–1977) Domizlaff, Svante (2002). Das Hamburger Rathaus (in German) (first ed.). Hamburg: Edition Maritim. ISBN 978-3-89225-465-2. (Note: not included in the 2nd edition.)

External links

• All mayors since 1293