Lord Mayor of London - History

History

The office was instituted in 1189 with the first holder of the office being Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone. The Mayor of the City of London has been elected by the City, rather than appointed by the Sovereign, since a Royal Charter providing for a Mayor was issued by King John in 1215. The title "Lord Mayor" came to be used after 1354, when it was granted to Thomas Legge (then serving his second of two terms) by King Edward III.

Lord Mayors are elected for one-year terms; by custom, they do not now serve more than one consecutive term. Numerous individuals have served multiple terms in office, including:
As Mayor:

  • 24 terms: Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone (1189–1212)
  • 9 terms: Ralph de Sandwich (1285–1289,1289–1292)
  • 8 terms: Gregory de Rokesley (1274–1280,1284)
  • 7 terms: Andrew Buckerel (1231–1237); John le Breton (1289, 1293–1298); John le Blund (1301–1307)
  • 6 terms: Richard Renger (1222–1226,1238); Hamo de Chigwell (1319,1321,1322,1324,1325,1327)
  • 5 terms: Serlo le Mercer (1214, 1218–1221)

As Lord Mayor:

  • Nicholas Brembre (1377,1383-1385 - 4 terms)
  • Richard ('Dick') Whittington (1397, 1398, 1406 and 1419 - 4 terms)

The last individual to serve multiple terms was Robert Fowler (elected in 1883 and in 1885).

Dame Mary Donaldson, elected in 1983, is the only woman to have held the office thus far. Almost 700 people have served as Lord Mayor.

Some Lord Mayors in the Middle Ages, such as Sir Edward Dalyngrigge (1392), did not reside in London. Since 1435, the Lord Mayor has been chosen from amongst the Aldermen of the City of London.

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