List of mayors of Hamburg explained

Post:First Mayor
Body:Hamburg
Insignia:Wappen der Hamburgischen Bürgerschaft.svg
Insigniasize:75px
Insigniacaption:Coat of arms of Hamburg
Incumbent:Peter Tschentscher
Incumbentsince:28 March 2018
Type:Lord Mayor
Head of government
Member Of:Senate of Hamburg
Appointer:Hamburg Parliament
Termlength:Pending resignation or the election of a successor
Constituting Instrument:Constitution of Hamburg
Formation:1293
Deputy:Second Mayor

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 previously been called the council (in the German language of that time: Rath). It is headed by the First Mayor of Hamburg (German title: Erster Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg) as the President of the Senate. The deputy is the Second Mayor.

For much of its history, Hamburg 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 held the title of King and the others holding titles such as Grand Duke, Duke or Sovereign Prince). Since 1918, the position is equivalent to that of the ministers-president of the (West) 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, and was elected by, the members of the Senate. Since then, the Hamburg Parliament (German: Hamburgische Bürgerschaft) has elected the First Mayor; the First Mayor is 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.

If another reference is not noted, all mayors are taken from: Domizlaff. Das Hamburger Rathaus.

NameImageIn officeNote
Hartwicus de Erteneborch1293
Werner de Metzendorp1293
Johann Miles1300
Henricus Longus1300
Johann, filius Oseri1300
Johann de Monte1325
Henricus de Hetfield1325
Nicolaus Fransoisser1341
Nicolaus de Monte1341
Hellingbernus Hetvelt1341
Johann Horborch1343
Thidericus uppen Perde1343
Johann Militis1347
Hinrich Hoop1350
Thidericus uppen Perde1350
Henricus de Monte1356
Henricus Hoyeri1361Also known as Hein Hoyer
Bertrammus Horborch1366
Werner de Wighersen1367
Ludolfus de Holdenstedte1375
Christian Militis1378Also known as Kersten Miles
Henricus (Heino) Ybing1381
Johannes Hoyeri1389
Marquard Schreye1319
Meinard Buxtehude1397
Hilmar Lopow1401
Johann Lüneborg1411
Henricus de Monte1413
Henricus Hoyeri1417
Johannes Wighe (Wye)1420
Bernhard Borstelt1422
Vicco de Hove1431
Simon van Utrecht1433
Hinrich Köting1493
Thidericus Lüneborg1443
Detlev Bremer1447
Henricus Lopow1451
Thidericus Gerlefstorp1492
Henricus Lesemann1458
Erich de Tzevena1464
Albert Schilling1464
Hinrich Murmester1466
Johann Meiger1472
Johann Huge1478
Nicolaus de Schworen1480
Hermann Langenbeck1481
Henning Büring1486
Christian Berchampe1492
Erich von Tzeven1499
Detlev Bremer1499
Bartholomäus vom Rhyne1505
Marquard vam Lo1507–1519[2]
Johann Spreckelsen1512
Nicolaus Thode1517
Thidericus Hohusen1517
unoccupied1519–1520Second Mayor was Dietrich [Thidericus?] Hohusen (1517–1546)
Erhard vom Holte1520–1529Also Gerhard vom Holte
Hinrich Salsborg1523
Johann Hülpe1524
Johann Wetken1529–1533
Paul Grote1531
Albert Westede1533–1538
Johann Rodenborg1536
Peter von Spreckelsen1538–1553
Jürgen Plate1546
Matthias Rheder1547
Ditmar Koel1548
Albert Hackmann1553–1580
unoccupied1580–1581Second Mayor was Paul Grote (1580–1584)
Lorenz Niebur1557
Hermann Wetken1564
Eberhard Moller1571
Paul Grote1580
Johann Niebur1557(1581–1590)
Nicolaus Vögeler1581
Joachim vom Kape1588
Diedrich von Eitzen1589
unoccupied1590–1591Second Mayor: Joachim von Kape (1588–1594)
Erich von der Fechte1591–1613
Joachim Bekendorp1593
Diederich vom Holte1595
Vincent Moller1599
Eberhard Twestreng1606
Hieronimus Vögeler1609
unoccupied1613–1614Second Mayor: Hieronymus Vögeler (1609–1642)
Sebastian von Bergen1614–1623
Johann Wetken1614
Bartholomäus Beckmann1617
Joachim Claen1622
Albert von Eitzen1623
unoccupied1623–1624
Ulrich Winkel1624–1649
Johannes Brand1633–1652
Bartholomäus Moller1643
unoccupied1649–1650Second Mayor: Bartholomäus Moller (1643–1667)
Nicolaus Jarre1650–1678
Johann Schlebusch1653
Peter Lütkens1654
Wolfgang Meurer1660
Bartholomäus Twestreng1663
Johannes Schötteringk1667
Johann Schulte1668
Broderus Pauli1670–1680
Johann Schröder1676
Heinrich Meurer1678–1684(First term)
Diedrich Moller1680
Johann Schlüter1684–1688
Joachim Lemmermann1684
Heinrich Meurer1686(1688–1690) Second term
Peter Lütkens1687–1717
Johannes Schafshausen1690–1697
Hieronimus Harticus Moller1697
Peter von Lengerke (or Lengerks)1697–1709
Julius Surland1702
Gerhard Schröder1703
Paul Paulsen1704
Lucas von Borstel1709–1716
Ludwig Becceler1712
Bernhard Matfeld1716–1720
Garlieb Sillem1717
Hinrich Diedrich Wiese1720–1728(or Heinrich Dietrich Wiese)
Hans Jacob Faber1722
Johann Anderson1723
Rütger Rulant1728–1742
Daniel Stockfleth1729
Martin Lucas Schele1733
Johann H. Luis1739
Cornelius Poppe1741
Conrad Widow1742–1754(1743–1754)
Nicolaus Stempeel1743
Clemens Samuel Lipstrop1749
Lucas von Spreckelsen1750
Martin H. Schele1751
Lucas Corthum1751
Nicolaus Schuback1759(1754–1783)
Peter Greve1759
Vincent Rumpff1765
Johann Schlüter1774
Albert Schulte1778
Frans Doormann1780
Jacob Albrecht von Sienen1781
Johann Anderson1781(1783–1790)
Johann Luis1784
Johann Adolph Poppe1786
Martin Dorner1788
Franz Anton Wagener1790–1801
Daniel Lienau1798
Peter Hinrich Widow1800–1802
Friedrich von Graffen1801–1810First term
Wilhelm Amsinck1802
Johann Arnold Heise1807
Amandus Augustus Abendroth1811–1813Not included in the Meister's book.[3]
Friedrich von Graffen1815–1820Second term
Christian Matthias Schröder1816
Johann Heinrich Bartels1820–1850
Johann Daniel Koch1821
Martin Garlieb Sillem1829
Amandus Augustus Abendroth1831
Martin H. Schötteringk1832
Christian Daniel Benecke1835
Heinrich Kellinghusen1842
Johann Ludwig Dammert1843
Nicolaus Binder1855
unoccupied1850–1861Second Mayor: Christian Daniel Benecke (1835–1851)
Third Mayor: Heinrich Kellinghusen (1842–1880)
Fourth Mayor: Nicolaus Binder (1855–1861)
All:

Hamburg (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
YearFirst mayorSecond mayor„sabbatical year"
1 Senator ASenator BSenator C
2 Senator BSenator CSenator A
3 Senator CSenator ASenator B
4 Senator ASenator BSenator 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.

NameImageIn officeNote
Friedrich Sieveking1861–1862
Ferdinand Haller1863–1864
Friedrich Sieveking1865
Ferdinand Haller1866–1867(−1868)
Friedrich Sieveking1868
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer1869
Ferdinand Haller1870

German Reich (1871–1945)

German Empire (1871–1918)

width=80px rowspan=2 colspan=2Portraitwidth=30% rowspan=2Name
(Born–Died)
width=35% colspan=3Term of officewidth=28% rowspan=2Political party
Took officeLeft officeDays
German Empire (1871–1918)
bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=8 City of the German Reich
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer
1 January 187131 December 1872
Ferdinand Haller
1 January 187331 December 1873
Hermann Goßler
1 January 187431 December 1874
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer
1 January 187531 December 1875
Carl Friedrich Petersen
1 January 1876 31 December 1877
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer
1 January 187831 December 1878
Hermann Weber
1 January 187931 December 1879
Carl Friedrich Petersen
1 January 188031 December 1880
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer
1 January 188131 December 1881
Hermann Weber
1 January 188231 December 1882
Carl Friedrich Petersen
1 January 188331 December 1883
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer
1 January 188431 December 1884
Hermann Weber
1 January 188531 December 1885
Carl Friedrich Petersen
1 January 188631 December 1886
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer
1 January 18873 March 1887
Johannes Versmann
14 March 188731 December 1888
Carl Friedrich Petersen
1 January 188931 December 1889
Johann Georg Mönckeberg
1 January 199031 December 1990
Johannes Versmann
1 January 189131 December 1891
Carl Friedrich Petersen
1 January 189231 December 1892
Johann Georg Mönckeberg
1 January 189331 December 1893
Johannes Versmann
1 January 189431 December 1894
Johannes Lehmann
1 January 189531 December 1895
Johann Georg Mönckeberg
1 January 189631 December 1896
Johannes Versmann
1 January 189731 December 1897
Johannes Lehmann
1 January 189831 December 1898
Johann Georg Mönckeberg
1 January 189931 December 1899
Johannes Lehmann
1 January 190015 September 1900
Gerhard Hachmann
19 November 190031 December 1901
Johann Georg Mönckeberg
1 January 190231 December 1902
Johann Heinrich Burchard
1 January 190331 December 1903
Gerhard Hachmann
1 January 19045 July 1904
Johann Georg Mönckeberg
5 July 1904 31 December 1905
Johann Heinrich Burchard
1 January 190631 December 1906
Johann Otto Stammann
1 January 1907 31 December 1907
Johann Georg Mönckeberg
1 January 190827 March 1908
Johann Heinrich Burchard
3 April 190831 December 1909
Max Predöhl
1 January 191031 December 1911
Johann Heinrich Burchard
1 January 19126 September 1912
Carl August Schröder
3 September 191231 December 1913
Max Predöhl
1 January 191431 December 1914
Werner von Melle
1 January 191531 December 1915
Carl August Schröder
1 January 191631 December 1916
Max Predöhl
1 January 191731 December 1917
Werner von Melle
1 January 191812 November 1918
List of Second Mayors from 1860 to 1919
NameImageIn officeNote
Ascan Wilhelm Lutteroth1862–1863
Friedrich Sieveking1864
Ascan Wilhelm Lutteroth Legat1865–1866
Friedrich Sieveking1867
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer1868
Ferdinand Haller1869
Hermann Goßler1870–1871
Ferdinand Haller1872
Hermann Goßler1873
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer1874
Ferdinand Haller1875
Hermann Weber1876
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer1877
Hermann Weber1878
Carl Friedrich Petersen1879
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer1880
Hermann Weber1881
Carl Friedrich Petersen1882
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer1883
Hermann Weber1884
Carl Friedrich Petersen1885
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer1886
Johannes Versmann1 January 1887 – 14 March 1887
Max Theodor Hayn14 March 1887 – 31 December 1887
Carl Friedrich Petersen1888
Johann Georg Mönckeberg1889
Johannes Versmann1890
Carl Friedrich Petersen1891
Johann Georg Mönckeberg1892
Johannes Versmann1893
Johannes Lehmann1894
Johann Georg Mönckeberg1895
Johannes Versmann1896
Johannes Lehmann1897
Johann Georg Mönckeberg1898
Johannes Versmann1899
Johannes Lehmann5 July 1899 – 31 December 1899
Gerhard Hachmann1 January 1900 – 19 November 1900
Johann Georg Mönckeberg19 November 1900 – 1901
Johann Heinrich Burchard1902
Gerhard Hachmann1903
Johann Georg Mönckeberg1 January 1904 – 11 July 1904
Johann Heinrich Burchard11 July 1904 – 1905
Johann Otto Stammann1906
Johann Georg Mönckeberg1907
Johann Heinrich Burchard1 January 1908 – 3 April 1908
William Henry O'Swald3 April 1908 – 1909
Carl August Schröder1910
Johann Heinrich Burchard1911
Carl August Schröder1 January 1912 – 13 September 1912
Max Predöhl13 September 1912 – 1913
Werner von Melle1914
Carl August Schröder1915
Max Predöhl1916
Werner von Melle1917
Carl August Schröder1918–1919

Weimar Republic (1919–1933)

See also: Hamburg state elections in the Weimar Republic.

During the German Revolution of 1918–1919 an Arbeiter- und Soldatenrat (workers' and soldiers' council) 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
width=80px rowspan=2 colspan=2Portraitwidth=30% rowspan=2Name
(Born–Died)
width=35% colspan=3Term of officewidth=28% rowspan=2Political party
Took officeLeft officeDays
Werner von Melle
31 March 1919 31 December 1919
Friedrich Sthamer
1 January 19201 February 1920
Arnold Diestel
2 February 1920 31 December 1923German Democratic Party
Carl Wilhelm Petersen
1 January 192431 December 1929German Democratic Party
Rudolf Ross
1 January 193031 December 1931Social Democratic Party
Carl Wilhelm Petersen
1 January 1932 30 January 1933German Democratic Party
Second Mayor of Hamburg
PartyTook officeLeft office
Otto StoltenSPD31 March 1919 1925
Max SchrammSPD19254 April 1928
Rudolf RossSPD5 April 1928 31 December 1929
Carl Wilhelm PetersenDDP1 January 1930 31 December 1931
Rudolf RossSPD1 January 193230 January 1933

Nazi Germany (1933–1945)

In Nazi Germany the "Law on the Reconstruction of the Reich" (Gesetz über den Neuaufbau des Reiches) of 30 January 1934 abandoned the concept of a federal republic. The political institutions of the Länder were abolished altogether, passing all powers to the central government. The Hamburg Parliament was 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 actual head of the Hamburg executive was the Reichsstatthalter (Regional Governor) Karl Kaufmann (1933–1945).[4]

NameTook officeLeft officeParty
Carl Wilhelm Petersen30 January 19337 March 1933German People’s Party
Carl Vincent Krogmann8 March 19333 May 1945NSDAP
Second Mayor
NameTook officeLeft officeParty
Rudolf Ross30 January 19333 March 1933Social Democratic Party
8 March 193318 May 1933German People's Party

Colonel Robert Gordon Kitchen VI, Governor of Hamburg during the control of the British Army 1945–1946.

Hamburg (1945–present)

See also: 2001 Hamburg state election, 2004 Hamburg state election, 2008 Hamburg state election, 2011 Hamburg state election, 2015 Hamburg state election and 2020 Hamburg state election. Mayors during the federal parliamentary republic of Germany.

Political party key:

First Mayor and President of the Senate of Hamburg
width=80px rowspan=2 colspan=2Portraitwidth=30% rowspan=2Name
(Born–Died)
width=35% colspan=3Term of officewidth=28% rowspan=2Political party
Took officeLeft officeDays
Hamburg (1945–1949)
bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=8 British occupation zone in Allied-occupied Germany
Rudolf Petersen
(1878–1962)
Appointed by the British military
15 May 194522 November 1946Christian Democratic Union
1Max Brauer
First term
(1887–1973)
22 November 194623 May 1949Social Democratic Party
Hamburg (1949–present)
bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=8 City-state of the Federal Republic of Germany
(1)Max Brauer
First term
(1887–1973)
23 May 19492 December 1953Social Democratic Party
2Kurt Sieveking
(1897–1986)
2 December 19534 December 1957Christian Democratic Union
2
Max Brauer
Second term
(1887–1973)
4 December 195731 December 1960
Social Democratic Party
4Paul Nevermann
(1902–1979)
1 January 19619 June 1965
Social Democratic Party
5Herbert Weichmann
(1896–1983)
9 June 19659 June 1971
Social Democratic Party
6Peter Schulz
(1930–2013)
9 June 19714 November 1974
Social Democratic Party
7Hans-Ulrich Klose[5]
(1937–2023)
12 November 1974 22 May 1981
Social Democratic Party
8Klaus von Dohnanyi
(born 1928)
24 June 19818 June 1988Social Democratic Party
9Henning Voscherau[6] [7]
(1941–2016)
8 June 19888 October 1997
Social Democratic Party
10Ortwin Runde[8]
(born 1944)
12 November 199731 October 2001Social Democratic Party
11Ole von Beust
(born 1955)
31 October 200125 August 2010
Christian Democratic Union
12Christoph Ahlhaus
(born 1969)
25 August 20107 March 2011Christian Democratic Union
13Olaf Scholz
(born 1958)
7 March 201113 March 2018
Social Democratic Party
14Peter Tschentscher
(born 1966)
28 March 2018IncumbentSocial Democratic Party
Second Mayor of Hamburg
NameTook officeLeft officeParty
Adolph Schönfelder
(1875–1966)
6 June 1945 15 November 1946Social Democratic Party
Christian Koch
(1878–1955)
19 November 194618 February 1950Free Democratic Party
Paul Nevermann
(1902–1979)
24 February 19502 December 1953Social Democratic Party
Edgar Engelhard
(1917–1979)
2 December 195327 April 1966Free Democratic Party
Wilhelm Drexelius
(1906–1974)
27 April 19662 April 1970Social Democratic Party
Peter Schulz
(1930–2013)
22 April 19709 June 1971Social Democratic Party
Helmuth Kern
(1926–2016)
9 June 19713 October 1972Social Democratic Party
Hans Rau
(1925–1995)
3 October 197230 April 1974Free Democratic Party
Dieter Biallas
(1936–2016)
30 April 197428 June 1978Free Democratic Party
Helga Elstner
(1924–2012)
28 June 197813 June 1984Social Democratic Party
Alfons Pawelczyk
(born 1933)
13 June 19842 September 1987Social Democratic Party
Ingo von Münch
(born 1932)
2 September 198726 June 1991Free Democratic Party
Hans-Jürgen Krupp
(born 1933)
26 June 19911 December 1993Social Democratic Party
Erhard Rittershaus
(1931–2006)
15 December 1993 12 November 1997Statt party
Krista Sager[9]
(born 1953)
12 November 1997 31 October 2001Alliance '90/The Greens
Ronald Schill
(born 1958)
31 October 200119 August 2003Party for a Rule of Law Offensive
Mario Mettbach[10]
(born 1952)
21 August 2003 17 March 2004Party for a Rule of Law Offensive
Birgit Schnieber-Jastram[11]
(born 1946)
17 March 2004 7 May 2008 Christian Democratic Union
Christa Goetsch[12]
(born 1952)
7 May 200829 November 2010 Alliance '90/The Greens
Dietrich Wersich
(born 1964)
30 November 20107 March 2011 Christian Democratic Union
Dorothee Stapelfeldt
(born 1956)
7 March 2011 15 April 2015Social Democratic Party
Katharina Fegebank
(born 1977)
15 April 2015IncumbentAlliance '90/The Greens

Notes and references

General

Notes and References

  1. Book: Verg . Erik . Verg . Martin . Das Abenteuer, das Hamburg heißt . 2007 . 264 . Hamburg . Ellert&Richter . 4th . 978-3-8319-0137-1 . de.
  2. Web site: Erste Bürgermeister Hamburgs 1507–2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110301132551/http://www.hamburg.de/contentblob/1714146/data/liste-der-buergermeister-seit-1507.pdf . 1 March 2011 . 2009-09-22 . . de.
  3. Web site: Abendroth, Amandus Augustus . Historische Commission bei der Königl. Akademie der Wissenschaften . 1875 . Leipzig . 2008-09-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110311133017/http://www.billboard.com/ . 11 March 2011 . Retrieved from Elektronische Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (Sütterlin script)
  4. Verg, pp. 161–163
  5. Last mayor in Domizlaff as no. 182
  6. Web site: Henning Voscherau: Langjähriger Bürgermeister Hamburgs . . 2008-10-05 . de . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011183522/http://www1.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/portraet70.html . 11 October 2008 .
  7. Web site: Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek . . 2008-10-05 . de . https://web.archive.org/web/20090219063742/http://d-nb.info/gnd/128650656 . 19 February 2009 . live .
  8. Web site: Schroeder's Party Appears to Lose Pivotal Vote . 2008-10-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081012090302/http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/09/24/germ_ed3__4.php . 12 October 2008 .
  9. Web site: German Parties . Martin Christensen . 2008-10-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011201501/http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/germany_parties.htm . 11 October 2008 . live .
  10. Web site: Hamburg's conservative government collapses after another farce . City Mayors Archive . 2008-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100102115443/http://citymayors.com/news/hamburg_schill.html . 2 January 2010 . live .
  11. News: Senatorin Schnieber-Jastram zieht sich zurück . Die Welt . 15 April 2008 . . 2008-10-05 . de . https://web.archive.org/web/20081012123624/http://www.welt.de/hamburg/article1904024/Senatorin_Schnieber_Jastram_zieht_sich_zurueck.html . 12 October 2008 . live . Schirg . Oliver .
  12. News: Christa Goetsch (Greens Party) newly elected .. . USAtoday Cruise log . 2008-10-06 . Gene . Sloan . https://web.archive.org/web/20081012033547/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?&type=photo&photo_id=0gY4cCaaQ82N6&pn=2&tid=0c4L1df0EYc8n . 12 October 2008 . live .