The first recorded Mayor of London was Henry Fitz-Ailwyn 1189.
Since then, some 700 men and one woman have over the centuries held
the position of chief officer of the City of London.
The title 'Lord Mayor' is purely customary, but of great age. In
the Latin of the thirteenth century 'dominus major' is found, and
in English 'Lord Mair' in 1414. By the sixteenth century the prefix
'Right Honourable' was in use.
The most famous of them all is Dick Whittington, who held office
three times, in 1397, 1406 and 1419. Contrary to popular belief,
Dick Whittington was not a poor, ill-treated orphan who managed
against all the odds to work his way up to Lord Mayor. Coming from
a wealthy family, Richard Whittington had a successful business and
civic career before he became Lord Mayor. As for the black cat
which supposedly helped him found his fortune by ridding the King
of the Barbary Coast of a plague of rats, while no-one is quite
sure how this part of the myth grew up, the fact is that Dick
Whittington carved out a successful business career in a very
practical way as a mercer (dealer in costly fabrics such as silk),
wool merchant and royal financier.
Although the legend of Dick Whittington may not bear close
scrutiny, the Lord Mayor has throughout the centuries played a
vital role in the life of the City of London and continues to do so
today. In the City, the Lord Mayor ranks immediately after the
sovereign and acts as the capital's host in Guildhall and Mansion
House, his official residence. On behalf of the City and the nation
he carries out numerous engagements at home and abroad. Although in
former years a person could become Lord Mayor as many times as the
electorate would vote him in - Dick Whittington being such an
example - nowadays one year of such demanding activity is
considered enough.
The right of citizens to elect their own Mayor dates from the
Charter granted by King John to the City in 1215, and in the same
year Magna Carta specified that the City would retain all its
ancient liberties. The election of Lord Mayor is held at the end of
September each year in Guildhall. The assembly, known as Common
Hall, consists of all liverymen of at least one year's standing
together with certain high officers of the City. All
aldermen who have served the office of
sheriff and who have not already been Lord Mayor are
eligible.
The Lord Mayor's modern role and the current Lord Mayor
Information to download
Sources of information on Lord Mayors in the
City of London Records Office and
elsewhere (11kb)
Past Lord Mayors: a complete list
(159kb)