List of mayors of Hamburg

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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.

First Mayor of Hamburg
Erster Bürgermeister der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg (German)
Coat of arms of Hamburg
Incumbent Peter Tschentscher since 28 March 2018
Type	Lord Mayor Head of government
Member of	Senate of Hamburg
Appointer	Hamburg Parliament
Term length	Pending resignation or the election of a successor
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Hamburg
Formation	1293
Deputy	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 minister-presidents 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. 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 (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
Johann Spreckelsen		1512
Nicolaus Thode		1517
Thidericus Hohusen		1517
unoccupied		1519–1520	Second Mayor was Dietrich [Thidericus?] Hohusen (1517–1546)
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 (1580–1584)
Lorenz Niebur		1557
Hermann Wetken		1564
Eberhard Moller		1571
Paul Grote		1580
Johann Niebur		1557	(1581–1590)
Nicolaus Vögeler		1581
Joachim vom Kape		1588
Diedrich von Eitzen		1589
unoccupied		1590–1591	Second Mayor: Joachim von Kape (1588–1594)
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 (1609–1642)
Sebastian von Bergen		1614–1623
Johann Wetken		1614
Bartholomäus Beckmann		1617
Joachim Clan		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 (1643–1667)
Nicolaus Jarre		1650–1678
Johann Schlebusch		1653
Peter Lütkens		1654
Wolfgang Meurer		1660
Bartholomäus Twestreng		1663
Johannes Schötteringk		1667
Johann Schulte		1668
Broderus Pauli		1670–1680
Johann Schröder		1676
Heinrich Meurer		1678–1684	(First term)
Diedrich Moller		1680
Johann Schlüter		1684–1688
Joachim Lemmermann		1684
Heinrich Meurer		1686	(1688–1690) Second term
Peter Lütkens		1687–1717
Johannes Schafshausen		1690–1697
Hieronimus Harticus Moller		1697
Peter von Lengerke (or Lengerks)		1697–1709
Julius Surland		1702
Gerhard Schröder		1703
Paul Paulsen		1704
Lucas von Borstel		1709–1716
Ludwig Becceler		1712
Bernhard Matfeldt		1716–1720
Garlieb Sillem		1717
Hinrich Diedrich Wiese		1720–1728	(or Heinrich Dietrich Wiese)
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	(1743–1754)
Nicolaus Stempeel		1743
Clemens Samuel Lipstrop		1749
Lucas von Spreckelsen		1750
Martin H. Schele		1751
Lucas Corthum		1751
Nicolaus Schuback		1759	(1754–1783)
Peter Greve		1759
Vincent Rumpff		1765
Johann Schlüter		1774
Albert Schulte		1778
Frans Doormann		1780
Jacob Albrecht von Sienen		1781
Johann Anderson		1781	(1783–1790)
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 Hieronymus Schrötteringk		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) 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

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)
Friedrich Sieveking		1868
Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer		1869
Ferdinand Haller		1870

German Reich (1871–1945)

German Empire (1871–1918)

Portrait		Name (Born–Died)	Term of office			Political party
			Took office	Left office	Days
German Empire (1871–1918)
City of the German Reich
		Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1871	31 December 1872	730
		Ferdinand Haller (1805–1876)	1 January 1873	31 December 1873	364
		Hermann Goßler (1802–1877)	1 January 1874	31 December 1874	364
		Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1875	31 December 1875	364
		Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1876	31 December 1877	730
		Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1878	31 December 1878	364
		Hermann Weber (1822–1886)	1 January 1879	31 December 1879	729
		Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1880	31 December 1880	365
		Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1881	31 December 1881	364
		Hermann Weber (1822–1886)	1 January 1882	31 December 1882	364
		Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1883	31 December 1883	364
		Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1884	31 December 1884	365
		Hermann Weber (1822–1886)	1 January 1885	31 December 1885	364
		Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1886	31 December 1886	364
		Gustav Heinrich Kirchenpauer (1808–1887)	1 January 1887	3 March 1887	61
		Johannes Versmann (1820–1899)	14 March 1887	31 December 1888	658
		Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1889	31 December 1889	364
		Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1890	31 December 1890	364
		Johannes Versmann (1820–1899)	1 January 1891	31 December 1891	364
		Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892)	1 January 1892	31 December 1892	365
		Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1893	31 December 1893	364
		Johannes Versmann (1820–1899)	1 January 1894	31 December 1894	364
		Johannes Lehmann (1826–1901)	1 January 1895	31 December 1895	364
		Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1896	31 December 1896	365
		Johannes Versmann (1820–1899)	1 January 1897	31 December 1897	364
		Johannes Lehmann (1826–1901)	1 January 1898	31 December 1898	364
		Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1899	31 December 1899	364
		Johannes Lehmann (1826–1901)	1 January 1900	15 September 1900	257
		Gerhard Hachmann (1838–1904)	19 November 1900	31 December 1901	407
		Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1902	31 December 1902	364
		Johann Heinrich Burchard (1852–1912)	1 January 1903	31 December 1903	364
		Gerhard Hachmann (1838–1904)	1 January 1904	5 July 1904	186
		Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	5 July 1904	31 December 1905	544
		Johann Heinrich Burchard (1852–1912)	1 January 1906	31 December 1906	364
		Johann Otto Stammann (1835–1909)	1 January 1907	31 December 1907	364
		Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908)	1 January 1908	27 March 1908	365
		Johann Heinrich Burchard (1852–1912)	3 April 1908	31 December 1909	637
		Max Predöhl (1854–1923)	1 January 1910	31 December 1911	729
		Johann Heinrich Burchard 1852–1912)	1 January 1912	6 September 1912	249
		Carl August Schröder (1855–1945)	3 September 1912	31 December 1913	484
		Max Predöhl (1854–1923)	1 January 1914	31 December 1914	364
		Werner von Melle (1853–1937)	1 January 1915	31 December 1915	364
		Carl August Schröder (1855–1945)	1 January 1916	31 December 1916	365
		Max Predöhl (1854–1923)	1 January 1917	31 December 1917	364
		Werner von Melle (1853–1937)	1 January 1918	12 November 1918	315

List of Second Mayors from 1860 to 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)

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). 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

Portrait		Name (Born–Died)	Term of office			Political party
			Took office	Left office	Days
		Werner von Melle (1853–1937)	31 March 1919	31 December 1919	275
		Friedrich Sthamer (1856–1931)	1 January 1920	1 February 1920	31
		Arnold Diestel (1857–1924)	2 February 1920	31 December 1923	1428	German Democratic Party
		Carl Wilhelm Petersen (1868–1933)	1 January 1924	31 December 1929	2191	German Democratic Party
		Rudolf Ross (1872–1951)	1 January 1930	31 December 1931	729	Social Democratic Party
		Carl Wilhelm Petersen (1868–1933)	1 January 1932	30 January 1933	760	German Democratic Party

Second Mayor of Hamburg

	Party	Took office	Left office
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	30 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).

Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Carl Wilhelm Petersen	30 January 1933	7 March 1933	German People’s Party
Carl Vincent Krogmann	8 March 1933	3 May 1945	NSDAP

Second Mayor

Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Rudolf Ross	30 January 1933	3 March 1933	Social Democratic Party
Wilhelm Burchard-Motz	8 March 1933	18 May 1933	German 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:   SPD   CDU

First Mayor and President of the Senate of Hamburg

Portrait		Name (Born–Died)	Term of office			Political party
			Took office	Left office	Days
Hamburg (1945–1949)
British occupation zone in Allied-occupied Germany
–		Rudolf Petersen (1878–1962) Appointed by the British military	15 May 1945	22 November 1946	556	Christian Democratic Union
1		Max Brauer First term (1887–1973)	22 November 1946	23 May 1949	913	Social Democratic Party
Hamburg (1949–present)
City-state of the Federal Republic of Germany
(1)		Max Brauer First term (1887–1973)	23 May 1949	2 December 1953	1654	Social Democratic Party
2		Kurt Sieveking (1897–1986)	2 December 1953	4 December 1957	1463	Christian Democratic Union
2 (1)		Max Brauer Second term (1887–1973)	4 December 1957	31 December 1960 (resigned)	1123	Social Democratic Party
4		Paul Nevermann (1902–1979)	1 January 1961	9 June 1965 (resigned)	1620	Social Democratic Party
5		Herbert Weichmann (1896–1983)	9 June 1965	9 June 1971 (resigned)	2191	Social Democratic Party
6		Peter Schulz (1930–2013)	9 June 1971	4 November 1974 (resigned)	1244	Social Democratic Party
7		Hans-Ulrich Klose (1937–2023)	12 November 1974	22 May 1981 (resigned)	2383	Social Democratic Party
8		Klaus von Dohnanyi (born 1928)	24 June 1981	8 June 1988	2541	Social Democratic Party
9		Henning Voscherau (1941–2016)	8 June 1988	8 October 1997 (resigned)	3409	Social Democratic Party
10		Ortwin Runde (born 1944)	12 November 1997	31 October 2001	1449	Social Democratic Party
11		Ole von Beust (born 1955)	31 October 2001	25 August 2010 (resigned)	3220	Christian Democratic Union
12		Christoph Ahlhaus (born 1969)	25 August 2010	7 March 2011	194	Christian Democratic Union
13		Olaf Scholz (born 1958)	7 March 2011	13 March 2018 (resigned)	2563	Social Democratic Party
14		Peter Tschentscher (born 1966)	28 March 2018	Incumbent	2425	Social Democratic Party

Second Mayor of Hamburg

Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Adolph Schönfelder (1875–1966)	6 June 1945	15 November 1946	Social Democratic Party
Christian Koch (1878–1955)	19 November 1946	18 February 1950	Free Democratic Party
Paul Nevermann (1902–1979)	24 February 1950	2 December 1953	Social Democratic Party
Edgar Engelhard (1917–1979)	2 December 1953	27 April 1966	Free Democratic Party
Wilhelm Drexelius (1906–1974)	27 April 1966	2 April 1970	Social Democratic Party
Peter Schulz (1930–2013)	22 April 1970	9 June 1971	Social Democratic Party
Helmuth Kern (1926–2016)	9 June 1971	3 October 1972	Social Democratic Party
Hans Rau (1925–1995)	3 October 1972	30 April 1974	Free Democratic Party
Dieter Biallas (1936–2016)	30 April 1974	28 June 1978	Free Democratic Party
Helga Elstner (1924–2012)	28 June 1978	13 June 1984	Social Democratic Party
Alfons Pawelczyk (born 1933)	13 June 1984	2 September 1987	Social Democratic Party
Ingo von Münch (born 1932)	2 September 1987	26 June 1991	Free Democratic Party
Hans-Jürgen Krupp (born 1933)	26 June 1991	1 December 1993	Social Democratic Party
Erhard Rittershaus (1931–2006)	15 December 1993	12 November 1997	Statt party
Krista Sager (born 1953)	12 November 1997	31 October 2001	Alliance '90/The Greens
Ronald Schill (born 1958)	31 October 2001	19 August 2003	Party for a Rule of Law Offensive
Mario Mettbach (born 1952)	21 August 2003	17 March 2004	Party for a Rule of Law Offensive
Birgit Schnieber-Jastram (born 1946)	17 March 2004	7 May 2008	Christian Democratic Union
Christa Goetsch (born 1952)	7 May 2008	29 November 2010	Alliance '90/The Greens
Dietrich Wersich (born 1964)	30 November 2010	7 March 2011	Christian Democratic Union
Dorothee Stapelfeldt (born 1956)	7 March 2011	15 April 2015	Social Democratic Party
Katharina Fegebank (born 1977)	15 April 2015	Incumbent	Alliance '90/The Greens

Notes and references

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.)