List of mayors of Bristol

The position of Lord Mayor of Bristol was conferred on the city in June 1899 (effective 15 November 1899) as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours and was confirmed by letters patent dated 1 April 1974.^[1] Prior to November 1899 the position of Mayor of Bristol had existed since 1216. The Lord Mayor is the Chairperson of the City Council and has the casting vote. As Bristol's first citizen, they are the non-political, ceremonial head of the city. The Lord Mayor of Bristol is styled The Right Honourable, although without official sanction, rather than the more normal Right Worshipful enjoyed by most other Lord Mayors.^[2] The names of all Mayors and Lord Mayors of Bristol since 1216 are cut into the stone walls of the Conference Hall of Bristol City Hall.

Mayors of Bristol: 1216–1899

It is uncertain when the position of mayor came to existence, but records of the mayor start from 1216 onwards. Mayors of Bristol included the following:

1200s

1216 Roger Cordewaner
1217 Adam Le Page
1218 Martin Undiryate
1219 John at Hulle
1220 Robert Holburst
1221 Roger de Stanes
1222 Walter Mombray
1223 John de Berdewyke
1224 James de Roweborowe
1225 Walter de Wyntone
1226 Hugh de Fayreforde
1227 John de Mersshefielde
1228 Henry Le Long
1229 Nicholas Heyhome
1230 John Bruselaunce
1231 Henry de Berewyke
1232 Elyas Spryngham
1233 Walter Le Fraunceis
1234 Richard Aylard
1235 Jordan Browne
1236 James Le Warre
1237 Richard Horston
1238 Philip de Powket
1239 Richard Forstall
1240 Richard Aylard
1241 Thomas de Weston
1242 Robert Le Bele
1243 William Clerk
1244 William Spakstone
1245 Ralph Monjoy
1246 Elyas de Axbrige
1247 Reginald de Penes
1248 Geoffrey le White
1249 John Adryan
1250 Roger de Bury
1251 Elyas Long
1252 Thomas Le Rous
1253 Reynold de Wight
1254 Henry Adryan
1255 Adam de Berkham
1256 Robert de Kylmaynan
1257 Roger de Berkham
1258 Roger de Stokes
1259 Clement de Romeney
1260 William de Gloucestre
1261 John de Lyme
1262 Robert de Kylmaynan
1263 Adam de Berkham
1264 Thomas Le Rous
1265 Henry Adryan
1266 Stephen Ormestone
1267 Thomas Selby
1268 Simon Clerk
1269 Robert Mauncell
1270 Roger Fissher
1271 Ralph Paldene
1272 John Wissy
1273 Richard de Wellis
1274 Peter de Keynesham
1275 Thomas de Hamelesden
1276 Gerard Le Fraunces
1277 Simon de Bardeney
1278 John Lydewarde
1279 Roger Le Tavyrnere
1280 Peter de Romeney
1281 William Beauflure
1282 Nicholas Horncastell
1283 Thomas Cokere
1284 Peter de Romeney
1285 Richard Mangottesfielde
1286 Richard Mangottesfielde
1287 John Le Warre
1288 Roger de Graftone
1289 Richard Le Draper
1290 Richard Mangottesfielde
1291 Roger Turcle
1292 Thomas de Tilley
1293 Walter Le Fraunces
1294 Simon de Burton
1295 Simon de Burton
1296 Simon de Burton
1297 William Randalf
1298 John Snowe
1299 Richard de Mangottesfield

1300s

1400s

1400 Thomas Knappe
1401 William Frome
1402 John Barnstable
1403 John Stephens
1404 Thomas Knappe
1405 Robert Dudbroke
1406 John Barnstable
1407 John Droys
1408 Thomas Blount
1409 John Fisher
1410 John Droys
1411 Thomas Yonge, MP for Bristol
1412 Thomas Yonge
1413 John Cleve
1414 Thomas Norton
1415 John Droyes
1416 John Sharpe
1417 Thomas Blount
1418 Robert Russell
1419 John Newton
1420 James Cokkys
1421 Thomas Yonge
1422 John Spyre
1423 Mark William
1424 John Burton
1425 John Leycester, MP for Bristol
1426 John Cleve
1427 Robert Russell
1428 John Newtone
1429 Roger Levedone
1430 John Burton
1431 John Leycester
1432 Richard Trenolde
1433 John Sharpe
1434 John Fisher
1435 Thomas Halleway
1436 John Miltone
1437 Richard Forster
1438 Clement Bagod
1439 Hugh Wethrforde
1440 John Sharpe
1441 Nicholas Ferme
1442 William Canynges, MP for Bristol, 1439, 1450–1 and 1455
1443 Clement Bagod
1444 John Stanley
1445 John Shipwarde
1446 Nicholas Hille
1447 Richard Forster
1448 Richard Forster
1449 John Burton
1450 William Canynges
1451 John Burton
1452 John Stanley
1453 William Codir
1454 Robert Sturmy, merchant
1455 Richard Hatter
1456 John Shipwarde
1457 William Canynges
1458 Philip Mede, MP
1459 Philip Mede, MP
1460 Thomas Rogers
1461 William Canynges
1462 Philip Mede, MP
1463 John Wykam
1464 John Shipwarde
1465 William Codir
1466 William Spencer
1467 William Canynges
1468 Robert Jakys
1469 Philip Mede, MP
1470 John Shipwarde
1471 John Hawkes
1472 John Cogan
1473 William Spence
1474 Robert Strange
1475 William Bird
1476 John Baggott
1477 John Shipward
1479 Edmund Westcott
1480 Wm. Wodington
1481 John Foster
1482 Robert Strange
1483 Henry Vaughan
1484 Wm. Wickham
1485 Edmund Westcott
1486 Wm. Wickham
1487 John Esterfield
1488 John Pinke
1489 Robert Strange
1490 John Stevens
1491 William Toker
1492 Clement Wiltshire
1493 Henry Vaughan
1494 John Easterfield
1495 William Regent
1496 John Drewes
1497 Henry Dale
1498 Philip Kingston
1499 Nicholas Brown

1500s

1500 Nicholas Brown
1501 Richard Vaughan
1502 George Monoy
1503 Hugh Johns
1504 Henry Dale
1505 David Cogan (alias Philip)
1506 Philip Ringston
1507 John Vaughan
1508 Richard Hoby
1509 John Capell
1510 John Poplay
1511 John Rowland
1512 John Ellyott
1513 William Bedford
1514 Robert Thorn
1515 Roger Dawes
1516 John Vaughan
1517 Richard Hoby
1518 John Edward
1519 John Williams
1520 Roger Dawes
1521 John Shipman
1522 John Rowland
1523 John Williams
1524 John Hutton
1525 Richard Abingdon
1526 Thomas Broke
1527 John Ware
1528 Richard Tonnell
1529 John Shipman
1530 Thomas White
1531 Thomas Pacy
1532 Clement Bays
1533 William Shipman
1534 Roger Cook
1535 John Hutton
1536 Richard Abingdon
1537 William Chester
1538 Thomas Jeffery
1539 Roger Cook
1540 John Springe
1541 Robert Elliot
1542 Henry White
1543 Thomas Pacy
1544 Nicholas Thorn
1545 Robert Adams
1546 William Cary
1547 John Smyth
1548 William Pyckes
1549 William Jay
1550 David Harris
1551 Roger Cook
1552 William Chester
1553 John Northall
1554 John Smyth
1555 William Young
1556 Robert Saxse
1557 William Pepwall
1558 Robert Adams
1559 Roger Jones
1560 William Carr
1561 John Reekes
1562 John Stone
1563 Nicholas Williams
1564 Anthony Standback
1565 John Northall
1566 John Cutt
1567 William Pepwall
1568 John Stone
1569 Thomas Chester
1570 William Tucker
1571 John Stone
1572 John Brown
1573 Thomas Kelke
1574 George Snigg
1575 John Prewett
1576 John Wade
1577 Thomas Colston
1578 John Roberts
1579 Thomas Young
1580 Thomas Slocombe
1581 Philip Langley
1582 Thomas Aldworth
1583 Walter Pykes
1584 Thomas Rowland
1585 Richard Cole
1586 William Hicks
1587 John Barnes
1588 Robert Kitchen
1589 William Bird
1590 John Hopkins
1591 Walter Standfast
1592 Thomas Aldworth
1593 Michael Pepwall
1594 Francis Knight
1595 William Parfey
1596 William Yate
1597 John Webb
1598 William Ellis
1599 John Hart

1600s

1600 John Hopkins, MP for Bristol^[4]
1601 William Vawer ^[5]
1602 Ralfe Hurte ^[6]^[7]
1604, 1615 John Whitson, MP for Bristol, 1605, 1628
1605, 1614 Thomas James, MP for Bristol, 1604–14
1609 Robert Aldworth, merchant and philanthropist
1611 William Cary, draper
1612 Abel Kitchin, merchant
1617 George Harrington^[8]
1618 John Guy, first Governor of Newfoundland
1620 John Doughty, MP for Bristol, 1626–29
1625 John Barker, MP for Bristol, 1624, 1628
1629 Humphrey Hooke, MP for Bristol, 1640–42
1632 Henry Hobson, innkeeper
1636 Richard Longe, MP for Bristol, 1640–42
1640 John Tailer, MP for Bristol, 1642–44
1642 Richard Aldworth, MP for Bristol, 1646
1643 Humphrey Hooke, MP for Bristol, 1640–42
1649 Miles Jackson, MP for Bristol, 1654, 1656
1650 Hugh Browne ^[9]
1651 Joseph Jackson, MP for Bristol, 1659
1663 John Knight, MP for Bristol, 1660.
1678 John Lloyd (mayor of Bristol)
1684 William Hayman, Bristol merchant

1700s

1700 Sir William Daines, MP for Bristol, 1701, 1715
1710 Abraham Elton, MP for Bristol, 1722–27
1719 Sir Abraham Elton, 2nd Baronet, MP for Bristol, 1727–42
1780 William Miles 1728–1803, Bristol Corporation 1766, Sheriff 1766, Mayor 1780–81, Alderman 1782–
1781 Henry Cruger, MP for Bristol, 1774–80, 1784–90
1790 John Harris, merchant, participant in slavery debates
1797/8 Thomas Daniel merchant, Alderman 1798-1835, Councillor 1835-1841, Sheriff 1796/7

1800s

1833 Charles Ludlow Walker
1837, 1838, 1845, 1848, 1849, 1850 Sir John Kerle Haberfield^[10]
1844 Richard King, merchant
1851 Henry Gore-Langton, MP for Bristol, 1852–65
1852 Robert Gay Barrow
1853, 1854 John George Shaw
1855, 1856 John Vining
1857 Isaac Alan Cooke
1858 James Poole
1859 John Bates
1860 Odiarne Coates Lane
1861 John Hare
1862 Sholto Vere Hare
1863 Thomas Porter Jose
1864 William Naish
1865 Joseph Abraham
1866 Elisha Smith Robinson, businessman
1867 William Gale Cole
1868 William Gale Cole
1869 William Killigrew Wait, MP for Gloucester, 1873–80
1870 Thomas Canning
1871 William Proctor Baker
1872 William Hathway
1873 Thomas Barnes
1874 Christopher James Thomas
1875 John Avery Jones
1876 George Edwards
1877 George Edwards
1878 George Edwards
1879 Henry Taylor
1880, 1881, 1882, 1883 Joseph Dodge Weston, MP for Bristol South, 1885, and Bristol East, 1890
1884, 1885, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890 Sir Charles Wathen
1886 George William Edwards
1891 Charles Highett MD
1892 William Robert Barker
1893, 1894 Robert Henry Symes
1895 Howell Davies, MP for Bristol South 1906–22
1896, 1897 Robert Henry Syms
1898 Herbert Ashman

Lord Mayors of Bristol: 1899–present

Source ^[11]

1899: Sir Herbert Ashman (Leather Merchant - First Lord Mayor)
1900: James Colthurst Godwin
1901: Charles Edward Ley Gardner
1902: Sir Robert Henry Symes^[12]
1903: Sir Robert Henry Symes
1904: Edward Burnett James
1905: Alfred John Smith
1906: Alfred John Smith
1907: Sir Edward Burnet James
1908: Edward Robinson
1909: Christopher Albert Hayes
1910: Christopher Albert Hayes
1911: Sir Frank William Wills Kt.
1912: Charles James Lowe
1913: John Swaish
1914: John Swaish
1915: Barclay Josiah Baron
1916: Barclay Josiah Baron
1917: Frank Sheppard
1918: Henry William Twiggs
1919: James Thomas Francombe
1920: George Bryant Britton (Shoe manufacturer)
1921: Ernest Henry Cook
1922: Alfred Dowling
1923: Alfred Arthur Senington
1924: Ernest Brookhouse Richards
1925: Frank Moore
1926: Edward Malachi Dyer
1927: John Curle
1928: William Henry Eyles
1929: Walter Bryant
1930: Frederick Francis Clothier
1931: John Hampden Inskip
1932: Thomas James Wise
1933: Francis Crispin Luke
1934: Herbert John Maggs
1935: Charles Theodore Budgett
1936: Albert Francis Moon
1937: John James Milton
1938: William Albert Winchester
1939: Albert-Whitfield Stone Burgess
1940: Thomas Henry Johnson Underdown
1941: Ebenezer Thomas Cozens
1942: Henry Arthur Wall
1943: Frederick Charles Williams
1944: William Frederick Cottrell
1945: James Owen
1946: Gilbert Sydney James
1947: Charles Richard Gill
1948: Charles Richard Gill
1949: Percy Walter Cann
1950: Frederick Arthur Parish
1951: Robert Francis Lyne
1952: Alderman Vincent James Gerald Ross OBE
1953: Kenneth Alfred Leader Brown
1954: Gilbert George Adams
1955: Harry Crook
1956: George Alton Watson Allan
1957: Percy Whitehead Raymond
1958: Fitzroy George William Chamberlain
1959: William George Cozens
1960: Alexander Hugh Jenkins
1961: Charles Herbert Smith
1962: Leonard King Stevenson
1963: Florence Mills Brown
1964: Kenelm Antony Philip / Dalby
1965: Thomas Henry Martin
1966: Cyril Hebblethwaite
1967: Revd. Frederick Charles / Vyvyan-Jones
1968: Mercia Evelyn Castle
1969: Herbert William Major Willcox
1970: Geoffrey Palmer
1971: Helen Bloom
1972: Edwin Roberts (died in office 27 March 1973) / Helen Bloom (acting Lord Mayor until 15 May 1973)
1973: Walter William Jenkins
1974: Albert George Peglar
1975: Hubert James Williams
1976: Jack Desmond Fisk
1977: Edward James Wright
1978: Charles Edwin Merritt
1979: Thomas John Clarke
1980: Victor William Pople
1981: William Ernest Blackmore
1982: George Edward Maggs
1983: Frederick John Apperley
1984: Claude Draper
1985: Jack Maurice Bosdet
1986: Joan Jones
1987: Christopher Dominic Marmaduke Bellairs Alderson
1988: Derek Baisley Tedder
1989: Kathleen Minnie Mountstephen
1990: James Alexander Williams
1991: Peter John Abraham
1992: John Channon
1993: John Channon
1994: Claire Margaret Warren
1995: Joan Barbara McLaren
1996: Joan Barbara McLaren
1997: Jack Fisk
1998: Graham Roy Robertson
1999: Graham Roy Robertson
2000: Graham Roy Robertson
2001: Brenda Patricia Hugill
2002: William Leslie Martin
2003: William Leslie Martin
2004: Simon Timothy Cook (Actor)
2005: Peter John Abraham
2006: Peter John Abraham
2007: Royston Alan Griffey
2008: Christopher Davies
2009: Christopher Davies
2010: Colin Smith
2011: Geoffrey Richard Gollop
2012: Peter Main ^[13]
2013: Faruk Choudhury ^[14]
2014: Alastair Watson ^[15]
2015: Clare Campion-Smith ^[16]
2016: Jeff Lovell ^[17]
2017: Lesley Alexander ^[18]
2018: Cleo Lake
2019: Jos Clark
2020: Jos Clark
2021: Steve Smith ^[19]
2022: Paula O'Rourke
2023: Paul Goggin
2024: Andrew Varney

References

^ "Birthday Honours", The Times, 3 June 1899, pg. 11
^ The Title of Lord Mayor – Use of the Prefix "Right Honourable", The Times, 7 July 1932, p.16
^ "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1300 -1399". davenapier. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
^ "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1600-1699". davenapier.co.uk.
^ "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1600-1699". davenapier.co.uk.
^ "Ralfe Hurt Will, Declaration as mayor".
^ "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1600-1699". davenapier.co.uk.
^ https://www.bristol.gov.uk/documents/20182/138093/Bristol+Mayors+from+1216.pdf/1f34b6f6-efa2-452b-bea6-8d2f2bc301c0 ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1600-1699". davenapier.co.uk.
^ "Sir John Kerle Haberfield". davenapier.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "List of Mayors since 1216" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
^ "Election of Mayors". The Times. No. 36922. London. 11 November 1902. p. 12.
^ "Bristol's first openly gay Lord Mayor inspired by late partner". Bristol Post. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
^ "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
^ "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
^ "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
^ "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
^ "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
^ "Councillor Steve Smith elected Bristol's new Lord Mayor". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

[1] "Birthday Honours", The Times, 3 June 1899, pg. 11

[2] The Title of Lord Mayor – Use of the Prefix "Right Honourable", The Times, 7 July 1932, p.16

[3] "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1300 -1399". davenapier. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2021.

[4] "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1600-1699". davenapier.co.uk.

[5] "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1600-1699". davenapier.co.uk.

[6] "Ralfe Hurt Will, Declaration as mayor".

[7] "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1600-1699". davenapier.co.uk.

[8] ttps://www.bristol.gov.uk/documents/20182/138093/Bristol+Mayors+from+1216.pdf/1f34b6f6-efa2-452b-bea6-8d2f2bc301c0 ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[9] "Mayors and Sheriffs of Bristol 1600-1699". davenapier.co.uk.

[10] "Sir John Kerle Haberfield". davenapier.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[11] "List of Mayors since 1216" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[12] "Election of Mayors". The Times. No. 36922. London. 11 November 1902. p. 12.

[13] "Bristol's first openly gay Lord Mayor inspired by late partner". Bristol Post. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[14] "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[15] "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 13 October 2014.

[16] "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 13 December 2015.

[17] "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 16 March 2017.

[18] "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 4 June 2017.

[19] "Councillor Steve Smith elected Bristol's new Lord Mayor". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

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