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)