The following is a list of MAYORS from 1284, the year following that in which Edward I. granted the charter conferring the privilege upon the burgesses of electing one of their number to that high office:

1284 till 1300

Roger de Crophill, Hugone le Fleming, Johannes le Pannier, Johannes de Fleming, Randulphus Hufton;

1302-1399

Johannes fil' de le Paumer, Robert Ingram, Nicholas de Shelford, Lawrence le Spicer, William de Amyas, Roger de Botchal, Ralph de Wolaton, John Samon, John Saumon, John de Plumptre, John Samon, John Samon, John de Crowshagh, Henry de Normanton, William Hutsman, John de Plumptre, John de Tannesley;

1404-1500

Robert Glade, Robert Glade, Thomas Kay, Thomas Page, William Stokes, John de Plumptre, William Broadhelm, John de Plumptre, William Webster, William Halifax, Thomas Alastre, Gualfrid Knyveton, Thomas Thurland, Thomas Thurland, John Hunt, Thomas Alastre, Robert Englishe, Thomas Lockton, Thomas Hunt, William Hyggyn, Richard Ody;

1506-1600

Richard Melleurs, Richard Pykerde, Thomas Mellors, John Plumptre, Robert Lovat, Thomas Cockayne, William Atkynson, John Gregory, Robert Burton, Henry Newton, Richard James, William Scot, Robert Alvey, Robert Burton, Peter Clarke, William Scot, John Gregory, Robert Alvey, Robert Marsh, John Brownlow, Peter Clarke, William Scot, William Trott, Robert Alvey, Richard Hurt, Richard Morehaghe, Peter Clarke, Anker Jackson, Humphrey Bonner;

1602-1686

Richard Hurt, Richard Morehaghe, Richard Welsh, Anker Jackson, William Freeman, Humphrey Bonner, Robert Staples, Richard Hurt, Richard Morehaghe, Richard Welsh, Anker Jackson, William Freeman, Marmed Gregory, Robert Staples, Thomas Nix, Leonard Nix, Anker Jackson, Marmaduke Gregory, Richard Parker, Robert Staples, Robert Sherwin, Leonard Nix, Stephen Hill, Peter Parker, John James, Richard Parker, Alexander Staples, Robert Sherwin, Leonard Nix, William Gregory, Robert Parker, John James, Richard Hardmeat, William Nix, Robert Sherwin, Robert Burton, William Gregory, William Drury, John James, Richard Hardmeat, William Nix, William Nix, Thomas Gamble, John James, William Drury, William Richards, William Nix, Thomas Gamble, Richard Dring, William Drury, Francis Toplady, John Parker, Thomas Huthwaite, William Richards, Thomas Gamble, Richard Dring, William Drury, Francis Toplady, John Parker, Christopher Hall, William Greaves, Ralph Edge, William Jackson, Richard Hodgekins, Joseph Wright, John Parker, Christopher Hall, William Greaves, Ralph Edge, William Jackson, Richard Hodgekins, Joseph Wright, John Parker, Christopher Hall, William Greaves, Ralph Edge, John Parker, Gervas Rippon, Gervas Wyld, William Toplady, Christopher Hall, Robert Wortley, John Parker;

1687, * Gervas Rippon, John Sherwin, George Langford;

* Gervas Rippon and five aldermen were this year excluded from the corporation by a quo warranto of James II., for opposing his infractions upon the people's liberties. John Sherwin and George Langford were two of his successors; the former was mad mayor, but dying, he was succeeded by the latter in that office, and continued in it the following year.

1688-1700

George Langford, Charles Harvey, John Hawkins, Joseph Turpin, William Greaves, Thomas Trigge, Arthur Richards, John Hoe, Francis Samon, Samuel Leland, William Greaves, Thomas Collin, Samuel Watkinson;

1701-1800

John Rickards, John Peake, Samuel Smith, William Barke, John Shipman, Francis Samon, William Drury, Samuel Watkinson, John Peake, Samuel Smith, Benjamin Green, William Barke, John Collin, John Shipman;

1715, Thomas Hawksley, Samuel Watkinson;

1716-1758

John Sherwin, Thomas Trigge, Marmaduke Pennel, Richard Bearn, William Bilbie, Benjamin Green, Alexander Burden, Thomas Trigge, Marmaduke Pennel, Richard Bearn, William Bilbie, Joseph Walters, Benjamin Green, Alexander Burden, William Trigge, Thomas Trigge, John Huthwaite, Thomas Langford, William Bilbie, Benjamin Green, Alexander Burden, William Trigge, John Newton, James Huthwaite, Thomas Langford, Alexander Burden, William Trigge, John Hornbuckle, John Burton, Henry Butler, James Huthwaite, Thomas Langford, William Trigge, John Hornbuckle, John Burton, Henry Butler, James Huthwaite, Thomas Langford, William Trigge, Samuel Fellows, John Burton, Cornelius Huthwaite, Henry Butler;

1759, Isaac Wyld, Thomas Langford;

1760-1771

Robert Huish, James Hornbuckle, Humphrey Hollins, Cornelius Huthwaite, Henry Butler, William Cooper, Robie Swann, James Hornbuckle, William Faulds, Humphrey Hollins, Richard Butler, Cornelius Huthwaite;

1772, Henry Butler, Richard Butler;

1773-1788

Thomas Oldknow, John Carruthers, John Fellows, Thomas Sands, Richard Butler, Thomas Oldknow, William Huthwaite, John Smellie, John Carruthers, John Fellows, Richard Butler, William Howitt, William Huthwaite, John Carruthers, Joseph Lowe, William Howitt;

1789, William Smith, Richard Butler;

1790-1800

John Fellows, William Huthwaite, Joseph Oldknow, Henry Green, Thomas Caunt, Benjamin Hornbuckle, William Howitt, Joseph Lowe, Thomas Oldknow, Joseph Oldknow, Samuel Worthington;

1801, John Davison;

1802, Benjamin Hornbuckle;

1803, Stokenham Huthwaite;

1804, John Ashwell;

1805, Edward Swann;

1806, John Allen;

1807, Joseph Lowe;

1808, William Howitt;

1809, Wright Coldham;

1810, John Bates;

1811, William Wilson;

1812, Edward Swann;

1813, John Allen;

1814, John Ashwell;

1815, Charles Lomas Morley;

1816, William Wilson;

1817, Alderman Barber;

1818, Isaac Woolley;

1819, William Soars;

1820, John Ashwell;

1821, C.L.Morley;

1822, O.T.Oldknow;

1823, William Wilson;

1824, Samuel Deverill;

1825, Alderman Barber;

1826, Alderman Allen;

1827, Alderman Soars;

1828, C.L.Morley;

1829, O.T.Oldknow;

1830, W.Wilson;

1831, Alderman Barber;

1832, John Heard;

1833, William Soars;

1834, C.L.Morley;

1835, Mr.Thomas Wakefield, elected at the first quarterly meeting of the reform council on January 1st;

1836, Richard Morley, elected on the 9th of November;

1837, John Heard;

1838, John Wells;

1839, William Roworth;

1840, Dr.J.M.B.Pigott;

1841, Richard Morley;

1842, Thomas Wakefield;

1843, William Vickers;

1844, Thomas North;

1845, Thomas Herbert;

1846, William Cripps;

1847, John Heard;

1848, Thomas Carver;

1849, Richard Birkin;

1850, William Felkin;

1851, William Felkin;

1852, Thomas Cullen.

Upon the passing of the Reform Bill the mayor was allowed, as chief magistrate, three hundred guineas to defray the expenses of his office. Thomas Wakefield, esquire, the first mayor under the New Municipal Act, did not accept the stipend, which is considered by some to have been an unfortunate precedent, inasmuch as there may be gentlemen selected to fill the office who cannot so well afford to sacrifice their time and support the dignity of the office.