Lord Mayor of Liverpool

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool is a largely ceremonial civic office of Liverpool City Council. The Lord Mayor is the ‘first citizen’ of Liverpool representing the city and acting as a focal point of community events and is also the presiding officer for the Liverpool City Council Chamber.

The post has existed in one form or another since the foundation of Liverpool as a borough by the Royal Charter of King John in 1207, then simply being referred to as the Mayor of Liverpool. The position is now a largely ceremonial and civic role. It is one of the two Mayor positions that serve Liverpool with the other being the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region a non ceremonial, executive post.

The position of Lord Mayor is always held by a sitting councillor, currently the Lord Mayor of Liverpool is Cllr William Shortall, who has held the post since May 2026. The current deputy Lord Mayor is Cllr Kimberley Berry.

History The most prominent Mayors were the Stanleys of Knowsley, of which Sir Thomas Stanley (son of the 3rd Earl) and the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 16th and 18th Earls of Derby have held this office since ancient times. The Molyneuxs of Sefton have also held this office on numerous occasions over the centuries: Sir Richard Molyneux, his grandson Sir Richard Molyneux Baronet, the 1st Viscount Molyneux and the 7th Earl of Sefton.

When Liverpool was granted city status in 1880 it was deemed necessary for the "second city of the Empire" to have a Lord Mayor. The city was granted a Lord Mayoralty on 3 August 1893 through letters patent making it the equal third oldest office of this kind in England along with Manchester. and Robert Durning Holt became the first Lord Mayor of Liverpool.Annual report and bulletin of the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool – Volumes 5–6 – Page 16 Walker Art Gallery – 1975 "He was the last Mayor and first Lord Mayor of Liverpool 1892-3. A son of George Holt (1790–1861), cotton broker, who founded the family fortunes"

For a substantial period of time the Lord Mayor of Liverpool used the prefix of "The Right Honourable" as did the Lord Mayor of London. Sir Albert Woods, Garter Principal King of Arms was of the opinion that this honorific should be enabled, due to the importance of Liverpool as a city second only to London. When Sir Alfred Scott-Gatty succeeded as King of Arms, he expressed the view that his predecessor had made an error. This changed nothing, however, and the city continued to use the prefix up until a Parliamentary statement in 1927. From then on the Lord Mayor was styled "The Right Worshipful".

William Wallace Currie was the first "Mayor of Liverpool" under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835.Gomer Williams History of the Liverpool – Privateers and Letters of Marque 2004 Page 572 "... Dr. James Currie, a native of Annandale, and father of William Wallace Currie, who became first Mayor of Liverpool, under the Municipal Corporations Bill."

In 1983, the Labour controlled Council replaced the office of Lord Mayor with that of chairman. The Lord Mayoralty was formally restored in 1990.

Mayors of the Borough of Liverpool (1207–1684)

1207–91 Unknown 1292 John De More 1293 John De More 1294–1308 Unknown 1309 John De More 1337 Roger De More 1338 Adam of Liverpool 1339 Roger De More 1340 Adam of Liverpool 1341 Roger De More 1342 Adam of Liverpool 1343 Roger De More 1344 Adam of Liverpool 1345 Roger De More 1346 Adam of Liverpool 1347 Roger De More 1348 Adam of Liverpool 1349 Roger De More 1350 Adam of Liverpool 1351 William, Son of Adam 1352 Unknown 1353 William De Grenof 1356 William, Son of Adam 1358 William, Son of Adam 1361 William, Son of Adam 1369 William, Son of Adam 1373 John de Hull 1375–77 Richard de Aynesargh 1379 William, Son of Adam de Liverpool 1382 Richard de Aynesargh 1382–88 Thomas de La More 1396–97 Thomas de La More 1401 Robert De Derby 1416 Henry De Moysok 1425 Thurston De Holcroft 1428 John De Fasakerly 1448 William Gaythirde 1454 William Gaythirde 1462 Gilbert Mercer 1474 John Davinport 1476 John Crosse 1477–1539 Unknown 1540–41 Thomas Hughton 1541–42 Sir Richard Molyneux (Grandfather of the 1st Baronet) 1542–50 Unknown 1550–51 Ralph Sekerton 1551–52 Thomas More 1552–53 Ralph Balie 1553–54 Roger Walker 1554–55 Sir William Norres 1555–56 Thomas More 1556–57 John More 1557–58 Thomas More 1558–59 Robert Corbet 1559–60 Alexander Garret 1560–61 Ralph Sekerton 1561–62 Robert Corbet 1562–63 Alexander Garret 1563–64 Robert Corbet 1564–65 Alexander Garret 1565–66 John Crosse 1566–67 Robert Corbet 1567–68 William Secum 1568–69 Sir Thomas Stanley K.G. (son of the 3rd Earl) 1569–70 Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby (then Lord Strange) 1570–71 Ralph Burscough 1571–72 Thomas Bavard 1572–73 John Crosse 1573–74 Robert Corbet 1574–75 John Mainwaring 1575–76 William Secum 1576–77 Thomas Bavard 1577–78 Sir Thomas Hesketh 1578–79 William More 1579–80 Edward Halsall 1580–81 Robert More 1581–82 John Crosse 1582–83 William Secum 1583–84 Ralph Burscough 1584–85 Thomas Bavard 1585–86 Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby (then Lord Strange) 1586–87 Edward Halsall 1587–88 William More 1588–89 Sir Richard Molyneux Bt 1589–90 Thomas Whicksted 1590–91 John Bird 1591–92 Robert More 1592–93 Giles Brook 1593–94 Robert Berry 1594–95 John Bird 1595–96 Robert More 1596–97 William More 1597–98 Richard Hodgeson 1598–99 William Dixon 1599–1600 Robert More 1600–01 John Bird 1601–02 Giles Brooks 1602–03 Ralph Secum 1603–04 William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby 1604–05 Edward Moore 1605–06 Edmund Rose 1606–07 William Banaster 1607–08 Robert Moore 1608–09 Ralph Secum 1609–10 Richard Rose 1610–11 Thomas Hockenhull 1611–12 Edward Moore 1612–13 Henry Stanley 1613–14 Peter Ulster Alias Darbie 1614–15 Richard Mellinge 1615–16 Sir Cuthbert Halsall 1616–17 Robert Moore 1617–18 Edmund Rose 1618–19 Sir Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux 1619–20 Ralph Seacome 1620–21 Edward Moore 1621–22 Oliver Fairhurst 1622–23 John Walker 1623–24 John Williamson 1624–25 Richard Rose 1625–26 James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby K.G. (then Lord Strange) 1626–27 Edward Moore 1627–28 Ralph Seacome 1628–29 John Walker 1629–30 Robert Williamson 1630–31 John Williamson 1631–32 Ralph Sandiford 1632–33 John Walker 1633–34 John Moore 1634–35 Robert Williamson 1635–36 Thomas Bickesteth 1636–37 William Dwarihouse 1637–38 Thomas Eccleston 1638–39 John Williamson 1639–40 Thomas Stanley 1640–41 William Ireland 1641–42 John Walker 1642–43 Thomas Bickesteth 1643–44 James Williamson 1644–45 John Holcroft 1645–46 Thomas Bickesteth 1646–47 Richard Tarleton 1647–48 Thomas Tarleton 1648–49 William Williamson 1649–50 Thomas Hodgeson 1650–51 James Williamson 1651–52 Thomas Williamson 1652–53 Ralph Massam 1653–54 Edward Williamson 1654–55 Robert Cornell 1655–56 Thomas Ayndoe 1656–57 Gilbert Formy 1657–58 John Holcroft 1658–59 Richard Peicival 1659–60 James Williamson 1660–61 Alexander Greene 1661–62 Henry Corles 1662–63 William Stanley 1663–64 Peter Lurting 1664–65 John Sturzaker 1665–66 Michael Tarleton 1666–67 Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby 1667–68 Thomas Savage, 3rd Earl Rivers 1668–69 William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby (then Lord Strange) 1669–70 Thomas Bickesteth 1670–71 Thomas Johnson 1671–72 Lawrence Brownlowe 1672–73 Silvester Richmond 1673–74 James Jerrom 1674–75 Sir Gilbert Ireland 1675 Thomas Bickesteth 1675–76 Thomas Chapman 1676–77 Robert Williamson 1677–78 William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby 1678–79 John Chorley 1679–80 William Williamson 1680–81 Thomas Clayton 1681–82 Richard Windall 1682–83 Capt.Edward Tarleton 1683–84 Robert Seacome

Mayors of the Borough of Liverpool (1684–1880)

1684–85 Sir Richard Atherton 1685–86 Oliver Lyme 1686–87 Peter Bold 1687–88 James Prescott 1688–89 Thomas Tyrer 1689–90 William Clayton 1690–91 Thomas Brookbancke 1691–92 Richard Houghton 1692–93 Joshua Fisher 1693–94 Jasper Mauditr 1694–95 Alexander Norres 1695 Thomas Johnson Snr. 1695–96 Thomas Johnson Jnr. 1696–97 William Preeson 1697–98 James Benn 1698–99 Thomas Sweeting 1699–1700 Cuthbert Sharples 1700–01 Richard Norris 1701–02 Thomas Bickesteth 1702–03 John Cockshuttle 1703–04 John Clievland 1704–05 William Hurst 1705–06 William Webster 1706–07 Sylvester Moorcroft 1707–08 James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby 1708–09 John Seacome 1709–10 John Earle 1710–11 George Tyrer 1711–12 James Townsend 1712–13 Edward Tarleton 1713–14 Thomas Coore 1714–15 Richard Gildart 1715–16 William Squire 1716–17 Foster Cunliffe 1717–18 Richard Kelsall 1718–19 Josia Poole 1719–20 Thomas Fillingham 1720–21 Henry Taylor 1721–22 Bryan Blundell 1722–23 Edward Ratchdale 1723–24 John Scarbrick 1724–25 John Goodwin 1725–26 William Marsden 1726–27 Sir Thomas Bootle 1727 George Tyrer 1727–28 John Huges 1728–29 Bryan Blundell 1729–30 Foster Cunliffe 1730–31 George Tyrer 1731–32 Richard Gildart 1732–33 Thomas Brereton 1733–34 William Pole 1734–35 James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby 1735–36 Foster Cunliffe 1736–37 George Tyrer 1737–38 George Norton 1738–39 Robert Armitage 1739–40 Thomas Steers 1740–41 Henry Trafford 1741 Peter Rainford 1741–42 William Carr 1742–43 Edward Trafford 1743–44 John Brookes 1744–45 Owen Pritchard 1745–46 James Blomfield 1746–47 Joseph Bird 1747–48 Thomas Shaw 1748–49 Joseph Clegg 1749–50 Joseph Davies 1750–51 James Gildart 1751–52 Edmund Rigby 1752–53 Henry Winstanley 1753–54 James Crosbie 1754–55 Charles Goore 1755–56 Spencer Steers 1756–57 Richard Hughes 1757–58 William Goodwin 1758–59 Robert Cunliffe 1759–60 Lawrence Spencer 1760–61 John Blackburne, the Younger 1761–62 John Williamson 1762–63 William Gregson 1763–64 George Campbell 1764–65 John Tarleton 1765–66 John Crosbie 1766–67 Thomas Johnson 1767–68 William Pownall 1768 Charles Goore 1768–69 Matthew Stron 1769–70 Ralph Earle 1770–71 John Sparling 1771–72 Thomas Wilson 1772–73 Thomas Golightly 1773–74 John Parr 1774–75 Peter Rigby 1775–76 James Clemens 1776–77 William Crobie 1777–78 Thomas Birch 1778–79 William Pole 1779–80 William Crobie, the Younger 1780–81 Richard Gerard 1781–82 George Case 1782–83 John Brown 1783–84 William Hesketh 1784–85 John Gregson 1785–86 Charles Pole 1786–87 James Gildart, the Younger 1787–88 Thomas Earle 1788–89 James Blackburne, the Younger 1789–90 Thomas Smyth 1790–91 John Sparling 1791–92 Henry Blundell 1792–93 Clayton Tarleton 1793–94 Henry Blundell 1794–95 John Shaw 1795–96 Peter Baker 1796–97 George Dunbar 1797–98 Thomas Staniforth 1798–99 Thomas Leyland 1799–1800 Pudsey Dawson 1800–01 John Shaw 1801–02 Peter Whitfield Brancker 1802–03 Jonas Bold 1803–04 William Harper 1804 John Bridge Aspinall 1804–05 William Harper 1805–06 Henry Clay 1806–07 Thomas Molyneux 1807–08 Henry Blundell Hollinshead 1808–09 James Gerard 1809–10 John Clark 1810–11 James Drinkwater 1811–12 John Bourne 1812–13 Samuel Staniforth 1813–14 William Nicholson 1814–15 Thomas Leyland 1815–16 Sir William Barton 1816–17 John Wright 1817–18 Thomas Case 1818–19 Jonathan Blundell Hollinshead 1819–20 Sir John Tobin 1820–21 Thomas Leyland 1821–22 Richard Bullin 1822–23 William Molyneux 1823–24 Charles Lawrence 1824–25 Jonathan Blundell Hollinshead 1825–26 Peter Bourne 1826–27 Thomas Littledale Sr. 1827–28 Thomas Colley Porter 1828–29 Nicholas Robinson 1829–30 Sir George Drinkwater 1830–31 Sir Thomas Brancker 1831–32 Samuel Sandbach 1832–33 Charles Horsfall 1833–34 John Wright 1834–35 James Aspinall 1835–36 William Wallace Currie 1836–37 William Earle Jr. 1837–38 William Rathbone V 1838–39 Hugh Hornby 1839–40 Sir Joshua Walmsley 1840–41 Thomas Bolton 1841–42 John S. Leigh 1842–43 Robertson Gladstone 1843–44 Thomas Sands 1844–45 James Lawrence 1845–46 David Hodgson 1846–47 George Hall Lawrence