The Lord Mayor of Leicester is the chairperson of Leicester City Council and the first citizen of the city of Leicester, England. The ancient office, formerly known simply as Mayor of Leicester, dates back to at least the year 1209 and is one of the oldest mayoralties in the English Midlands along with Lincoln and Northampton. In 1928 the title was upgraded to that of Lord Mayor by George V following the grant of city status in 1919. It is not to be confused with the new directly elected executive role of City Mayor established by the council in 2010.
The Lord Mayor is elected annually by the city councillors to undertake a role in their chamber similar to that of the Speaker in the House of Commons. Although chosen from among the predominantly politically affiliated councillors, they take an impartial role as chair during their term of office.
The Lord Mayor is also the principal focus of civic life in the city, responsible for hosting and attending many high profile events in its civic calendar. Thanks to Leicester's status as the county town of Leicestershire, the Lord Mayor is one of the central ceremonial dignitaries of the county, alongside the High Sheriff, the Lord Lieutenant, and the Bishop of Leicester, at civic ceremonies such as the Remembrance Sunday parade at the Arch of Remembrance.
The mayoralty of Leicester has a long and complex history surviving various transitions in local government structures, from the ancient borough, to municipal borough, to the modern unitary authority. It has been held by many notable Leicestrians, such as William Wyggeston, Hugh Aston, Gabriel Newton, John Biggs, and Arthur Wakerley in its 800 year history.
History The first documented mayor of Leicester was the Norman knight "William fitz Leveric" (William son of Leveric) recorded in 1209; however, it is possible that he was not the first. The record, while initially patchy, is continuous from the year 1251 until today.Agnes Johnson Glimpses of ancient Leicester – Page 60 1891 "The first Mayor of Leicester, A.D. 1251.The history of the boroughs and municipal corporations of the ... – Page 229 Henry Alworth Merewether, Archibald John Stephens – 1835 "The mayor of Leicester and his brethren, having, with the consent of the commonalty, by the last ordinance, placed the town under the government of the aldermen, appear, in the 4th year of the reign of King Henry VII., to have adopted 1488. a ..." The title was elevated to "Lord Mayor" by letters patent dated 18 June 1928 together with the mayoralties of Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, and Portsmouth. This was confirmed for the reorganised non-metropolitan district by letters patent dated 1 April 1974.
The first Jewish person to be mayor of Leicester was Israel Hart in 1884. The first woman to be Lord Mayor was Alderman Elizabeth Rowley-Frisby in 1941. The first Asian person to hold the office, Gordhan Parmar, was elected in 1987.What participation by foreign residents in public life at local ... – Page 91 Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe – 2000 "In 1981 serious riots broke out in the city that were dubbed "race riots" in Highfields and the City centre. ... In 1987 the first Asian Mayor of Leicester was elected, Councillor Gordhan Parmar and the first Asian Member of Parliament, Keith Vaz The first Black person, George Cole, was elected in 2022.
After institution of a directly elected mayor in 2011 the Lord Mayor of Leicester still exists as a ceremonial role under Leicester City Council.BBC Leicester's elected mayor reports lord mayor over parking August 2011 Borough records
The list of the mayors of the ancient borough (1209-1835) are taken from the Records of the Borough of Leicester (edited by Mary Bateson). Those that come 1835-1871 are taken from the Roll of Mayors. The names for the mayors between 1871 and 1894 are taken from John Storey's Historical Sketch of Some of the Principal Works and Undertakings of the Council of the Borough of Leicester (1895).
13th cent Earliest nonconsecutive records 1209-1220 William fitz Leveric 1225-1226 Simon Curlevache & William St. Lo 1226-1227 Simon Curlevache 1232-1233 Simon Curlevache 1234-1242 Simon Curlevache & William St. Lo 1242-1244 William St. Lo 1245-1246 William of St Lo & Peter fitz Roger Consecutive list 1251-1257 Peter fitz Roger (6 consecutive terms, died in office) 1257 Feb. Bartholomew de Dunstaple (As Custos Maioritatis following Peter fitz Roger) 1258-1270 Henry de Rodington (Appointed Jan. 23, 1258. Entered office Mar. 1. 12 consecutive terms) 1270-1275 Alexander le Debonair (5 consecutive terms) 1275-1276 Walter le Bron 1276-1278 William Leffe (2 consecutive terms) 1278-1281 William le Engleys (3 consecutive terms) 1281-1284 Thomas Gunfrey (3 consecutive terms) 1284-1285 Geoffrey Mauclerk (3 consecutive terms) 1287-1288 Adam de, Merlaw 1288-1289 Thomas Gunfrey (4th term) 1289-1290 William le Engleys 1290-1291 Thomas Gunfrey (5th term) 1291-1292 Laurence le Celer, Seller 1292-1294 Thomas Gunfrey (6th and 7th terms) 1294-1298 Robert de Willoughby (1st term) 1298-1299 Peter Oumfrey 1299-1300 William le Palmer (2 consecutive terms, 1299-1301)
14th cent 1301-1302 Robert de Willoughby (2nd term) 1302-1303 Thomas Gunfrey 1303-1304 William le Palmer 1304-1306 Roger de Willoughby (also known as Robert) (3rd and 4th terms) 1306-1307 John Cagge 1307-1308 Laurence le Seller 1308-1309 John Cagge 1309-1313 John Alsy (4 consecutive terms) 1313-1314 Walter de Bushby 1314-1315 John de Knightcote 1315-1317 John Alsy (5th and 6th terms) 1317-1318 John le Marwe 1318-1319 William del Waynhous 1319-1321 Peter de Kent (2 consecutive terms) 1321-1322 John le Marwe 1322-1324 John de Norton (2 consecutive terms) 1324-1326 John Alsy (7th and 8th terms) 1326-1327 John de Norton 1327-1328 John Alsy (9th term) 1328-1330 Robert Stretton (2 consecutive terms) 1330-1332 Henry Merlyng (2 consecutive terms) 1332-1334 John Marewe (2 consecutive terms) 1334-1335 John Martyn 1335-1336 John Leverich 1336-1337 William Wareyn 1337-1338 John Alsy (10th term) 1338-1339 William de Cloune (simultaneously bailiff) 1339-1340 John Martin 1340-1343 Geoffrey de Kent (3 consecutive terms) 1343-1344 Richard Leverich 1344-1345 John Martyn 1345-1346 Richard Leverich 1346-1349 John Wainhouse (alias Cook, alias Hayward, alias Receiver, 3 consecutive terms) 1349-1351 Geoffrey de Kent (2 consecutive terms 1351-1353 William le Goldsmith (2 consecutive terms) 1353-1354 Roger de Knightcote 1354-1355 Geoffrey de Kent (3rd term) 1355-1356 John de Peatling 1356-1357 Roger Knightcote 1357-1360 William de Dunstable (3 consecutive terms) 1360-1362 John Cook alias Receiver (4th and 5th terms) 1362-1363 Thomas de Beeby (1st term) 1363-1364 William Tubbe 1364-1365 Roger de Belgrave 1365-1366 Walter de Lindrick 1366-1367 William de Syston 1367-1368 John de Stafford 1368-1369 Thomas de Beeby (2nd term) 1369-1370 John Cook (At the same time bailiff, 6th term) 1370-1372 John de Stafford (2nd and 3rd consecutive terms) 1372-1373 William o' the Green 1373-1374 Henry de Clipston 1374-1375 Henry Peatling 1375-1376 William Ferour 1376-1377 William Tailleart 1377-1379 William Ferour (2nd and 3rd consecutive terms) 1379-1380 Henry de Clipston 1380-1381 Richard Gamston 1381-1382 John Stafford 1382-1383 Richard Knightcote 1383-1384 Richard Gamston 1384-1385 William Ferour 1385-1387 Henry Beeby (2 consecutive terms) 1387-1389 Richard de Braunston (2 consecutive terms) 1389-1390 Henry Clipston 1390-1391 William de Humberston¹ 1391-1392 Geoffrey Clerk alias Okeham 1392-1393 Richard Gamston 1393-1394 Thomas Wakefield 1394-1395 Henry Beeby (3rd term) 1395-1396 Thomas o' the Leas (1st term) 1396-1397 John Houghton 1397-1398 Ralph Fisher 1398-1399 Roger de Humberston (1st term) 1399-1400 William Spenser
15th cent
1400-1401 John Loveday 1401-1402 Peter Barewell 1402-1403 John London 1403-1404 John Church 1404-1405 Richard Falconer 1405-1406 Thomas Wakefield 1406-1407 Ralph Humberston (1st term) 1407-1408 John Gresley 1408-1409 John Church 1409-1410 Thomas o' the Leas (2nd term) 1410-1411 Roger Humberston (2nd term) 1411-1412 Thomas Walgrave 1412-1413 Robert Randolph 1413-1414 Robert Evington 1414-1415 Ralph Humberstone (2nd term) 1415-1416 Thomas Seburgh 1416-1417 John Arnesby 1417-1418 Henry Derby (1st term) 1418-1419 William Pacy 1419-1420 Thomas Walgrave 1420-1421 Thomas Clerk 1421-1422 Ralph Humberston (3rd term) 1422-1423 John Church 1423-1424 Henry Foster 1424-1425 Henry Derby (2nd term) 1425-1426 William Newby 1426-1427 John Pickwell 1427-1428 William Asty or Skinner 1428-1429 William Pacey 1429-1430 Ralph Humberston (4th term) 1430-1431 Thomas Walgrave 1431-1432 John Loughborough 1432-1432 Thomas Clerk 1433-1434 William Newby 1434-1435 John Reynold senior (1st term) 1435-1436 Adam Racey (1st term) 1436-1437 Walter Pouney 1437-1438 William Asty 1438-1439 John Coventry 1439-1440 John Reynold jun. (1st term) 1440-1441 Adam Racey (2nd term) 1441-1442 Thomas Charyte 1442-1443 William Wimeswold 1443-1444 William Grantham 1444-1445 William Newby 1445-1446 Thomas Green 1446-1447 John Benet 1447-1448 Ralph Furneys (Alias Fisher) 1448-1449 William Wigston 1449-1450 William Braunston 1450-1451 John Reynold jun. (2nd term) 1451-1452 William Clarke 1452-1453 William Wimeswold 1453-1454 Thomas Charyte 1454-1457 William Dalton jun. (3 consecutive terms) 1457-1458 Thomas Grene draper 1458-1459 John Reynold senior (2nd term) 1459-1460 William Wigston 1460-1461 Robert Sheringham 1461-1462 Robert Rawlot 1462-1463 John Yeoman 1463-1464 John Reynold (Called Yeoman in Edwards IV's charter of 1464) (3rd term) 1464-1465 William Holbech 1465-1466 Roger Wigston 1466-1467 John Frisley 1467-1468 Richard Gillot 1468-1469 Richard Yates 1469-1470 John Wigston 1470-1471 Robert Sherringham 1471-1472 Roger Wigston 1472-1473 John Parsons (1st term) 1473-1474 Robert Rawlot 1474-1475 John Roberdes 1475-1476 William Holbeche 1476-1477 Peers Winwood 1477-1478 John Reynold (4th term) 1478-1479 Thomas Touthby 1479-1480 John Parsons (2nd term) 1480-1481 John Wigston 1481-1482 John Penny Senior (father of John Penny, Abbot of Leicester 1496-1509) 1482-1483 Peter Curtes 1483-1484 John Roberdes 1484-1485 Robert Croft 1485-1486 Thomas Swyke 1486-1487 Thomas Palet do 1487-1488 Roger Wigston 1488-1490 Thomas Davy (2 consecutive terms) 1490-1491 Roger Trig 1491-1492 William Gibson 1492-1493 Thomas Swyke 1493-1494 Robert Croft 1494-1495 Thomas Hurst 1495-1496 Andrew Langton 1496-1497 William Rawlot 1497-1498 Richard Gillot 1498-1499 William Wyggeston Sen. (1st term) 1499-1500 William Wyggeston Jun. (1st term)
16th century
1500-1501 William Gibson 1501-1502 Roger Trig 1502-1503 William Fresley 1503-1504 John Norrys 1504-1505 Robert Orton 1505-1506 Richard Reynolds 1506-1507 John Wayse 1507-1508 Walter Mey 1508-1509 Miles Lambert 1509-1510 Richard Eyre 1510-1511 William Wyggeston Jun. (2nd term) 1511-1512 William Wyggeston Elder. (2nd term) 1512-1513 Richard Gyllott 1513-1514 Richard Reynold 1514-1515 Thomas Burton 1515-1516 Thomas Cotton 1516-1517 John Reede 1517-1518 Thomas Smyth 1518-1519 Richard Beeston 1519-1520 William Bartlatt 1520-1521 William Wygston senior (3rd term) 1521-1522 Robert Harward (MP for Leicester, 1529) 1522-1523 William Bolt 1523-1524 Richard Reynold 1524-1525 Robert Staples (died in office) 1525 Henry Gillot (Custos Maioritatis) 1525-1526 Edward Beyr 1526-1527 John Westawse 1527-1528 Thomas Burton 1528-1529 Roger Gyllatt 1529-1530 Thomas Bett 1530-31 William Tebb 1531-32 Nicholas Rennold 1532-33 John Barton 1533-34 Christopher Clught 1534-35 William Bolte 1535-36 Thomas Barton 1536-37 Roger Gyllott 1537-38 Randolph Á Wood (1st term) 1538-39 William Pratt