From its formal chartering on 22 July 1686 until 1779, the mayors of Albany, New York, were appointed by the royal governor of New York, per the provisions of the original city charter, issued by Governor Thomas Dongan.
From 1779 until 1839, mayors were chosen by the New York State's Council of Appointment, typically for a one-year term that began in September. From 1840 on, Albany's mayors were directly elected by the city's residents. Beginning in 1886, mayoral terms began on January 1 of the year after the mayor was elected.
A total of 74 men and two women have served as mayor since the city's inception; eighteen of them served multiple terms that were not consecutive. Erastus Corning 2nd served for over 40 years, longer than any other mayor of any other major United States city. Dorcey Applyrs (Democrat) is the current mayor; she was first elected in 2025, began service on January 1, 2026, and is currently in her first term of office.
Seventeenth century
MayorStartEndCommentPieter Schuyler16861694Colonel of the militia in King William's War. Much trusted by the Iroquois, he took their five Sachems to London to visit the court of Queen Anne, 1709-1710 (Note: Johannes Wendell was appointed in opposition in 1690 by political upstart Jacob Leisler in an attempt to supplant the existing provincial governance structure; no record exists that Wendell actually served, and Leisler was arrested and executed in 1691).Johannes Abeel16941695Merchant and trader. Also served as alderman, judge, sheriff and recorder.Evert Bancker16951696Farmed in Guilderland; one of the few city fathers who accepted an appointment to the council during the regime of Jacob Leisler; also served as Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Indian Affairs and Master in Chancery; married to sister of Mayor Johannes Abeel.Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck16961698Served for 30 years as Indian Commissioner. Also captain in the militia. Alderman of the first city board in 1686. His great-grandson-in-law was Philip Livingston, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Philip Livingston was first cousin once removed of mayor Robert Livingston the Younger. Philip Livingston's wife, Christina Ten Broeck also was a cousin of Maria Ten Broeck, who married Continental Army General Gozen "Goose" Van Schaick, son of Albany Mayor Sybrant Gozen Van Schaick. Goose Van Schaick's sister was married to Continental Army General Peter Gansevoort—a great-nephew of Albany Mayor Pieter Van Brugh.Hendrick Hansen16981699Provincial Assemblyman, Alderman, Indian Commissioner, trader, merchant.Pieter Van Brugh16991700Surname sometimes spelled Verbrugge. Captain of the militia. Great-granduncle of Continental General Peter Gansevoort; constable, high constable, assessor, collector and contractor; one of the last people to be buried beneath the Old Albany Dutch church. His sister Catherina was the wife of Hendrick van Rensselaer, a brother-in-law of Albany Mayor Pieter Schuyler.
Eighteenth century
MayorStartEndCommentJan Jansen Bleecker17001701Born in Holland; emigrated to Albany in 1658. Negotiated support from the Iroquois tribes in the Dutch struggles against the French in Canada. Also served as City Chamberlain, Indian Commissioner, Recorder, Justice of the Peace and as a member of the Provincial Assembly.Johannes Bleecker Jr.17011702Interpreter to the Indians. Carried captive to Canada in 1686, returned as year later. Also served as Recorder and member of the General Assembly. Son of Mayor Jan Jansen Bleecker and brother of Mayor Rutger Bleecker. City wall strengthened during his term in expectation of an attack from the French.Albert Janse Ryckman17021703One of the most prominent Albany brewmasters of the late seventeenth century. Captain of the militia. Deacon in the Dutch Reformed Church.Johannes Schuyler17031706Militia officer, trader, river transport operator. Brother of Pieter Schuyler and grandfather of Continental General Philip Schuyler. Enacted a law mandating that each homeowner had to build an eight-foot sidewalk. Also served as Indian Commissioner, member of Colonial Assembly and alderman.David Davidse Schuyler17061707Brother of Mayor Myndert Schuyler; "fyre-masters" were ordered to inspect chimneys during his term. Also served as alderman, Justice, County Sheriff, Indian Commissioner and delegate to the Council of the Onondagas.Evert Bancker17071709See first term entry aboveJohannes Abeel17091710See first term entry aboveRobert Livingston the Younger17101719Nephew of Mayor Robert Livingston. Married to daughter of Mayor Pieter Schuyler. Born in Scotland, emigrated in 1687. Accused by the Boston Board of Trade of being a partner with pirate Captain Kidd since Kidd was using his ship, he was later exonerated. Member of the Colonial Assembly, Indian Commissioner, Secretary of the City.Myndert Schuyler17191720Merchant. Ordered construction of small houses outside the city walls to house Indians who came to trade. Also served as member of the Assembly, Church Master, Indian Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel of the Militia, Alderman.Pieter Van Brugh17201723See first term entry aboveMyndert Schuyler17231725See first term entry aboveJohannes Cuyler17251726Elder in the Dutch Church, Indian Commissioner, trader. Admitted freeman of New York City. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Married to daughter of Mayor Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck.Rutger Bleecker17261729Merchant. Son of Mayor Jan Jansen Bleecker, brother of Mayor Johannes Bleecker; married to widow of Mayor Johannes Abeel. Enacted laws restricting the sale of intoxicants to Indians. Also served as Recorder.Johannes DePeyster17291731Son of Johannes de Peyster, a Mayor of New York City and a Huguenot. Purchased Albany's first fire-fighting equipment, ladders and fire-hooks. Married daughter of Mayor Myndert Schuyler. Also served as Recorder, Indian Commissioner, member of Provincial Assembly, Captain of the Cavalry, Inspector of Ordinance, Surrogate of Albany County and Paymaster of the New York Forces. His daughter married Albany Mayor Volkert P. Douw.Johannes "Hans" Hansen17311732Trader, son of Mayor Hendrick Hansen, married daughter of Mayor Johannes Cuyler. Spent much of his youth west of Albany in Indian lands.Johannes DePeyster17321732See first term entry aboveEdward Holland17331740First English Mayor of Albany, his father commanded the Albany garrison. Signed a City Ordinance "To prevent Negroes or Indian slaves to appear in the streets after eight at night without a lanthorn and lighted candle in it."Johannes Schuyler Jr.17401741Son of Mayor Johannes Schuyler, father of General Philip Schuyler. Businessman with lucrative government contracts and large dowry from his New York City Dutch wife's family; appointed to a second term as mayor but declined to take required oath of allegiance and did not serve. Also served as Indian Commissioner and alderman.Johannes DePeyster17411742See first term entry aboveCornelis Cuyler17421746Fur trader and merchant, represented Albany's interests in Mohawk Country and Canada; alderman, active member of Indian Affairs Commission. Son of Mayor Johannes Cuyler, grandson (via mother) of Mayor Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck, father of Mayor Abraham Cuyler.Dirck Ten Broeck17461748Merchant, grandson of Mayor Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck. Also served as City Inspector of Skins, Alderman, Recorder and Commissioner of Indian Affairs.Jacob Coenraedt Ten Eyck17481750Indian Commissioner, silversmith, judge, and member of Albany's Committee of Safety during the Revolutionary WarRobert Sanders17501754English native who married into the influential Dutch Schuyler family at a time when it was without a strong male leader; his administration hosted the Albany Congress.Johannes (Hans) Hansen17541756See first term entry above; died in office during this termSybrant Gozen Van Schaick17561761Trader and landholder, his administration witnessed some of the most active local phases of the French and Indian War.Volkert Petrus Douw17611770Merchant and one of the founders of Albany Savings Bank, second oldest bank in New York. Married daughter of Mayor Johannes DePeyster. Also served as alderman, recorder, captain of the militia, judge, member of the Colonial Assembly, Indian Commissioner, Committee of Safety, Commissary of the Northern Army, New York State Senator.Abraham Cornelis Cuyler17701778Third generation member of his family to serve as mayor, grandson (via mother) of Mayor Johannes Schuyler. Last mayor of colonial Albany, cooperated with English interests as local tensions mounted; arrested by Revolutionaries and exiled to Connecticut; condemned to death in 1779 under Act of Attainder; after peace with Britain was secured, he attempted to return to Albany but was unable to reclaim his property and died in Canada in 1810.John Barclay17781779Member of Albany Committee of Correspondence; first mayor under new State government; died in office.Abraham Ten Broeck17791783Lawyer, banker. Son of Mayor Dirck Ten Broeck. During his term, Albany was designated the capital of New York and whipping posts were abolished in the city; a prominent citizen and co-administrator of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck for Patroon Stephen Van Rensselaer, also served as member of the Colonial Assembly, delegate to the Continental Congress, Brigadier-General of the Army, President of the Committee of Safety, New York State Senator, Judge, President of the Bank of Albany.Johannes Jacobse Beekman17831786Firemaster, alderman, member of New York State Assembly; active in Albany Committee of CorrespondenceJohn Lansing Jr.17861790 Also delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, member of the Continental Congress, Speaker of the Assembly and Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court, among other duties. During his term, the New York Convention ratified the United States Constitution. He disappeared on December 12, 1829 in New York City; he was last seen by the doorman at City Hotel.Abraham Yates Jr.17901796Financier. Delegate to the Continental Congress, Albany's first Postmaster and founding trustee of Union College. Oil street lamps installed during his term. New York State Senator for first 13 sessions. Delegate to the Continental Congress.Abraham Ten Broeck17961798See first term entry abovePhilip S. Van Rensselaer17991816Grandson of Philip Livingston. Third longest total time of service by an Albany mayor, after Erastus Corning II and Gerald D. Jennings; ordered the State Capitol built; Robert Fulton's North River Steamboat arrived in Albany on its first voyage during his term, and Schenectady County was created from Albany.
Nineteenth century