Oakland was founded in 1852 and incorporated as a City on March 25, 1854. Until the mid-20th century, mayors served terms of only 1–2 years. According to Wikipedia:

Year Term How Elected
1854 1 year elected by fellow city council members
1893 2 years elected by fellow city council member
1953 4 years elected by popular vote

The following chronology lists all Oakland mayors, with the starting date of their terms.

# Name Portrait Start Notes
1 Horace W. Carpentier April 4, 1854 elected by more votes than there were voters
2 Charles Campbell   March 5, 1855  
3 Samuel H. Robinson March 3, 1856  
4 Andrew F. Williams   March 3, 1857  
5 Francis K. Shattuck March 7, 1859  
6 J.P.M. Davis March 7, 1860  
7 George M. Blake   March 5, 1862  
8 William H. Bovee   March 1863  
9 Edward Gibbons   March 14, 1864  
10 B.F. Ferris   March 6, 1865  
11 John W. Dwinelle March 5, 1866  
12 William Watrus Crane, Jr. March 7, 1867 left early because of health problems
13 Samuel Merritt November 1867  
14 John B. Felton March 1, 1869  
15 Nathan W. Spaulding March 6, 1871  
16 Rev. Henry Durant March 4, 1873 died in office
17 “Mack” Webber   February 1875  
18 Enoch H. Pardee   March 13, 1876 father of George Pardee
19 Washburne R. Andrus   March 25, 1878  
20 James E. Blethen   March 8, 1880  
21 Charles K. Robinson   March 13, 1882  
22 J. West Martin   March 12, 1883  
23 Ashmun C. Henry March 10, 1884  
24 Ely W. Playter March 9, 1885  
25 William R. Davis March 1, 1887  
26 Charles D. Pierce March 12, 1888  
27 John R. Glascock March 11, 1889  
28 Melvin C. Chapman March 9, 1891  
29 George C. Pardee March 13, 1893 son of Enoch Pardee
30 John L. Davie March 11, 1895 longest serving mayor
31 William R. Thomas March 9, 1897  
32 Roland W. Snow March 13, 1899  
33 Anson Barstow March 11, 1901  
34 Warren Olney March 9, 1903  
35 Frank K. Mott March 1905  
36 John L. Davie July 1, 1915  
37 Fred N. Morcom July 1, 1931  
38 William J. McCracken July 1, 1933  
39 John F. Slavich July 1, 1941  
40 Herbert L. Beach July 1, 1945  
41 Joseph E. Smith   July 1, 1947  
42 Clifford E. Rishell July 1, 1949  
43 John C. Houlihan   July 1, 1961 resigned facing embezzlement charges
44 John H. Reading May 1, 1966 appointed first term after Houlihan's resignation
45 Lionel J. Wilson July 1, 1977  
46 Elihu M. Harris July 1, 1991  
47 Jerry Brown January 4, 1999  
48 Ronald V. Dellums January 8, 2007  
49 Jean Quan January 3, 2011  
50 Libby Schaaf January 5, 2015  
51 Sheng Thao January 9, 2023 recalled
- Nikki Fortunato Bas December 17, 2024 interim
- Kevin Jenkins January 6, 2025 interim
52 Barbara Lee May 20, 2025 special election

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