Los Angeles City Mayors
Past to Present

Earliest known photo of a Los Angeles mayor. Don Benjamin "Benito" Wilson, 2nd elected Mayor of American Los Angeles, 1851-1852.

• 1781-1822 - Spanish Colonial Los Angeles
• 1822-1840 - Mexican Los Angeles
• 1841-1843 - Los Angeles governed by two Jueces de Paz (Justices of Peace)
• 1844-1848 - Office of Alcalde Restored (First & Second Alcalde)
• 1848-present - American Los Angeles

Also see: The Most Regrettable Mayors of Los Angeles

Spanish Colonial Los Angeles

(1) Appointed first Alcalde.

Mexican Los Angeles

Office of Alcalde Abolished. LA governed by two Jueces de Paz (Justices of Peace)

Office of Alcalde Restored (First & Second Alcalde)

American Los Angeles

(2) Appointed by U.S. Governor. First U.S. Mayor; (3) First mayor after U.S. Los Angeles is incorporated as a U.S. California city; (4) Resigned to lead a lynch mob; (5) Served six months; (6) Died in office; (7) Appointed for less than a month after death of Mayor MacDougall; (8) Recall movement led to his resignation; (9) Appointed by City Council. Served only a few days; (10) Entered office in special election; (11) Resigned after less than a year in office; (12) Defeated a petition recall drive; (13) Removed from office by recall.