Mayors of Pittsburgh: 1841-1856

James Thomson

1841-1842

Whig

Dec. 18, 1790 to Aug. 10, 1876

Alexander Hay

1842-1845

Whig, Volunteer, Independent

April 8, 1806 to Nov. 5, 1882

William J. Howard

1845-1846

Whig

Dec. 31, 1799 to Oct. 2, 1862

Dr. William Kerr

1846-1847

Democrat

Gabriel Adams

1847-1849

Whig

1790 to June 5, 1864

John Herron

1849-1850

Whig

Robert Liddell | Mayors of Pittsburgh | Heinz History Center Digital Collection
This document bears the signatures of two Pittsburgh mayors - John Herron and Robert Liddell. It is a bond required of officials by state legislature of the time stating that they would provide financial recompense should they be unable to fulfill the obligations for their position. This document is from after both Herron and Liddell’s mayoralties, showing that when a mayor’s term ends, his time helping the city has not.

Allegheny County Officials' bonds 1853-1902, MFF #56, Detre Library & Archives at the Heinz History Center.

Joseph Barker

1850-1851

People’s and Anti-Catholic

1806 to Aug. 2, 1862

John B. Guthrie

1851-1853

Democrat

July 28, 1807 to Aug. 17, 1885

Robert M. Riddle

1853-1854

Whig

Aug. 17, 1812 to Dec. 18, 1858

Ferdinand E. Volz

1854-1856

Whig, Whig-Democratic fusion

1823 to May 1876