List of mayors of Raleigh, North Carolina

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Raleigh has had mayors since 1857. The mayor heads Raleigh’s council-manager city government. The office was created in 1857 when Raleigh adopted a new charter to replace the old 1795 charter.

Before 1857, Raleigh’s top official was called the Intendant of Police, a title borrowed from France. The first person in this role was John Haywood, who was elected by the city board of commissioners appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly. Starting in 1803, intendants were elected each year by all land-owning free men, including free African-Americans.

During the Civil War, Mayor William H. Harrison led Raleigh and eventually surrendered the city to Union forces before Sherman’s troops arrived.