

This project seeks to pull together all the mayors of New York, throughout the city's history. This includes the Dutch, English, and American periods in the history of the city. The ultimate purpose is to provide a ‘genealogical backbone’ for all the families that have been involved in the formation and development of the city.
The birth of the city of New York is formally considered to be the year 1625. The island of Manhattan was explored by Henry Hudson in 1609, but it took a few years before the Dutch West India Company brought settlers to the new lands. The year 1625 coincides with the construction of Fort Amsterdam (near current Battery Park). A year later, the island was formally bought from the native Lenape Indians. Its southern tip was called New Amsterdam. In 1653, New Amsterdam was formally incorporated as a city – and the first mayors were appointed. During the Dutch rule of the city, there were two or three mayors at the same time – just like it was in the home country. Between 1664-1673, the English occupied New Amsterdam. Interestingly, they encouraged the original settlers to continue and run the city’s affairs, and one mayor was even an original Dutch settler. For about two years, the Dutch re-occupied the city, but in 1674 (Treaty of Westminster), the Dutch province of New Netherland became the English province of New York. Britain continued to rule the province – and the northern Americas – until the Declaration of Independence in 1776. After military defeat, Britain recognized the independence of the American colonies. In 1788, the old colonies ratified a common constitution and the United States of America were born. In 1898, Staten Island (Richmond County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens (Queens County), The Bronx (then a part of Westchester County, now Bronx County), and Manhattan (New York County) were consolidated into New York City, with one mayor.