List of portreeves and mayors of Swansea
This is a list of chief civic officers of Swansea in south Wales, who were entitled portreeve until 1835 (except for a short period with mayors 1655-59), mayor 1835-1982, and lord mayor since 1982.[1]
Swansea was the chief town of the medieval marcher Lordship of Gower and was granted borough status in the twelfth century. The origins of the office of portreeve are unclear but the role is mentioned in a charter of 1306. The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 reformed local government and established the office of mayor.[1]
Swansea became a county borough in 1888, was granted city status in 1969, became a City and District within the new county of West Glamorgan in 1974, and a unitary City and County in 1996.[2] Over this time its boundaries have expanded to include most of the ancient lordship of Gower.
Portreeves before Cromwell
[edit]Portreeves were elected at Michaelmas (29 September) each year.[3]
| Term | Name |
|---|---|
| 1432-33 | John Dawkin |
| 1462-63 | William Thomas |
| 1476-77 | John Thomas |
| 1477-78 | John Fourboure |
| 1478-79 | John Cradock |
| 1487-88 | David Melyn |
| 1499-1500 | John Elishe |
| 1500-01 | Robert Rees |
| 1545-46 | Thomas ap Evan |
| 1547-48 | John Thomas Sadler |
| 1551-52 | Owen Taylor |
| 1553-54 | John Thomas Flemynge |
| 1557-58 | David Emlet |
| 1559-60 | John Thomas Flemynge |
| 1560-61 | Roger Jankin |
| 1561-62 | Richard Yeroth |
| 1562-63 | Thomas Sadler |
| 1563-64 | John Franklen |
| 1567-68 | William Watkins |
| 1568-69 | John Thomas Sadler, the younger |
| 1569-70 | John Thomas Flemynge |
| 1573-74 | Ryse ap John ap Ieuan |
| 1580-81 | Sir William Herbert |
| 1581-82 | Thomas Sadler |
| 1582-83 | Robert Price |
| 1583-84 | Robert Smyth |
| 1584-85 | Philip Hughes |
| 1585-86 | Thomas Owen |
| 1587-88 | Owen Philipp |
| 1589-90 | Thomas Owen |
| 1590-91 | Owen Price |
| 1591-92 | Thomas Owen |
| 1592-93 | William Flemynge |
| 1593-94 | Thomas Johns |
| 1594-95 | George Herbert |
| 1596-97 | William John Harry |
| 1597-98 | John Morgan |
| 1598-99 | Richard Sadler |
| 1599-1600 | Jenkin Franklen |
| 1600-01 | Owen Philippe |
| 1601-02 | William Flemynge |
| 1602-03 | William John Harry |
| 1603-04 | Jenkin Franklen |
| 1604-05 | John Thomas Bevan |
| 1605-06 | John David Edwards |
| 1606-07 | William Watkins |
| 1607-08 | John Daniel |
| 1608-09 | George Herbert |
| 1609-10 | John Robartes |
| 1610-11 | William John Harry |
| 1611-12 | John Davids |
| 1612-13 | John David |
| 1613-14 | Henry Flemynge |
| 1614-15 | John Daniell |
| 1615-16 | Walter Thomas |
| 1616-17 | William John Harry |
| 1617-18 | John David |
| 1618-19 | Owen Price |
| 1619-20 | Mathew Francklen |
| 1620-21 | John Daniel |
| 1621-22 | Harry Vaughan |
| 1622-23 | John William John |
| 1623-24 | Owen Price |
| 1624-25 | Henry Flemynge |
| 1625-26 | Walter Thomas |
| 1626-27 | Rice David |
| 1627-28 | Patrick Jones |
| 1628-29 | Mathew Francklen |
| 1629-30 | John Bennett |
| 1630-31 | John Williams |
| 1631-32 | Rice David |
| 1632-33 | Francis Affter |
| 1633-34 | David Jones |
| 1634-35 | Patrick Jones |
| 1635-36 | Mathew Francklen |
| 1636-37 | John Williams |
| 1637-38 | Patrick Jones |
| 1638-39 | Mathew Francklen |
| 1639-40 | Lewis Jones |
| 1640-41 | John Williams |
| 1641-42 | Patrick Jones |
| 1642-43 | Mathew Francklen |
| 1643-44 | Lewis Jones |
| 1644-45 | John Williams |
| 1645-46 | Patrick Jones |
| 1646-47 | John Daniel |
| 1647-48 | John Bowen |
| 1648-49 | William Bayly |
| 1649-50 | Mathew Francklen |
| 1650-51 | Lewis Jones |
| 1651-52 | Mathew Davies |
| 1652-53 | Thomas Williams |
| 1653-54 | John Daniel |
| 1654-55 | John Bayly[3] or William Bayly[4] |
Mayors under Cromwell
[edit]In 1655 Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, who was also Lord of Gower, issued a charter with a new constitution for Swansea with a mayor as chief officer. This lapsed the year after his death.[5]
| Term | Name |
|---|---|
| 1655-56 | Lewis Jones |
| 1656-57 | John Daniel |
| 1657-58 | William Bayly |
| 1658-59 | Thomas Williams |
Portreeves after Cromwell
[edit]| Term | Name |
|---|---|
| 1659–60 | William Jones |
| 1660–61 | Leyson Seys |
| 1661–62 | Leyson Seys |
| 1662–63 | Leyson Seys |
| 1663–64 | Isaac Affter |
| 1664–65 | William Vaughan |
| 1665–66 | William Bayly |
| 1666–67 | Lewis Jones |
| 1667–68 | Isaac Affter |
| 1668–69 | Robert Jones |
| 1669–70 | Gamaliel Hughes |
| 1670–71 | William Thomas |
| 1671–72 | David Bevans |
| 1672–73 | Lewis Jones |
| 1673–74 | Isaac Affter |
| 1674–75 | William Herbert |
| 1675–76 | Robert Jones |
| 1676–77 | Gamaliel Hughes |
| 1677–78 | William Thomas |
| 1678–79 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1679–80 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1680–81 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1681–82 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1682–83 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1683–84 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1684–85 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1685–86 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1686–87 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1687–88 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1688–89 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1689–90 | Gamaliel Hughes |
| 1690–91 | Owen Rogers |
| 1691–92 | Owen Rogers |
| 1692–93 | Jenkin Jones |
| 1693–94 | William Seys |
| 1694–95 | Edward Mansell |
| 1695–96 | Edward Mansell |
| 1696–97 | John Francklen |
| 1697–98 | William Seys |
| 1698–99 | George Rice |
| 1699–1700 | Owen Rogers |
| 1700–01 | John Reece |
| 1701–02 | David Jones |
| 1702–03 | Jenkin Jones |
| 1703–04 | Lewis Thomas |
| 1704–05 | Walter Hughes |
| 1705–06 | Gabriel Powell |
| 1706–07 | Christopher Rogers |
| 1707–08 | Griffith Phillip |
| 1708–09 | David Thomas |
| 1709–10 | Griffith Phillip |
| 1710–11 | John Rice |
| 1711–12 | Joseph Ayres |
| 1712–13 | Jenkin Jones |
| 1713–14 | Gabriel Powell |
| 1714–15 | Walter Hughes |
| 1715–16 | Walter Hughes |
| 1716–17 | Abraham Ayres |
| 1717–18 | Anthony Cupitt |
| 1718–19 | Richard Parry |
| 1719–20 | Griffith Phillips |
| 1720–21 | John Mansell |
| 1721–22 | Walter Hughes, the younger |
| 1722–23 | Walter Hughes |
| 1723–24 | Robert Rogers |
| 1724–25 | David Thomas |
| 1725–26 | William Philips |
| 1726–27 | Gabriel Powell |
| 1727–28 | Walter Hughes |
| 1728–29 | Robert Hughes |
| 1729–30 | Abraham Ayres (died) Walter Vaughn |
| 1730–31 | Walter Vaughn |
| 1731–32 | John Mansell |
| 1732–33 | William Watkins |
| 1733–34 | John Powell |
| 1734–35 | Walter Hughes |
| 1735–36 | Walter Vaughn |
| 1736–37 | John France |
| 1737–38 | John Morgan |
| 1738–39 | Walter Vaughn |
| 1739–40 | Hugh Powell |
| 1740–41 | Gabriel Powell |
| 1741–42 | John Mansell |
| 1742–43 | John Collins |
| 1743–44 | John Powell |
| 1744–45 | John France |
| 1745–46 | Richard Powell |
| 1746–47 | John Powell |
| 1747–48 | John Whitney |
| 1748–49 | Edward Phillips |
| 1749–50 | John Morgan |
| 1750–51 | Hugh Powell |
| 1751–52 | Walter Vaughn |
| 1752–53 | John Collins |
| 1753–54 | John Jenkins |
| 1754–55 | Hopkin Walter |
| 1755–56 | Christopher Rogers |
| 1756–57 | John France |
| 1757–58 | James Thomas |
| 1758–59 | Walter Vaughn |
| 1759–60 | John Collins |
| 1760–61 | John Jenkins |
| 1761–62 | Hopkin Walter Philip Rogers |
| 1762–63 | Christopher Rogers John Gwyther James Thomas |
| 1763–64 | James Thomas |
| 1764–65 | David Vaughn |
| 1765–66 | Robert Ball |
| 1766–67 | William Davies |
| 1767–68 | Thomas Madocks |
| 1768–69 | William Powell |
| 1769–70 | William Jeffreys |
| 1770–71 | Iltid Thomas |
| 1771–72 | Philip Rogers |
| 1772–73 | James Thomas |
| 1773–74 | William Davies |
| 1774–75 | Thomas Madocks |
| 1775–76 | Gabriel Jeffreys |
| 1776–77 | Gabriel Powell the younger |
| 1777–78 | William Jeffreys |
| 1778–79 | Thomas Powell |
| 1779–80 | Iltid Thomas |
| 1780–81 | William Powell |
| 1781–82 | Philip Rogers |
| 1782–83 | Thomas Harcourt Powell Rowland Prichard Phillip Rogers |
| 1783–84 | Rowland Prichard |
| 1784–85 | Thomas Maddocks |
| 1785–86 | Thomas Maddocks |
| 1786–87 | Gabriel Jeffreys |
| 1787–88 | William Powell |
| 1788–89 | John Roberts |
| 1789–90 | Griffith Jenkins |
| 1790–91 | William Grove |
| 1791–92 | Thomas Morgan |
| 1792–93 | William Jeffreys |
| 1793–94 | Rowland Prichard |
| 1794–95 | William Jones |
| 1795–96 | Gabriel Powell |
| 1796–97 | Gabriel Jeffreys |
| 1797–98 | Thomas Powell |
| 1798–99 | Thomas Maddocks |
| 1799–1800 | Griffith Jenkins |
| 1800–01 | William Grove |
| 1801–02 | Thomas Morgan |
| 1802–03 | Charles Collins |
| 1803–04 | John Jeffreys |
| 1804–05 | William Jeffreys |
| 1805–06 | Rowland Prichard |
| 1806–07 | William Jones |
| 1807–08 | Gabriel Jeffreys |
| 1808–09 | Griffith Jenkins |
| 1809–10 | Sir John Morris |
| 1810–11 | William Grove |
| 1811–12 | John Morris |
| 1812–13 | Charles Collins |
| 1813–14 | William Jeffreys |
| 1814–15 | John Jeffreys |
| 1815–16 | John Grove |
| 1816–17 | Robert Nelson Thomas |
| 1817–18 | Thomas Edward Thomas |
| 1818–19 | William Grove |
| 1819–20 | Griffith Jenkins |
| 1820–21 | John Jones |
| 1821–22 | John Charles Collins, MD |
| 1822–23 | William Grove |
| 1823–24 | Calvert Richard Jones |
| 1824–25 | Richard Jeffreys |
| 1825–26 | Lewis Thomas |
| 1826–27 | Gabriel Powell |
| 1827–28 | Sir John Morris |
| 1828–29 | John Grove |
| 1829–30 | Thomas Thomas |
| 1830–31 | Charles Collins |
| 1831–32 | Thomas Grove |
| 1832–33 | Thomas Edward Thomas |
| 1833–34 | Silvanus Padley |
| 1834–35 | Calvert Richard Jones |
| 1835–36 | Calvert Richard Jones |
Modern mayors
[edit]Local government in England and Wales was reformed under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and the new reformed borough was headed by a mayor instead of a portreeve. Mayors were originally elected on 9th November each year, but the Representation of the People Act 1948 moved the beginning of the municipal year to May with effect from 1949.[6]
 |
 |
| Mayors commemorated in Swansea Guildhall | |
| Term | Name |
|---|---|
| 1835–36 | Nathaniel Cameron |
| 1836–37 | Nathaniel Cameron |
| 1837–38 | Richard Mansel Phillips |
| 1838–39 | John Grove |
| 1839–40 | Lewis Weston Dillwyn |
| 1840–41 | Matthew Moggridge |
| 1841–42 | Richard Aubrey |
| 1842–43 | George Gwynne Bird |
| 1843–44 | Starling Benson |
| 1844–45 | John Richardson |
| 1845–46 | Charles Henry Smith |
| 1846–47 | Timothy Brimble Essery |
| 1847–48 | Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn |
| 1848–49 | Michael John Michael |
| 1849–50 | Christopher James |
| 1850–51 | Owen Gething Williams |
| 1851–52 | Thomas Edward Thomas |
| 1852–53 | John Joce Strick |
| 1853–54 | George Grant Francis |
| 1854–55 | John Trevillian Jenkin |
| 1855–56 | Evan Matthew Richards |
| 1856–57 | John Oakshot |
| 1857–58 | William Henry Michael |
| 1858–59 | John Trevillian Jenkin |
| 1859–60 | Thomas Edward Thomas |
| 1860–61 | John Crow Richardson |
| 1861–62 | John Trevillian Jenkin |
| 1862–63 | Evan Matthew Richards |
| 1863–64 | Charles Bath |
| 1864–65 | Jeremiah Clarke Richardson |
| 1865–66 | George Burden Strick |
| 1866–67 | Thomas Phillips |
| 1867–68 | George Browne Brock |
| 1868–69 | Charles Thomas Wilson |
| 1869–70 | John Jones Jenkins |
| 1870–71 | Washington Hamilton Brown |
| 1871–72 | John Glasbrook |
| 1872–73 | Thomas Ford |
| 1873–74 | Thomas Powell |
| 1874–75 | Frank Ash Yeo |
| 1875–76 | James Livingston |
| 1876–77 | John Ivor Evans |
| 1877–78 | Wiliam Thomas |
| 1878–79 | James Rogers |
| 1879–80 | John Jones Jenkins |
| 1880–81 | John Jones Jenkins |
| 1881–82 | Thomas Davies |
| 1882–83 | Edward Rice Daniel |
| 1883–84 | Robert John Dickson Burnie |
| 1884–85 | William Williams |
| 1885–86 | William John Rees |
| 1886–87 | Frank Ash Yeo |
| 1887–88 | Lawrence Tulloch |
| 1888–89 | James Jones |
| 1889–90 | Thomas Freeman |
| 1890–91 | Sir John Dillwyn-Llewelyn |
| 1891–92 | Albert Mason |
| 1892–93 | Henry Alfred Chapman |
| 1893–94 | Lt. Col. William Pike |
| 1894–95 | William Henry Edwards |
| 1895–96 | Frederick Bradford |
| 1896–97 | Howel Watkins |
| 1897–98 | J. Aeron Thomas |
| 1898–99 | Richard Martin |
| 1899–1900 | William Watkins |
| 1900–01 | William Watkins |
| 1901–02 | Griffith Thomas |
| 1902–03 | Griffith Thomas |
| 1903–04 | Griffith Thomas |
| 1904–05 | William Henry Spring |
| 1905–06 | Gwilym Morgan |
| 1906–07 | David Harris |
| 1907–08 | John Henry Lee |
| 1908–09 | Morgan Tutton |
| 1909–10 | David Matthews |
| 1910–11 | David Matthews |
| 1911–12 | Edwin George Protheroe |
| 1912–13 | David Williams |
| 1913–14 | Thomas Taliesyn Corker |
| 1914–15 | Daniel Jones |
| 1915–16 | Thomas Merrells |
| 1916–17 | David Davies |
| 1917–18 | Benjamin Jones |
| 1918–19 | William Henry Miles |
| 1919–20 | Alexander Sinclair |
| 1920–21 | Percy Molyneux |
| 1921–22 | William Owen |
| 1922–23 | David John Davies |
| 1923–24 | George Henry Colwill |
| 1924–25 | John Lewis |
| 1925–26 | David Griffiths |
| 1926–27 | David John Bassett |
| 1927–28 | Thomas William Howells |
| 1928–29 | Thomas John Richards |
| 1929–30 | Thomas Arthur Lovell |
| 1930–31 | John Miller |
| 1931–32 | John Barclay Owen |
| 1932–33 | Daniel Evans |
| 1933–34 | Edward Harris |
| 1934–35 | William James Davies |
| 1935–36 | Albert Richard Ball |
| 1936–37 | Richary Henry |
| 1937–38 | William Daniel Rees |
| 1938–39 | David Richards |
| 1939–40 | John Richard Martin |
| 1940–41 | Thomas James |
| 1941–42 | Thomas William Allison |
| 1942–43 | Thomas William Hughes |
| 1943–44 | William Harries (died 10 Aug 1944) |
| 1944–45 | Howell John Thomas (Sept–Nov) |
| 1944–45 | Thomas William Watkins |
| 1945–46 | William Dewitt |
| 1946–47 | Harry Davies |
| 1947–48 | Sir William Albert Jenkins |
| 1949–50 | Richard Gronow |
| 1950–51 | William George Rees |
| 1951–52 | Daniel Jones |
| 1952–53 | William Thomas Mainwaring Hughes |
| 1953–54 | David John Fisher |
| 1954–55 | Thomas Samuel Harris |
| 1955–56 | Percy Morris |
| 1956–57 | George Henry Libby |
| 1957–58 | Alfred Ernest Harries |
| 1958–59 | William Evans |
| 1959–60 | William George |
| 1960–61 | Sidney Cuthbert Jenkins |
| 1961–62 | Andrew Morgan |
| 1962–63 | Rosanna Cross |
| 1963–64 | Frederick Shail |
| 1964–65 | Aubrey Willis Pile |
| 1965–66 | Francis Charles Jones |
| 1966–67 | Thomas Richard Davies |
| 1967–68 | David Thomas Jeffreys |
| 1968–69 | David Arthur Jenkins |
| 1969–70 | David Franklyn Bevan |
| 1970–71 | Arthur Leonard Reed |
| 1971–72 | Arthur John Kenneth Hare |
| 1972–73 | Christopher Thomas |
| 1973–74 | Eunice Jones |
| 1974–75 | William Henry Minney |
| 1975–76 | Herbert Tudor Morgan |
| 1976–77 | Williem Werner Sivertsen |
| 1977–78 | Patricia Lucy Jenkins |
| 1978–79 | Susan Jones |
| 1979–80 | Gwilym Webber |
| 1980–81 | Robert Alan Lloyd |
| 1981–82 | Paul Harold Valerio |
Lord mayors
[edit]The office of mayor was upgraded to Lord Mayor by Letters Patent on 22 March 1982.[2]
 |
 |
| Mayors and Lord Mayors commemorated in Swansea Guildhall | |
| Term | Name |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Paul Harold Valerio |
| 1982–83 | E. Tyssul Lewis |
| 1983–84 | Charles L. Thomas |
| 1984–85 | Michael J. Murphy |
| 1985–86 | Trevor Gordon Burtonshaw |
| 1986–87 | Lilian Maud Hopkin |
| 1987–88 | Holland Alan Ayres |
| 1988–89 | Howard John Morgan |
| 1989–90 | Lorna J. Aldron |
| 1990–91 | Colin Hammacott |
| 1991–92 | Byron G. Owen |
| 1992–93 | Charles Birss |
| 1993–94 | Robert G. Davies |
| 1994–95 | Walter Dyer |
| 1995–96 | Grenville Phillips |
| 1996–97 | Desmond W.W. Thomas |
| 1997–98 | Gareth Williams |
| 1998–99 | David I.E. Jones |
| 1999–2000 | Robert J. Lloyd |
| 2000–01 | W. John Davies |
| 2001–02 | Robert Francis-Davies |
| 2002–03 | June Burtonshaw |
| 2003–04 | Lawrence Bailey |
| 2004–05 | Margaret Smith |
| 2005–06 | Mair Gibbs |
| 2006–07 | Christopher Holley |
| 2007–08 | Susan Waller |
| 2008–09 | Gareth Sullivan |
| 2009–10 | R. Alan Lloyd |
| 2010–11 | Richard Lewis |
| 2011–12 | Ioan Richard |
| 2012–13 | Dennis H. James |
| 2013–14 | June Stanton |
| 2014–15 | Ceinwen Thomas |
| 2015–16 | John Newbury |
| 2016–17 | David Hopkins |
| 2017–18 | Philip Downing |
| 2018–19 | David Phillips |
| 2019–20 | Peter Black |
| 2020–21 | Mark Child |
| 2021–22 | Mary Jones |
| 2022–23 | Mike Day |
| 2023–24 | L. Graham Thomas |
| 2024–25 | Paxton Hood-Williams[7] |
| 2025–26 | Cheryl Philpott[8] |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b Alban 1982, p.1
- ^ a b Swansea Council. "History of the mayorality". Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ a b Alban 1982, p.8
- ^ Nicholas 1872, p.616
- ^ Alban 1982, pp.3-4
- ^ Alban 1982, pp.4-5
- ^ "Long-serving councillor's honour at becoming mayor". South Wales Evening Post. Swansea. 2024-05-21. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-06-29. (subscription required)
- ^ Lewis Smith and James Arnott (2025-05-20). "New mayors take office". South Wales Evening Post. Swansea. p. 10. Retrieved 2025-06-29. (subscription required)
References
[edit]- Alban, J.R. (1982). Portreeves and mayors of Swansea. Swansea: Swansea City Council.
- Nicholas, Thomas (1872). Annals and antiquities of the counties and county families of Wales; containing a record of all ranks of the gentry ... with many ancient pedigrees and memorials of old and extinct families. Vol. 2. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- Swansea Guildhall plaques listing the mayors and lord mayors of Swansea