List of members of the Boston City Council

This is a list of members of the Boston City Council, both past and present, serving the people of Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

Council member selection

Since 1984, the council has consisted of 13 members: four members elected at-large and nine members elected by district. All 13 seats are contested every two years. The preliminary election and general election are held in September and November, respectively, of odd years, with winners starting their terms in January of even years. For example, a preliminary election was held in September 2017 for the November 2017 general election, with elected council members starting their terms in January 2018.

Historically, the makeup of the council has changed multiple times. Since 1910:

Years Total size Seats At-large Ward or district 1910–1925 9 9 0 1926–1951 22 0 22 1952–1983 9 9 0 1984–present 13 4 9

By term

182229 Beginning May 1, 1822

Aldermen: Samuel Billings, Ephraim Eliot, Jacob Hall, Joseph Head, Joseph Jenkins, Joseph Lovering, Nathaniel Pope Russell, Bryant Parrott Tilden Common Council: Ward 1: William Barry, Thaddeus Page, Charles Wells, Simon Wilkinson Ward 2: Martin Bates, Benjamin Lamson, Henry Orne, Joseph Stodder Ward 3: Theodore Dexter, Joshua Emmons, Samuel Jones, William Bowes Bradford Ward 4: Joseph Coolidge, Samuel Perkins, Robert Gould Shaw, Joel Thayer Ward 5: George Washington Coffin, Thomas Kendall, Horatio Gates Ware, Isaac Winslow Ward 6: Samuel Appleton, Thomas Motley, Jesse Shaw, William Sullivan Ward 7: Jonathan Amory, Patrick Tracy Jackson, Augustus Peabody, Enoch Silsby Ward 8: Jonathan Davis, Hawkes Lincoln, William Prescott (president), John Welles Ward 9: David Watts Bradlee, Peter Chardon Brooks, James Perkins, Benjamin Russell Ward 10: Andrew Drake, Daniel Lewis Gibbens, David Collson Moseley, Isaac Stevens Ward 11: George Watson Brimmer, Asa Bullard, Barzillai Homes, Winslow Lewis Ward 12: Cyrus Alger, John French, John Howe, Moses Williams

Beginning May 1, 1823

Aldermen: Daniel Baxter, George Odiorne, David Weld Child, Joseph Hawley Dorr, Asher Benjamin, Enoch Patterson, Caleb Eddy, Stephen Hooper Common Council: Ward 1: Thaddeus Page, Simon Wilkinson, John Elliott, Joseph Wheeler Ward 2: Martin Bates, Benjamin Lamson, Joseph Stodder, John Parker Boyd Ward 3: Theodore Dexter, Samuel Jones, John Richardson Adan, John Damarisque Dyer Ward 4: Joseph Coolidge, Samuel Perkins, Robert Gould Shaw, Henry Farnam Ward 5: Thomas Kendall, Isaac Winslow, Elias Haskell, John Sullivan Perkins Ward 6: Joseph Stacy Hastings, Joel Prouty, John Stevens, William Wright Ward 7: Jonathan Amory, Enoch Silsby, Samuel Swett, Charles Pelham Curtis Ward 8: Jonathan Davis, Hawkes Lincoln, John Welles (president), Lewis Tappan Ward 9: Benjamin Russell, James Savage, Eliphalet Williams, Samuel King Williams Ward 10: Aaron Baldwin, David Francis, Francis Johonnot Oliver, Thomas Beale Wales Ward 11: Asa Bullard, Charles Howard, Josiah Stedman, Joseph Willet Ward 12: Samuel Bradlee, Noah Brooks, Francis Jackson, Charles Sprague

Beginning May 1, 1824

Aldermen: Daniel Baxter, George Odiorne, David Weld Child, Joseph Hawley Dorr, Asher Benjamin, Enoch Patterson, Caleb Eddy, Stephen Hooper, Cyrus Alger Common Council: Ward 1: William Barry, John Elliot, Joseph Wheeler, Michael Tombs Ward 2: William Little Jr., Oliver Reed, Joseph Stone, Thaddeus Page Ward 3: John Richardson Adan, John Damarisque Dyer, Edward Page, William Sprague Ward 4: Joseph Coolidge, Robert Gould Shaw, Jeremiah Fitch, William R. P. Washburn Ward 5: Elias Haskell, Eliphalet Porter Hartshorn, George Washington Otis, Winslow Wright Ward 6: Joseph Stacy Hastings, Joel Prouty, William Wright, Thomas Wiley Ward 7: Charles Pelham Curtis, William Goddard, Elijah Morse, Isaac Parker Ward 8: Jonathan Davis, Hawkes Lincoln, John Ballard, John Chipman Gray Sr. Ward 9: Benjamin Russell, Eliphalet Williams, Samuel King Williams, Benjamin Willis Ward 10: Thomas Beale Wales, James Savage, Phineas Upham, Francis Johonnot Oliver (president) Ward 11: Josiah Stedman, Samuel Frothingham, Giles Lodge, Charles Sprague Ward 12: Samuel Bradlee, Francis Jackson, Isaac Thom, Charles Bemis

Beginning May 1, 1825

Aldermen: Daniel Carney, John Bellows, Josiah Marshall, John Damarisque Dyer, Thomas Welsh Jr., George Blake, Henry Jackson Oliver, John Bryant Common Council: Ward 1: William Barry, John Elliot, Robert Fennelly, Lewis Lerow Ward 2: Oliver Reed, Scammel Penniman, Benjamin Clark, John Ward Fenno Ward 3: John Richardson Adan, Thomas Wells, Abraham William Fuller, Amos Farnsworth Ward 4: Joseph Coolidge, William R. P. Washburn, George Hallet, Theodore Dexter Ward 5: John Sullivan Perkins, Ezra Dyer, Charles Tracy, William Simonds Ward 6: Joseph Stacy Hastings, Thomas Wiley, Isaac Waters, Samuel Thaxter Ward 7: Charles Pelham Curtis, William Goddard, Elijah Morse, Isaac Parker Ward 8: John Chipman Gray Sr., Franklin Dexter, Jeremiah Smith Boies, Levi Meriam Ward 9: Eliphalet Williams, Benjamin Willis, Jeffrey Richardson, Josiah Bradlee Ward 10: Francis Johonnot Oliver (president), James Savage, Jonathan Simonds, John Parker Rice Ward 11: Samuel Frothingham, Giles Lodge, George Morey Jr., Joshua Vose Ward 12: John Stevens, Adam Bent, Oliver Fisher, Ephraim Groves Ware

Beginning January 2, 1826

Aldermen: Daniel Carney, John Bellows, Josiah Marshall, Thomas Welsh Jr., Henry Jackson Oliver, John Foster Loring, Francis Jackson, Edward Hutchinson Robbins Common Council: Ward 1: William Barry, Lewis Lerow, Lemuel Putnam Grosvenor, Samuel Aspinwall Ward 2: Scammel Penniman, Benjamin Clark, John Ward Fenno, Nathaniel Faxon Ward 3: John Richardson Adan (president), William Sprague, Amos Farnsworth, Asa Adams Ward 4: George Hallet, William Howe, John Warren James, Joseph Eveleth Ward 5: Ezra Dyer, Charles Tracy, Jonathan Thaxter, William Parker Ward 6: Joseph Stacy Hastings, Thomas Wiley, Isaac Waters, Samuel Thaxter Ward 7: Augustus Peabody, Charles Pelham Curtis, Isaac Parker, Edward Brooks Ward 8: John Chipman Gray Sr., Jeremiah Smith Boies, Levi Meriam, Charles Torrey Ward 9: Francis Bassett, Joseph Helger Thayer, Joseph Hawley Dorr, John Baker Ward 10: Aaron Baldwin, John Parker Rice, Solomon Piper, Charles Barnard Ward 11: Giles Lodge, George Morey Jr., Joshua Vose, Thomas Brewer Ward 12: John Stevens, Adam Bent, Oliver Fisher, Henry Hatch Beginning January 1, 1827

Aldermen: Cyrus Alger, John Bellows, Thomas Welsh Jr., John Foster Loring, Jeremiah Smith Boies, Robert Fennelly, Thomas Beale Wales, James Savage Common Council: Ward 1: William Barry, Simon Wilkinson, John Elliot, Samuel Aspinwall Ward 2: Benjamin Clark, Scammel Penniman, John Warren James, John Floyd Truman Ward 3: John Richardson Adan, John Damarisque Dyer, Asa Adams, Thomas Gould Ward 4: Quincy Tufts, George Hallet, William Howe, Joseph Eveleth Ward 5: Jonathan Thaxter, William Parker, Lewis Glover Pray, George Lane Ward 6: Isaac Waters, Samuel Thaxter, Jonathan Loring, Joseph Warren Lewis Ward 7: Samuel Dorr, Samuel Dexter Ward, John Arno Bacon, Thomas Walley Phillips Ward 8: John Chipman Gray Sr., Levi Meriam, Gamaliel Bradford, John Prescott Bigelow Ward 9: David Watts Bradlee, Benjamin Russell, Eliphalet Williams, Joshua Sears Ward 10: Jonathan Simonds, George Brinley, William Parker, Charles Sprague Ward 11: Giles Lodge, George Morey Jr., Joshua Vose, Josiah Vose Ward 12: Adam Bent, William Wright, William Little Jr., George Gay Beginning January 7, 1828

Aldermen: John Foster Loring, Robert Fennelly, James Savage, Thomas Kendall, James Hall, Phineas Upham, John Pickering, Samuel Turell Armstrong Common Council: Ward 1: Samuel Aspinwall, Ninian Clark Betton, Horace Fox, Eleazer Pratt Ward 2: John Warren James, Frederick Gould, Henry Fowle Jr., George Washington Johnson Ward 3: John Richardson Adan (president), Thomas Gould, Levi Roberts Lincoln, John Damarisque Dyer, James Lendall Pitts Orrok Ward 4: Joseph Eveleth, Quincy Tufts, Andrew Cunningham Jr., James Means Ward 5: George Washington Otis, William Parker, Lewis Glover Pray, George Lane Ward 6: Isaac Waters, Francis Johonnot Oliver, Ebenezer Appleton, David Moody Ward 7: John Arno Bacon, John Belknap, Waldo Flint, George Washington Adams, Thomas Wren Ward, Benjamin Toppan Pickman Ward 8: John Chipman Gray Sr., John Prescott Bigelow, Norman Seaver, Daniel Lewis Gibbens Ward 9: Benjamin Russell, Eliphalet Williams, Samuel King Williams, Thomas Lamb Ward 10: Jonathan Simonds, William Parker, George Bethune, Robert Treat Paine, John Lowell Jr. Ward 11: Otis Everett, Otis Turner, Perez Gill, Payson Perrin Ward 12: Alpheus Cary, Walter Cornell, Joseph Neale Howe, Benjamin Stevens Beginning January 5, 1829

Aldermen: Henry Jackson Oliver, John Foster Loring, Thomas Kendall, James Hall, Samuel Turell Armstrong, Benjamin Russell, Winslow Lewis, Charles Wells Common Council: Ward 1: Ninian Clark Betton, Eleazer Pratt, John Wells, Christopher Gore Ward 2: John Warren James, Henry Sewall Kent, Samuel Ellis, Thomas Reed, Daniel Ballard Ward 3: Thomas Gould, Levi Roberts Lincoln, Joseph Bradley, Amos Bradley Parker Ward 4: Quincy Tufts, Andrew Cunningham Jr., Josh Rayner, Samuel Davenport Torrey Ward 5: Jonathan Thaxter, William Parker, George Lane, Joseph Eveleth Ward 6: Isaac Waters, Samuel Austin Jr., Jared Lincoln, Samuel Goodhue Ward 7: Benjamin Toppan Pickman, Thomas Wetmore, Walter Frost, George Washington Adams, Isaac Danforth Ward 8: John Prescott Bigelow, Jacob Amee, Levi Brigham, Daniel Lewis Gibbens Ward 9: Eliphalet Williams, Samuel King Williams, Thomas Minns, James Brackett Richardson Ward 10: Jonathan Simonds, John Lowell Jr., Samuel Leonard Abbot, Charles Casey Starbuck Ward 11: Otis Everett, Otis Turner, Perez Gill, Payson Perrin Ward 12: Oliver Fisher, Walter Cornell, Aaron Willard Jr., Isaac Parker Townsend

1830–1839 Beginning January 4, 1830

Aldermen: Henry Jackson Oliver, John Foster Loring, Samuel Turell Armstrong, Benjamin Russell, Winslow Lewis, Charles Wells, John Burbeck McCleary, Moses Williams Common Council: Ward 1: Ninian Clark Betton, Eleazer Pratt, Christopher Gore, Simon Wiggin Robinson Ward 2: John Warren James, Samuel Ellis, Daniel Ballard, John B. Wells Ward 3: Thomas Gould, Levi Roberts Lincoln, Larra Crane, Michael Lovell Ward 4: Quincy Tufts, Josh Rayner, Samuel Davenport Torrey, Washington Parker Bragg Ward 5: Winslow Wright, Joseph Eveleth, Levi Boynton Haskell, Charles Leighton Ward 6: Isaac Waters, Jared Lincoln, Joshua Seaver, Benjamin Parker, Samuel Austin Jr. Ward 7: Benjamin Toppan Pickman, Thomas Wetmore, Isaac Danforth, Elias Hasket Derby Ward 8: John Prescott Bigelow, Jacob Amee, Levi Brigham, Edward Goldsborough Prescott Ward 9: Thomas Minns, James Brackett Richardson, Joseph Reynolds Newell, Leach Harris Ward 10: John Parker Rice, John Lowell Jr., Samuel Leonard Abbot, Levi Bliss Ward 11: Otis Everett, Perez Gill, Jabez Ellis, Joseph Hay Ward 12: Henry Hatch, Aaron Willard Jr., Thomas Melville Vinson, James Wright

Beginning January 3, 1831

Aldermen: Henry Jackson Oliver, Samuel Turell Armstrong, Benjamin Russell, John Burbeck McCleary, Henry Farnam, Adam Bent, John Binney, Richard Devens Harris Common Council: Ward 1: Simon Wiggin Robinson, John Brigden Tremere, Charles French, Frederick Gould Ward 2: John Warren James, Daniel Ballard, Ephraim Milton, Daniel Dickinson Ward 3: Larra Crane, James Clark, Asa Swallow, Samuel Chessman Ward 4: Joseph Eveleth, Josh Rayner, Washington Parker Gregg, Joshua Barker Flint Ward 5: Winslow Wright, William Parker, Levi Boynton Haskell, Charles Leighton Ward 6: Joseph Stacy Hastings, Isaac Waters, Ensign Sargent, Stephen Titcomb Ward 7: Benjamin Toppan Pickman, Thomas Wetmore, Levi Bartlett, Abbott Lawrence