List of speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

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Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Seal of the House of Representatives
Seal of the House of Representatives
Speaker Ronald Mariano.jpg
Incumbent
Ronald Mariano

since December 30, 2020
Government of Massachusetts
StatusPresiding Officer
Member ofGeneral Court
ResidenceNone official
SeatState House, Boston, Massachusetts
NominatorPolitical parties through majority house caucus
AppointerThe House
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Massachusetts
FormationOriginal Post:
May 30, 1644
Current form:
October 25, 1780
DeputySpeaker pro tempore
Website[1]

This is a list of speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the full House through the passage of a House Resolution. As well as presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leader, and controls the flow of legislation. Other House leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the House. The current house speaker is Ronald Mariano.

House of Deputies of the Massachusetts Bay Colony[]

Speaker Party Years ↑ Town Electoral history
William Hathorne 1644–1645 Salem
George Cooke 1645 Cambridge
William Hathorne 1646 Salem
1646 Lynn
1647 Mistick Side
William Hathorne 1648 Salem
1648 Charlestown
Daniel Denison 1649 Ipswich
William Hathorne 1650 Salem
Daniel Gookin 1651 Cambridge
Daniel Denison 1651–1652 Ipswich
Humphrey Atherton 1653 Springfield
Richard Russell 1654 Charlestown
1655
Richard Russell 1656 Charlestown
William Hathorne 1657 Salem
Richard Russell 1658 Charlestown
Thomas Savage 1659–1660
William Hathorne 1660–1661 Salem
1662
John Leverett 1663–1664 Boston
Thomas Clarke 1665
Richard Waldron 1666–1668 Cocheco
Thomas Clarke 1669–1670
Thomas Savage 1671 Boston
Thomas Clarke 1672
Richard Waldron 1673 Cocheco
1673–1674
Richard Waldron 1674–1675 Cocheco
1675–1676 Concord
Thomas Savage 1677–1678 Boston
Richard Waldron 1679 Cocheco Town became part of New Hampshire
John Richards 1679–1680 Dorchester
Daniel Fisher 1680–1682 Dedham
Elisha Cooke 1683 Boston
1684 Malden
Isaac Addington 1685 Boston
John Saffin 1686 Boston General Court adjourned May 21, 1686, did not convene until May or June 1689

Inter-Charter Period[]

Speaker Party Years ↑ Town Electoral history
Thomas Oakes 1689 Boston
1698–1690 Boston
1690–1691 Salem
William Bond 1691–1692 Watertown
Penn Townsend 1692 Salem

Second Charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay[]

Speaker Party Years ↑ Town Electoral history
William Bond 1692–1693 Watertown
Nathaniel Byfield 1693–1694 Boston
Nehemiah Jewett 1694–1695 Rowley
William Bond 1695–1696 Watertown
1696–1697 Salem
Nathaniel Byfield 1698 Rowley
James Converse 1699–1700 Woburn
John Leverett 1700–1701 Boston
Nehemiah Jewett 1701–1702 Rowley
James Converse 1702–1705 Woburn
Thomas Oakes 1705–1707 Boston
1707 Lynn
1708–1709 Cambridge
1709–1711 Boston
John Burrill 1711–1720 Lynn
Elisha Cooke 1720
1720–1721 Boston
1721–1724 Boston
1724–1729 Roxbury
John Quincy 1729–1741 Mount Wollaston
William Fairfield 1741 Wenham
Thomas Cushing II 1742–1746 Boston
Thomas Hutchinson 1746–1748 Boston Resigned when appointed to the Governor's Council
Joseph Dwight 1748–1750 Brookfield
1750–1759 Waltham
Samuel White May 30, 1759 –
May 28, 1760
Taunton
James Otis May 28, 1760 –
May 26, 1762
Barnstable Resigned when appointed to the Governor's Council
Timothy Ruggles May 26, 1762 –
May 25, 1764
Rochester
Samuel White May 25, 1764 –
June 11, 1764
Taunton
Thomas Clap pro tem June 11, 1764 –
May 29, 1765
Samuel White May 29, 1764 –
May 28, 1766
Taunton
James Otis, Jr. May 28, 1766 –
May 28, 1766
Barnstable
Thomas Cushing May 28, 1766 –
1774
Boston

Massachusetts Provincial Congress of Deputies[]

Speaker Portrait Years ↑ Electoral History
John Hancock John Hancock 1770-crop.jpg 1774-1775 Left office to attend the Second Continental Congress where he served as President
Joseph Warren JosephWarrenByCopley.jpeg 1775 Died at the Battle of Bunker Hill
James Warren James Warren.jpg 1775-1780

House of Representatives under the Massachusetts Constitution[]

# Speaker Portrait Party Years ↑ City or Town (District)1 Electoral history
1 Caleb Davis Caleb Davis 1738-1797.jpg None 1780–1782 Boston Resigned
2 Nathaniel Gorham Nathaniel Gorham.jpg None 1782–1783 Charlestown [data unknown/missing]
3 Tristram Dalton Portrait of Tristram Dalton, 1st US Senator from Massachusetts.jpg None 1783–1784 Newbury Elected to State Senate
4 Samuel Allyne Otis Samuelallyneotis.jpg None 1784–1785 Barnstable [data unknown/missing]
5 Nathaniel Gorham None 1785–1786 Charlestown [data unknown/missing]
6 Artemas Ward Artemas Ward.jpg None 1786–1787 Shrewsbury [data unknown/missing]
7 James Warren James Warren.jpg None 1787–1788 Plymouth [data unknown/missing]
8 Theodore Sedgwick TheodoreSedgwick.jpg Pro-Administration 1788–1789 Sheffield Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
9 David Cobb David Cobb.png Pro-Administration 1789–1793 Taunton Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
10 Edward Robbins Edward Hutchinson Robbins.jpg Democratic-Republican 1793–1802 Boston Elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
11 John Coffin Jones Federalist 1802–1803 Boston [data unknown/missing]
12 Harrison Gray Otis Chester Harding - Harrison Gray Otis - NPG.77.30 - National Portrait Gallery.jpg Federalist 1803–1805 Boston Elected to the State Senate
13 Timothy Bigelow Federalist 1805–1806 Worcester Party lost majority
14 Perez Morton PerezMorton byFevretDeSaintMemin.png Democratic-Republican 1806–1808 Dorchester Party lost majority
15 Timothy Bigelow Federalist 1808–1810 Worcester Party lost majority
16 Perez Morton PerezMorton byFevretDeSaintMemin.png Democratic-Republican 1810–1811 Dorchester Resigned
17 Joseph Story Daguerreotype of Joseph Story, 1844.jpg Democratic-Republican 1811–1812 Salem Resigned when appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
18 Eleazer Ripley Eleazer-ripley.png Democratic-Republican 1812 Waterville Joined United States Army
19 Timothy Bigelow Federalist 1812–1820 Worcester [data unknown/missing]
20 Elijah H. Mills ElijahMills.jpg Federalist 1820–1821 Northampton Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
21 Josiah Quincy III Josiah Quincy.jpg Federalist 1821–1822 Boston Resigned to become Judge of Boston Municipal Court
22 Luther Lawrence Federalist 1822 Lowell Party lost majority
23 Levi Lincoln, Jr. LLincolnJr.jpg National Republican 1822–1823 Worcester Elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
24 [1] National Republican 1823–1825 Woburn Party lost majority
25 Timothy Fuller Timothy Fuller.jpg Democratic-Republican 1825–1826 Cambridgeport Party lost majority
26 National Republican 1826–1828 Woburn [data unknown/missing]
27 William B. Calhoun William Barron Calhoun.png National Republican 1828–1834 Springfield Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
28 Julius Rockwell JuliusRockwell.jpg Whig 1835–1837 Pittsfield Resigned when appointed commissioner of the Bank of Massachusetts
29 Robert Charles Winthrop Robert Charles Winthrop.jpg Whig 1838–1840 Boston Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
30 George Ashmun George Ashmun.png Whig 1841 Blandford [data unknown/missing]
31 Whig 1842 Worcester [data unknown/missing]
32 Daniel P. King Daniel Putnam King (1801-1850).jpg Whig 1843 South Danvers [data unknown/missing]
33 Whig 1844 Worcester Resigned
34 Samuel H. Walley, Jr. Whig 1844–1846 Boston [data unknown/missing]
35 Ebenezer Bradbury Whig 1847 Newburyport [data unknown/missing]
36 Francis Crowninshield Whig 1848–1849 Boston [data unknown/missing]
37 Ensign H. Kellogg Ensign Hosmer Kellogg.png Whig 1850 Pittsfield [data unknown/missing]
38 Nathaniel Prentice Banks Nathaniel Prentice Banks.jpg Democratic 1851–1852 Waltham Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
39 George Bliss Whig 1853 Springfield [data unknown/missing]
40 Otis P. Lord Whig 1854 Salem Party lost majority
41 Daniel C. Eddy 1855 Daniel Clarke Eddy Massachusetts House of Representatives US.png Know Nothing 1855 Lowell [data unknown/missing]
42 Charles A. Phelps Know Nothing 1856–1857 Boston Elected to the Massachusetts Senate;[2] Party Lost election
43 Julius Rockwell JuliusRockwell.jpg Republican 1858 Pittsfield Resigned when appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court
44 Charles Hale CharlesHale ca1861 Boston.png Republican 1859 Boston [data unknown/missing]
45 John A. Goodwin Republican 1860–1861 Lowell [data unknown/missing]
46 Alexander Hamilton Bullock AlexanderBullock.jpg Republican 1862–1865 Worcester Elected Governor of Massachusetts
47 James M. Stone Republican 1866–1867 Charlestown [data unknown/missing]
48 Harvey Jewell 1868 Harvey Jewell Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Republican 1868–1871 Boston [data unknown/missing]
49 John E. Sanford 1875 John Eliot Sanford Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Republican 1872–1875 Taunton [data unknown/missing]
50 John Davis Long JDLong.jpg Republican 1876–1878 Hingham Elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
51 Levi C. Wade Levi Clifford Wade.png Republican 1879 Newton [data unknown/missing]
52 Charles J. Noyes Charles J. Noyes.png Republican 1880–1882 Boston () [data unknown/missing]
53 George Augustus Marden George Augustus Marden.png Republican 1883–1884 Lowell [data unknown/missing]
54 John Q. A. Brackett 1878 John Quincy Adams Brackett Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Republican January 7, 1885 –
1886
Boston ()[3] Elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
55 Charles J. Noyes Charles J. Noyes.png Republican 1887–1888 Boston () [data unknown/missing]
56 William Emerson Barrett William Emerson Barrett.png Republican 1889–1893 Melrose (11th Middlesex) Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
57 George von Lengerke Meyer Portrait of George von Lengerke Meyer.jpg Republican 1894–1896 Boston (9th Suffolk) [data unknown/missing]
58 John Lewis Bates JohnLBates.jpg Republican 1897–1899 Boston (1st Suffolk) Elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
59 James J. Myers James J. Myers.png Republican 1900–1903 Cambridge (1st Middlesex) Retired
60 Louis A. Frothingham Louis Adams Frothingham.png Republican 1904–1905 Boston (11th Suffolk) Left House to run for governor
61 John N. Cole John N. Cole.png Republican 1906–1908 Andover (8th Essex) Left House to run for Lieutenant Governor
62 Joseph Walker Joseph H. Walker (Massachusetts speaker).png Republican 1909–1911 Brookline (2nd Norfolk) Left House to run for governor
63 Grafton D. Cushing Grafton Dulany Cushing.png Republican 1912–1914 Boston (11th Suffolk) Elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
64 Channing H. Cox Channing H Cox.png Republican 1915–1918 Boston (10th Suffolk) Elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
65 Joseph E. Warner Joseph E. Warner.png Republican 1919–1920 Taunton (4th Bristol) Lost primary for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts to Alvan Fuller
66 Benjamin Loring Young Benjamin Loring Young.png Republican 1921–1924 Weston (13th Middlesex) [data unknown/missing]
67 John C. Hull John Carpenter Hull.png Republican 1925–1928 Leominster (11th Worcester) Appointed First Securities Director in the wake of The Great Depression (1930–36)
68 Leverett Saltonstall LeverettSaltonstall.jpg Republican 1929–1936 Chestnut Hill (5th Middlesex) Defeated for election as Lieutenant Governor by Francis E. Kelly [4]
69 Horace T. Cahill 1935 Horace Cahill Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Republican 1937–1938 Braintree (6th Norfolk) Elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
70 Christian Herter Christian Archibald Herter (politician).jpg Republican 1939–1942 Boston (5th Suffolk) Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
71 Rudolph King 1939 Rudolph King Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Republican 1943–1944 Millis (8th Norfolk) Resigned to run become Registrar of Motor Vehicles
72 Frederick Willis 1945 Frederick Willis Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Republican 1945–1948 Saugus (10th Essex) Party lost majority
73 Thomas P. O'Neill Tip O'Neill 1978 (retouched).jpg Democratic 1949–1952 Cambridge (3rd Middlesex) Party lost majority; O'Neill elected to U.S. House of Representatives
74 Charles Gibbons 1953 Charles Gibbons Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Republican 1953–1954 Stoneham (22nd Middlesex) Party lost majority
75 Michael F. Skerry 1945 Michael Skerry Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Democratic 1955–1957 Medford (27th Middlesex) Resigned when appointed Clerk of the Malden District Court
76 John F. Thompson 1953 John Forbes Thompson Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Democratic 1958–1964 Ludlow (2nd Hampden) Resigned after being indicted on charges of conspiracy and bribery
77 John Davoren 1967 John Davoren Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Democratic 1965–1967 Milford (9th Worcester) Resigned when appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth
78 Robert H. Quinn Rob Quinn (13560397264).jpg Democratic 1967–1969 Boston (9th Suffolk) Elected Massachusetts Attorney General
79 David M. Bartley David M Bartley.jpg Democratic 1969–1975 Holyoke (7th Hampden) Resigned to become President of Holyoke Community College
80 Thomas W. McGee Thomas W. McGee.jpg Democratic 1975–1984 Lynn () Defeated by Keverian in leadership challenge
81 George Keverian George Keverian 1980s Massachusetts USA 9519694698.png Democratic 1985–1990 Everett () Retired to run for State Treasurer
82 Charles Flaherty 1983 Charles Flaherty Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Democratic 1991 –
April 9, 1996
Cambridge (27th Middlesex) Resigned: pleaded guilty to tax evasion
83 Thomas Finneran 1995 Thomas Finneran Massachusetts House of Representatives.png Democratic April 9, 1996 –
September 28, 2004
Mattapan (12th Suffolk) Resigned due to allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice
84 Salvatore DiMasi Salvatore F. DiMasi.jpg Democratic September 28, 2004 –
January 27, 2009
Boston (3rd Suffolk) Resigned: convicted of conspiracy, honest services fraud, and extortion
85 Robert DeLeo Robert A. DeLeo.jpg Democratic January 27, 2009 – December 29, 2020 Winthrop (19th Suffolk) Resigned to accept position at Northeastern University
86 Ronald Mariano Speaker Ronald Mariano.jpg Democratic December 30, 2020 – present Quincy (3rd Norfolk) Current speaker

See also[]

Notes[]

1.^ Prior to 1857, representatives were selected by a majority of votes at a town meeting. Since 1857, representatives have been elected by district.[5]

Sources[]

  • "Organization of the Legislature Since 1780". Manual for the General Court. Massachusetts General Court. 2005–2006. pp. 338–350.

References[]

  1. ^ "Jarvis, William C., 1780-1836", A New Nation Votes: American Electoral Returns, 1788-1825, retrieved June 22, 2020
  2. ^ Castle, William Richards (December 1902), The Harvard Graduates' Magazine Vol XI No. 42, Boston, Massachusetts: The Harvard Graduates' Magazine Association, p. 305
  3. ^ Hurd, Duane Hamilton (1890). "History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men Vol. 1". Philadelphia, PA: J. W. Lewis & CO.: lviii. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch1.asp
  5. ^ Duane Hamilton Hurd, ed. (1888). History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Volume 1. J. W. Lewis & Company. p. 414. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
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