Zohran Mamdani Set to Be Sworn in as NYC’s 111th Mayor—But Is That Number Accurate?

Zohran Mamdani’s Swearing-In and the Mayoral Number Controversy

Zohran Mamdani is set to be sworn in as New York City’s 111th mayor. However, recent historical research suggests this numbering might be incorrect.

Historian Paul Hortenstine uncovered evidence showing Mamdani is actually the 112th mayor. The discrepancy stems from Mayor Matthias Nicolls, who served a second, nonconsecutive term in 1674 that official records have overlooked.

This error means every mayor’s ordinal number after Nicolls is off by one. For example, Fiorella La Guardia was not the 99th mayor, but the 100th, and Eric Adams, who referred to himself as the 110th, would be the 111th.

Hortenstine found this by studying archives from colonial governor Edmund Andros. Documents included references to Nicolls’ second term, which history books and the city’s official list omit.

The New York Historical Society corroborated these records, with multiple sources, including “The Iconography of Manhattan Island,” confirming Nicolls’ 1674-1675 mayoralty.

This isn’t a new discovery. In fact, a genealogical researcher named Peter R. Christoph identified the error decades ago. Christoph’s essay revealed that since Mayor No. 7, all mayoral numbering has been misaligned due to this omission.

The mistake originated in an 1841 city manual and has been perpetuated in subsequent official documents. The city’s Green Book, an annual government directory, still does not reflect Nicolls’ second term.

Ken Cobb, assistant commissioner of the Department of Records, acknowledged the discrepancy but explained the department only maintains records rather than verifies historical accuracy.

There is a precedent for correcting mayoral counts. In 1937, another mayor missing from early records was added retroactively, adjusting the sequence forward.

Matthias Nicolls was born in England and held several positions under British rule. Like many officials of his era, he was a slaveowner, a fact relevant to historians researching the city’s early governance.

When asked if the Adams administration would recognize this correction, Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro declined, suggesting it was a matter for historians and future leaders.

A spokesperson for Zohran Mamdani did not provide comment on the matter.

The mayoral numbering controversy highlights how historical oversights can impact public records and city heritage. It also reflects on the importance of revisiting archives to ensure accuracy in official titles and commemorations.