Auckland obtained its first local government in 1851, when the Borough of Auckland was created. This short-lived entity had only one mayor, Archibald Clark. When the City of Auckland was formally incorporated in 1871, its City Council was initially led by a Chairman, Walter Lee. Soon afterwards, however, the modern office of Mayor of Auckland was created. Since then, there have been thirty-nine holders of the position. The longest serving Mayor was Dove-Myer Robinson, who held the post for a total of eighteen years (and was also the first person to serve on two non-consecutive occasions). There have been two female Mayors - Catherine Tizard in 1983 and Christine Fletcher in 1998.
