New York City Fire Commissioner

The New York City Fire Commissioner is the civilian administrator of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York. There have been 32 commissioners excluding Acting Fire Commissioners, and 38 commissioners including Acting Fire Commissioners. This is since Manhattan and the Bronx consolidated with Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island to form The City of New York in 1898. The current Fire Commissioner is Daniel A. Nigro, who has held the office since June 7, 2014. The term of office is January 1 to December 31 unless the commissioner is removed from office by the mayor, dies in office, or resigns.

New York City Fire Commissioner

Occupation
Activity sectors	Fire fighting

Fire Commissioners of the pre-consolidated City of New York

Name	Dates in Office	Administration	References and notes
Richard Croker	1883–1887		[1]
Anthony Eickhoff	1891–1896		[2]
S. Howland Robbins	?–1893	Hugh J. Grant
John Jay Scannell	1893–?	Thomas F. Gilroy
Henry Winthrop Gray
Austin Edward Ford	1895 – September 17, 1897		Died in office on September 17, 1896.[3][4]
Thomas Sturgis	September 17, 1896 – December 31, 1898		[4][5]

Fire Commissioners of the consolidated City of New York

Number	Name	Dates in Office	Administration	Notes and References
1	John Jay Scannell	January 1, 1898 – December 31, 1901	Robert Anderson Van Wyck	First New York City Fire Commissioner. His salary was $5,000 per year (approximately $142,000 today)[6][7]
2	Thomas Sturgis	January 1, 1902 – December 31, 1903	Seth Low	Previously served as a pre-consolidation fire commissioner.[4]
3	Nicholas J. Hayes	January 1, 1904 – December 31, 1905	George B. McClellan Jr.	[8][9][10][11]
4	John H. O'Brien	January 1, 1906 – October 10, 1906		Resigned before completing his term.[12][13]
5	Francis J. Lantry	October 10, 1906 – February 10, 1908		Resigned before completing his term.[14][15]
6	Hugh Bonner	February 10, 1908 – March 13, 1908		Died before completing his term.[16][17]
	Nicholas J. Hayes	March 13, 1908 – January 3, 1910		This was his second non-consecutive term.[18][19]
7	Rhinelander Waldo	January 3, 1910 – May 23, 1911	William Jay Gaynor	Resigned less than two months after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to become the 8th New York City Police Commissioner.[20][21][22]
8	Joseph Johnson	May 23, 1911? – June 1, 1911 (acting) June 1, 1911 – December 31, 1913	William Jay Gaynor, Ardolph Loges Kline	Acting New York City Fire Commissioner, then promoted to New York City Fire Commissioner.[23][24][25]
9	Robert Edward Adamson	January 1, 1914 – December 31, 1917	John Purroy Mitchel	[26][27]
10	Thomas J. Drennan	January 1, 1918 – April 30, 1926	John Francis Hylan, Jimmy Walker	Resigned before completing his term.[28][29]
11	John J. Dorman	May 5, 1926 – December 31, 1933	Jimmy Walker, Joseph V. McKee, John P. O'Brien	[30][31]
	Francis S. Giacome	January 1, 1934 – January 18, 1934 (acting)	Fiorello H. La Guardia	Acting New York City Fire Commissioner.[32]
12	John J. McElligott	January 18, 1934 – February 23, 1940		Resigned during a corruption scandal before completing his term.[33]
	Elmer Mustard	February 23, 1940 – February 26, 1940 (acting)		Acting New York City Fire Commissioner during a corruption scandal.[34][35]
	John J. McElligott	February 26, 1940 – May 8, 1941		Second non-consecutive term. Resigned during a corruption scandal before completing his term.[36][37]
13	Patrick Walsh	May 8, 1941 – December 31, 1945		[38][39]
14	Frank J. Quayle Jr.	January 1, 1946 – November 13, 1950	William O'Dwyer, Vincent R. Impellitteri	Resigned before completing his term.[40][41]
	Nathan C. Horwitz	November 13, 1950 – December 27, 1950 (acting)	Vincent R. Impellitteri	Acting New York City Fire Commissioner.[42][43]
15	George P. Monaghan	December 27, 1950 – July 9, 1951		Resigned to become New York City Police Commissioner.[44][45][46]
	Nathan C. Horwitz	July 9, 1951 – August 2, 1951 (acting)		This was his second non-consecutive term as Acting New York City Fire Commissioner.[45][47]
16	Jacob B. Grumet	August 2, 1951 – February 15, 1954		[47][48][49]
17	Edward Francis Cavanagh Jr.	February 15, 1954 – December 31, 1961	Robert F. Wagner Jr.	[50][51]
18	Edward Thompson	January 1, 1962 – August 6, 1964		Resigned before completing his term.[52][53]
19	Martin Scott	August 6, 1964 – December 31, 1965		[54][55]
20	Robert Oliver Lowery	January 1, 1966 – September 29, 1973	John Lindsay	First African-American New York City Fire Commissioner, resigned before completing his term.[56][57]
21	John T. O'Hagan	October 11, 1973 – January 17, 1978	John Lindsay, Abraham Beame	[58][59]
22	Augustus A. Beekman	January 17, 1978 – November 5, 1980	Ed Koch	Second African-American New York City Fire Commissioner, resigned before completing his term because of illness preceding his death.[60][61]
23	Charles J. Hynes	November 5, 1980 – October 22, 1982		Resigned before completing his term.[62]
24	Joseph E. Spinnato	October 22, 1982 – February 17, 1983 (interim) February 17, 1983 – November 16, 1987		Resigned before completing his term.[63][64]
25	Joseph F. Bruno	November 16, 1987 – December 31, 1989		[65]
26	Carlos M. Rivera	January 1, 1990 – August 31, 1993	David Dinkins	Resigned before completing his term.[66]
27	William M. Feehan	August 31, 1993 – November 24, 1993 (acting) November 24, 1993 – December 31, 1993		Acting New York City Fire Commissioner, then promoted to New York City Fire Commissioner. Died in the September 11 attacks.[67]
28	Howard Safir	January 1, 1994 – April 15, 1996	Rudy Giuliani	Resigned to become the 39th New York City Police Commissioner.[68]
29	Thomas Von Essen	April 15, 1996 – December 31, 2001		[69]
30	Nicholas Scoppetta	January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2009	Michael Bloomberg	[70]
31	Salvatore Cassano	January 1, 2010 – June 7, 2014	Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio	Resigned before completing his term.[71]
32	Daniel A. Nigro	June 7, 2014 –	Bill de Blasio	Current New York City Fire Commissioner.[72] His salary is $205,180.[73]

References

1. "Richard Croker Dies In His Irish Castle As Result Of Cold". New York Times. April 29, 1922. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
2. "Anthony Eickhoff". New York Times. November 7, 1901. Retrieved July 6, 2015. Anthony Eickhoff, aged seventy-four, ex-Fire Commissioner and ex-Coroner, who lived at 118 West Ninety-fourth Street, died Tuesday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Miehling, 854 West End Avenue. ...
3. "Austin E. Ford's Condition Critical" (PDF). New York Times. September 17, 1896.
4. "To Succeed Austin E. Ford — Thomas Sturgis Made a Fire Commissioner by the Mayor" (PDF). New York Times. April 6, 1896. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
5. "Thomas Sturgis" (PDF). New York Times. February 27, 1914.
6. "The New City Officials — As Announced by Mayor Van Wyck, the Slate Contains Some Surprises — Politicians Are Puzzled — Friends of Hugh J. Grant Seem to be Intentionally Ignored — The List as Given Out Yesterday". New York Times. January 2, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
7. "J.J. Scannell, Old Tammanyite, Dies — Ex-Fire Commissioner and Ex-Fire Chief Expires of Pneumonia at 78 Years — Avenged Brother's Death — Acquitted as Insane, His Political Rise Followed Friendship Made with Croker in Tombs". New York Times. March 6, 1918. Retrieved March 25, 2010. John Jay Scannell, ex-Fire Commissioner of this city, an intimate of Richard Croker, and one of the picturesque figures in New York politics for many years, died yesterday in St. Mary's Hospital, Jamaica, L.I. from pneumonia. He was 78 years old, and his..."
8. "New Mayor In Office — Col. McClellan's Address In Taking Over City Government — Promises to Administer Affairs in the Interest of All the People — Compliments His Predecessor on the Esteem Which He Has Earned". New York Times. January 2, 1904. p. 14. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
9. "To Succeed Austin E. Ford — Thomas Sturgis Made a Fire Commissioner by the Mayor". New York Times. September 27, 1896. Retrieved October 5, 2008. Mayor Strong yesterday announced the appointment of Thomas Sturgis as a Commissioner of the Fire Department, in place of Austin E. Ford, who died Sept. 17. Mr. Sturgis, accompanied by his wife, went to the Mayor's office at 11 o'clock. After the usual preliminaries Mr. Sturgis took the oath of office and received his commission.
10. "New Chiefs in Control". New York Times. January 2, 1902. p. 14. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
11. "Thomas Sturgis — Fire Commissioner, Who Removed Chief Croker, Dies in England". New York Times. February 27, 1914. p. 11. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
12. "New Fire Head Turns Down Croker's Order — O'Brien Sustains Hayes in Clash with the Chief — Inherits Department Row — Croker Revoked Hayes' Details, Hayes Reasserted Them, and the Chief Revoked Them Again". New York Times. January 2, 1906. p. 5. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
13. "J.H. O'Brien Dies; Ex-City Official — Former Fire Commissioner and Member of Water Supply Board of New York — Served Public 3 Decades — When Political Writer for The Sun — Attracted Notice of Late Mayor McClellan". New York Times. February 5, 1941. p. 19. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
14. "Mayor Drafts Lantry For Fire Commissioner — Coggey Made the Head of the Correction Department — He Has Been a Murphy Man — Lantry, Who Takes O'Brien's Place, Highly Praised by Mayor McClellan Before the Shift". New York Times. October 11, 1906. p. 16. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
15. "Death Claims Lantry, Once High In Tammany — Former Fire and Correction Appointee Split With Murphy as to McClellan and Hearst". New York Times. October 8, 1922. p. 25. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
16. "Hugh Bonner Heads Fire Department — This and Other Appointments by the Mayor Please Tammany Leader Murphy — Spooner Head of Docks — McClellan, In an Official Statement, Pleads for Democratic Unity Here for the Coming National Fight". New York Times. February 11, 1908. p. 6. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
17. "Hugh Bonner Dead — Recently Appointed Fire Commissioner and Long a Chief in the Department". New York Times. March 13, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
18. "Hayes In Bonner's Place — Mayor Makes the ex-Sheriff City Fire Commissioner". New York Times. March 21, 1908. p. 3. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
19. "Nicholas J. Hayes Dies Suddenly — Commissioner of Water Supply Is Stricken With Heart Disease in His Home — Once a Power in Tammany — Served as Sheriff and as Head of Fire Department — Was Friend of Late C.F. Murphy". New York Times. January 3, 1928. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
20. "Gaynor Names Six; Tiger Not Favored — Announcement Coupled with Praise of Murphy Who, Says the Mayor, Hasn't Horns — Waldo Fire Commissioner — Watkins Corporation Counsel, Tomkins Dock Commissioner, and Hyde City Chamberlain". New York Times. January 3, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
21. "Gaynor Puts Waldo In Cropsey's Place — Tells Him to Banish Favoritism from Police as He Did from Fire Department — Inspector O'Brien Out — Cropsey's Last Official Act — Resigned Thursday After a Tilt — Croker or O'Keeffe for Fire Head". New York Times. May 24, 1911. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
22. "Waldo, 50, Dies Of Septic Poisoning — Former Police and Fire Head Succumbs at Garrison, N.Y., of an Old Ailment — Served in the Philippines — Arduous Labors There Blamed for Fatal Illness — Storm Centre While In Office Here". New York Times. August 14, 1927. p. 28. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
23. "Driscoll Quits Job; O'Keeffe To Get It — Will Command in Brooklyn — McKay of Aqueduct Police Fourth Deputy in Booraem's Place — Gaynor Talks Amid Cheers — Central Figure at Promotion of 129 Men — 86 Appointments to Force, Including Cropsey's Troublesome 48". New York Times. May 30, 1911. p. 3. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
24. "Johnson Appointed Fire Commissioner — O'Keeffe's Selection as First Police Deputy Is Now Expected — Waldo Praises Successor — Who Says the Department Will Run Along as New Police Head Planned — The Great Oak's Career". New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
25. "Joseph Johnson, 71, Ex-Official In City — Fire Commissioner, 1911-1917 — Was Named by Gaynor — Dies at Home in Atlanta — Former Newspaper Man — Began 'Model Saloon' in 1904 — Had Been Film Executive and Served Red Cross". New York Times. March 9, 1942. p. 19. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
26. "Mitchel Names His City Helpers — Henry Bruere City Chamberlain, Adamson Fire Commissioner, as Predicted — Several Men Hold Over — John T. Featherson, Recognized National Expert, to Clean the Streets — Miss Davis Commissioner — Republicans Get Many Places, Progressives Two, Independent Democrats the Rest". New York Times. January 1, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
27. "Robert Adamson, Ex-Fire Head, Dies — Commissioner Under Mitchel Had Been Secretary to Gaynor, Then Kline — Collapses in His Office — Former Banker and Reporter an Editor at 20 — Cut Losses and Raised Firemen's Pay". New York Times. September 20, 1935. p. 21. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
28. "Named By Hylan For Big City Posts — Alfred J. Johnson, City Chamberlain, Has Prominent Wall Street Connections — Many Veterans Appointed - Bird S. Coler, W.P. Burr, N.J. Hayes, J.A. Cantor, and Arthur Murphy All on the List". New York Times. January 2, 1918. p. 3. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
29. "T.J. Drennan Dies From Heart Attack — Commissioner of Jurors of Kings County Stricken While Sitting With His Family — Aide of John H. McCooey — District Leader Was Fire Commissioner During Both of Hylan's Administrations". New York Times. July 16, 1928. p. 19. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
30. "J.J. Dorman Named Fire Commissioner — Brooklyn Man's Selection Is a Surprise in Political Circles — A Victory For McCooey — Choice Is Seen as a Harmony Move Inspired by Coming Elections — Salary For Job Is $10,000 — T.J. Drennan's Successor Is Head of Kings County Democratic Committee". New York Times. May 6, 1926. p. 27. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
31. "John Dorman Dies; Headed Fire Force — Commissioner Under Walker "Was Chairman of the Kings Democratic Committee". New York Times. June 22, 1953. p. 21. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
32. "LaGuardia Moves To Clean Up City; Starts Hunt For Graft In Bureaus; Tammany Organizes The Alderman — Mayor Swears In Aides — Tells Each to Remove 'Every One' if Needed to Get Efficiency — Pledges Them Free Hand — Politicians No Longer Will Interfere With Prisons or Relief, He Says — First Day is Strenuous — New Executive Leaves Home at 8:28 A.M., Does Not Quit City Hall Till 6:30". New York Times. January 1, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
33. "LaGuardia Fills 3 Cabinet Posts — Moses Heads Park, McElligott Fire Department and Moss License Bureau. 3 Deputies Appointed — Hatch Gets Dock Job, Dr. Shipley Hospital Office — Mrs. R.L. Whitney Is License Aide". New York Times. January 19, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
34. "M'Elligott, 8 Aides Quit For Pensions; Fought By Mayor — Inquiry Is Ordered — Mustard Named Acting Fire Head in Move to Void Retirements — Mayor Acts by Radio — Out of the City, He Instructs Morris — Firemen Sought Benefits Under Old Law". New York Times. February 24, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
35. "Elmer Mustard Is Stricken Here — He Held Post of Acting Fire Commissioner for Four Days After McElligott Resigned — Voided Recent Pensions — Mayor Holds Deputy Who Had Served Department 39 Years 'Died in the Line of Duty". New York Times. March 2, 1940. p. 13. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
36. "Mustard Cancels Retirement Order — McElligott and Six Officers of the Fire Department Are Affected by New Move — Due To Be On Duty Today — Deputy Chief Heffernan Says 'I'm Retired, and I'll Stay Retired' — Defies Mayor". New York Times. February 27, 1940. p. 27. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
37. "John J. M'Elligott Dies In Hospital, 64; Fire Department Veteran Was First to Be Commissioner and Chief at One Time — In Former Post 7 Years — Ousted by La Guardia in 1941, He Then Joined Todd Corp. — Won Many Citations". New York Times. September 7, 1946. p. 15. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
38. "M'elligott Ousted With Chief Deputy Over Graft Trials — Walsh Gets Post — Acting Chief Promoted — He Will Take Over Duties Tomorrow — Mayor Sees 'Whitewash' — Calls McKenna Lax in Petty Racket Case, Holds Superior Liable but Voices Regret". New York Times. May 9, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
39. "P.J. Walsh Is Dead; Former Fire Chief — Successor to McElligott Served Also as Commissioner — 44 Years in Department". New York Times. September 22, 1946. p. 62. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
40. "O'Dwyer Names 18 As Aides, Warning: 'Make Good Or Go — Gives His Commissioners and Bureau Heads 3 Months to Meet 'Team' Requirements — Sees Grave Tasks Ahead — Financial, Housing, School and Transit Problems Among the Most Urgent, He Declares". New York Times. December 31, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
41. "Frank J. Quayle is Dead at 79; Fire Commissioner in the '40s — Democratic Leader Had Also Been Sheriff of Kings and Brooklyn Postmaster". New York Times. June 23, 1971. p. 48. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
42. "Quayle Resigns as Fire Head On Eve of Mayor's Inaugural — H.J. Rosen, Aide in Pecora Campaign, Gives Up His $7,850 City Post". New York Times. November 14, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
43. "New Fire Head To Speak — Monaghan to Go on Air After Being Sworn Commissioner". New York Times. December 27, 1950. p. 19. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
44. Crowell, Paul (December 7, 1950). "Hogan Aide Named Fire Commissioner — Appointing Monaghan, Mayor Minimizes Significance of His Being a Prosecutor". New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
45. "Monaghan Sworn As Head Of Police — Promotion of 9 to Lieutenants His Last Act in Retiring as Fire Commissioner". New York Times. July 10, 1951. p. 23. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
46. Saxon, Wolfgang (September 7, 1986). "George Monaghan, 85, Dead Ex-Harness Racing Official". New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
47. "Grumet New City Fire Head — Long Aide of Dewey, Hogan Republican to Take $15,000 Post Aug. 2 — Mayor Says Choice Was His Own". New York Times. July 19, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
48. "Grumet Quits, Urges No Firehouse Cuts". New York Times. February 15, 1954. p. 15. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
49. Cook, Joan (June 9, 1987). "Jacob Grumet, Former Judge and Chairman of S.I.C., Dies". New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
50. "New Fire And Marine Commissioners Sworn In — 3 Agencies Of City Shuffle Officials — Cavanagh and O'Connor Are Sworn In — Gillroy Gets a New Housing Deputy". New York Times. February 16, 1954. p. 26. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
51. Pace, Eric (June 19, 1986). "Edward Cavanagh Jr. Dies; Former Fire Commissioner". New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
52. Crowell, Paul (December 28, 1961). "Judge Is Chosen As City Fire Head — Thompson of Queens Named — Wiley's Job Offered to Baltimore's Traffic Chief". New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
53. Saxon, Wolfgang (August 9, 1995). "Edward Thompson, 82, Judge And Former Fire Commissioner". New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
54. Bennett, Charles G. (August 6, 1964). "Chief Fire Marshal Is Named City's New Fire Commissioner". New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
55. McNeil Jr., Donald G. (February 12, 1979). "Martin Scott Dead; Headed Fire Dept. — Was Commissioner Under Wagner and Chief Marshal For Decade". New York Times. p. B12. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
56. "Jobs To Be Goal Of Youth Board — Pragmatism Called Answer to Juvenile Delinquency". New York Times. December 25, 1965. p. 16. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
57. Martin, Douglas (July 27, 2001). "Robert Lowery, First Black Fire Commissioner, Dies at 85". New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
58. "O'Hagan Now Fire Commissioner". New York Times. October 12, 1973. p. 47. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
59. James, George (January 3, 1991). "John T. O'Hagan, 65, Fire Chief And Fire Commissioner in the 70's". New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
60. Ranzal, Edward (January 18, 1978). "Koch Picks Fire Chief To Be Commissioner — Augustus Beekman Will Be Second Black to Hold Post As the Head of Oldest U.S. Firefighting Force". New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
61. Lemire, Jonathan (December 3, 2008). "Gus Beekman, second African-American comissioner [sic] of FDNY, dead at 85". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
62. Maitland, Leslie (November 6, 1980). "Fire Commissioner Beekman Ousted; Hynes Gets Post". New York Times. p. B1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
63. Haberman, Clyde; Johnston, Laurie (October 19, 1982). "New York Day By Day". New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
64. Goodwin, Michael (February 18, 1983). "Koch Appoints Spinnato City Fire Commissioner". New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
65. Kolbert, Elizabeth (October 21, 1987). "Parking Chief Named to Head Fire Department". New York Times. p. B3. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
66. Lubasch, Arnold H. (December 23, 1989). "Veteran Firefighter Moves Up to Become Commissioner". New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
67. "Dinkins Appoints Fire Commissioner". New York Times. November 25, 1993. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
68. Myers, Steven Lee (December 31, 1993). "Reporter's Notebook; New Team Cleans Up Cleanup Plans". New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
69. Kennedy, Randy (March 30, 1996). "Union Head Named New York's New Fire Commissioner". New York Times. p. 25. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
70. Cooper, Michael (December 31, 2001). "Bloomberg Chooses Head Of Fire Dept". New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
71. Schmidt, Michael (December 21, 2009). "40-Year Veteran Chosen to Lead the Fire Dept". New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
72. Schwirtz, Michael; Rashbaum, William K. (May 8, 2014). "Key Figure in Fire Department After 9/11 Is to Return as Commissioner". New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
73. "New Fire Commissioner Returns to a Challenged Department". New York Times. June 6, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2016.

External links

• Fire Commissioner City Of New York