The mayor, who had been at the head of the municipal administration since the 13th century, became the mayor elected by the male members of the community in the course of the 1848 revolution. The first incumbent was Heinrich Fischer, who was confirmed in office for life, even after the municipal law of October 1, 1854 repealed the democratic achievements of the revolution. The deputy mayor was an adjunct mayor or alderman.

After the annexation of Nassau, the Nassau municipal code of 1854 initially remained in force in the new Prussian province. The municipal law of 26.04.1869 designated the deputy as the second mayor for the first time; in contrast to this, the term "first mayor" gradually became established for his superior. The title "Lord Mayor" was initially not an official title, but was awarded by the Prussian King by cabinet decree. This changed with the Prussian city ordinance of August 4, 1897: the mayor was now officially referred to as Lord Mayor. However, the Wiesbaden City Council did not introduce the official title of "Lord Mayor" until 26.06.1925.

After the extensive destruction of municipal self-administration after 1933, the municipal law that had previously applied in Prussia was standardized on 01.01.1934 according to National Socialist principles: in accordance with the Führer principle, the "mayor" was now appointed as the head of the municipality for twelve years without election and could make all decisions without the involvement of the municipal council.

Today, the administrative structure is based on the Hessian municipal code and the main statutes of 24.03.1969, last amended on 12.07.2006. According to these, the Lord Mayor is directly elected by the citizens and his term of office is six years. The Lord Mayor represents the city at important events, is the superior of all employees and manages and supervises the administration. He chairs the meetings of the municipal council and can assign tasks and responsibilities directly to city councillors.

The Lord Mayors of Wiesbaden were Wilhelm Lanz (1868-82), Karl Bernhard von Ibell (1883-1913), Karl Glässing (1913-19), Fritz Travers (DVP, 1919-23 acting Lord Mayor, 1925-29 Lord Mayor), Georg Krücke (DVP, 1930-33), Alfred Schulte (NSDAP, 1933-37), Erich Mix (NSDAP, 1937-45), Georg Krücke (FDP, 1945-46), Hans Heinrich Redlhammer (CDU, 1946-53), Erich Mix (FDP, 1954-60), Georg Buch (SPD, 1960-68), Rudi Schmitt (SPD, 1968-80), Georg-Berndt Oschatz (CDU, 1980-82), Hans-Joachim Jentsch (CDU, 1982-85), Achim Exner (SPD, 1985-97), Hildebrand Diehl (CDU, 1997-2007), Helmut Müller (CDU, 2007-13), Sven Gerich (SPD, since 2013).