Totnes, Devon, England received its first borough charter from King John and the recorded list of mayors dates from 1359.
The town was incorporated in 1505 with a governing structure consisting of a mayor, recorder and a single council of burgesses.
A further charter in 1596 concentrated power in the hands of the town's leading merchants, redefining the corporation as a governing body of 14 "masters", including the mayor, with an inferior council of 20 burgesses.
The masters filled vacancies in their ranks by co-option and nominated the mayoral candidates.
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