Samuel Gibson Getty was a native of Belfast who served as Mayor for three consecutive terms.

He was a partner in a Belfast iron foundry firm until 1838. Getty was a member of the Conservative Party and was elected as one of two MPs to represent the Borough Belfast at Westminster. He served as MP from 1860 to 1868, resigning because of poor health.

Getty was a Belfast Harbour Commissioner and a member of the Belfast Board of Guardians. He died on 14 December 1877, aged 60, at his residence in South Kensington, London.