Wikipedia
List of governors of Tennessee
The term of the governor of Tennessee is limited by the state constitution. The first constitution, enacted in 1796, set a term of two years for the governor and provided that no person could serve as governor for more than 6 years in any 8-year period.[1] The term of office was lengthened to four years, without the possibility of consecutive terms, by constitutional amendments adopted in 1953.[2] Under the current provisions of the state constitution, as amended in 1978, the governor is elected to a four-year term and may serve no more than two terms consecutively.[2][3] For a period of nearly five decades in the 20th century, the Tennessee Democratic Party held the Tennessee governorship continuously.
Tennessee has had 50 governors, including the incumbent, Bill Lee.[4] Seven governors (John Sevier, William Carroll, Andrew Johnson, Robert Love Taylor, Gordon Browning, Frank G. Clement, and Buford Ellington) have served non-consecutive terms. This tally does not include William Blount (the territorial governor) or Robert L. Caruthers (who never took office), though the Blue Book includes them in its list of governors.[5] All governors are counted only once, regardless of number of terms served (e.g., John Sevier is considered the 1st governor, rather than the 1st and 3rd governor). The Blue Book does not include Edward H. East in its list of governors.
Southwest Territory
The Territory South of the River Ohio, commonly called the Southwest Territory, was formed in 1790 from lands ceded by North Carolina to the United States government. The territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Tennessee in 1796.
- Parties
| # | Picture | Governor (Birth–Death) | Term in office | Party | State of birth | Occupation | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Blount (1749–1800) | September 20, 1790 – March 30, 1796 | Democratic-Republican | NC | Land speculator | [6] | ||
State of Tennessee
- Parties
Democratic-Republican (6) Democratic (31) Whig (4) Unionist/Military (1) Republican (10)
| #[7] | Picture | Governor (Birth–Death) | Term in office | Party | Election | Occupation | Lt. Governor | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Sevier September 23, 1745 – September 24, 1815 (aged 70) | March 30, 1796 – September 23, 1801 | Democratic-Republican | Soldier, farmer | None | ||||
| 2 | Archibald Roane 1759/60 – January 18, 1819 (aged 58–60) | September 23, 1801 – September 23, 1803 | Democratic-Republican | Lawyer | |||||
| 1 | John Sevier September 23, 1745 – September 24, 1815 (aged 70) | September 23, 1803 – September 20, 1809 | Democratic-Republican | Soldier, farmer | |||||
| 3 | Willie Blount April 18, 1768 – September 10, 1835 (aged 67) | September 20, 1809 – September 27, 1815 | Democratic-Republican | Lawyer, planter | |||||
| 4 | Joseph McMinn June 22, 1758 – October 17, 1824 (aged 66) | September 27, 1815 – October 1, 1821 | Democratic-Republican | Merchant | |||||
| 5 | William Carroll March 3, 1788 – March 22, 1844 (aged 56) | October 1, 1821 – October 1, 1827 | Democratic-Republican | Merchant, soldier | |||||
| 6 | Sam Houston March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863 (aged 70) | October 1, 1827 – April 16, 1829 | Democratic-Republican | Lawyer | |||||
| 7 | William Hall February 11, 1775 – October 7, 1856 (aged 81) | April 16, 1829 – October 1, 1829 | Democratic | Planter, soldier | |||||
| 5 | William Carroll March 3, 1788 – March 22, 1844 (aged 56) | October 1, 1829 – October 12, 1835 | Democratic | Merchant, soldier | |||||
| 8 | Newton Cannon May 22, 1781 – September 16, 1841 (aged 60) | October 12, 1835 – October 14, 1839 | Whig | Planter | |||||
| 9 | James K. Polk November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849 (aged 53) | October 14, 1839 – October 15, 1841 | Democratic | Lawyer, politician | |||||
| 10 | James C. Jones April 20, 1809 – October 29, 1859 (aged 50) | October 15, 1841 – October 14, 1845 | Whig | Lawyer | |||||
| 11 | Aaron V. Brown August 15, 1795 – March 8, 1859 (aged 63) | October 14, 1845 – October 17, 1847 | Democratic | Lawyer | |||||
| 12 | Neill S. Brown April 18, 1810 – January 30, 1886 (aged 75) | October 17, 1847 – October 16, 1849 | Whig | Lawyer | |||||
| 13 | William Trousdale September 23, 1790 – March 27, 1872 (aged 81) | October 16, 1849 – October 16, 1851 | Democratic | Lawyer | |||||
| 14 | William B. Campbell February 1, 1807 – August 19, 1867 (aged 60) | October 16, 1851 – October 17, 1853 | Whig | Lawyer | |||||
| 15 | Andrew Johnson December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875 (aged 66) | October 17, 1853 – November 3, 1857 | Democratic | Tailor, lawyer, politician | |||||
| 16 | Isham G. Harris February 10, 1818 – July 8, 1897 (aged 79) | November 3, 1857 – March 12, 1862[8] | Democratic | Lawyer, politician | |||||
| 15 | Andrew Johnson December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875 (aged 66) | March 12, 1862 – March 4, 1865 | Unionist/Military | Lawyer, politician | |||||
| — | Edward H. East October 1, 1830 – November 12, 1904 (aged 74) | March 4, 1865 – April 5, 1865[9] | Republican | Lawyer | |||||
| 17 | William G. Brownlow August 29, 1805 – April 29, 1877 (aged 71) | April 5, 1865 – February 25, 1869 | Republican | Editor, preacher | |||||
| 18 | Dewitt Clinton Senter March 26, 1830 – June 14, 1898 (aged 68) | February 25, 1869 – October 10, 1871 | Republican | Lawyer | |||||
| 19 | John C. Brown January 6, 1827 – August 17, 1889 (aged 62) | October 10, 1871 – January 18, 1875 | Democratic | Lawyer | |||||
| 20 | James D. Porter December 7, 1828 – May 18, 1912 (aged 83) | January 18, 1875 – February 16, 1879 | Democratic | 1874 | Lawyer, educator | ||||
| 1876 | |||||||||
| 21 | Albert S. Marks October 16, 1836 – November 4, 1891 (aged 55) | February 16, 1879 – January 17, 1881 | Democratic | 1878 | Lawyer, judge | ||||
| 22 | Alvin Hawkins December 2, 1821 – April 27, 1905 (aged 83) | January 17, 1881 – January 15, 1883 | Republican | 1880 | Lawyer, judge | ||||
| 23 | William B. Bate October 7, 1826 – March 9, 1905 (aged 78) | January 15, 1883 – January 17, 1887 | Democratic | 1882 | Lawyer, politician | ||||
| 1884 | |||||||||
| 24 | Robert Love Taylor July 31, 1850 – March 31, 1912 (aged 61) | January 17, 1887 – January 19, 1891 | Democratic | 1886 | Lawyer, politician | ||||
| 1888 | |||||||||
| 25 | John P. Buchanan October 24, 1847 – May 14, 1930 (aged 82) | January 19, 1891 – January 16, 1893 | Democratic | 1890 | Farmer | ||||
| 26 | Peter Turney September 22, 1827 – October 19, 1903 (aged 76) | January 16, 1893 – January 21, 1897 | Democratic | 1892 | Lawyer, judge | ||||
| 1894 | |||||||||
| 24 | Robert Love Taylor July 31, 1850 – March 31, 1912 (aged 61) | January 21, 1897 – January 16, 1899 | Democratic | 1896 | Lawyer, politician | ||||
| 27 | Benton McMillin September 11, 1845 – January 8, 1933 (aged 87) | January 16, 1899 – January 19, 1903 | Democratic | 1898 | Lawyer, diplomat | ||||
| 1900 | |||||||||
| 28 | James B. Frazier October 18, 1856 – March 28, 1937 (aged 80) | January 19, 1903 – March 21, 1905 | Democratic | 1902 | Lawyer, politician | ||||
| 1904 | |||||||||
| 29 | John I. Cox November 23, 1855 – September 5, 1946 (aged 90) | March 21, 1905 – January 17, 1907 | Democratic | Lawyer | |||||
| 30 | Malcolm R. Patterson June 7, 1861 – March 8, 1935 (aged 73) | January 17, 1907 – January 26, 1911 | Democratic | 1906 | Lawyer, judge | ||||
| 1908 | |||||||||
| 31 | Ben W. Hooper October 13, 1870 – April 18, 1957 (aged 86) | January 26, 1911 – January 17, 1915 | Republican | 1910 | Lawyer | ||||
| 1912 | |||||||||
| 32 | Thomas C. Rye June 2, 1863 – September 12, 1953 (aged 90) | January 17, 1915 – January 15, 1919 | Democratic | 1914 | Lawyer, judge | ||||
| 1916 | |||||||||
| 33 | Albert H. Roberts July 4, 1868 – June 25, 1946 (aged 77) | January 15, 1919 – January 15, 1921 | Democratic | 1918 | Lawyer, judge | ||||
| 34 | Alfred A. Taylor August 6, 1848 – November 25, 1931 (aged 83) | January 15, 1921 – January 16, 1923 | Republican | 1920 | Lawyer | ||||
| 35 | Austin Peay June 1, 1876 – October 2, 1927 (aged 51) | January 16, 1923 – October 3, 1927[10] | Democratic | 1922 | Lawyer | ||||
| 1924 | |||||||||
| 1926 | |||||||||
| 36 | Henry Hollis Horton February 17, 1866 – July 2, 1934 (aged 68) | October 3, 1927 – January 17, 1933 | Democratic | Lawyer, farmer | |||||
| 1928 | |||||||||
| 1930 | |||||||||
| 37 | Hill McAlister July 15, 1875 – October 30, 1959 (aged 84) | January 17, 1933 – January 15, 1937 | Democratic | 1932 | Lawyer | ||||
| 1934 | |||||||||
| 38 | Gordon Browning November 22, 1889 – May 23, 1976 (aged 86) | January 15, 1937 – January 16, 1939 | Democratic | 1936 | Lawyer, judge | ||||
| 39 | Prentice Cooper September 28, 1895 – May 18, 1969 (aged 73) | January 16, 1939 – January 16, 1945 | Democratic | 1938 | Lawyer | ||||
| 1940 | |||||||||
| 1942 | |||||||||
| 40 | Jim Nance McCord March 17, 1879 – September 2, 1968 (aged 89) | January 16, 1945 – January 16, 1949 | Democratic | 1944 | Editor | ||||
| 1946 | |||||||||
| 38 | Gordon Browning November 22, 1889 – May 23, 1976 (aged 86) | January 16, 1949 – January 15, 1953 | Democratic | 1950 | Lawyer, judge | ||||
| Walter M. Haynes | |||||||||
| 41 | Frank G. Clement June 2, 1920 – November 4, 1969 (aged 49) | January 15, 1953 – January 19, 1959 | Democratic | 1952 | Lawyer | Jared Maddux | |||
| 1954 | |||||||||
| 42 | Buford Ellington June 27, 1907 – April 3, 1972 (aged 64) | January 19, 1959 – January 15, 1963 | Democratic | 1958 | Farmer | William D. Baird | |||
| 41 | Frank G. Clement June 2, 1920 – November 4, 1969 (aged 49) | January 15, 1963 – January 16, 1967 | Democratic | 1962 | Lawyer | James L. Bomar, Jr. | |||
| Jared Maddux | |||||||||
| 42 | Buford Ellington June 27, 1907 – April 3, 1972 (aged 64) | January 16, 1967 – January 16, 1971 | Democratic | 1966 | Farmer | Frank Gorrell | |||
| 43 | Winfield Dunn July 1, 1927 | January 16, 1971 – January 18, 1975 | Republican | 1970 | Dentist | John S. Wilder | |||
| 44 | Ray Blanton April 10, 1930 – November 22, 1996 (aged 66) | January 18, 1975 – January 17, 1979 | Democratic | 1974 | Farmer, businessman | ||||
| 45 | Lamar Alexander July 3, 1940 | January 20, 1979 – January 17, 1987 | Republican | 1978 | Lawyer, politician | ||||
| 1982 | |||||||||
| 46 | Ned McWherter October 15, 1930 – April 4, 2011 (aged 80) | January 17, 1987 – January 21, 1995 | Democratic | 1986 | Businessman | ||||
| 1990 | |||||||||
| 47 | Don Sundquist March 15, 1936 | January 21, 1995 – January 18, 2003 | Republican | 1994 | Businessman | ||||
| 1998 | |||||||||
| 48 | Phil Bredesen November 21, 1943 | January 18, 2003 – January 15, 2011 | Democratic | 2002 | Businessman | ||||
| 2006 | Ron Ramsey | ||||||||
| 49 | Bill Haslam August 23, 1958 | January 15, 2011 – January 19, 2019 | Republican | 2010 | Businessman | ||||
| 2014 | |||||||||
| 50 | Bill Lee October 9, 1959 | January 19, 2019 – present[11] | Republican | 2018 | Businessman, farmer | Randy McNally | |||
| 2022 | |||||||||
References
- Specific
- ^ Jonathan M. Atkins. "William Carroll" in Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture (online edition). Accessed January 27, 2012.
- ^ a b "Government", Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
- ^ William Lyons, John M. Scheb, Billy Stair (2001). Government and politics in Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press. p. 48–49. ISBN 978-1-57233-141-9.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) - ^ Office of the Governor
- ^ "Past Governors July 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine," Tennessee Blue Book (2011–2012), pp. 547, 553.
- ^ Appointed governor by President George Washington
- ^ Numbering of the governors was deduced from the fact that the document at www.tn.gov/sos/bluebook/11-12/2_ExecutiveBranch.pdf identifies Bill Haslam as Tennessee's 49th Governor. Governors who served multiple non-consecutive terms have their numbers repeated in italics in subsequent terms.
- ^ Harris continued issuing edicts as governor throughout the Civil War. Confederate Tennesseans elected Robert L. Caruthers as Harris's successor in 1863, but Caruthers never took office.
- ^ East was Tennessee Secretary of State from 1862–1865, appointed by Andrew Johnson, the military governor of the state under Union occupation during the Civil War. After Johnson was inaugurated as Vice President of the United States on March 4, 1865, East became the Acting Governor of Tennessee until William G. Brownlow, the "elected" governor of Tennessee, was inaugurated on April 5, 1865. The official Tennessee Blue Book does not include East in its list of former governors.
- ^ Peay was the only Governor of Tennessee to die in office, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Henry Horton.
- ^ Lee's second term will begin on January 21, 2023 and will expire January 16, 2027; He will be term-limited
- General
- Vile, John R., and Byrnes, Mark E. Tennessee Government and Politics: Democracy in the Volunteer State. 1998, Vanderbilt University Press. p. 43
External links
- Tennessee Blue Book: Past Governors of Tennessee