Governor of Massachusetts

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Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Seal of the Governor
Seal of the Governor
Standard of the Governor
Standard of the Governor
Charlie Baker official photo
Incumbent
Charlie Baker
since January 8, 2015
Government of Massachusetts
Style
StatusHead of state
Head of government
Member ofGovernor's Council
Cabinet
ResidenceNone official
SeatState House, Boston, Massachusetts
NominatorPolitical parties
AppointerPopular vote
Term lengthFour years, no term limits[1]
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Massachusetts
FormationOriginal post:
April 30, 1629
Current form:
October 25, 1780
First holderJohn Endecott
DeputyLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Salary$185,000 (2018)[2]
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the chief executive officer of the government of Massachusetts. The governor is the head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's military forces.

Massachusetts has a republican system of government that is akin to a presidential system. The governor acts as the head of government while having a distinct role from that of the legislative branch. The governor has far-reaching political obligations, including ceremonial and political duties. The governor also signs bills into law and has veto power. The governor is a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council, a popularly elected council with eight members who provide advice and consent on certain legal matters and appointments.[3]

Beginning with the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629, the role of the governor has changed throughout its history in terms of powers and selection. The modern form of the position was created in the 1780 Constitution of Massachusetts, which called for the position of a "supreme executive magistrate".[4]

Governors of Massachusetts are elected every four years during state elections that are held on the first Tuesday of November after November 1. As of November 2022, the most recent Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held in 2022. Following each gubernatorial election, the elected governor is inaugurated on the Thursday after the first Wednesday following the next January 1.[5] There are no term limits restricting how long a governor may serve.[6][7][8] The longest-serving Massachusetts Governor is Michael Dukakis, who served 12 years; Dukakis was in office from 1975 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1991. As of November 2022, the governor of Massachusetts is Charlie Baker, a Republican. Maura Healey, a Democrat, is the governor-elect, having won the 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election.

Qualifications

Any person seeking to become Governor of Massachusetts must meet the following requirements:[9]

  • Be at least eighteen years of age
  • Be a registered voter in Massachusetts
  • Be a Massachusetts resident for at least seven years when elected
  • Receive 10,000 signatures from registered voters on nomination papers

History

The role of Governor has existed in Massachusetts since the Royal Charter of 1628. The original role of the governor was one of a president of the board of a joint-stock company, namely the Massachusetts Bay Company. The governor would be elected by freemen, who were shareholders of the company. These shareholders were mostly colonists themselves who fit certain religious requirements. The governor acted in a vice-regal manner, overseeing the governance and functioning of the colony. Originally they were supposed to reside in London, as was the case with other colonial company governors, although this protocol was broken when John Winthrop was appointed Governor. The governor served as the executive of the colony, originally elected annually, they were joined by a Council of Assistants. This council was a group of magistrates who performed judicial functions, acted as an upper house of the General Court, and provided advice and consent to the governor. The early governors of Massachusetts Bay were staunchly Puritan colonists who wished to form a state that coincided with religious law.[10]

With the founding of the Dominion of New England, the New England colonies were combined with the Province of New York, Province of West Jersey, and the Province of East Jersey. During this period (1686-1689) Massachusetts had no governor of its own. Instead there existed a royally appointed governor who resided in Boston and served at the King's pleasure. Though there existed a council which served as a quasi-legislature, however the logistics of calling the council to meet were so arduous that the Dominion was essentially governed by the Crown through the Royal Governor. The reason for the creation of such a post was there existed tremendous hostility between the Kingdom of England and the colonists of Massachusetts Bay. In an effort to bring the colonies under tighter control the Crown dismantled the old assembly system and created the Viceroy system based on the Spanish model in New Spain. This model of government was greatly disliked by the colonists all throughout British North America but especially in New England where colonists at one time did have some semblance of democratic and local control. With the Glorious Revolution and the Boston Revolt the Dominion was abolished in 1689.[11]

With the creation of the Massachusetts Charter in 1691, the role of civilian governor was restored in Massachusetts Bay. Now the Province of Massachusetts Bay, the colony then encompassed the territory of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, and areas of what is now the state of Maine. The governor however would not be chosen by the electorate, instead the position would remain a royal appointment. In order to ease tensions with royal authorities and the colonists the General Court was reestablished and given significant powers. This created acrimony between the governors and the assembly of the General Court. The governor could veto any decision made by the assembly and had control over the militia, however the General Court had authority of the treasury and provincial finances. This meant that in the event the governor did not agree with or consent with the rulings and laws of the General Court then the assembly would threaten to withhold any pay for the governor and other Royal Officers.[12]

From 1765 on the unraveling of the Province into a full political crisis only increased the tensions between the governor and the people of Massachusetts Bay. Following the passage of the Stamp Act Governor Thomas Hutchinson had his home broken into and ransacked. The early stages of the American Revolution saw political turmoil in Massachusetts Bay. With the passage of the Intolerable Acts the then Royal Governor Thomas Gage dissolved the General Court and began to govern the province by decree. In 1774 the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was formed as an alternative revolutionary government to the royal government in Boston. With Massachusetts Bay declaring its independence in May 1776 the role of Governor was vacant for four years. The executive role during this time was filled by the Governor's Council, the Committee of Safety, and the president of the Congress when in session.[12]

With the adoption of the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780 the role of an elected civilian governor was restored. John Hancock was elected as the first governor of the independent commonwealth on October 25, 1780.[12]

Constitutional role

Part the Second, Chapter II, Section I, Article I of the Massachusetts Constitution reads,

There shall be a supreme executive magistrate, who shall be styled, The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and whose title shall be – His Excellency.

The governor of Massachusetts is the chief executive of the commonwealth, and is supported by a number of subordinate officers. He, like most other state officers, senators, and representatives, was originally elected annually. In 1918 this was changed to a two-year term, and since 1966 the office of governor has carried a four-year term. The governor of Massachusetts does not receive a mansion or other official residence and resides in their own private residence. The governor does receives a housing allowance/stipend for $65,000. The title "His Excellency" is a holdover from the royally appointed governors of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The first governor to use the title was Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont, in 1699; since he was an Earl, it was thought proper to call him "Your Excellency." The title was retained until 1742, when an order from King George II forbade its further use. However, the framers of the state constitution revived it because they found it fitting to dignify the governor with this title.[13]

The governor also serves as commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's armed forces.

Succession

See also: Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Massachusetts

According to the Massachusetts State Constitution:

Whenever the chair of the governor shall be vacant, by reason of his death, or absence from the commonwealth, or otherwise, the lieutenant governor, for the time being, shall, during such vacancy, perform all the duties incumbent upon the governor, and shall have and exercise all the powers and authorities, which by this constitution the governor is vested with, when personally present.[14]

The Constitution does not use the term "acting governor," but the practice in Massachusetts has been that the lieutenant governor retains his or her position and title as "lieutenant governor" and becomes acting governor, not governor. The lieutenant governor, when acting as governor, is referred to as "the lieutenant-governor, acting governor" in official documents.[15]

Despite this terminology, the Massachusetts courts have found that the full authority of the office of the governor devolves to the lieutenant governor upon vacancy in the office of governor, and that there is no circumstance short of death, resignation, or impeachment that would relieve the acting governor from the full gubernatorial responsibilities.[citation needed]

The first use of the succession provision occurred in 1785, five years after the constitution's adoption, when Governor John Hancock resigned the post, leaving Lieutenant Governor Thomas Cushing as acting governor. Most recently, Jane Swift became acting governor upon the resignation of Paul Cellucci.

When the constitution was first adopted, the Governor's Council was charged with acting as governor in the event that both the governorship and lieutenant governorship were vacant. This occurred in 1799 when Governor Increase Sumner died in office on June 7, 1799, leaving Lieutenant Governor Moses Gill as acting governor. Acting Governor Gill never received a lieutenant and died on May 20, 1800, between that year's election and the inauguration of Governor-elect Caleb Strong. The Governor's Council served as the executive for ten days; the council's chair, Thomas Dawes was at no point named governor or acting governor.

Article LV of the Constitution, enacted in 1918, created a new line of succession:

Cabinet

The governor has a 10-person cabinet, each of whom oversees a portion of the government under direct administration (as opposed to independent executive agencies). See Government of Massachusetts for a complete listing.

Traditions

The front doors of the State House are only opened when a governor leaves office, a head of state or the president of the United States comes to visit the State House, or for the return of flags from Massachusetts regiments at the end of wars. The tradition of the ceremonial door originated when departing governor Benjamin Butler kicked open the front door and walked out by himself in 1884.[source?]

Incoming governors usually choose at least one past governor's portrait to hang in their office.

Immediately before being sworn into office, the governor-elect receives four symbols from the departing governor: the ceremonial pewter "Key" for the governor's office door, the Butler Bible, the "Gavel", and a two-volume set of the Massachusetts General Statutes with a personal note from the departing governor to their successor added to the back of the text. The governor-elect is then escorted by the sergeant-at-arms to the House Chamber and sworn in by the President of the Senate before a joint session of the House and Senate.[16]

Lone walk

Upon completion of their term, the departing governor takes a "lone walk" down the Grand Staircase, through the House of Flags, into Doric Hall, out the central doors, and down the steps of the Massachusetts State House. The governor then crosses the street into Boston Common, thereby symbolically rejoining the commonwealth as a private citizen. Benjamin Butler started the tradition in 1884.[17] Some walks have been modified with some past governors having their wives, friends, or staff accompany them.[18] A 19-gun salute is offered during the walk, and frequently the steps are lined by the outgoing governor's friends and supporters.[19]

In January 1991, outgoing lieutenant governor Evelyn Murphy, the first woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts, walked down the stairs before Governor Michael Dukakis. In a break from tradition, the January 2007 inauguration of Governor Deval Patrick took place the day after outgoing governor Mitt Romney took the lone walk down the front steps.[19]

Governor's residence

Despite several proposals for establishing an official residence for the governor of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not have a governor's mansion.

In 1955, Governor Foster Furcolo turned down a proposal to establish the Shirley–Eustis House in Roxbury, built by royal Governor William Shirley, as the official residence.[20]

At one time, Governor John A. Volpe accepted the donation of the Endicott Estate in Dedham from the heirs of Henry Bradford Endicott. He intended to renovate the 19th-century mansion into a splendid governor's residence.[21] After Volpe resigned to become United States Secretary of Transportation in the Nixon administration, the plan was aborted by his successor in consideration of budgetary constraints and because the location was considered too far from the seat of power, the State House in Boston.

Prior to their respective demolitions in 1922 and 1863, the Province House and the Hancock Manor[21] were also proposed as official residences.

Since the governor has no official residence, the expression "corner office," rather than "governor's mansion," is commonly used in the press as a metonym for the office of governor. This refers instead to the governor's office on the third floor of the State House.[22]

List of governors

Since 1780, 65 people have been elected governor, six to non-consecutive terms (John Hancock, Caleb Strong, Marcus Morton, John Davis, John Volpe, and Michael Dukakis), and seven lieutenant governors have acted as governor without subsequently being elected governor. Thomas Talbot served a stint as acting governor, but later was elected governor several years later. Prior to 1918 constitutional reforms, both the governor's office and that of lieutenant governor were vacant on one occasion, when the state was governed by the Governor's Council.

Colonial Massachusetts

Further information: List of colonial governors of Massachusetts

The colonial history of Massachusetts begins with the founding first of the Plymouth Colony in 1620, and then the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628. The Dominion of New England combined these and other New England colonies into a single unit in 1686, but collapsed in 1689. In 1692 the Province of Massachusetts Bay was established, merging Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, which then included the territory of present-day Maine.

Colonial governors of Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay Colony were elected annually by a limited subset of the male population (known as freemen), while Dominion officials and those of the 1692 province were appointed by the British crown. In 1774 General Thomas Gage became the last royally appointed governor of Massachusetts. He was recalled to England after the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, by which time the Massachusetts Provincial Congress exercised de facto control of Massachusetts territory outside British-occupied Boston. Between 1775 and the establishment of the Massachusetts State Constitution in 1780 the state was governed by the provincial congress and an executive council.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts: 1780–present

In the table below, acting governors are denoted in the leftmost column by the letter "A", and are not counted as actual governors. The longest-serving governor was Michael Dukakis, who served twelve years in office, although they were not all consecutive. The longest period of uninterrupted service by any governor was nine years, by Levi Lincoln Jr. The shortest service period by an elected governor was one year, achieved by several 19th century governors. Increase Sumner, elected by a landslide to a third consecutive term in 1799, was on his deathbed and died not long after taking the oath of office; this represents the shortest part of an individual term served by a governor. Sumner was one of four governors to die in office; seven governors resigned, most of them to assume another office.

Political party Number of governors
Democratic 21
Democratic-Republican 5
Federalist 5
Know Nothing 1
National Republican 2
No party affiliation 6
Republican 34
Whig 6


# Governor Party Years Lieutenant Governor Electoral history
1
John Hancock 		None October 25, 1780
–
February 17, 1785 		Thomas Cushing
(1780–1788) 		Resigned due to claimed illness (recurring gout).
A[23]
Thomas Cushing 		None February 17, 1785
–
May 27, 1785 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Hancock's term.

Lost election in his own right.
2
James Bowdoin 		None May 27, 1785
–
May 30, 1787 		Lost re-election.
3
John Hancock 		None May 30, 1787
–
October 8, 1793 		Died.
Benjamin Lincoln
(1788–1789)
Samuel Adams
(1789–1794)
4
Samuel Adams 		None October 8, 1793
–
June 2, 1797 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Hancock's term.

Elected and re-elected in his own right until retirement.
Moses Gill
(1794–1800)
5
Increase Sumner 		Federalist June 2, 1797
–
June 7, 1799 		Died.
A[23]
Moses Gill 		None June 7, 1799
–
May 20, 1800 		Acted as governor for most of the remainder of Sumner's term.

Died ten days before its end.
A[23]
Governor's Council 		None May 20, 1800
–
May 30, 1800 		None. The council was headed by Thomas Dawes.
this is the only time both the governorship and the lieutenant governorship were vacant.
6
Caleb Strong 		Federalist May 30, 1800
–
May 29, 1807 		Samuel Phillips Jr.
(1801–1802) 		Lost re-election.
Edward Robbins
(1802–1806)
7
James Sullivan 		Democratic-
Republican 		May 29, 1807
–
December 10, 1808 		Levi Lincoln Sr. Died.
A[23]
Levi Lincoln Sr. 		Democratic-
Republican 		December 10, 1808
–
May 1, 1809 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Sullivan's term.

Lost election in his own right.
8
Christopher Gore 		Federalist May 1, 1809
–
June 10, 1810 		David Cobb Lost re-election.
9
Elbridge Gerry 		Democratic-
Republican 		June 10, 1810
–
June 5, 1812 		William Gray Lost re-election.
10
Caleb Strong 		Federalist June 5, 1812
–
May 30, 1816 		William Phillips Jr. Retired.
11
John Brooks 		Federalist May 30, 1816
–
May 31, 1823 		Retired.
12
William Eustis 		Democratic-
Republican 		May 31, 1823
–
February 6, 1825 		Levi Lincoln Jr.
(1823–1824) 		Died.
Marcus Morton
(1824–1825)
A[23]
Marcus Morton 		Democratic-
Republican 		February 6, 1825
–
May 26, 1825 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Eustis's term.

Retired.
13
Levi Lincoln Jr. 		National
Republican 		May 26, 1825
–
January 9, 1834 		Thomas L. Winthrop
(1826–1833) 		Retired.
14
John Davis 		National
Republican 		January 9, 1834
–
March 1, 1835 		Samuel Turell Armstrong Resigned to become U.S. Senator.
A[23]
Samuel Turell Armstrong 		Whig March 1, 1835
–
January 13, 1836 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Davis's term.

Lost nomination.
lost election as independent.
15
Edward Everett 		Whig January 13, 1836
–
January 18, 1840 		George Hull Lost re-election
16
Marcus Morton 		Democratic January 18, 1840
–
January 7, 1841 		Lost re-election.
17
John Davis 		Whig January 7, 1841
–
January 17, 1843 		Lost re-election.
18
Marcus Morton 		Democratic January 17, 1843
–
January 9, 1844 		Henry H. Childs Lost re-election.
19
George N. Briggs 		Whig January 9, 1844
–
January 11, 1851 		John Reed Jr. Lost re-election.
20
George S. Boutwell 		Democratic January 11, 1851
–
January 14, 1853 		Henry W. Cushman Retired.
21
John H. Clifford 		Whig January 14, 1853
–
January 12, 1854 		Elisha Huntington Retired.
22
Emory Washburn 		Whig January 12, 1854
–
January 4, 1855 		William C. Plunkett Lost re-election.
23
Henry Gardner 		Know-Nothing January 4, 1855
–
January 7, 1858 		Simon Brown
(1855–1856) 		Lost re-election.
Henry W. Benchley
(1856–1858)
24
Nathaniel Prentice Banks 		Republican January 7, 1858
–
January 3, 1861 		Eliphalet Trask Retired to run for president.
25
John Albion Andrew 		Republican January 3, 1861
–
January 4, 1866 		John Z. Goodrich
(1861) 		Retired.
John Nesmith
(1862)
Joel Hayden
(1863–1866)
26
Alexander H. Bullock 		Republican January 4, 1866
–
January 7, 1869 		William Claflin Retired.
27
William Claflin 		Republican January 7, 1869
–
January 4, 1872 		Joseph Tucker
(1869–1873) 		Retired.
28
William B. Washburn 		Republican January 4, 1872
–
April 29, 1874 		Resigned to become U.S. Senator.
Thomas Talbot
(1873–1875)
A[23]
Thomas Talbot 		Republican April 29, 1874
–
January 7, 1875 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Washburn's term.

Lost election in his own right.
29
William Gaston 		Democratic January 7, 1875
–
January 6, 1876 		Horatio G. Knight Lost re-election.
30
Alexander H. Rice 		Republican January 6, 1876
–
January 2, 1879 		Retired.
31
Thomas Talbot 		Republican January 2, 1879
–
January 8, 1880 		John Davis Long Retired.
32
John Davis Long 		Republican January 8, 1880
–
January 4, 1883 		Byron Weston Retired.
33
Benjamin F. Butler 		Democratic January 4, 1883
–
January 3, 1884 		Oliver Ames Lost re-election.
34
George D. Robinson 		Republican January 3, 1884
–
January 6, 1887 		Retired.
35
Oliver Ames 		Republican January 6, 1887
–
January 7, 1890 		John Q. A. Brackett Retired.
36
John Q. A. Brackett 		Republican January 7, 1890
–
January 8, 1891 		William H. Haile
(1890–1893) 		Lost re-election.
37
William E. Russell 		Democratic January 8, 1891
–
January 4, 1894 		Retired.
Roger Wolcott
(1893–1897)
38
Frederic T. Greenhalge 		Republican January 4, 1894
–
March 5, 1896 		Died.
39
Roger Wolcott 		Republican March 5, 1896
–
January 4, 1900 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Greenhalge's term.

Elected and re-elected in own right until retirement.
Winthrop Murray Crane
(1897–1900)
40
Winthrop Murray Crane 		Republican January 4, 1900
–
January 8, 1903 		John L. Bates Retired.
41
John L. Bates 		Republican January 8, 1903
–
January 5, 1905 		Curtis Guild Jr. Retired.
42
William L. Douglas 		Democratic January 5, 1905
–
January 4, 1906 		Retired.
43
Curtis Guild Jr. 		Republican January 4, 1906
–
January 7, 1909 		Eben Sumner Draper Retired.
44
Eben Sumner Draper 		Republican January 7, 1909
–
January 5, 1911 		Louis A. Frothingham Lost re-election.
45
Eugene Noble Foss 		Democratic January 5, 1911
–
January 8, 1914 		Louis A. Frothingham
(1911–1912) 		Did not stand for renomination as Democrat.
defeated as independent in general election.
Robert Luce
(1912–1913)
David I. Walsh
(1913–1914)
46
David I. Walsh 		Democratic January 8, 1914
–
January 6, 1916 		Edward P. Barry
(1914–1915) 		Lost re-election.
Grafton D. Cushing
(1915–1916)
47
Samuel W. McCall 		Republican January 6, 1916
–
January 2, 1919 		Calvin Coolidge Retired.
48
Calvin Coolidge 		Republican January 2, 1919
–
January 6, 1921 		Channing H. Cox Retired

Vice President of the United States

1921-1923

President of the United States

1923-1929

49
Channing H. Cox 		Republican January 6, 1921
–
January 8, 1925 		Alvan T. Fuller Elected in 1920 (first two-year term).

Re-elected in 1922.

Retired.
50
Alvan T. Fuller 		Republican January 8, 1925
–
January 3, 1929 		Frank G. Allen Retired.
51
Frank G. Allen 		Republican January 3, 1929
–
January 8, 1931 		William S. Youngman Lost re-election.
52
Joseph B. Ely 		Democratic January 8, 1931
–
January 3, 1935 		William S. Youngman
(1929–1933) 		Retired.
Gaspar G. Bacon
(1933–1935)
53
James Michael Curley 		Democratic January 3, 1935
–
January 7, 1937 		Joseph L. Hurley Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate
54
Charles F. Hurley 		Democratic January 7, 1937
–
January 5, 1939 		Francis E. Kelly Lost renomination.
55
Leverett Saltonstall 		Republican January 5, 1939
–
January 4, 1945 		Horace T. Cahill Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate
56
Maurice J. Tobin 		Democratic January 4, 1945
–
January 2, 1947 		Robert F. Bradford Lost re-election.
57
Robert F. Bradford 		Republican January 2, 1947
–
January 6, 1949 		Arthur W. Coolidge Elected in 1946.

Lost re-election.
58
Paul A. Dever 		Democratic January 6, 1949
–
January 8, 1953 		Charles F. Sullivan Elected in 1948.

Re-elected in 1950.

Lost re-election.
59
Christian A. Herter 		Republican January 8, 1953
–
January 3, 1957 		Sumner G. Whittier Elected in 1952.

Re-elected in 1954.

Retired.
60
Foster Furcolo 		Democratic January 3, 1957
–
January 5, 1961 		Robert F. Murphy
(1957–1960) 		Elected in 1956.

Re-elected in 1958.

Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
61
John Volpe 		Republican January 5, 1961
–
January 3, 1963 		Edward F. McLaughlin Jr. Elected in 1960.

Lost re-election.
62
Endicott Peabody 		Democratic January 3, 1963
–
January 7, 1965 		Francis Bellotti Elected in 1962.

Lost renomination.
63
John Volpe 		Republican January 7, 1965
–
January 22, 1969 		Elliot Richardson
(1965–1967) 		Elected in 1964.

Re-elected in 1966 (first four-year term).

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
Francis Sargent
(1967–1969)
64
Francis Sargent 		Republican January 22, 1969
–
January 2, 1975 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Volpe's term.

Elected in own right in 1970.

Lost re-election.
Donald Dwight
(1971–1975)
65
Michael Dukakis 		Democratic January 2, 1975
–
January 4, 1979 		Thomas P. O'Neill III Elected in 1974.

Lost renomination.
66
Edward J. King 		Democratic January 4, 1979
–
January 6, 1983 		Elected in 1978.

Lost renomination.
67
Michael Dukakis 		Democratic January 6, 1983
–
January 3, 1991 		John Kerry
(1983–1985) 		Elected in 1982.

Re-elected in 1986.

Retired.
Vacant
(1985–1987)
Evelyn Murphy
(1987–1991)
68
Bill Weld 		Republican January 3, 1991
–
July 29, 1997 		Paul Cellucci
(1991–1999) 		Elected in 1990.

Re-elected in 1994.

Resigned when nominated U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, but was not confirmed to the office.
A[23]
69
Paul Cellucci 		Republican July 29, 1997
–
April 10, 2001 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Weld's term.

Elected in own right in 1998.

Resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
Jane Swift (1999–2003)
A[23]
Jane Swift 		Republican April 10, 2001
–
January 2, 2003 		Acted as governor for the remainder of Cellucci's term.

Retired.
70
Mitt Romney 		Republican January 2, 2003
–
January 4, 2007 		Kerry Healey Elected in 2002.

Retired to unsuccessfully run for president.
71
Deval Patrick 		Democratic January 4, 2007
–
January 8, 2015 		Tim Murray
(2007–2013) 		Elected in 2006.

Re-elected in 2010.

Retired.
Vacant
72
Charlie Baker 		Republican January 8, 2015
–
Incumbent[a] 		Karyn Polito Elected in 2014.

Re-elected in 2018.

Retiring at end of term.
73
Maura Healey 		Democratic January 5, 2023
–
Elected 		Kim Driscoll (elect) Elected in 2022.

Other high offices held

This is a table of notable government offices held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Massachusetts, except otherwise noted.

Governor Gubernatorial term U.S. Congress Other offices held
House Senate
John Hancock 1787–1793
1780–1785 		Delegate to the Continental Congress (including twice as President of the Continental Congress)
Thomas Cushing 1785 (acting) Delegate to the Continental Congress
Samuel Adams 1793–1797 Delegate to the Continental Congress
Caleb Strong 1800–1807
1812–1816 		Green tickY Delegate to the Continental Congress
James Sullivan 1807–1808 Delegate to the Continental Congress, but did not attend
Levi Lincoln Sr. 1808–1809 (acting) Green tickY U.S. Attorney General
Christopher Gore 1813–1816 Green tickY
Elbridge Gerry 1810–1812 Green tickY Delegate to the Continental Congress, Co-commissioner to France, Vice President of the United States
William Eustis 1823–1825 Green tickY Ambassador to the Netherlands, U.S. Secretary of War
Marcus Morton 1825 (acting)
1840–1841
1843–1844 		Green tickY
Levi Lincoln Jr. 1825–1834 Green tickY
John Davis 1834–1835
1841–1843 		Green tickY Green tickY[b]
Edward Everett 1836–1840 Green tickY Green tickY Ambassador to Great Britain, U.S. Secretary of State
George N. Briggs 1844–1851 Green tickY
George S. Boutwell 1851–1853 Green tickY Green tickY U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
Nathaniel Prentice Banks 1858–1861 Green tickY Speaker of the House
William Claflin 1869–1872 Green tickY
William B. Washburn 1874–1874 Green tickY Green tickY[b]
Alexander H. Rice 1876–1879 Green tickY
John Davis Long 1880–1883 Green tickY U.S. Secretary of the Navy
Benjamin Franklin Butler 1883–1884 Green tickY
George D. Robinson 1884–1887 Green tickY
Frederic T. Greenhalge 1894–1896 Green tickY
Winthrop Murray Crane 1900–1903 Green tickY
Curtis Guild Jr. 1906–1909 U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Empire
Eugene Noble Foss 1911–1914 Green tickY
David I. Walsh 1914–1916 Green tickY
Samuel W. McCall 1916–1919 Green tickY
Calvin Coolidge 1919–1921 Vice President of the United States, President of the United States
Alvan T. Fuller 1925–1929 Green tickY
James Michael Curley 1935–1937 Green tickY Mayor of Boston
Leverett Saltonstall 1939–1945 Green tickY Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, U.S. Senator
Maurice J. Tobin 1945–1947 Mayor of Boston, U.S. Secretary of Labor
Christian A. Herter 1953–1957 Green tickY U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Trade Representative
Foster Furcolo 1957–1961 Green tickY Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts
John A. Volpe 1961–1963
1965–1969 		U.S. Secretary of Transportation,[b] Ambassador to Italy
Paul Cellucci 1997–2001 Ambassador to Canada[b]
Mitt Romney 2003–2007 Green tickY U.S. Senator from Utah
  1. ^ Baker's second term began on January 3, 2019, and will expire on January 5, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Resigned as governor to take office

Educational backgrounds

No governor of Massachusetts has graduated from the state's public university system, making the University of Massachusetts one of only two American public university systems to never produce a governor of its respective state.[citation needed]

A plurality of governors, and a majority of those who attended any college, graduated from Harvard College. Marcus Morton (Brown) was the first Governor to graduate from an institution other than Harvard College.

Undergraduate institutions

Institution # Governors
Harvard College 24* John Hancock,[24] James Bowdoin,[25] Samuel Adams,[26] Increase Sumner,[27] Caleb Strong,[28] Christopher Gore,[29] Elbridge Gerry,[30] William Eustis,[31] Levi Lincoln Jr.,[32] Edward Everett,[33] John Davis Long,[34] George D. Robinson,[35] John Q. A. Brackett,[36] William Russell, Frederic Greenhalge*,[37] Roger Wolcott, Curtis Guild Jr.,[38] Leverett Saltonstall,[39] Robert F. Bradford,[40] Christian Herter,[41] Endicott Peabody,[42] Bill Weld,[43] Deval Patrick, Charlie Baker
Brown College 5* Marcus Morton,[44] John H. Clifford,[45] William Claflin*,[46] William Gaston,[47] Oliver Ames,[48]
Boston College 4* Charles F. Hurley*,[49] Maurice J. Tobin, Edward J. King,[50] Paul Cellucci[51]
Dartmouth College 3* Emory Washburn*,[52] Samuel W. McCall,[53] Channing Cox[54]
Yale College 3 John Davis,[55] William Washburn,[56] Foster Furcolo[57]
Amherst College 2 Alexander Bullock,[58] Calvin Coolidge
Boston University 2 John L. Bates, Paul A. Dever[59]
Bowdoin College 2 Henry Gardner,[60] John Albion Andrew[61]
MIT 2 Eben Draper,[62] Francis Sargent[63]
Williams College 2 Emory Washburn,[52] Joseph B. Ely[64]
Brigham Young University 1 Mitt Romney
Colby College 1 Benjamin Butler[65]
Holy Cross 1 David I. Walsh[66]
Swarthmore College 1 Michael Dukakis[67]
Union College 1 Alexander Rice[68]
University College, Oxford 1 Bill Weld[43]
Wentworth Institute 1 John Volpe[69]
University of Vermont 1* Eugene Foss*
Northeastern University 1* Paul A. Dever*[59]
None 11 James Sullivan, John Brooks, George N. Briggs, George S. Boutwell,[70] Nathaniel P. Banks, Thomas Talbot, W. Murray Crane, William L. Douglas, Alvan T. Fuller, Frank G. Allen, James Michael Curley

An asterisk indicates that the Governor attended but did not graduate from that institution.

Acting Governors Thomas Cushing and Levi Lincoln Sr. also attended Harvard College. Acting Governor Jane Swift attended Trinity College. Acting Governors Moses Gill and Samuel Armstrong attended no recorded institution. Governor Frank Allen was admitted to Harvard but did not attend.

Graduate degrees: As with undergraduate institutions, the vast majority of governors who received graduate degrees did so from Harvard University. Of those, all but three degrees were law degrees from Harvard Law School; Elbridge Gerry and Edward Everett received masters' degrees and Mitt Romney, who also received a law degree, received a master's in business administration. Other than those, Charlie Baker is the only governor with a graduate degree not in law; he holds an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Romney and Everett are the only governors with multiple graduate degrees, and Everett is the only Ph.D. holder.

Institution # Governors
Harvard University 15 Elbridge Gerry (A.M.), Edward Everett (M.A.), Alexander Bullock (LL.B.),[58] John Davis Long (LL.B.),[34] John Q.A. Brackett (LL.B.),[36] Roger Wolcott (LL.B.), Channing Cox (LL.B.)[54] Joseph B. Ely (LL.B.),[64] Leverett Saltonstall (LL.B.),[39] Robert F. Bradford (LL.B.),[40] Endicott Peabody (J.D.),[42] Michael Dukakis (J.D.),[67] Bill Weld (J.D.),[43] Mitt Romney (J.D., M.B.A.), Deval Patrick (J.D.)
Boston University 4 William Russell (LL.B.)[71], John L. Bates (LL.B.), David I. Walsh (LL.B.),[66] Paul A. Dever (LL.B.)[59]
Boston College 1 Paul Cellucci (J.D.)[51]
Northwestern University 1 Charlie Baker (M.B.A.)
University of Göttingen 1 Edward Everett (Ph.D.)
Yale University 1 Foster Furcolo (LL.B.)[57]

Governor Christian Herter entered a graduate program in architecture at Columbia University but did not complete the degree.[41]

Living former governors

As of November 2018, there are five former governors or acting governors of Massachusetts who are still alive, the oldest being Michael Dukakis (served 1975–1979 and 1983–1991, born 1933). The most recent governor of Massachusetts to have died was Paul Cellucci (served 1997–1999 [acting] and 1999–2001, born 1948), on June 8, 2013.[72]

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Michael Dukakis 1975–1979
1983–1991 		(1933-11-03) November 3, 1933 (age 90)
William F. Weld 1991–1997 (1945-07-31) July 31, 1945 (age 78)
Jane Swift 2001–2003 (acting) (1965-02-24) February 24, 1965 (age 59)
Mitt Romney 2003–2007 (1947-03-12) March 12, 1947 (age 77)
Deval Patrick 2007–2015 (1956-07-31) July 31, 1956 (age 67)

See also

References

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  2. ^ Michaels, Matthew (June 22, 2018). "Here's the salary of every governor in the United States". Business Insider.
  3. ^ Morison 1917, p.22-28.
  4. ^ "Massachusetts Constitution".
  5. ^ William, Galvin. "Elected Officials' Effective Dates of Office". Elected Officials’ Effective Dates of Office. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  6. ^ "A Third Term For Governor Charlie Baker?". News. June 8, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "What Charlie Baker faces should he seek a third term". Boston Herald. July 4, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  8. ^ "Term Limits on Governor". U.S. Term Limits. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  9. ^ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Candidates-Guide-generic.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  10. ^ Adams 1913, p.444-445.
  11. ^ Adams 1913, p.430-445
  12. ^ a b c Morison 1917, p.9-22.
  13. ^ Frothingham, Louis Adams. A Brief History of the Constitution and Government of Massachusetts, p. 74. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1916.
  14. ^ Constitution of Massachusetts, Chapter II, Section II, Article III.
  15. ^ An example of this is found in Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2001, where a veto by Swift was overridden by the General Court.
  16. ^ Massachusetts State Library Information, Governor Transfer of Power, Retrieved February 14, 2007.
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  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i Acting governors are not counted.
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  • Lincoln, William, ed. (1838). Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775 and of the Committee of Safety, with an Appendix containing the Proceedings of the County Conventions_Narratives of the Events of the Nineteenth of April, 1775-Paper relating to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and other documents. Dutton and Wentworth, Printers to the State.
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  • Morison, Samuel (1917). A History of the Constitution of Massachusetts. Harvard University Library: Wright & Potter Printing Co.
  • Truslow Adams, James (1913). The Founding of New England. Stanford University Library: Atlantic Monthly Press.

External links

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