List of governors of Delaware: Difference between revisions
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The Governor of Delaware is the head of the executive branch of Delaware's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Delaware Legislature, to convene the legislature,[1] and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment, and only with the recommendation of the Board of Pardons.[2]
The first state constitution, adopted in 1776 soon after independence, created the office of president, to be chosen by the legislature to serve a term of three years.[3] The constitution of 1792 renamed the position to governor,[4] set the commencement date of the term to the third Tuesday in the January following an election, and limited governors to serving only three out of any six years.[5] The term was lengthened to four years by the 1831 constitution, but governors were limited to a single term.[6] The current constitution of 1897 allows governors to serve two terms.[7]
The 1776 constitution stated that if the office of governor was vacant, the speaker of the legislative council would be a vice-president.[8] The 1792 constitution has the speaker of the senate exercising the office if it is vacant, and the 1897 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor,[9] upon whom the office devolves in case of vacancy.[10] The offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.
Governors
Delaware was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, on December 7, 1787.[11] Before it declared its independence, Delaware was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain, known as the "Lower Counties on Delaware". This colony was administered by colonial governors in Pennsylvania.
- For the period before Delaware became a state, see the List of colonial governors of Pennsylvania.
Federalist Democratic-Republican National Republican Democratic Whig American Republican
Other high offices held
This is a table of congressional, other governorships, and other federal offices held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Delaware except where noted.
- * Denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | U.S. House | U.S. Senate | Other offices held | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas McKean | 1777 | — | — | Continental Delegate (including President of the Continental Congress), President of Pennsylvania | [13] |
| George Read | 1777–1778 | — | S | Continental Delegate | [14] |
| Caesar Rodney | 1778–1781 | — | — | Continental Delegate | [15] |
| John Dickinson | 1781–1783 | — | — | Continental Delegate, Continental Delegate from Pennsylvania, President of Pennsylvania* | [16] |
| Nicholas Van Dyke | 1783–1786 | — | — | Continental Delegate | [17] |
| Joshua Clayton | 1789–1796 | — | S | [18] | |
| Richard Bassett | 1799–1801 | — | S | [19] | |
| Nathaniel Mitchell | 1805–1808 | — | — | Continental Delegate | [20] |
| Daniel Rodney | 1814–1817 | H | S | [21] | |
| William Temple | 1846–1847 | H | — | [22] | |
| Benjamin T. Biggs | 1887–1891 | H | — | [23] | |
| John G. Townsend, Jr. | 1917–1921 | — | S | [24] | |
| C. Douglass Buck | 1929–1937 | — | S | [25] | |
| J. Caleb Boggs | 1953–1960 | — | S* | [26] | |
| Pierre S. du Pont, IV | 1977–1985 | H | — | [27] | |
| Michael Castle | 1985–1992 | H* | — | [28] | |
| Thomas R. Carper | 1993–2001 | H | S* | [29] |
Living former governors
As of June 2009[update], eight former governors were alive. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Elbert N. Carvel (1961–1965), who died on February 6, 2005. The most recently serving governor to die was Charles L. Terry, Jr. (1965–1969), who died on February 6, 1970.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| David P. Buckson | 1960–1961 | July 25, 1920 |
| Russell W. Peterson | 1969–1973 | October 3, 1916 |
| Sherman W. Tribbitt | 1973–1977 | November 9, 1922 |
| Pierre S. du Pont, IV | 1977–1985 | January 22, 1935 |
| Michael Castle | 1985–1992 | July 2, 1939 |
| Dale E. Wolf | 1992–1993 | September 6, 1924 |
| Thomas R. Carper | 1993–2001 | January 23, 1947 |
| Ruth Ann Minner | 2001–2009 | January 17, 1935 |
Notes
- ^ Before 1792 shading indicates association with loose factions that were precursors to parties.
- ^ The office of lieutenant governor was created in the 1897 constitution, with the first election taking place in 1900.
- ^ McKinly was captured and taken prisoner by British forces on September 12, 1777.[12] He was paroled in August 1778, exchanged for loyalist Governor William Franklin of New Jersey.[citation needed]
- ^ As Speaker of the Assembly, acted as chief executive following the capture of John McKinly until the return of Speaker of the Legislative Council George Read, who was the righful successor, from the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.[citation needed]
- ^ a b As Speaker of the Legislative Council, served as vice-president unexpired term.
- ^ Resigned; was elected President of Pennsylvania and took office November 7, 1782, holding both presidencies simultaneously until his resignation
- ^ As Speaker of the Legislative Council, served as vice-president until a special election was held.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Died in office.
- ^ Clayton served one term as president under the 1776 constitution, and was the first governor elected under the terms of the 1792 constitution.
- ^ a b c d e f g As Speaker of the Senate, acted as governor for unexpired term.
- ^ Resigned to take a seat on to the United States third circuit court.
- ^ a b Governor-elect Henry Molleston died on November 11, 1819, before taking office. before taking office. The newly-elected state senate chose a speaker, Jacob Stout, who would act as governor for one year before a special election was held.[citation needed] The incumbent John Clark remained in office until the end of his term.
- ^ Bennett was the first governor elected under the terms of the 1831 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.
- ^ As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term.
- ^ As Speaker of the Senate, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
- ^ a b Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ a b As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
- ^ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States House of Representatives.
- ^ As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in their own right.
- ^ Governor Markell's first term expires on January 15, 2013; he is not yet term limited.
References
- General
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "Governors of Delaware". National Governors Association.
- Thorpe, Francis Newton (1906). The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the States, Territories, and Colonies Now or Heretofore Forming the United States of America. Government Printing Office. pp. 568–600.
- Constitutions
- "Constitution of the State of Delaware". State of Delaware. 1897. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
- Constitution of the State of Delaware (1831)[30]
- Constitution of the State of Delaware (1792)[31]
- "Constitution of the State of Delaware". Avalon Project. Yale Law School. 1776. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
- Specific
- ^ DE Const. art. III
- ^ DE Const. art. VII, § 1
- ^ 1776 Const. art 7
- ^ 1792 Const. art. III, § 1
- ^ 1792 Const. art. III, § 3
- ^ 1831 Const. art III, § 3
- ^ DE Const. art. III, § 5
- ^ 1776 Const. art. 7
- ^ DE Const. art. III, § 19
- ^ DE Const. art. III, § 20
- ^ "Statehood Dates". Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ McGuire, Thomas J. (2006). The Philadelphia Campaign. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 278.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "McKean, Thomas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Read, George". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Rodney, Caesar". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Dickinson, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Van Dyke, Nicholas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Clayton, Joshua". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Bassett, Richard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Mitchell, Nathaniel". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Rodney, Daniel". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Temple, William". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Biggs, Benjamin Thomas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Townsend, John Gillis, Jr". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Buck, Clayton Douglass". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Boggs, James Caleb". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "du Pont, Pierre Samuel, IV". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Castle, Michael Newbold". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Carper, Thomas Richard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ Thorpe pp. 582–600
- ^ Thorpe pp. 568–582
External links
