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List of governors of Delaware

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This is a chronological listing of the Presidents and Governors of Delaware.

The Governor serves as head of the executive branch of the state's government, and was called President under the Delaware Constitution of 1776. With the Delaware Constitution of 1792 the name was changed to conform with usage in the rest of the states. The Presidents were particularly weak executive officials, being elected by the legislature, having no legislative veto, ineligible for immediate reelection, and whose actions required the approval of an executive Privy Council. Starting in 1792 the Governor was popularly elected and the Privy Council was abolished, but it wasn't until 1897 that a veto or election to a second term was possible. As a result, the office was part time and largely ceremonial until the mid twentieth century.

Presidents under the Constitution of 1776

The General Assembly chose the State President for a term of three years.

# Name Took Office Left Office Party [1] Residence County Occupation notes
1 John McKinly Feb. 12, 1777 Sep. 22, 1777 no parties Wilmington New Castle Physician resigned [2]
2 Thomas McKean Sep. 22, 1777 Oct. 20, 1777 no parties New Castle New Castle Lawyer acting
3 George Read Oct. 20, 1777 Mar. 31, 1778 no parties New Castle New Castle Lawyer acting
4 Caesar Rodney Mar. 31, 1778 Nov. 6, 1781 no parties Dover Kent Lawyer
5 John Dickinson Nov. 13, 1781 Nov. 4, 1782 no parties Wilmington New Castle Lawyer resigned
6 John Cook Nov. 4, 1782 Feb. 1, 1783 no parties Smyrna Kent Farmer acting
7 Nicholas Van Dyke Feb. 1, 1783 Oct. 27, 1786 no parties New Castle New Castle Lawyer
8 Thomas Collins Oct. 27, 1786 Mar. 29, 1789 no parties Smyrna Kent Lawyer died in office
9 Jehu Davis Mar. 29, 1789 Jun. 2, 1789 no parties Milford Kent Farmer acting
10 Joshua Clayton Jun. 2, 1789 Jan. 15, 1793 no parties Pencader New Castle Physician

Governors under the Constitution of 1792

Elections were held the first week of October. The Governor took office the third Tuesday in January, for a term of three years.

# Name Took Office Left Office Party Residence County Occupation notes
10 Joshua Clayton Jan. 15, 1793 Jan. 19, 1796 Federalist Pencader New Castle Physician
11 Gunning Bedford, Sr. Jan. 19, 1796 Sep. 28, 1797 Federalist New Castle New Castle Lawyer died in office
12 Daniel Rogers Sep. 28, 1797 Jan. 15, 1799 Federalist Milford Sussex Miller acting
13 Richard Bassett Jan. 15, 1799 Feb. 20, 1801 Federalist Pencader New Castle Lawyer resigned
14 James Sykes, Jr. Mar. 4, 1801 Jan. 19, 1802 Federalist Dover Kent Physician acting
15 David Hall Jan. 19, 1802 Jan. 15, 1805 Democratic-
Republican 		Lewes Sussex Lawyer
16 Nathaniel Mitchell Jan. 15, 1805 Jan. 19, 1808 Federalist Laurel Sussex Lawyer
17 George Truitt Jan. 19, 1808 Jan. 15, 1811 Federalist Felton Kent Farmer
18 Joseph Haslet Jan. 15, 1811 Jan. 18, 1814 Democratic-
Republican 		Cedar Creek Sussex Farmer
19 Daniel Rodney Jan. 18, 1814 Jan. 21, 1817 Federalist Lewes Sussex Merchant
20 John Clark Jan. 21, 1817 Jan. 15, 1820 Federalist Blackbird New Castle Farmer
Henry Molleston Federalist Dover Kent Physician died [3]
21 Jacob Stout Jan. 18, 1820 Jan. 16, 1821 Federalist Smyrna Kent Farmer acting
22 John Collins Jan. 16, 1821 Apr. 16, 1822 Democratic-
Republican 		Laurel Sussex Miller died in office
23 Caleb Rodney Apr. 23, 1822 Jan. 21, 1823 Federalist Lewes Sussex Merchant acting
24 Joseph Haslet Jan. 21, 1823 Jun. 20, 1823 Democratic-
Republican 		Cedar Creek Sussex Farmer died in office
25 Charles Thomas Jun. 24, 1823 Jan. 20, 1824 Democratic-
Republican 		New Castle New Castle Lawyer acting
26 Samuel Paynter Jan. 20, 1824 Jan. 16, 1827 Federalist Broadkill Sussex Merchant
27 Charles Polk, Jr. Jan. 16, 1827 Jan. 19, 1830 Federalist Milford Kent Farmer
28 David Hazzard Jan. 19, 1830 Jan. 15, 1833 National
Republican 		Milton Sussex Merchant

Governors under the Constitution of 1831

Elections were held the first week of November. The Governor took office the third Tuesday in January, for a term of four years.

# Name Took Office Left Office Party Residence County Occupation notes
29 Caleb P. Bennett Jan. 15, 1833 Jul. 11, 1836 Democratic Wilmington New Castle Soldier died in office
30 Charles Polk, Jr. Jul. 11, 1836 Jan. 17, 1837 Whig Milford Kent Farmer acting
31 Cornelius P. Comegys Jan. 17, 1837 Jan. 19, 1841 Whig Little Creek Kent Farmer
32 William B. Cooper Jan. 19, 1841 Jan. 21, 1845 Whig Laurel Sussex Farmer
33 Thomas Stockton Jan. 21, 1845 Mar. 2, 1846 Whig New Castle New Castle Soldier died in office
34 Joseph Maull Mar. 2, 1846 May 3, 1846 Whig Lewes Sussex Physician acting [4]
35 William Temple May 6, 1846 Jan. 19, 1847 Whig Smyrna Kent Merchant acting
36 William Tharp Jan. 19, 1847 Jan. 21, 1851 Democratic Milford Kent Farmer
37 William H.H. Ross Jan. 21, 1851 Jan. 14, 1855 Democratic Seaford Sussex Farmer
38 Peter F. Causey Jan. 14, 1855 Jan. 18, 1859 American Milford Sussex Merchant
39 William Burton Jan. 18, 1859 Jan. 20, 1863 Democratic Milford Sussex Physician
40 William Cannon Jan. 20, 1863 Mar. 1, 1865 Republican Bridgeville Sussex Farmer died in office
41 Gove Saulsbury Mar. 1, 1865 Jan. 17, 1871 Democratic Dover Kent Physician acting [5]
42 James Ponder Jan. 17, 1871 Jan. 19, 1875 Democratic Milton Sussex Merchant
43 John P. Cochran Jan. 19, 1875 Jan. 21, 1879 Democratic Middletown New Castle Farmer
44 John W. Hall Jan. 21, 1879 Jan. 16, 1883 Democratic Frederica Kent Merchant
45 Charles C. Stockley Jan. 16, 1883 Jan. 18, 1887 Democratic Georgetown Sussex Farmer
46 Benjamin T. Biggs Jan. 18, 1887 Jan. 20, 1891 Democratic Middletown New Castle Farmer
47 Robert J. Reynolds Jan. 20, 1891 Jan. 15, 1895 Democratic Petersburg Kent Farmer
48 Joshua H. Marvil Jan. 15, 1895 Apr. 8, 1895 Republican Laurel Sussex Farmer died in office
49 William T. Watson Apr. 8, 1895 Jan. 19, 1897 Democratic Milford Kent Banker acting
50 Ebe W. Tunnell Jan. 19, 1897 Jan. 15, 1901 Democratic Lewes Sussex Merchant

Governors under the Constitution of 1897

Elections are held the first week of November. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday in January, for a term of four years.

# Name Took Office Left Office Party Residence County Occupation notes
51 John Hunn Jan. 15, 1901 Jan. 17, 1905 Republican Camden Kent Businessman
52 Preston Lea Jan. 17, 1905 Jan. 19, 1909 Republican New Castle New Castle Miller
53 Simeon S. Pennewill Jan. 19, 1909 Jan. 21, 1913 Republican Dover Sussex Farmer
54 Charles R. Miller Jan. 21, 1913 Jan. 16, 1917 Republican Wilmington New Castle Lawyer
55 John G. Townsend, Jr. Jan. 16, 1917 Jan. 18, 1921 Republican Shelbyville Sussex Farmer
56 William D. Denney Jan. 18, 1921 Jan. 20, 1925 Republican Dover Kent Businessman
57 Robert P. Robinson Jan. 20, 1925 Jan. 15, 1929 Republican Wilmington New Castle Banker
58 C. Douglass Buck Jan. 15, 1929 Jan. 19, 1937 Republican New Castle New Castle Engineer
59 Richard C. McMullen Jan. 19, 1937 Jan. 21, 1941 Democratic Wilmington New Castle Executive
60 Walter W. Bacon Jan. 21, 1941 Jan. 18, 1949 Republican Wilmington New Castle Accountant
61 Elbert N. Carvel Jan. 18, 1949 Jan. 20, 1953 Democratic Laurel Sussex Businessman
62 J. Caleb Boggs Jan. 20, 1953 Dec. 30, 1960 Republican Claymont New Castle Lawyer resigned
63 David P. Buckson Dec. 30, 1960 Jan. 17, 1961 Republican Camden Kent Lawyer acting
64 Elbert N. Carvel Jan. 17, 1961 Jan. 19, 1965 Democratic Laurel Sussex Businessman
65 Charles L. Terry, Jr. Jan. 19, 1965 Jan. 21, 1969 Democratic Dover Kent Lawyer
66 Russell W. Peterson Jan. 21, 1969 Jan. 16, 1973 Republican Wilmington New Castle Chemist
67 Sherman W. Tribbitt Jan. 16, 1973 Jan. 18, 1977 Democratic Odessa New Castle Merchant
68 Pierre S. du Pont, IV Jan. 18, 1977 Jan. 15, 1985 Republican Rockland New Castle Lawyer
69 Michael N. Castle Jan. 15, 1985 Dec. 31, 1992 Republican Wilmington New Castle Lawyer resigned
70 Dale E. Wolf Dec. 31, 1992 Jan. 19, 1993 Republican Wilmington New Castle Executive acting
71 Thomas R. Carper Jan. 19, 1993 Jan. 3, 2001 Democratic Wilmington New Castle Economist resigned
72 Ruth Ann Minner Jan. 3, 2001 incumbent [6] Democratic Milford Kent Businesswoman

Notes

  1. ^ Before 1792 shading indicates association with loose factions that were precursors to parties.
  2. ^ McKinly was captured and taken prisoner by the British.
  3. ^ Molleston died before taking office. He never served as Governor.
  4. ^ Maull was acting Governor and then died in office himself.
  5. ^ Saulsbury completed Cannon's term and then was elected Governor for a complete term of his own.
  6. ^ present term ends January 20, 2009

References

  • Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. McClafferty Press, Wilmington.
  • Pickett, Russell S. (2006). Delaware and U.S.History. Retrieved January 1, 2006.
  • Kestenbaum, Lawrence (2006). The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 1, 2006.

See also


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