Jump to content

List of governors of Delaware

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by LD1998 (talk | contribs) at 13:43, 19 January 2021 (→Governors). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Governor of Delaware
Great Seal of the State of Delaware
Incumbent
John Carney
since January 17, 2017
StyleThe Honorable
ResidenceDelaware Governor's Mansion
Dover, Delaware
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Inaugural holderJohn McKinly
FormationFebruary 12, 1777
DeputyBethany Hall-Long
Salary$171,000 (2013)[1]
Websitegovernor.delaware.gov

The Governor of Delaware (President of Delaware from 1776 to 1792) is the head of the executive branch of Delaware's state 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,[2] and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment, and only with the recommendation of the Board of Pardons.[3]

There have been 71 people who have served as governor, over 74 distinct terms. Three (Joseph Haslet, Charles Polk Jr. and Elbert N. Carvel) served non-consecutive terms. Additionally, Henry Molleston was elected, but died before he could take office. Only four governors have been elected to two consecutive terms, with the longest-serving being Ruth Ann Minner, who was elected twice after succeeding to the office, serving a total of just over eight years. The shortest term is that of Dale E. Wolf, who served 18 days following his predecessor's resignation; David P. Buckson served 19 days under similar circumstances. The current governor is Democrat John Carney, who took office on January 17, 2017.

Governors

Before 1776, Delaware was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain, administered by colonial governors in Pennsylvania as the "Lower Counties on Delaware".

In 1776, soon after Delaware and the other Thirteen Colonies declared independence from Britain, the state adopted its first state constitution. It created the office of President of Delaware, a chief executive to be chosen by the legislature to serve a term of three years.[4]

The office of President was renamed Governor by the constitution of 1792,[5] which 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.[6] The term was lengthened to four years by the 1831 constitution, but governors were limited to a single term.[7] The current constitution of 1897 allows governors to serve two terms.[8]

The 1776 constitution stated that if the presidency were vacant, the speaker of the legislative council would be a vice-president.[9] The 1792 constitution has the speaker of the senate exercising the office when it is vacant, and the 1897 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor,[10] upon whom the office devolves in case of vacancy.[11] The offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.

Governors of the State of Delaware[a]
No.[b] Governor[c] Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[d][e]
1   John McKinly February 12, 1777
–
September 12, 1777[f]
(arrested and removed)[g] 		No parties 1777 Office did not exist
— Vacant September 12, 1777
–
September 22, 1777 		Office vacant
due to war[g]
2   Thomas McKean September 22, 1777
–
October 20, 1777
(successor took office) 		Speaker of the
Assembly
acting as
Vice-President[h]
3 George Read October 20, 1777
–
March 31, 1778
(not candidate for election) 		Speaker of the
Legislative
Council
serving as
Vice-President[h]
4 Caesar Rodney March 31, 1778
–
November 6, 1781
(not candidate for election) 		1778
5 John Dickinson November 13, 1781
–
January 12, 1783
(resigned)[i] 		1781
6 John Cook November 4, 1782
–
February 1, 1783
(not candidate for election) 		Speaker of the
Legislative
Council
serving as
Vice-President
7 Nicholas Van Dyke February 1, 1783
–
October 28, 1786
(not candidate for election) 		1783
(special)
8 Thomas Collins October 28, 1786
–
March 29, 1789
(died in office) 		1786
9 Jehu Davis March 29, 1789
–
June 2, 1789
(not candidate for election) 		Speaker of the
Legislative
Council
serving as
Vice-President
10 rowspan="6" bgcolor=Template:Federalist Party (United States)/meta/color| Joshua Clayton June 2, 1789
–
January 19, 1796
(not candidate for election) 		Federalist 1789
1792
11 Gunning Bedford Sr. January 19, 1796
–
September 30, 1797
(died in office) 		Federalist 1795
12 Daniel Rogers September 30, 1797
–
January 9, 1799
(not candidate for election) 		Federalist Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
13 Richard Bassett January 9, 1799[j]
–
March 3, 1801
(resigned)[k] 		Federalist 1798
14 James Sykes March 3, 1801
–
January 19, 1802
(not candidate for election) 		Federalist Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
15 bgcolor=Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color| David Hall January 19, 1802
–
January 15, 1805
(term limited) 		Democratic-Republican 1801
16 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Federalist Party (United States)/meta/color| Nathaniel Mitchell January 15, 1805
–
January 19, 1808
(term limited) 		Federalist 1804
17 George Truitt January 19, 1808
–
January 15, 1811
(term limited) 		Federalist 1807
18 bgcolor=Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color| Joseph Haslet January 15, 1811
–
January 18, 1814
(term limited) 		Democratic-Republican 1810
19 rowspan="4" bgcolor=Template:Federalist Party (United States)/meta/color| Daniel Rodney January 18, 1814
–
January 21, 1817
(term limited) 		Federalist 1813
20 John Clark January 21, 1817
–
January 18, 1820
(term limited) 		Federalist 1816
— Henry Molleston Died before
taking office[l] 		Federalist 1819
21 Jacob Stout January 18, 1820
–
January 16, 1821
(not candidate for election) 		Federalist Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
22 bgcolor=Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color| John Collins January 16, 1821
–
April 16, 1822
(died in office) 		Democratic-Republican 1820
(special)[m]
23 bgcolor=Template:Federalist Party (United States)/meta/color| Caleb Rodney April 23, 1822
–
January 21, 1823
(not candidate for election) 		Federalist Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
24 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color| Joseph Haslet January 21, 1823
–
June 20, 1823
(died in office) 		Democratic-Republican 1822
25 Charles Thomas June 23, 1823[n]
–
January 20, 1824
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic-Republican Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
26 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Federalist Party (United States)/meta/color| Samuel Paynter January 20, 1824
–
January 16, 1827
(term limited) 		Federalist 1823
(special)[o]
27 Charles Polk Jr. January 16, 1827
–
January 19, 1830
(term limited) 		Federalist 1826
28 bgcolor=Template:Anti-Jacksonian/meta/color| David Hazzard January 19, 1830
–
January 15, 1833
(term limited) 		National Republican 1829
29 bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Caleb P. Bennett January 15, 1833
–
May 9, 1836
(died in office) 		Democratic 1832[p]
30 rowspan="6" bgcolor=Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color| Charles Polk Jr. May 9, 1836
–
January 17, 1837
(not candidate for election) 		Whig Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
31 Cornelius P. Comegys January 17, 1837
–
January 19, 1841
(term limited) 		Whig 1836
32 William B. Cooper January 19, 1841
–
January 21, 1845
(term limited) 		Whig 1840
33 Thomas Stockton January 21, 1845
–
March 2, 1846
(died in office) 		Whig 1844
34 Joseph Maull March 2, 1846
–
May 3, 1846
(died in office) 		Whig Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
35 William Temple May 6, 1846
–
January 19, 1847
(not candidate for election) 		Whig Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
36 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| William Tharp January 19, 1847
–
January 21, 1851
(term limited) 		Democratic 1846
(special)[q]
37 William H. H. Ross January 21, 1851
–
January 16, 1855
(term limited) 		Democratic 1850
38 bgcolor=Template:Know-Nothing/meta/color| Peter F. Causey January 16, 1855
–
January 18, 1859
(term limited) 		American 1854
39 bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| William Burton January 18, 1859
–
January 20, 1863
(term limited) 		Democratic 1858
40 bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| William Cannon January 20, 1863
–
March 1, 1865
(died in office) 		Republican 1862
41 rowspan="8" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Gove Saulsbury March 1, 1865
–
January 17, 1871
(term limited) 		Democratic Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
1866
42 James Ponder January 17, 1871
–
January 19, 1875
(term limited) 		Democratic 1870
43 John P. Cochran January 19, 1875
–
January 21, 1879
(term limited) 		Democratic 1874
44 John W. Hall January 21, 1879
–
January 16, 1883
(term limited) 		Democratic 1878
45 Charles C. Stockley January 16, 1883
–
January 18, 1887
(term limited) 		Democratic 1882
46 Benjamin T. Biggs January 18, 1887
–
January 20, 1891
(term limited) 		Democratic 1886
47 Robert J. Reynolds January 20, 1891
–
January 15, 1895
(term limited) 		Democratic 1890
48 bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| Joshua H. Marvil January 15, 1895
–
April 8, 1895
(died in office) 		Republican 1894
49 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| William T. Watson April 8, 1895
–
January 19, 1897
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic Speaker of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
50 Ebe W. Tunnell January 19, 1897
–
January 15, 1901
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic 1896[r]
51 rowspan="9" bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| John Hunn January 15, 1901
–
January 17, 1905
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1900 rowspan="3" bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color|  Philip L. Cannon
52 Preston Lea January 17, 1905
–
January 19, 1909
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1904 Isaac T. Parker
53 Simeon S. Pennewill January 19, 1909
–
January 21, 1913
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1908 John M. Mendinhall
54 Charles R. Miller January 21, 1913
–
January 16, 1917
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1912 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Colen Ferguson[s]
55 John G. Townsend Jr. January 16, 1917
–
January 18, 1921
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1916 Lewis E. Eliason[s]
56 William D. Denney January 18, 1921
–
January 20, 1925
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1920 rowspan="4" bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| J. Danforth Bush
57 Robert P. Robinson January 20, 1925
–
January 15, 1929
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1924 James H. Anderson
58 C. Douglass Buck January 15, 1929
–
January 19, 1937
(term limited) 		Republican 1928 James H. Hazel
1932 Roy F. Corley
59 bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Richard McMullen January 19, 1937
–
January 21, 1941
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic 1936 rowspan="4" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Edward W. Cooch
60 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| Walter W. Bacon January 21, 1941
–
January 18, 1949
(term limited) 		Republican 1940 Isaac J. MacCollum[s]
1944 Elbert N. Carvel[s]
61 bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Elbert N. Carvel January 18, 1949
–
January 20, 1953
(lost election) 		Democratic 1948 Alexis I. du Pont Bayard
62 rowspan="3" bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| J. Caleb Boggs January 20, 1953
–
December 30, 1960
(resigned)[t] 		Republican 1952 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| John W. Rollins
1956 David P. Buckson
63 David P. Buckson December 30, 1960
–
January 17, 1961
(successor took office) 		Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
64 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Elbert N. Carvel January 17, 1961
–
January 19, 1965
(term limited) 		Democratic 1960 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Eugene Lammot
65 Charles L. Terry Jr. January 19, 1965
–
January 21, 1969
(lost election) 		Democratic 1964 Sherman W. Tribbitt
66 bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| Russell W. Peterson January 21, 1969
–
January 16, 1973
(lost election) 		Republican 1968 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| Eugene Bookhammer[u]
67 bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Sherman W. Tribbitt January 16, 1973
–
January 18, 1977
(lost election) 		Democratic 1972
68 rowspan="5" bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| Pete du Pont January 18, 1977
–
January 15, 1985
(term limited) 		Republican 1976 bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| James D. McGinnis[s]
1980 bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| Mike Castle
69 Mike Castle January 15, 1985
–
December 31, 1992
(resigned)[v] 		Republican 1984 bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Shien Biau Woo[s]
1988 bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color| Dale E. Wolf
70 Dale E. Wolf December 31, 1992
–
January 19, 1993
(successor took office) 		Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
71 rowspan="10" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Tom Carper January 19, 1993
–
January 3, 2001
(resigned)[w] 		Democratic 1992 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Ruth Ann Minner
1996
72 Ruth Ann Minner January 3, 2001
–
January 20, 2009
(term limited) 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
2000 rowspan="4" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| John Carney
2004
73 Jack Markell January 20, 2009
–
January 17, 2017
(term limited) 		Democratic 2008 Matthew Denn
(resigned January 6, 2015)
2012
Vacant
74 John Carney January 17, 2017
–
present[x] 		Democratic 2016 rowspan="2" bgcolor=Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color| Bethany Hall-Long
2020

Succession

Main article: Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Delaware

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Data is sourced from the National Governors Association, unless supplemental references are required.
  2. ^ The official website labels John Carney as the 74th governor;[12] this indicates that repeat, non-consecutive terms are numbered.
  3. ^ The office was named president until 1792.[5]
  4. ^ The office of lieutenant governor was created in the 1897 constitution,[10] with the first election taking place in 1900.
  5. ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  6. ^ Most sources do not specify the day McKinly was captured; at least one specifies that McKinly and the city of Wilmington were captured the day after the Battle of Brandywine, which was on September 11, 1777.[13]
  7. ^ a b McKinly was captured and taken prisoner by British forces.[14] He was exchanged for loyalist Governor William Franklin of New Jersey in August 1778.[15]
  8. ^ a b Speaker of the Assembly McKean acted as chief executive until the return of Speaker of the Legislative Council Read from the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, who then served as vice-president for the remainder of the term.[16]
  9. ^ Dickinson was elected President of Pennsylvania and took office November 7, 1782, holding both presidencies simultaneously. Criticism of this caused him to turn administration of the state over to Speaker of the Legislative Council Cook, but Dickinson didn't formally resign until January 12, 1783.[17]
  10. ^ The constitutional start date for the term in 1799 was January 15; multiple sources say Bassett took office January 9, but it is not known why it was off schedule.[18][19] A few sources do say he took office January 15.[20]
  11. ^ Bassett resigned to take a seat on the United States Third Circuit Court.[18]
  12. ^ Governor-elect Molleston died on November 11, 1819, before taking office. The newly elected state senate chose a speaker, Stout, who would act as governor for one year of Molleston's term before a special election was held to pick a governor for the remaining two years.[21]
  13. ^ Special election to serve out the last two years of Henry Molleston's term[21]
  14. ^ There is disagreement over when Haslet died and Thomas became acting governor. Most modern sources say Haslet died on June 20, and Thomas became acting governor on June 23; however, some sources say Thomas became acting governor on June 20,[22] and others say Haslet died on June 23,[23] both situations meaning there was no gap in power.
  15. ^ Because of the death of Haslet so early in his term, an early election was called. Unlike when Henry Molleston died, where the election was only for the final two years of his term, in this case the new election was for a new three-year term, causing the election schedule to shift.[21]
  16. ^ First term under the 1831 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.[7]
  17. ^ Special election called due to the deaths of Stockton and Maull[24]
  18. ^ Because Marvil died so early in his term, the General Assembly decided to conduct an election for a full term in 1896, changing the election schedule.[25]
  19. ^ a b c d e f Represented the Democratic Party
  20. ^ Boggs resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.[26]
  21. ^ Represented the Republican Party
  22. ^ Castle resigned to take an elected seat in the United States House of Representatives.[27]
  23. ^ Carper resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.[28]
  24. ^ Carney's second term will expire on January 2025; He will be term limited.

References

General
  • Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, DE: McClafferty Press.
  • "Former Delaware Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  • Pickett, Russell S. "Delaware Governors". Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  • Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789–1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 978-0930466015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
Constitutions
Specific
  1. ^ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ^ DE Const. art. III
  3. ^ DE Const. art. VII, § 1
  4. ^ 1776 Const. art 7
  5. ^ a b 1792 Const. art. III, § 1
  6. ^ 1792 Const. art. III, § 3
  7. ^ a b 1831 Const. art III, § 3
  8. ^ DE Const. art. III, § 5
  9. ^ 1776 Const. art. 7
  10. ^ a b DE Const. art. III, § 19
  11. ^ DE Const. art. III, § 20
  12. ^ "About Governor John Carney". Governor of Delaware. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  13. ^ Project, Delaware Federal Writers' (1938). Delaware: A Guide to the First State. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-60354-008-7. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  14. ^ McGuire, Thomas J. (2006). The Philadelphia Campaign. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 278. ISBN 0-8117-0206-5.
  15. ^ Rowe, Gail Stuart (1978). Thomas McKean: The Shaping of an American Republicanism. p. 147. ISBN 0-87081-100-2.
  16. ^ Conrad, Henry Clay (1908). History of the State of Delaware, Volume 3. Published by the author. p. 821. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  17. ^ Conrad, Henry Clay (1908). History of the State of Delaware, Volume 1. p. 153. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Richard Bassett". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  19. ^ Conrad, Henry Clay (1908). History of the State of Delaware, Volume 3. p. 829. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  20. ^ Wolcott, James L. (1896). Argument in Opposition to Henry A. Du Pont's Claim to the Office of United States Senator for the State of Delaware. pp. 44–45. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  21. ^ a b c Niles, H. (1824). Niles' Weekly Register. Vol. Volume I, Third Series. p. 121. ISBN 0-8371-3045-X. Retrieved October 25, 2009. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
  22. ^ "Delaware". The Encyclopedia Americana. Volume. Vol. VIII. 1918. p. 614. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  23. ^ Messersmith, George S. (1908). Government of Delaware. Amer. Bk. Company. p. 283. Retrieved October 25, 2009. joseph haslet 1823.
  24. ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776–1860: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland & Company. p. 28. ISBN 9780786414390. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  25. ^ "Delaware's Change in Elections". The New York Times. April 14, 1895. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  26. ^ "James Caleb Boggs". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  27. ^ "Michael Newbold Castle". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  28. ^ "About Tom Carper". United States Senate. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  29. ^ 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. 582–600. ISBN 0-89941-792-2. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  30. ^ 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. 568–582. ISBN 0-89941-792-2. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Governors of Delaware.

Template:Delaware year nav

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_governors_of_Delaware&oldid=1001390982"