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List of governors of Tennessee

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This is a list of people who have served as Governor of Tennessee.

The governor's term in office is limited by the Tennessee 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

  Democratic-Republican

# Picture Governor
(Birth–Death) 		Term of Office Party State of Birth Occupation Notes
1 style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color;"|  William Blount
(1749–1800) 		September 20, 1790
–
March 30, 1796 		Democratic-Republican NC Land speculator [6]

State of Tennessee

Parties

  Democratic-Republican   Democratic   Whig   Unionist/Military   Republican

#[7] Picture Governor
(Birth–Death) 		Term of Office Party State of Birth Occupation Lt. Governor Notes
1 style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color;"|  John Sevier
(1745–1815) 		March 30, 1796
–
September 23, 1801 		Democratic-Republican VA Soldier, farmer None
2 style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color;"|  Archibald Roane
(1760–1819) 		September 23, 1801
–
September 23, 1803 		Democratic-Republican PA Lawyer
1 style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color;"|  John Sevier
(1745–1815) 		September 23, 1803
–
September 20, 1809 		Democratic-Republican VA Soldier, farmer
3 style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color;"|  Willie Blount
(1768–1835) 		September 20, 1809
–
September 27, 1815 		Democratic-Republican NC Lawyer, planter
4 style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color;"|  Joseph McMinn
(1758–1824) 		September 27, 1815
–
October 1, 1821 		Democratic-Republican PA Merchant
5 style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color;"|  William Carroll
(1788–1844) 		October 1, 1821
–
October 1, 1827 		Democratic-Republican PA Merchant, soldier
6 style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party/meta/color;"|  Sam Houston
(1793–1863) 		October 1, 1827
–
April 16, 1829 		Democratic-Republican VA Lawyer
7 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  William Hall
(1775–1856) 		April 16, 1829
–
October 1, 1829 		Democratic NC Planter, soldier
5 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  William Carroll
(1788–1844) 		October 1, 1829
–
October 12, 1835 		Democratic PA Merchant, soldier
8 style="background: Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Newton Cannon
(1781–1841) 		October 12, 1835
–
October 14, 1839 		Whig NC Planter
9 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  James K. Polk
(1795–1849) 		October 14, 1839
–
October 15, 1841 		Democratic NC Lawyer, politician
10 style="background: Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  James C. Jones
(1809–1859) 		October 15, 1841
–
October 14, 1845 		Whig TN Lawyer
11 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Aaron V. Brown
(1795–1859) 		October 14, 1845
–
October 17, 1847 		Democratic VA Lawyer
12 style="background: Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Neill S. Brown
(1810–1886) 		October 17, 1847
–
October 16, 1849 		Whig TN Lawyer
13 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  William Trousdale
(1790–1872) 		October 16, 1849
–
October 16, 1851 		Democratic NC Lawyer
14 style="background: Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  William B. Campbell
(1807–1867) 		October 16, 1851
–
October 17, 1853 		Whig TN Lawyer
15 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Andrew Johnson
(1808–1875) 		October 17, 1853
–
November 3, 1857 		Democratic NC Tailor, lawyer, politician
16 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Isham G. Harris
(1818–1897) 		November 3, 1857
–
March 12, 1862 		Democratic TN Lawyer, politician [8]
15 style="background: Template:Unionist Party/meta/color;"|  Andrew Johnson
(1808–1875) 		March 12, 1862
–
March 4, 1865 		Unionist/Military NC Lawyer, politician
— style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Edward H. East
(1830–1904) 		March 4, 1865
–
April 5, 1865 		Republican TN Lawyer [9]
17 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  William G. Brownlow
(1805–1877) 		April 5, 1865
–
February 25, 1869 		Republican VA Editor, preacher
18 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Dewitt Clinton Senter
(1830–1898) 		February 25, 1869
–
October 10, 1871 		Republican TN Lawyer
19 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  John C. Brown
(1827–1889) 		October 10, 1871
–
January 18, 1875 		Democratic TN Lawyer
20 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  James D. Porter
(1828–1912) 		January 18, 1875
–
February 16, 1879 		Democratic TN Lawyer, educator
21 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Albert S. Marks
(1836–1891) 		February 16, 1879
–
January 17, 1881 		Democratic KY Lawyer, judge
22 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Alvin Hawkins
(1821–1905) 		January 17, 1881
–
January 15, 1883 		Republican KY Lawyer, judge
23 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  William B. Bate
(1826–1905) 		January 15, 1883
–
January 17, 1887 		Democratic TN Lawyer, politician
24 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Robert Love Taylor
(1850–1912) 		January 17, 1887
–
January 19, 1891 		Democratic TN Lawyer, politician
25 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  John P. Buchanan
(1847–1930) 		January 19, 1891
–
January 16, 1893 		Democratic TN Farmer
26 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Peter Turney
(1827–1903) 		January 16, 1893
–
January 21, 1897 		Democratic TN Lawyer, judge
24 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Robert Love Taylor
(1850–1912) 		January 21, 1897
–
January 16, 1899 		Democratic TN Lawyer, politician
27 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Benton McMillin
(1845–1933) 		January 16, 1899
–
January 19, 1903 		Democratic KY Lawyer, diplomat
28 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  James B. Frazier
(1856–1937) 		January 19, 1903
–
March 21, 1905 		Democratic TN Lawyer, politician
29 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  John I. Cox
(1855–1946) 		March 21, 1905
–
January 17, 1907 		Democratic TN Lawyer
30 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Malcolm R. Patterson
(1861–1935) 		January 17, 1907
–
January 26, 1911 		Democratic AL Lawyer, judge
31 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Ben W. Hooper
(1870–1957) 		January 26, 1911
–
January 17, 1915 		Republican TN Lawyer
32 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Thomas C. Rye
(1863–1953) 		January 17, 1915
–
January 15, 1919 		Democratic TN Lawyer, judge
33 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Albert H. Roberts
(1868–1946) 		January 15, 1919
–
January 15, 1921 		Democratic TN Lawyer, judge
34 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Alfred A. Taylor
(1848–1931) 		January 15, 1921
–
January 16, 1923 		Republican TN Lawyer
35 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Austin Peay
(1876–1927) 		January 16, 1923
–
October 3, 1927 		Democratic KY Lawyer [10]
36 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Henry Hollis Horton
(1866–1934) 		October 3, 1927
–
January 17, 1933 		Democratic AL Lawyer, farmer
37 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Hill McAlister
(1875–1959) 		January 17, 1933
–
January 15, 1937 		Democratic TN Lawyer
38 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Gordon Browning
(1889–1976) 		January 15, 1937
–
January 16, 1939 		Democratic TN Lawyer, judge
39 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Prentice Cooper
(1895–1969) 		January 16, 1939
–
January 16, 1945 		Democratic TN Lawyer
40 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Jim Nance McCord
(1879–1968) 		January 16, 1945
–
January 16, 1949 		Democratic TN Editor
38 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Gordon Browning
(1889–1976) 		January 16, 1949
–
January 15, 1953 		Democratic TN Lawyer, judge
style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Walter M. Haynes
41 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Frank G. Clement
(1920–1969) 		January 15, 1953
–
January 19, 1959 		Democratic TN Lawyer style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Jared Maddux
42 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Buford Ellington
(1907–1972) 		January 19, 1959
–
January 15, 1963 		Democratic MS Farmer style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  William D. Baird
41 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Frank G. Clement
(1920–1969) 		January 15, 1963
–
January 16, 1967 		Democratic TN Lawyer style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  James L. Bomar, Jr.
style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Jared Maddux
42 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Buford Ellington
(1907–1972) 		January 16, 1967
–
January 16, 1971 		Democratic MS Farmer style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Frank Gorrell
43 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Winfield Dunn
(b. 1927) 		January 16, 1971
–
January 18, 1975 		Republican MS Dentist rowspan="6" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  John S. Wilder
44 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Ray Blanton
(1930–1996) 		January 18, 1975
–
January 17, 1979 		Democratic TN Farmer, businessman
45 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Lamar Alexander
(b. 1940) 		January 20, 1979
–
January 17, 1987 		Republican TN Lawyer, politician
46 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Ned McWherter
(1930–2011) 		January 17, 1987
–
January 21, 1995 		Democratic TN Businessman
47 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Don Sundquist
(b. 1936) 		January 21, 1995
–
January 18, 2003 		Republican IL Businessman
48 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Phil Bredesen
(b. 1943) 		January 18, 2003
–
January 15, 2011 		Democratic NJ Businessman
rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Ron Ramsey
49 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Bill Haslam
(b. 1958) 		January 15, 2011
–
January 19, 2019 		Republican TN Businessman
rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Randy McNally
50 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Bill Lee
(b. 1959) 		January 19, 2019
–
present 		Republican TN Businessman

Other high offices held by governors

This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Tennessee except where noted. * denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.

Governor Gubernatorial term U.S. Congress Other offices held
House Senate
William Blount 1790–1796 (territorial) S Continental Congressman from North Carolina
John Sevier 1796–1801
1803–1809 		H U.S. Representative from North Carolina; Governor of the State of Franklin
Sam Houston 1827–1829 H President of the Republic of Texas; U.S. Senator from Texas; Governor of Texas
William Hall 1829 H
Newton Cannon 1835–1839 H
James K. Polk 1839–1841 H 11th President of the United States
James C. Jones 1841–1845 S
Aaron V. Brown 1845–1847 H United States Postmaster General
Neill S. Brown 1847–1849 United States Minister to Russia
William Trousdale 1849–1851 United States Minister to Brazil
William B. Campbell 1851–1853 H
Andrew Johnson 1853–1857
1862–1865 		H S 17th President of the United States; 16th Vice President of the United States
Isham G. Harris 1857–1862 H S
William G. Brownlow 1865–1869 S
James D. Porter 1875–1879 United States Minister to Chile
William B. Bate 1883–1887 S
Robert Love Taylor 1897–1899 H S
Benton McMillin 1899–1903 H United States Minister to Peru; United States Minister to Guatemala
James B. Frazier 1903–1905 S*
Malcolm R. Patterson 1907–1911 H
Alfred A. Taylor 1921–1923 H
Gordon Browning 1937–1939
1949–1953 		H
Prentice Cooper 1939–1945 United States Ambassador to Peru
Jim Nance McCord 1945–1949 H
Ray Blanton 1975–1979 H
Lamar Alexander 1979–1987 S United States Secretary of Education
Don Sundquist 1995–2003 H

Living former Governors of Tennessee

As of January 2019, there are five former governors who are currently living, the oldest being Winfield Dunn (served 1971–1975, born 1927). The most recent death of a former Tennessee governor was that of Ned McWherter (served 1987–1995, born 1930), on April 4, 2011, who is also the most recently serving governor to have died.

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Winfield Dunn 1971–1975 (1927-07-01) July 1, 1927 (age 97)
Lamar Alexander 1979–1987 (1940-07-03) July 3, 1940 (age 84)
Don Sundquist 1995–2003 (1936-03-15) March 15, 1936 (age 88)
Phil Bredesen 2003–2011 (1943-11-21) November 21, 1943 (age 80)
Bill Haslam 2011–2019 (1958-08-23) August 23, 1958 (age 66)

References

Specific
  1. ^ Jonathan M. Atkins. "William Carroll" in Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture (online edition). Accessed January 27, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Government", Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
  3. ^ Government and politics in Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press. 2001. p. 48–49. ISBN 978-1-57233-141-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Office of the Governor
  5. ^ "Past Governors Archived July 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine," Tennessee Blue Book (2011–2012), pp. 547, 553.
  6. ^ Appointed governor by President George Washington
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Peay was the only Governor of Tennessee to die in office, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Henry Horton.
General
  • Vile, John R., and Byrnes, Mark E. Tennessee Government and Politics: Democracy in the Volunteer State. 1998, Vanderbilt University Press. p. 43
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