List of governors of Delaware
| Governor of Delaware | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | Delaware Governor's Mansion Dover, Delaware |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | John McKinly |
| Formation | February 12, 1777 |
| Deputy | Matthew P. Denn |
| Salary | $171,000 (2009)[1] |
| Website | governor.delaware.gov |
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,[2] and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment, and only with the recommendation of the Board of Pardons.[3]
There have been 70 people who have served as governor, over 73 distinct 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 Jack Markell, who took office on January 20, 2009; his second term expires on January 17, 2017.
Governors
- For the period before independence, see the List of colonial governors of Pennsylvania.
Delaware was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, on December 7, 1787. 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.
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.[4] The constitution of 1792 renamed the position to governor,[5] 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 office of governor was 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 if 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.
American (1) Democratic (21)[a] Democratic-Republican (5)[a] Federalist (13)[b] National Republican (1) No party (9) Republican (17) Whig (6)[a]
Other high offices held
Seventeen of Delaware's governors have held other high offices, with six representing Delaware in the Continental Congress and twelve representing the state in the U.S. Congress. Two have served as President of Pennsylvania. Four (marked with *) resigned to take other offices, three in the U.S. Congress and one to be President of Pennsylvania.
All representatives and senators listed represented Delaware except where noted.
| Name | Gubernatorial term | Other offices held | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas McKean | 1777 | Continental Delegate (including President of the Continental Congress), President of Pennsylvania | [20] |
| George Read | 1777–1778 | Continental Delegate, Senator | [21] |
| Caesar Rodney | 1778–1781 | Continental Delegate | [22] |
| John Dickinson | 1781–1783 | Continental Delegate, Continental Delegate from Pennsylvania, President of Pennsylvania* | [23] |
| Nicholas Van Dyke | 1783–1786 | Continental Delegate | [24] |
| Joshua Clayton | 1789–1796 | Senator | [25] |
| Richard Bassett | 1799–1801 | Senator | [26] |
| Nathaniel Mitchell | 1805–1808 | Continental Delegate | [27] |
| Daniel Rodney | 1814–1817 | Representative, Senator | [28] |
| William Temple | 1846–1847 | Representative | [29] |
| Benjamin T. Biggs | 1887–1891 | Representative | [30] |
| John G. Townsend, Jr. | 1917–1921 | Senator | [31] |
| C. Douglass Buck | 1929–1937 | Senator | [32] |
| J. Caleb Boggs | 1953–1960 | Senator* | [33] |
| Pierre S. du Pont, IV | 1977–1985 | Representative | [34] |
| Michael Castle | 1985–1992 | Representative* | [35] |
| Thomas R. Carper | 1993–2001 | Representative, Senator* | [36] |
Living former governors
As of September 2014[update], six former governors were alive, the oldest being David P. Buckson (1960–1961, born 1920). The most recent death of a former governor was that of Russell W. Peterson (1969–1973), who died on February 20, 2011. The most recently serving governor to die was Sherman W. Tribbitt (1973–1977), who died on August 14, 2010 at the age of 87.
| Governor | Term of office | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| David P. Buckson | 1960–1961 | July 25, 1920 |
| 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 |
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c Includes one term served by a repeat governor.
- ^ Includes one term served by a repeat governor. Henry Molleston, having never taken office, is not included in this number.
- ^ The official numbering includes repeat and acting governors.
- ^ The highest office of Delaware was named president until 1792.
- ^ The office of lieutenant governor was created in the 1897 constitution, with the first election taking place in 1900.
- ^ Lieutenant governors were members of the same party as the governor except where noted.
- ^ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, because of resignations, deaths and the like.
- ^ McKinly was captured and taken prisoner by British forces.[12] He was exchanged for loyalist Governor William Franklin of New Jersey in August 1778.[13] 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.[14]
- ^ As Speaker of the Assembly, acted as chief executive following the capture of President McKinly until the return of Speaker of the Legislative Council George Read, who was the righful successor, from the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.[15]
- ^ a b As Speaker of the Legislative Council, served as vice-president for 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 h 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. The newly elected state senate chose a speaker, Jacob 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.[16]
- ^ a b 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,[17] and others say Haslet died on June 23,[18] both situations meaning there was no gap in power.
- ^ Because of the death of Governor Haslet so early in his term, elections were called early. Unlike when elections were called due to Henry Molleston's death, 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.[16]
- ^ Bennett was the first governor elected under the terms of the 1831 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.
- ^ As Speaker of the Senate, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in their own right.
- ^ Because of the death of Governor Marvil so early in his term, the General Assembly decided to conduct an election in 1896, to coincide with the election for President of the United States; thus, Watson was limited to filling out a two-year term.[19]
- ^ a b c d e f Represented the Democratic Party.
- ^ a b Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ a b As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
- ^ Represented the Republican Party.
- ^ 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 second term expires on January 17, 2017; he is term limited.
References
- General
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
- "Governors of Delaware". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on October 17, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- 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. ISBN 0-89941-792-2. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- Pickett, Russell S. "Delaware Governors". Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- Constitutions
- "Constitution of the State of Delaware". State of Delaware. 1897. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
- Constitution of the State of Delaware (1831)[37]
- Constitution of the State of Delaware (1792)[38]
- "Constitution of the State of Delaware". Avalon Project. Yale Law School. 1776. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
- Specific
- ^ "Highest-Paid State Employees". DelawareOnline. The News Journal. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
- ^ 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
- ^ McGuire, Thomas J. (2006). The Philadelphia Campaign. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 278. ISBN 0-8117-0206-5.
- ^ Rowe, Gail Stuart (1978). Thomas McKean: The Shaping of an American Republicanism. p. 147. ISBN 0-87081-100-2.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Project, Delaware Federal Writers' (1938). Delaware: A Guide to the First State. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-60354-008-7. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- ^ Conrad, Henry Clay (1908). History of the State of Delaware, Volume 3. p. 821. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- ^ a b 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) - ^ "Delaware". The Encyclopedia Americana. Volume. Vol. VIII. 1918. p. 614. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- ^ Messersmith, George S. (1908). Government of Delaware. p. 283. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- ^ "Delaware's Change in Elections". The New York Times. April 14, 1895. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- ^ "McKean, Thomas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Read, George". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Rodney, Caesar". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Dickinson, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Van Dyke, Nicholas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Clayton, Joshua". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Bassett, Richard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Mitchell, Nathaniel". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Rodney, Daniel". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Temple, William". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Biggs, Benjamin Thomas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Townsend, John Gillis, Jr". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Buck, Clayton Douglass". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Boggs, James Caleb". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "du Pont, Pierre Samuel, IV". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Castle, Michael Newbold". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Carper, Thomas Richard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ Thorpe pp. 582–600
- ^ Thorpe pp. 568–582
External links
 Delaware statewide elected officials | |
|---|---|