List of governors of Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Delaware |
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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 | Lieutenant Governor of Delaware |
Salary | $171,000 (2013) |
Website | governor.delaware.gov |
The governor of Delaware (president of Delaware from 1776 to 1792) is the head of government of Delaware 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, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment, and only with the recommendation of the Board of Pardons.
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.
The office of President was renamed Governor by the constitution of 1792, 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. The term was lengthened to four years by the 1831 constitution, but governors were limited to a single term. The current constitution of 1897 allows governors to serve two terms.
The 1776 constitution stated that if the presidency were vacant, the speaker of the legislative council would be a vice-president. 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, upon whom the office devolves in case of vacancy. The offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
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1 | John McKinly February 21, 1721 – August 31, 1796 (aged 75) |
February 12, 1777 – September 12, 1777 (arrested and removed) |
No parties | 1777 | Office did not exist | |||
— | Vacant | September 12, 1777 – September 22, 1777 |
Office vacant due to war |
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2 | Thomas McKean March 19, 1734 – June 24, 1817 (aged 83) |
September 22, 1777 – October 20, 1777 (successor took office) |
Speaker of the Assembly acting as Vice-President |
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3 | George Read September 18, 1733 – September 21, 1798 (aged 65) |
October 20, 1777 – March 31, 1778 (not candidate for election) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as Vice-President |
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4 | Caesar Rodney October 7, 1728 – June 26, 1784 (aged 55) |
March 31, 1778 – November 6, 1781 (not candidate for election) |
1778 | |||||
5 | John Dickinson November 13, 1732 – February 14, 1808 (aged 75) |
November 13, 1781 – January 12, 1783 (resigned) |
1781 | |||||
6 | John Cook 1730 – October 27, 1789 (aged 58 or 59) |
November 4, 1782 – February 1, 1783 (not candidate for election) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as Vice-President |
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7 | Nicholas Van Dyke September 25, 1738 – February 19, 1789 (aged 50) |
February 1, 1783 – October 28, 1786 (not candidate for election) |
1783 (special) |
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8 | Thomas Collins 1732 – March 29, 1789 (aged 56 or 57) |
October 28, 1786 – March 29, 1789 (died in office) |
1786 | |||||
9 | Jehu Davis 1738 – May 11, 1802 (aged 63 or 64) |
March 29, 1789 – June 2, 1789 (not candidate for election) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as Vice-President |
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10 | Joshua Clayton July 20, 1744 – August 11, 1798 (aged 54) |
June 2, 1789 – January 19, 1796 (not candidate for election) |
Federalist | 1789 | ||||
1792 | ||||||||
11 | Gunning Bedford Sr. April 7, 1742 – September 30, 1797 (aged 55) |
January 19, 1796 – September 30, 1797 (died in office) |
Federalist | 1795 | ||||
12 | Daniel Rogers January 3, 1754 – February 2, 1806 (aged 52) |
September 30, 1797 – January 9, 1799 (not candidate for election) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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13 | Richard Bassett April 2, 1745 – September 15, 1815 (aged 70) |
January 9, 1799 – March 3, 1801 (resigned) |
Federalist | 1798 | ||||
14 | James Sykes March 27, 1761 – October 18, 1822 (aged 61) |
March 3, 1801 – January 19, 1802 (not candidate for election) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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15 | David Hall January 4, 1752 – September 18, 1817 (aged 65) |
January 19, 1802 – January 15, 1805 (term-limited) |
Democratic-Republican | 1801 | ||||
16 | Nathaniel Mitchell 1753 – February 21, 1814 (aged 60 or 61) |
January 15, 1805 – January 19, 1808 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1804 | ||||
17 | George Truitt 1756 – October 8, 1818 (aged 61 or 62) |
January 19, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1807 | ||||
18 | Joseph Haslet 1769 – June 20, 1823 (aged 53 or 54) |
January 15, 1811 – January 18, 1814 (term-limited) |
Democratic-Republican | 1810 | ||||
19 | Daniel Rodney September 10, 1764 – September 2, 1846 (aged 81) |
January 18, 1814 – January 21, 1817 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1813 | ||||
20 | John Clark February 1, 1761 – August 14, 1821 (aged 60) |
January 21, 1817 – January 18, 1820 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1816 | ||||
— | Henry Molleston January 1, 1762 – November 11, 1819 (aged 57) |
Died before taking office |
Federalist | 1819 | ||||
21 | Jacob Stout 1764 – November 28, 1855 (aged 90 or 91) |
January 18, 1820 – January 16, 1821 (not candidate for election) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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22 | John Collins March 1, 1776 – April 16, 1822 (aged 46) |
January 16, 1821 – April 16, 1822 (died in office) |
Democratic-Republican | 1820 (special) |
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23 | Caleb Rodney April 29, 1767 – April 29, 1840 (aged 73) |
April 23, 1822 – January 21, 1823 (not candidate for election) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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24 | Joseph Haslet 1769 – June 20, 1823 (aged 53 or 54) |
January 21, 1823 – June 20, 1823 (died in office) |
Democratic-Republican | 1822 | ||||
25 | Charles Thomas June 23, 1790 – February 8, 1848 (aged 57) |
June 23, 1823 – January 20, 1824 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic-Republican | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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26 | Samuel Paynter August 24, 1768 – October 2, 1845 (aged 77) |
January 20, 1824 – January 16, 1827 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1823 (special) |
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27 | Charles Polk Jr. November 15, 1788 – October 27, 1857 (aged 68) |
January 16, 1827 – January 19, 1830 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1826 | ||||
28 | David Hazzard May 18, 1781 – July 8, 1864 (aged 83) |
January 19, 1830 – January 15, 1833 (term-limited) |
National Republican | 1829 | ||||
29 | Caleb P. Bennett November 11, 1758 – May 9, 1836 (aged 77) |
January 15, 1833 – May 9, 1836 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1832 | ||||
30 | Charles Polk Jr. November 15, 1788 – October 27, 1857 (aged 68) |
May 9, 1836 – January 17, 1837 (not candidate for election) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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31 | Cornelius P. Comegys January 15, 1780 – January 27, 1851 (aged 71) |
January 17, 1837 – January 19, 1841 (term-limited) |
Whig | 1836 | ||||
32 | William B. Cooper December 16, 1771 – April 27, 1849 (aged 77) |
January 19, 1841 – January 21, 1845 (term-limited) |
Whig | 1840 | ||||
33 | Thomas Stockton April 1, 1781 – March 2, 1846 (aged 64) |
January 21, 1845 – March 2, 1846 (died in office) |
Whig | 1844 | ||||
34 | Joseph Maull September 6, 1781 – May 3, 1846 (aged 64) |
March 2, 1846 – May 3, 1846 (died in office) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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35 | William Temple February 28, 1814 – May 28, 1863 (aged 49) |
May 6, 1846 – January 19, 1847 (not candidate for election) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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36 | William Tharp November 27, 1803 – January 9, 1865 (aged 61) |
January 19, 1847 – January 21, 1851 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1846 (special) |
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37 | William H. H. Ross June 2, 1814 – June 29, 1887 (aged 73) |
January 21, 1851 – January 16, 1855 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1850 | ||||
38 | Peter F. Causey January 11, 1801 – February 15, 1871 (aged 70) |
January 16, 1855 – January 18, 1859 (term-limited) |
American | 1854 | ||||
39 | William Burton October 16, 1789 – August 5, 1866 (aged 76) |
January 18, 1859 – January 20, 1863 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1858 | ||||
40 | William Cannon March 15, 1809 – March 1, 1865 (aged 55) |
January 20, 1863 – March 1, 1865 (died in office) |
Republican | 1862 | ||||
41 | Gove Saulsbury May 29, 1815 – July 31, 1881 (aged 66) |
March 1, 1865 – January 17, 1871 (term-limited) |
Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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1866 | ||||||||
42 | James Ponder October 31, 1819 – November 5, 1897 (aged 78) |
January 17, 1871 – January 19, 1875 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1870 | ||||
43 | John P. Cochran February 7, 1809 – December 27, 1898 (aged 89) |
January 19, 1875 – January 21, 1879 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1874 | ||||
44 | John W. Hall January 1, 1817 – January 23, 1892 (aged 75) |
January 21, 1879 – January 16, 1883 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1878 | ||||
45 | Charles C. Stockley November 6, 1819 – April 20, 1901 (aged 81) |
January 16, 1883 – January 18, 1887 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1882 | ||||
46 | Benjamin T. Biggs October 1, 1821 – December 25, 1893 (aged 72) |
January 18, 1887 – January 20, 1891 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1886 | ||||
47 | Robert J. Reynolds March 17, 1838 – June 10, 1909 (aged 71) |
January 20, 1891 – January 15, 1895 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1890 | ||||
48 | Joshua H. Marvil September 3, 1825 – April 8, 1895 (aged 69) |
January 15, 1895 – April 8, 1895 (died in office) |
Republican | 1894 | ||||
49 | William T. Watson June 22, 1849 – April 14, 1917 (aged 67) |
April 8, 1895 – January 19, 1897 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting as Governor |
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50 | Ebe W. Tunnell December 31, 1844 – December 18, 1917 (aged 72) |
January 19, 1897 – January 15, 1901 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1896 | ||||
51 | John Hunn June 23, 1849 – September 1, 1926 (aged 77) |
January 15, 1901 – January 17, 1905 (not candidate for election) |
Republican | 1900 | Philip L. Cannon | |||
52 | Preston Lea November 12, 1841 – December 4, 1916 (aged 75) |
January 17, 1905 – January 19, 1909 (not candidate for election) |
Republican | 1904 | Isaac T. Parker | |||
53 | Simeon S. Pennewill July 23, 1867 – September 10, 1935 (aged 68) |
January 19, 1909 – January 21, 1913 (not candidate for election) |
Republican | 1908 | John M. Mendinhall | |||
54 | Charles R. Miller September 30, 1857 – September 18, 1927 (aged 69) |
January 21, 1913 – January 16, 1917 (not candidate for election) |
Republican | 1912 | Colen Ferguson | |||
55 | John G. Townsend Jr. May 31, 1871 – April 10, 1964 (aged 92) |
January 16, 1917 – January 18, 1921 (not candidate for election) |
Republican | 1916 | Lewis E. Eliason | |||
56 | William D. Denney March 31, 1873 – November 21, 1953 (aged 80) |
January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925 (not candidate for election) |
Republican | 1920 | J. Danforth Bush | |||
57 | Robert P. Robinson March 28, 1869 – March 4, 1939 (aged 69) |
January 20, 1925 – January 15, 1929 (not candidate for election) |
Republican | 1924 | James H. Anderson | |||
58 | C. Douglass Buck March 21, 1890 – January 27, 1965 (aged 74) |
January 15, 1929 – January 19, 1937 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1928 | James H. Hazel | |||
1932 | Roy F. Corley | |||||||
59 | Richard McMullen January 2, 1868 – February 18, 1944 (aged 76) |
January 19, 1937 – January 21, 1941 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1936 | Edward W. Cooch | |||
60 | Walter W. Bacon January 20, 1880 – March 18, 1962 (aged 82) |
January 21, 1941 – January 18, 1949 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1940 | Isaac J. MacCollum | |||
1944 | Elbert N. Carvel | |||||||
61 | Elbert N. Carvel February 9, 1910 – February 6, 2005 (aged 94) |
January 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1948 | Alexis I. du Pont Bayard | |||
62 | J. Caleb Boggs May 15, 1909 – March 26, 1993 (aged 83) |
January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960 (resigned) |
Republican | 1952 | John W. Rollins | |||
1956 | David P. Buckson | |||||||
63 | David P. Buckson July 25, 1920 – January 17, 2017 (aged 96) |
December 30, 1960 – January 17, 1961 (successor took office) |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
64 | Elbert N. Carvel February 9, 1910 – February 6, 2005 (aged 94) |
January 17, 1961 – January 19, 1965 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1960 | Eugene Lammot | |||
65 | Charles L. Terry Jr. September 17, 1900 – February 6, 1970 (aged 69) |
January 19, 1965 – January 21, 1969 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1964 | Sherman W. Tribbitt | |||
66 | Russell W. Peterson October 3, 1916 – February 21, 2011 (aged 94) |
January 21, 1969 – January 16, 1973 (lost election) |
Republican | 1968 | Eugene Bookhammer | |||
67 | Sherman W. Tribbitt November 9, 1922 – August 14, 2010 (aged 87) |
January 16, 1973 – January 18, 1977 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1972 | ||||
68 | Pete du Pont January 22, 1935 – May 8, 2021 (aged 86) |
January 18, 1977 – January 15, 1985 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1976 | James D. McGinnis | |||
1980 | Mike Castle | |||||||
69 | Mike Castle July 2, 1939 |
January 15, 1985 – December 31, 1992 (resigned) |
Republican | 1984 | Shien Biau Woo | |||
1988 | Dale E. Wolf | |||||||
70 | Dale E. Wolf September 6, 1924 – March 20, 2021 (aged 96) |
December 31, 1992 – January 19, 1993 (successor took office) |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
71 | Tom Carper January 23, 1947 |
January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1992 | Ruth Ann Minner | |||
1996 | ||||||||
72 | Ruth Ann Minner January 17, 1935 – November 4, 2021 (aged 86) |
January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2009 (term-limited) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
2000 | John Carney | |||||||
2004 | ||||||||
73 | Jack Markell November 26, 1960 |
January 20, 2009 – January 17, 2017 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 2008 | Matthew Denn (resigned January 6, 2015) |
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2012 | ||||||||
Vacant | ||||||||
74 | John Carney May 20, 1956 |
January 17, 2017 – Incumbent |
Democratic | 2016 | Bethany Hall-Long | |||
2020 |
See also
- Delaware gubernatorial elections
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Delaware