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List of governors of Delaware facts for kids

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Governor of Delaware
Seal of Delaware.svg
John C. Carney Jr. official portrait 112th Congress (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
John Carney

since January 17, 2017
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.

Governors of the State of Delaware
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
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
2 ThomasMcKean.gif   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
3 GeorgeRead.gif 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
4 CaesarRodney.jpeg Caesar Rodney
    October 7, 1728 – June 26, 1784   
(aged 55)
March 31, 1778

November 6, 1781
(not candidate for election)
1778
5 JohnDickinson4.gif 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
7 Nicholas Van Dyke
    September 25, 1738 – February 19, 1789   
(aged 50)
February 1, 1783

October 28, 1786
(not candidate for election)
1783
(special)
8 ThomasCollins.gif 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
10 JoshuaClayton.gif 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 (Senior).jpg 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
13 Richard bassett.jpg 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
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.jpg Daniel Rodney
    September 10, 1764 – September 2, 1846   
(aged 81)
January 18, 1814

January 21, 1817
(term-limited)
Federalist 1813
20 Delaware governor John Clark.png 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
22 John Collins
    March 1, 1776 – April 16, 1822   
(aged 46)
January 16, 1821

April 16, 1822
(died in office)
Democratic-Republican 1820
(special)
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
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
26 SamuelPaynter.gif Samuel Paynter
    August 24, 1768 – October 2, 1845   
(aged 77)
January 20, 1824

January 16, 1827
(term-limited)
Federalist 1823
(special)
27 CharlesPolk.png Charles Polk Jr.
    November 15, 1788 – October 27, 1857   
(aged 68)
January 16, 1827

January 19, 1830
(term-limited)
Federalist 1826
28 DavidHazzard.png David Hazzard
    May 18, 1781 – July 8, 1864   
(aged 83)
January 19, 1830

January 15, 1833
(term-limited)
National Republican 1829
29 CalebBennett.png Caleb P. Bennett
    November 11, 1758 – May 9, 1836   
(aged 77)
January 15, 1833

May 9, 1836
(died in office)
Democratic 1832
30 CharlesPolk.png 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
31 CorneliusComegys.png 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 ThomasStockton.gif Thomas Stockton
    April 1, 1781 – March 2, 1846   
(aged 64)
January 21, 1845

March 2, 1846
(died in office)
Whig 1844
34 JosephMaull.gif 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
35 WilliamTemple.gif 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
36 WilliamTharp.gif William Tharp
    November 27, 1803 – January 9, 1865   
(aged 61)
January 19, 1847

January 21, 1851
(term-limited)
Democratic 1846
(special)
37 WilliamRoss.gif William H. H. Ross
    June 2, 1814 – June 29, 1887   
(aged 73)
January 21, 1851

January 16, 1855
(term-limited)
Democratic 1850
38 PeterCausey.gif Peter F. Causey
    January 11, 1801 – February 15, 1871   
(aged 70)
January 16, 1855

January 18, 1859
(term-limited)
American 1854
39 William Burton (governor).jpg William Burton
    October 16, 1789 – August 5, 1866   
(aged 76)
January 18, 1859

January 20, 1863
(term-limited)
Democratic 1858
40 WilliamCannon.gif William Cannon
    March 15, 1809 – March 1, 1865   
(aged 55)
January 20, 1863

March 1, 1865
(died in office)
Republican 1862
41 GoveSaulsbury.gif 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
1866
42 JamesPonder.gif James Ponder
    October 31, 1819 – November 5, 1897   
(aged 78)
January 17, 1871

January 19, 1875
(term-limited)
Democratic 1870
43 CochranJohn.png John P. Cochran
    February 7, 1809 – December 27, 1898   
(aged 89)
January 19, 1875

January 21, 1879
(term-limited)
Democratic 1874
44 HallJohnWood.gif John W. Hall
    January 1, 1817 – January 23, 1892   
(aged 75)
January 21, 1879

January 16, 1883
(term-limited)
Democratic 1878
45 StockleyCharles.gif Charles C. Stockley
    November 6, 1819 – April 20, 1901   
(aged 81)
January 16, 1883

January 18, 1887
(term-limited)
Democratic 1882
46 BenjaminBiggs.png Benjamin T. Biggs
    October 1, 1821 – December 25, 1893   
(aged 72)
January 18, 1887

January 20, 1891
(term-limited)
Democratic 1886
47 RobertReynolds.gif Robert J. Reynolds
    March 17, 1838 – June 10, 1909   
(aged 71)
January 20, 1891

January 15, 1895
(term-limited)
Democratic 1890
48 MarvilJoshua.gif Joshua H. Marvil
    September 3, 1825 – April 8, 1895   
(aged 69)
January 15, 1895

April 8, 1895
(died in office)
Republican 1894
49 WilliamTharpWatson.gif 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
50 Ebetunnell.png Ebe W. Tunnell
    December 31, 1844 – December 18, 1917   
(aged 72)
January 19, 1897

January 15, 1901
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1896
51 Hunn.gif 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.gif 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 PENNEWILL, S.S. GOVERNOR LCCN2016857560 (cropped).jpg 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 Miller 2989417695 76253e1e15 o.jpg 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.jpg 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 duHamel Denney.png 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 LCCN2014717858.jpg 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.jpg 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 (DE 2).png 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.jpg 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 Buckson (DE).png 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 Carvel (1963) (cropped).png 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 Terry (1965).png 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 Delaware gov russ peterson.jpg 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. Tribbett (1922–2010), Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.jpg Sherman W. Tribbitt
    November 9, 1922 – August 14, 2010   
(aged 87)
January 16, 1973

January 18, 1977
(lost election)
Democratic 1972
68 DupontPETE (cropped).jpg 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 1982.jpg Mike Castle
    (1939-07-02) July 2, 1939 (age 84)
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 Thomas Carper.jpg Tom Carper
    (1947-01-23) January 23, 1947 (age 77)
January 19, 1993

January 3, 2001
(resigned)
Democratic 1992 Ruth Ann Minner
1996
72 Ruth Ann Minner.jpg 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 48-DPA-944 DSC 9158 (cropped).jpg Jack Markell
    (1960-11-26) November 26, 1960 (age 63)
January 20, 2009

January 17, 2017
(term-limited)
Democratic 2008 Matthew Denn
(resigned January 6, 2015)
2012
Vacant
74 John C. Carney Jr. official portrait 112th Congress (cropped).jpg John Carney
    (1956-05-20) May 20, 1956 (age 67)
January 17, 2017

Incumbent
Democratic 2016 Bethany Hall-Long
2020

See also

  • Delaware gubernatorial elections
  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Delaware
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