List of governors of Georgia facts for kids
The governor of Georgia is the head of government of Georgia and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The current officeholder is Republican Brian Kemp, who assumed office on January 14, 2019.
There have officially been 77 governors of the State of Georgia, including 11 who served more than one distinct term (John Houstoun, George Walton, Edward Telfair, George Mathews, Jared Irwin, David Brydie Mitchell, George Rockingham Gilmer, M. Hoke Smith, Joseph Mackey Brown, John M. Slaton and Eugene Talmadge, with Herman Talmadge serving two de facto distinct terms).
The longest-serving governors are George Busbee, Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller, Sonny Perdue and Nathan Deal, each of whom served two full four-year terms; Joseph E. Brown, governor during the Civil War, was elected four times, serving seven and a half years. The shortest term of the post-revolutionary period is that of Matthew Talbot, who served 13 days after succeeding his predecessor who died in office. Eugene Talmadge died in December 1946 before taking office in his second distinct term, leading to a dispute in which three people claimed the office.
Governors
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Archibald Bulloch | January 22, 1776 – February 22, 1777 (died in office) |
None | — | Office did not exist | |||
8 | Button Gwinnett | March 4, 1777 – May 8, 1777 |
None | — | ||||
9 | John A. Treutlen | May 8, 1777 – January 10, 1778 |
None | — | ||||
10 | John Houstoun | January 10, 1778 – December 29, 1778 |
None | — | ||||
— | Vacant Chairman of the Executive Council (Governor) John Houstoun January 10, 1778 – January 7, 1779 William Glascock January 7, 1779 – July 24, 1779 Seth John Cuthbert July 24, 1779 – August 6, 1779 |
December 29, 1778 – August 6, 1779 |
— | Government in chaos after fall of Savannah |
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11 | John Wereat | August 6, 1779 – November 1779 |
None | — | ||||
12 | George Walton | November 1779 – January 4, 1780 |
None | — | ||||
13 | Richard Howly | January 4, 1780 – February 5, 1780 (resigned) |
— | |||||
George Wells | February 6, 1780 – February 16, 1780 |
None | ||||||
14 | Stephen Heard | February 18, 1780 – August 18, 1781 |
None | |||||
Myrick Davies | August 1780 – August 16, 1781 |
None | ||||||
15 | Nathan Brownson | August 18, 1781 – January 3, 1782 (term limited) |
None | 1781 | ||||
16 | John Martin | January 3, 1782 – January 8, 1783 (term limited) |
None | 1782 | ||||
17 | Lyman Hall | January 8, 1783 – January 9, 1784 (term limited) |
None | 1783 | ||||
10 | John Houstoun | January 9, 1784 – January 6, 1785 (term limited) |
None | 1784 | ||||
18 | Samuel Elbert | January 6, 1785 – January 9, 1786 (term limited) |
None | 1785 | ||||
19 | Edward Telfair | January 9, 1786 – January 9, 1787 (term limited) |
None | 1786 | ||||
20 | George Mathews | January 9, 1787 – January 26, 1788 (term limited) |
None | 1787 | ||||
21 | George Handley | January 26, 1788 – January 7, 1789 (term limited) |
None | 1788 | ||||
12 | George Walton | January 7, 1789 – November 9, 1789 (term limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
Jan. 1789 | ||||
19 | Edward Telfair | November 9, 1789 – November 7, 1793 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
Nov. 1789 | ||||
1791 | ||||||||
20 | George Mathews | November 7, 1793 – January 15, 1796 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1793 | ||||
22 | Jared Irwin | January 15, 1796 – January 12, 1798 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1795 | ||||
23 | James Jackson | January 12, 1798 – March 3, 1801 (resigned) |
Democratic- Republican |
1797 | ||||
1799 | ||||||||
24 | David Emanuel | March 3, 1801 – November 7, 1801 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
Succeeded from President of the Senate |
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25 | Josiah Tattnall | November 7, 1801 – November 4, 1802 (resigned) |
Democratic- Republican |
1801 | ||||
26 | John Milledge | November 4, 1802 – September 23, 1806 (resigned) |
Democratic- Republican |
1802 (special) |
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1803 | ||||||||
1805 | ||||||||
22 | Jared Irwin | September 23, 1806 – November 10, 1809 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
Succeeded from President of the Senate |
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1807 | ||||||||
27 | David Brydie Mitchell | November 10, 1809 – November 5, 1813 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1809 | ||||
1811 | ||||||||
28 | Peter Early | November 5, 1813 – November 20, 1815 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1813 | ||||
27 | David Brydie Mitchell | November 20, 1815 – March 4, 1817 (resigned) |
Democratic- Republican |
1815 | ||||
29 | William Rabun | March 4, 1817 – October 24, 1819 (died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
Succeeded from President of the Senate |
||||
1817 | ||||||||
30 | Matthew Talbot | October 24, 1819 – November 5, 1819 (successor took office) |
Democratic- Republican |
Succeeded from President of the Senate |
||||
31 | John Clark | November 5, 1819 – November 7, 1823 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1819 | ||||
1821 | ||||||||
32 | George Troup | November 7, 1823 – November 7, 1827 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1823 | ||||
1825 | ||||||||
33 | John Forsyth | November 7, 1827 – November 4, 1829 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1827 | ||||
34 | George Rockingham Gilmer | November 4, 1829 – November 9, 1831 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1829 | ||||
35 | Wilson Lumpkin | November 9, 1831 – November 4, 1835 (not candidate for election) |
Union (Democratic) | 1831 | ||||
1833 | ||||||||
36 | William Schley | November 4, 1835 – November 8, 1837 (not candidate for election) |
Union (Democratic) | 1835 | ||||
34 | George Rockingham Gilmer | November 8, 1837 – November 6, 1839 (not candidate for election) |
State Rights (Whig) | 1837 | ||||
37 | Charles James McDonald | November 6, 1839 – November 8, 1843 (not candidate for election) |
Union (Democratic) | 1839 | ||||
1841 | ||||||||
38 | George W. Crawford | November 8, 1843 – November 3, 1847 (not candidate for election) |
Whig | 1843 | ||||
1845 | ||||||||
39 | George W. Towns | November 3, 1847 – November 5, 1851 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1847 | ||||
1849 | ||||||||
40 | Howell Cobb | November 5, 1851 – November 9, 1853 (not candidate for election) |
Constitutional Union | 1851 | ||||
41 | Herschel Vespasian Johnson | November 9, 1853 – November 6, 1857 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1853 | ||||
1855 | ||||||||
42 | Joseph E. Brown | November 6, 1857 – June 17, 1865 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1857 | ||||
1859 | ||||||||
1861 | ||||||||
1863 | ||||||||
43 | James Johnson | June 17, 1865 – December 14, 1865 (provisional term ended) |
Democratic | Provisional governor appointed by President |
||||
44 | Charles J. Jenkins | December 14, 1865 – January 13, 1868 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1865 | ||||
45 | Thomas H. Ruger | January 13, 1868 – July 4, 1868 (state readmitted) |
— | Military occupation |
||||
46 | Rufus Bullock | July 4, 1868 – October 30, 1871 (resigned) |
Republican | 1868 | ||||
47 | Benjamin F. Conley | October 30, 1871 – January 12, 1872 |
Republican | President of the Senate acting as Governor |
||||
48 | James Milton Smith | January 12, 1872 – January 12, 1877 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1871 (special) |
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1872 | ||||||||
49 | Alfred H. Colquitt | January 12, 1877 – November 4, 1882 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1876 | ||||
1880 | ||||||||
50 | Alexander H. Stephens | November 4, 1882 – March 4, 1883 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1882 | ||||
51 | James S. Boynton | March 4, 1883 – May 10, 1883 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting as Governor |
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52 | Henry Dickerson McDaniel | May 10, 1883 – November 9, 1886 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1883 (special) |
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1884 | ||||||||
53 | John Brown Gordon | November 9, 1886 – November 8, 1890 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1886 | ||||
1888 | ||||||||
54 | William J. Northen | November 8, 1890 – October 27, 1894 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1890 | ||||
1892 | ||||||||
55 | William Yates Atkinson | October 27, 1894 – October 29, 1898 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1894 | ||||
1896 | ||||||||
56 | Allen D. Candler | October 29, 1898 – October 25, 1902 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1898 | ||||
1900 | ||||||||
57 | Joseph M. Terrell | October 25, 1902 – June 29, 1907 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1902 | ||||
1904 | ||||||||
58 | M. Hoke Smith | June 29, 1907 – June 26, 1909 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1906 | ||||
59 | Joseph Mackey Brown | June 26, 1909 – July 1, 1911 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1908 | ||||
58 | M. Hoke Smith | July 1, 1911 – November 15, 1911 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1910 | ||||
60 | John M. Slaton | November 16, 1911 – January 25, 1912 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting as Governor |
||||
59 | Joseph Mackey Brown | January 25, 1912 – June 28, 1913 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1912 (special) |
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60 | John M. Slaton | June 28, 1913 – June 26, 1915 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1912 | ||||
61 | Nathaniel Edwin Harris | June 26, 1915 – June 30, 1917 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1914 | ||||
62 | Hugh Dorsey | June 30, 1917 – June 25, 1921 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1916 | ||||
1918 | ||||||||
63 | Thomas W. Hardwick | June 25, 1921 – June 30, 1923 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1920 | ||||
64 | Clifford Walker | June 30, 1923 – June 25, 1927 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1922 | ||||
1924 | ||||||||
65 | Lamartine Griffin Hardman | June 25, 1927 – June 27, 1931 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1926 | ||||
1928 | ||||||||
66 | Richard Russell Jr. | June 27, 1931 – January 10, 1933 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1930 | ||||
67 | Eugene Talmadge | January 10, 1933 – January 12, 1937 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1932 | ||||
1934 | ||||||||
68 | Eurith D. Rivers | January 12, 1937 – January 14, 1941 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1936 | ||||
1938 | ||||||||
67 | Eugene Talmadge | January 14, 1941 – January 12, 1943 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1940 | ||||
69 | Ellis Arnall | January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1942 | ||||
— | Eugene Talmadge | Died before taking office | Democratic | 1946 | Melvin E. Thompson | |||
— | Herman Talmadge | January 14, 1947 – March 18, 1947 (removed from office) |
Democratic | |||||
70 | Melvin E. Thompson | March 18, 1947 – November 17, 1948 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
71 | Herman Talmadge | November 17, 1948 – January 11, 1955 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1948 (special) |
Marvin Griffin | |||
1950 | ||||||||
72 | Marvin Griffin | January 11, 1955 – January 13, 1959 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1954 | Ernest Vandiver | |||
73 | Ernest Vandiver | January 13, 1959 – January 15, 1963 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1958 | Garland T. Byrd | |||
74 | Carl Sanders | January 15, 1963 – January 11, 1967 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1962 | Peter Zack Geer | |||
75 | Lester Maddox | January 11, 1967 – January 12, 1971 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1966 | George T. Smith | |||
76 | Jimmy Carter | January 12, 1971 – January 14, 1975 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1970 | Lester Maddox | |||
77 | George Busbee | January 14, 1975 – January 11, 1983 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1974 | Zell Miller | |||
1978 | ||||||||
78 | Joe Frank Harris | January 11, 1983 – January 14, 1991 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1982 | ||||
1986 | ||||||||
79 | Zell Miller | January 14, 1991 – January 11, 1999 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1990 | Pierre Howard | |||
1994 | ||||||||
80 | Roy Barnes | January 11, 1999 – January 13, 2003 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1998 | Mark Taylor | |||
81 | Sonny Perdue | January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2011 (term limited) |
Republican | 2002 | ||||
2006 | Casey Cagle | |||||||
82 | Nathan Deal | January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2019 (term limited) |
Republican | 2010 | ||||
2014 | ||||||||
83 | Brian Kemp | January 14, 2019 – Incumbent |
Republican | 2018 | Geoff Duncan | |||
2022 | Burt Jones (elect) |
Succession
See also
- First Ladies of Georgia
- List of colonial governors of Georgia