kids encyclopedia robot

List of governors of Rhode Island facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Governor of Rhode Island
Flag of the Governor of Rhode Island.svg
Flag of the Governor
Seal of the Governor of Rhode Island.svg
Seal of the Governor
Dan McKee Rose Garden October 2021.jpg
Incumbent
Dan McKee

since March 2, 2021
Style
Term length Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder Nicholas Cooke
Formation November 7, 1775
(248 years ago)
 (1775-11-07)
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Salary $128,210 (2013)

The governor of Rhode Island is the head of government of Rhode Island and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The current governor is Dan McKee. John W. Davis, Herbert W. Ladd, and Aram J. Pothier each served two non-consecutive stints, while James Fenner served three non-consecutive stints as governor.

Party affiliation

Number of governors of Rhode Island by party affiliation
Party Governors
Republican 32
Democratic 22
Democratic-Republican 4
Independent 4
Whig 4
Country 3
Law and Order 2
Dorr Rebellion 1
Federalist 1
Know Nothing 1
Rhode Island Party 1

Colonial Rhode Island, 1640–1775

List of governors of Rhode Island, 1775–present

      Country       Democratic       Federalist       Democratic-Republican       Dorr Rebellion       No party       Whig       Law and Order       Republican       Know Nothing       Rhode Island Party

Governors of the State of Rhode Island
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 NicholasCooke.cropped.jpg Nicholas Cooke November 7, 1775

May 4, 1778
None 1776 None
1777
2 William Greene May 4, 1778

May 3, 1786
None 1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
3 John Collins May 3, 1786

May 5, 1790
None 1786
1787
1788
1789
4 ArthurFenner.jpg Arthur Fenner May 5, 1790

October 15, 1805
(died)
Country Party 1790 Samuel J. Potter
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799 George Brown
1800 Samuel J. Potter
1801
1802
1803 Paul Mumford
1804
1805
5 Henry Smith October 15, 1805

May 7, 1806
Country Party Succeeded from
President of
the Senate
None
6 Isaac Wilbour (Rhode Island Governor) 2.jpg Isaac Wilbour May 7, 1806

May 6, 1807
Country Party 1806 Isaac Wilbour
7 GovJamesFenner.jpg James Fenner May 6, 1807

May 1, 1811
Democratic-Republican 1807 Constant Taber
1808 Simeon Martin
1809
1810 Isaac Wilbour
8 GovWilliamJonesRI.jpg William Jones May 1, 1811

May 7, 1817
Federalist 1811 Simeon Martin
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816 Jeremiah Thurston
9 NRKnight.jpg Nehemiah R. Knight May 7, 1817

May 2, 1821
Democratic-Republican 1817 Edward Wilcox
1818
1819
1820
10 William Channing Gibbs.jpg William C. Gibbs May 2, 1821

May 5, 1824
Democratic-Republican 1821 Caleb Earle
1822
1823
11 GovJamesFenner.jpg James Fenner May 5, 1824

May 4, 1831
Democratic-Republican 1824 Charles Collins
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
12 LemuelArnold.jpg Lemuel H. Arnold May 4, 1831

May 1, 1833
National Republican 1831
1832
13 RI Governor John Brown Francis.jpg John B. Francis May 1, 1833

May 2, 1838
Democratic 1833 Jeffrey Hazard
1834
1835 George Engs
1836 Jeffrey Hazard
1837 Benjamin B. Thurston
14 William Sprague 1799 1856.jpg William Sprague III May 2, 1838

May 2, 1839
Whig 1838 Joseph Childs
15 GovSamuelKingRI.jpg Samuel Ward King May 2, 1839

May 2, 1843
Rhode Island Party 1839 Byron Diman
1840
1841
1842 Nathaniel Bullock
16 Thomas Wilson Dorr Rhode Island.jpg Thomas Dorr May 1, 1842

January 23, 1843
Extralegal
Dorr Rebellion
None
17 GovJamesFenner.jpg James Fenner May 2, 1843

May 6, 1845
Law and Order 1843 Byron Diman
1844
18 Charles Jackson Governor.jpg Charles Jackson May 6, 1845

May 6, 1846
Whig,
Liberation Party
1845
19 ByronDiman.jpg Byron Diman May 6, 1846

May 4, 1847
Law and Order 1846 Elisha Harris
20 Elisha Harris.jpg Elisha Harris May 4, 1847

May 1, 1849
Whig 1847 Edward W. Lawton
1848
21 Henry B. Anthony - Brady-Handy.jpg Henry B. Anthony May 1, 1849

May 6, 1851
Whig 1849 Thomas Whipple
1850
22 Philip Allen (politician).jpg Philip Allen May 6, 1851

July 20, 1853
Democratic 1851 William Beach Lawrence
1852 Samuel G. Arnold
1853 Francis M. Dimond
23 FrancisDimond.jpg Francis M. Dimond July 20, 1853

May 2, 1854
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
24 William Warner Hoppin.jpg William W. Hoppin May 2, 1854

May 26, 1857
Whig 1854 John J. Reynolds
1857 Anderson C. Rose
1856 Nicholas Brown III
25 Dyersr.jpg Elisha Dyer May 26, 1857

May 31, 1859
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1857 Thomas G. Turner
1858
26 GovThomasGTurnerRI.jpg Thomas G. Turner May 31, 1859

May 29, 1860
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1859 Isaac Saunders
27 William Sprague 1830-1915 - Brady-Handy.jpg William Sprague IV May 29, 1860

March 3, 1863
(resigned)
Republican 1860 J. Russell Bullock
1861
1862 Samuel G. Arnold
28 William C. Cozzens.jpg William C. Cozzens March 3, 1863

May 26, 1863
(lost election)
Democratic Succeeded from
President of
the Senate
None
29 GovJamesYSmithRI.jpg James Y. Smith May 26, 1863

May 29, 1866
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1863 Seth Padelford
1864
1865 Duncan Pell
30 Ambrose Burnside2.jpg Ambrose Everett Burnside May 29, 1866

May 25, 1869
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1866 William Greene
1867
1868 Pardon Stevens
31 SethPadelford.jpg Seth Padelford May 25, 1869

May 27, 1873
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1869
1870
1871
1872 Charles Cutler
32 GovHenryHowardRI.jpg Henry Howard May 27, 1873

May 25, 1875
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1873 Charles C. Van Zandt
1874
33 Henry Lippitt Governor.jpg Henry Lippitt May 25, 1875

May 29, 1877
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1875 Henry Tillinghast Sisson
1876
34 CharlesVanZandt.jpg Charles C. Van Zandt May 29, 1877

May 25, 1880
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1877 Albert C. Howard
1878
1879
35 Alfred Henry Littlefield.jpg Alfred H. Littlefield May 25, 1880

May 29, 1883
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1880 Henry Fay
1881
1882
36 AugustusBourn.jpg Augustus O. Bourn May 29, 1883

May 26, 1885
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1883 Oscar Rathbun
1884
37 George Wetmore.jpg George P. Wetmore May 26, 1885

May 29, 1887
(lost election)
Republican 1885 Lucius B. Darling
1886
38 RI Governor John W Davis.jpg John W. Davis May 29, 1887

May 29, 1888
(lost election)
Democratic 1887 Samuel R. Honey
39 RoyalTaft.jpg Royal C. Taft May 29, 1888

May 28, 1889
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1888 Enos Lapham
40 GovHerbertLadd.jpg Herbert W. Ladd May 28, 1889

May 27, 1890
(lost election)
Republican 1889 Daniel Littlefield
41 RI Governor John W Davis.jpg John W. Davis May 27, 1890

May 26, 1891
(lost election)
Democratic 1890 William T. C. Wardwell
42 GovHerbertLadd.jpg Herbert W. Ladd May 26, 1891

May 31, 1892
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1891 Henry A. Stearns
43 D. Russell Brown.jpg D. Russell Brown May 31, 1892

May 29, 1895
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1892 Melville Bull
1893
1894 Edwin Allen
44 CharlesWLippitt.jpg Charles W. Lippitt May 29, 1895

May 25, 1897
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1895
1896
45 Dyerjr.jpg Elisha Dyer, Jr. May 25, 1897

May 29, 1900
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1897 Aram J. Pothier
1898 William Gregory
1899
46 GovWilliamGregoryRI.jpg William Gregory May 29, 1900

December 16, 1901
(died)
Republican 1900 Charles D. Kimball
1901
47 CharlesKimball.jpg Charles D. Kimball December 16, 1901

January 3, 1903
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
None
George L. Shepley
48 LuciusGarvin.jpg Lucius F. C. Garvin January 3, 1903

January 3, 1905
(lost election)
Democratic 1902 Adelard Archambault
1903 George H. Utter
49 GeorgeHUtter.jpg George H. Utter January 3, 1905

January 1, 1907
(lost election)
Republican 1904 Frederick H. Jackson
1905
50 The New England magazine - Gov. James Higgins.jpg James H. Higgins January 1, 1907

January 5, 1909
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1906
1907 Ralph Watrous
51 AramPothier.jpg Aram J. Pothier January 5, 1909

January 5, 1915
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1908 Arthur W. Dennis
1909 Emery J. San Souci
1910
1911
1912 Rosewell Burchard
52 RLivingstonBeeckman.jpg R. Livingston Beeckman January 5, 1915

January 4, 1921
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1914 Emery J. San Souci
1916
1918
53 EmerySanSouci.jpg Emery J. San Souci January 4, 1921

January 2, 1923
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1920 Harold Gross
54 William Smith Flynn.jpg William S. Flynn January 2, 1923

January 6, 1925
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1922 Felix A. Toupin
55 AramPothier.jpg Aram J. Pothier January 6, 1925

February 4, 1928
(died)
Republican 1924 Nathaniel W. Smith
1926 Norman S. Case
56 RI Governor Norman Stanley Case.jpg Norman S. Case February 4, 1928

January 3, 1933
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
None
1928 James G. Connelly
1930
57 Theodore Francis GREEN.jpg Theodore Francis Green January 3, 1933

January 5, 1937
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1932 Robert E. Quinn
1936
58 RI Governor Robert E Quinn.jpg Robert E. Quinn January 5, 1937

January 3, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 Raymond E. Jordan
59 William H. Vanderbilt III.png William Henry Vanderbilt III January 3, 1939

January 7, 1941
(lost election)
Republican 1938 James O. McManus
60 J. Howard McGrath (RI).png J. Howard McGrath January 7, 1941

October 6, 1945
(resigned)
Democratic 1940 Louis W. Cappelli
1942
1944 John Pastore
61 John Pastore (RI).png John Pastore October 6, 1945

December 19, 1950
(resigned)
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
John S. McKiernan
1946
1948
62 RI Governor John S. McKiernan.jpg John S. McKiernan December 19, 1950

January 2, 1951
(successor took office)
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
None
63 RI Governor Dennis Joseph Roberts.jpg Dennis J. Roberts January 2, 1951

January 6, 1959
(lost election)
Democratic 1950 John S. McKiernan
1952
1954
1956 Armand H. Cote
64 RI Governor Christopher Del Sesto.jpg Christopher Del Sesto January 6, 1959

January 3, 1961
(lost election)
Republican 1958 John A. Notte, Jr.
65 John Notte (1961).png John A. Notte, Jr. January 3, 1961

January 1, 1963
(lost election)
Democratic 1960 Edward P. Gallogly
66 John Chafee.jpg John Chafee January 1, 1963

January 7, 1969
(lost election)
Republican 1962
1964 Giovanni Folcarelli
1966 Joseph O'Donnell, Jr.
67 RI Governor Frank Licht 1969-1973.jpg Frank Licht January 7, 1969

January 2, 1973
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1968 J. Joseph Garrahy
1970
68 RI Governor Philip W. Noel.jpg Philip W. Noel January 2, 1973

January 4, 1977
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1972
1974
69 J. Joseph Garrahy, Rhode Island Governor (cropped).jpg J. Joseph Garrahy January 4, 1977

January 1, 1985
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1976 Thomas R. DiLuglio
1978
1980
1982
70 RI Governor Edward D. DiPrete 1985-1991 (cropped).jpg Edward D. DiPrete January 1, 1985

January 1, 1991
(lost election)
Republican 1984 Richard A. Licht
1986
1988 Roger N. Begin
71 Bruce Sundlun.jpg Bruce Sundlun January 1, 1991

January 3, 1995
(lost renomination)
Democratic 1990
1992 Robert Weygand
72 Lincoln Almond.jpg Lincoln Almond January 3, 1995

January 7, 2003
(term limited)
Republican 1994
Bernard Jackvony
1998 Charles J. Fogarty
73 RI Governor Donald Carcieri (cropped).jpg Donald Carcieri January 7, 2003

January 4, 2011
(term limited)
Republican 2002
2006 Elizabeth H. Roberts
74 Lincoln Chafee official portrait.jpg Lincoln Chafee January 4, 2011

January 6, 2015
(not candidate for election)
Independent 2010
Democratic
75 Gina Raimondo July 2021.jpg Gina Raimondo January 6, 2015

March 2, 2021
(resigned)
Democratic 2014 Dan McKee
2018
76 Dan McKee Rose Garden October 2021.jpg Dan McKee March 2, 2021

Incumbent
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Sabina Matos
2022

Succession

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de Rhode Island para niños

  • List of lieutenant governors of Rhode Island
kids search engine
List of governors of Rhode Island Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.