List of governors of Georgia facts for kids

The governor of Georgia is like the main leader of the U.S. state of Georgia. They are the head of the state's government and the commander-in-chief of Georgia's military forces. The current governor is Republican Brian Kemp, who started his term on January 14, 2019.

Georgia has had 83 official governors. Some governors, like John Houstoun and Eugene Talmadge, served more than one time. The governors who served the longest were George Busbee, Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller, Sonny Perdue, and Nathan Deal. Each of them served two full four-year terms. Joseph E. Brown, who was governor during the Civil War, was elected four times and served for seven and a half years. The shortest term was by Matthew Talbot, who served only 13 days after the previous governor passed away.

Governors of Georgia

Georgia was one of the first Thirteen Colonies that formed the United States. It officially became a state on January 2, 1788. Before it became independent, Georgia was a colony ruled by the Kingdom of Great Britain.

During the American Civil War, Georgia left the United States on January 19, 1861. It then became one of the founding members of the Confederate States of America. After the Civil War ended, during a time called Reconstruction, the U.S. military had some control over who became governor. Georgia was brought back into the Union on July 25, 1868.

When Georgia first set up its rules in 1776, the leader was called a "president" and served for 6 months. In 1777, a formal constitution was written. It created the job of "governor," who would serve for one year. A governor could not serve more than one year out of every three.

Over time, the rules for governors changed:

• In 1789, the term became two years, with no limit on how many times someone could serve.
• The 1865 constitution said governors had to take four years off after serving two terms.
• The 1868 constitution quickly changed this, allowing four-year terms with no limits.
• In 1877, the term length went back to two years, with the same limit as the 1865 constitution.
• The 1945 constitution changed terms to four years. Governors had to wait four years before running again. This constitution also created the job of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. If the governor's office became empty, the lieutenant governor would take over.
• In 1983, the rules changed again. Now, the lieutenant governor fully becomes governor if the office is empty. Before the lieutenant governor's job existed, the president of the state senate would act as governor.
• The 1983 constitution also allows governors to serve two terms in a row before they have to wait four years to run again. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately, not as a team.

Governors of the State of Georgia

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
7			Archibald Bulloch (1730–1777)	January 22, 1776 – February 22, 1777 (died in office)	None	—	Office did not exist
8			Button Gwinnett (1735–1777)	March 4, 1777 – May 8, 1777 (left office)	None	—
9			John A. Treutlen (1734–1782)	May 8, 1777 – January 10, 1778 (left office)	None	—
10			John Houstoun (1744–1796)	January 10, 1778 – December 29, 1778 (fled from capture)	None	—
—	Competing governments			December 29, 1778 – August 6, 1779	Government in chaos after fall of Savannah
11			John Wereat (d. 1799)	August 6, 1779 – November 1779 (left office)	None	—
12			George Walton (d. 1804)	November 1779 – January 4, 1780 (left office)	None	—
13			Richard Howly (1740–1784)	January 4, 1780 – February 5, 1780 (left office)	None	—
—			George Wells (d. 1780)	February 5, 1780 – February 16, 1780 (died in office)	None	—
14			Stephen Heard (1740–1815)	February 18, 1780 – August 18, 1781 (left office)	None	—
15			Nathan Brownson (1742–1796)	August 18, 1781 – January 3, 1782 (term-limited)	None	1781
16			John Martin (d. 1786)	January 3, 1782 – January 8, 1783 (term-limited)	None	1782
17			Lyman Hall (1724–1790)	January 8, 1783 – January 9, 1784 (term-limited)	None	1783
10			John Houstoun (1744–1796)	January 9, 1784 – January 6, 1785 (term-limited)	None	1784
18			Samuel Elbert (1740–1788)	January 6, 1785 – January 9, 1786 (term-limited)	None	1785
19			Edward Telfair (1735–1807)	January 9, 1786 – January 9, 1787 (term-limited)	None	1786
20			George Mathews (1739–1812)	January 9, 1787 – January 26, 1788 (term-limited)	None	1787
21			George Handley (1752–1793)	January 26, 1788 – January 7, 1789 (term-limited)	None	1788
12			George Walton (d. 1804)	January 7, 1789 – November 9, 1789 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	Jan. 1789
19			Edward Telfair (1735–1807)	November 9, 1789 – November 7, 1793 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	Nov. 1789
						1791
20			George Mathews (1739–1812)	November 7, 1793 – January 15, 1796 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1793
22			Jared Irwin (1750–1818)	January 15, 1796 – January 12, 1798 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1795
23			James Jackson (1757–1806)	January 12, 1798 – March 3, 1801 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1797
						1799
24			David Emanuel (1744–1808)	March 3, 1801 – November 7, 1801 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate
25			Josiah Tattnall (d. 1803)	November 7, 1801 – November 4, 1802 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1801
26			John Milledge (1757–1818)	November 4, 1802 – September 23, 1806 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1802 (special)
						1803
						1805
22			Jared Irwin (1750–1818)	September 23, 1806 – November 10, 1809 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate
						1807
27			David Brydie Mitchell (1766–1837)	November 10, 1809 – November 5, 1813 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1809
						1811
28			Peter Early (1773–1817)	November 5, 1813 – November 10, 1815 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	1813
27			David Brydie Mitchell (1766–1837)	November 10, 1815 – March 4, 1817 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1815
29			William Rabun (1771–1819)	March 4, 1817 – October 24, 1819 (died in office)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate
						1817
30			Matthew Talbot (1767–1827)	October 24, 1819 – November 5, 1819 (successor took office)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate
31			John Clark (1766–1832)	November 5, 1819 – November 7, 1823 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1819
						1821
32			George Troup (1780–1856)	November 7, 1823 – November 7, 1827 (did not run)	Troup Democratic- Republican	1823
						1825
33			John Forsyth (1780–1841)	November 7, 1827 – November 4, 1829 (did not run)	Troup Democratic- Republican	1827
34			George Rockingham Gilmer (1790–1859)	November 4, 1829 – November 9, 1831 (lost election)	Troup Democratic- Republican	1829
35			Wilson Lumpkin (1783–1870)	November 9, 1831 – November 4, 1835 (did not run)	Union (Democratic)	1831
						1833
36			William Schley (1786–1858)	November 4, 1835 – November 8, 1837 (lost election)	Union (Democratic)	1835
34			George Rockingham Gilmer (1790–1859)	November 8, 1837 – November 6, 1839 (did not run)	State Rights (Whig)	1837
37			Charles James McDonald (1793–1860)	November 6, 1839 – November 8, 1843 (did not run)	Union (Democratic)	1839
						1841
38			George W. Crawford (1798–1872)	November 8, 1843 – November 3, 1847 (did not run)	Whig	1843
						1845
39			George W. Towns (1801–1854)	November 3, 1847 – November 5, 1851 (did not run)	Democratic	1847
						1849
40			Howell Cobb (1815–1868)	November 5, 1851 – November 9, 1853 (did not run)	Constitutional Union (Democratic)	1851
41			Herschel V. Johnson (1812–1880)	November 9, 1853 – November 6, 1857 (did not run)	Democratic	1853
						1855
42			Joseph E. Brown (1821–1894)	November 6, 1857 – June 17, 1865 (resigned)	Democratic	1857
						1859
						1861
						1863
43			James Johnson (1811–1891)	June 17, 1865 – December 19, 1865 (provisional term ended)	Provisional governor appointed by President
44			Charles J. Jenkins (1805–1883)	December 14, 1865 – January 13, 1868 (removed from office)	Democratic	1865
45			Thomas H. Ruger (1833–1907)	January 13, 1868 – July 4, 1868 (state readmitted)	Military occupation
46			Rufus Bullock (1834–1907)	July 4, 1868 – October 30, 1871 (resigned)	Republican	1868
47			Benjamin F. Conley (1815–1886)	October 30, 1871 – January 12, 1872 (successor took office)	Republican	President of the Senate acting
48			James Milton Smith (1823–1890)	January 12, 1872 – January 12, 1877 (did not run)	Democratic	1871 (special)
						1872
49			Alfred H. Colquitt (1824–1894)	January 12, 1877 – November 4, 1882 (did not run)	Democratic	1876
						1880
50			Alexander H. Stephens (1812–1883)	November 4, 1882 – March 4, 1883 (died in office)	Democratic	1882
51			James S. Boynton (1833–1902)	March 4, 1883 – May 10, 1883 (successor took office)	Democratic	President of the Senate acting
52			Henry Dickerson McDaniel (1836–1926)	May 10, 1883 – November 9, 1886 (did not run)	Democratic	1883 (special)
						1884
53			John B. Gordon (1832–1904)	November 9, 1886 – November 8, 1890 (term-limited)	Democratic	1886
						1888
54			William J. Northen (1835–1913)	November 8, 1890 – October 27, 1894 (term-limited)	Democratic	1890
						1892
55			William Yates Atkinson (1854–1899)	October 27, 1894 – October 29, 1898 (term-limited)	Democratic	1894
						1896
56			Allen D. Candler (1834–1910)	October 29, 1898 – October 25, 1902 (term-limited)	Democratic	1898
						1900
57			Joseph M. Terrell (1861–1912)	October 25, 1902 – June 29, 1907 (term-limited)	Democratic	1902
						1904
58			M. Hoke Smith (1855–1931)	June 29, 1907 – June 26, 1909 (lost nomination)	Democratic	1906
59			Joseph Mackey Brown (1851–1932)	June 26, 1909 – July 1, 1911 (lost election)	Democratic	1908
58			M. Hoke Smith (1855–1931)	July 1, 1911 – November 15, 1911 (resigned)	Democratic	1910
60			John M. Slaton (1866–1955)	November 15, 1911 – January 25, 1912 (successor took office)	Democratic	President of the Senate acting
59			Joseph Mackey Brown (1851–1932)	January 25, 1912 – June 28, 1913 (did not run)	Democratic	1912 (special)
60			John M. Slaton (1866–1955)	June 28, 1913 – June 26, 1915 (did not run)	Democratic	1912
61			Nathaniel Edwin Harris (1846–1929)	June 26, 1915 – June 30, 1917 (lost nomination)	Democratic	1914
62			Hugh Dorsey (1871–1948)	June 30, 1917 – June 25, 1921 (term-limited)	Democratic	1916
						1918
63			Thomas W. Hardwick (1872–1944)	June 25, 1921 – June 30, 1923 (lost nomination)	Democratic	1920
64			Clifford Walker (1877–1954)	June 30, 1923 – June 25, 1927 (term-limited)	Democratic	1922
						1924
65			Lamartine Griffin Hardman (1856–1937)	June 25, 1927 – June 27, 1931 (term-limited)	Democratic	1926
						1928
66			Richard Russell Jr. (1897–1971)	June 27, 1931 – January 10, 1933 (did not run)	Democratic	1930
67			Eugene Talmadge (1884–1946)	January 10, 1933 – January 12, 1937 (term-limited)	Democratic	1932
						1934
68			Eurith D. Rivers (1895–1967)	January 12, 1937 – January 14, 1941 (term-limited)	Democratic	1936
						1938
67			Eugene Talmadge (1884–1946)	January 14, 1941 – January 12, 1943 (lost nomination)	Democratic	1940
69			Ellis Arnall (1907–1992)	January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 (term-limited)	Democratic	1942
—			Eugene Talmadge (1884–1946)	Died before taking office	Democratic	1946		Thompson, Melvin E.Melvin E. Thompson
—			Herman Talmadge (1913–2002)	January 14, 1947 – March 19, 1947 (removed from office)	Democratic
70			Melvin E. Thompson (1903–1980)	March 19, 1947 – November 17, 1948 (lost nomination)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
71			Herman Talmadge (1913–2002)	November 17, 1948 – January 11, 1955 (term-limited)	Democratic	1948 (special)		Griffin, MarvinMarvin Griffin
						1950
72			Marvin Griffin (1907–1982)	January 11, 1955 – January 13, 1959 (term-limited)	Democratic	1954		Vandiver, ErnestErnest Vandiver
73			Ernest Vandiver (1918–2005)	January 13, 1959 – January 15, 1963 (term-limited)	Democratic	1958		Byrd, Garland T.Garland T. Byrd
74			Carl Sanders (1925–2014)	January 15, 1963 – January 11, 1967 (term-limited)	Democratic	1962		Geer, Peter ZackPeter Zack Geer
75			Lester Maddox (1915–2003)	January 11, 1967 – January 12, 1971 (term-limited)	Democratic	1966		Smith, George T.George T. Smith
76			Jimmy Carter (1924–2024)	January 12, 1971 – January 14, 1975 (term-limited)	Democratic	1970		Maddox, LesterLester Maddox
77			George Busbee (1927–2004)	January 14, 1975 – January 11, 1983 (term-limited)	Democratic	1974		Miller, ZellZell Miller
						1978
78			Joe Frank Harris (b. 1936)	January 11, 1983 – January 14, 1991 (term-limited)	Democratic	1982
						1986
79			Zell Miller (1932–2018)	January 14, 1991 – January 11, 1999 (term-limited)	Democratic	1990		Howard, PierrePierre Howard
						1994
80			Roy Barnes (b. 1948)	January 11, 1999 – January 13, 2003 (lost election)	Democratic	1998		Taylor, MarkMark Taylor
81			Sonny Perdue (b. 1946)	January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2011 (term-limited)	Republican	2002
						2006		Cagle, CaseyCasey Cagle
82			Nathan Deal (b. 1942)	January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2019 (term-limited)	Republican	2010
						2014
83			Brian Kemp (b. 1963)	January 14, 2019 – Incumbent	Republican	2018		Duncan, GeoffGeoff Duncan
						2022		Jones, BurtBurt Jones

See also

• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Georgia
• First ladies of Georgia