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List of governors of Tennessee facts for kids

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The term of the governor of Tennessee is limited by the state constitution. The first constitution, enacted in 1796, set a term of two years for the governor and provided that no person could serve as governor for more than 6 years in any 8-year period. The term of office was lengthened to four years, without the possibility of consecutive terms, by constitutional amendments adopted in 1953. Under the current provisions of the state constitution, as amended in 1978, the governor is elected to a four-year term and may serve no more than two terms consecutively. For a period of nearly five decades in the 20th century, the Tennessee Democratic Party held the Tennessee governorship continuously.

Tennessee has had 50 governors, including the incumbent, Bill Lee. Seven governors (John Sevier, William Carroll, Andrew Johnson, Robert Love Taylor, Gordon Browning, Frank G. Clement, and Buford Ellington) have served non-consecutive terms. This tally does not include William Blount (the territorial governor) or Robert L. Caruthers (who never took office), though the Blue Book includes them in its list of governors. All governors are counted only once, regardless of number of terms served (e.g., John Sevier is considered the 1st governor, rather than the 1st and 3rd governor). The Blue Book does not include Edward H. East in its list of governors.

Southwest Territory

The Territory South of the River Ohio, commonly called the Southwest Territory, was formed in 1790 from lands ceded by North Carolina to the United States government. The territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Tennessee in 1796.

      Democratic-Republican

# Picture Governor
(Birth–Death)
Term in office Party State of birth Occupation Notes
1 William-blount-wb-cooper.jpg   William Blount
(1749–1800)
September 20, 1790

March 30, 1796
Democratic-Republican NC Land speculator

State of Tennessee

      Democratic-Republican (6)       Democratic (31)       Whig (4)       Unionist/Military (1)       Republican (10)

# Picture Governor
(Birth–Death)
Term in office Party Election Occupation Lt. Governor
1 John Sevier.jpg   John Sevier
September 23, 1745 – September 24, 1815
(aged 70)
March 30, 1796

September 23, 1801
Democratic-Republican Soldier, farmer None
2 Portrait of Archibald Roane by C. J. Fox.jpg   Archibald Roane
1759/60 – January 18, 1819
(aged 58–60)
September 23, 1801

September 23, 1803
Democratic-Republican Lawyer
1 John Sevier.jpg   John Sevier
September 23, 1745 – September 24, 1815
(aged 70)
September 23, 1803

September 20, 1809
Democratic-Republican Soldier, farmer
3 Willie-blount-wb-cooper.jpg   Willie Blount
April 18, 1768 – September 10, 1835
(aged 67)
September 20, 1809

September 27, 1815
Democratic-Republican Lawyer, planter
4 McMinn-joseph-by-rembrandt-peale.jpg   Joseph McMinn
June 22, 1758 – October 17, 1824
(aged 66)
September 27, 1815

October 1, 1821
Democratic-Republican Merchant
5 Governor-william-carroll-portrait.gif   William Carroll
March 3, 1788 – March 22, 1844
(aged 56)
October 1, 1821

October 1, 1827
Democratic-Republican Merchant, soldier
6 Thomas Flintoff - Sam Houston - Google Art Project.jpg   Sam Houston
March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863
(aged 70)
October 1, 1827

April 16, 1829
Democratic-Republican Lawyer
7 Hall-william-by-wb-cooper.jpg   William Hall
February 11, 1775 – October 7, 1856
(aged 81)
April 16, 1829

October 1, 1829
Democratic Planter, soldier
5 Governor-william-carroll-portrait.gif   William Carroll
March 3, 1788 – March 22, 1844
(aged 56)
October 1, 1829

October 12, 1835
Democratic Merchant, soldier
8 Cannon-newton-by-wb-cooper.jpg   Newton Cannon
May 22, 1781 – September 16, 1841
(aged 60)
October 12, 1835

October 14, 1839
Whig Planter
9 JamesKnoxPolk.png   James K. Polk
November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849
(aged 53)
October 14, 1839

October 15, 1841
Democratic Lawyer, politician
10 James Chamberlain Jones Governor of Tennessee.jpg   James C. Jones
April 20, 1809 – October 29, 1859
(aged 50)
October 15, 1841

October 14, 1845
Whig Lawyer
11 Hon. Aaron V. Brown, Tenn - NARA - 528326.jpg   Aaron V. Brown
August 15, 1795 – March 8, 1859
(aged 63)
October 14, 1845

October 17, 1847
Democratic Lawyer
12 Neill Smith Brown by Mathew Brady 1849.jpg   Neill S. Brown
April 18, 1810 – January 30, 1886
(aged 75)
October 17, 1847

October 16, 1849
Whig Lawyer
13 Trousdale-william-portrait1.jpg   William Trousdale
September 23, 1790 – March 27, 1872
(aged 81)
October 16, 1849

October 16, 1851
Democratic Lawyer
14 Campbell-william-by-wb-cooper.jpg   William B. Campbell
February 1, 1807 – August 19, 1867
(aged 60)
October 16, 1851

October 17, 1853
Whig Lawyer
15 President Andrew Johnson.jpg   Andrew Johnson
December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875
(aged 66)
October 17, 1853

November 3, 1857
Democratic Tailor, lawyer, politician
16 Isham-harris-by-brady.jpg   Isham G. Harris
February 10, 1818 – July 8, 1897
(aged 79)
November 3, 1857

March 12, 1862
Democratic Lawyer, politician
15 President Andrew Johnson.jpg   Andrew Johnson
December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875
(aged 66)
March 12, 1862

March 4, 1865
Unionist/Military Lawyer, politician
Edward-hazzard-east-by-ritchie.jpg   Edward H. East
October 1, 1830 – November 12, 1904
(aged 74)
March 4, 1865

April 5, 1865
Republican Lawyer
17 William Gannaway Brownlow 2.jpg   William G. Brownlow
August 29, 1805 – April 29, 1877
(aged 71)
April 5, 1865

February 25, 1869
Republican Editor, preacher
18 Dewitt-clinton-senter-tn1.png   Dewitt Clinton Senter
March 26, 1830 – June 14, 1898
(aged 68)
February 25, 1869

October 10, 1871
Republican Lawyer
19 JCBrown-tn-gov-gen.jpg   John C. Brown
January 6, 1827 – August 17, 1889
(aged 62)
October 10, 1871

January 18, 1875
Democratic Lawyer
20 Porter-james-by-wb-cooper.jpg   James D. Porter
December 7, 1828 – May 18, 1912
(aged 83)
January 18, 1875

February 16, 1879
Democratic 1874 Lawyer, educator
1876
21 Marks-albert-by-wb-cooper.jpg   Albert S. Marks
October 16, 1836 – November 4, 1891
(aged 55)
February 16, 1879

January 17, 1881
Democratic 1878 Lawyer, judge
22 Hawkins-alvin-by-wb-cooper.jpg   Alvin Hawkins
December 2, 1821 – April 27, 1905
(aged 83)
January 17, 1881

January 15, 1883
Republican 1880 Lawyer, judge
23 William Bate.jpg   William B. Bate
October 7, 1826 – March 9, 1905
(aged 78)
January 15, 1883

January 17, 1887
Democratic 1882 Lawyer, politician
1884
24 Taylor-robert-love-before-1912.jpg   Robert Love Taylor
July 31, 1850 – March 31, 1912
(aged 61)
January 17, 1887

January 19, 1891
Democratic 1886 Lawyer, politician
1888
25 Buchanan-john-price-by-wb-newman.jpg   John P. Buchanan
October 24, 1847 – May 14, 1930
(aged 82)
January 19, 1891

January 16, 1893
Democratic 1890 Farmer
26 Turney-peter-by-branson.jpg   Peter Turney
September 22, 1827 – October 19, 1903
(aged 76)
January 16, 1893

January 21, 1897
Democratic 1892 Lawyer, judge
1894
24 Taylor-robert-love-before-1912.jpg   Robert Love Taylor
July 31, 1850 – March 31, 1912
(aged 61)
January 21, 1897

January 16, 1899
Democratic 1896 Lawyer, politician
27 Benton McMillin 3575401083 6b3c77e538 o.jpg   Benton McMillin
September 11, 1845 – January 8, 1933
(aged 87)
January 16, 1899

January 19, 1903
Democratic 1898 Lawyer, diplomat
1900
28 Frazier-james-by-lloyd-branson.jpg   James B. Frazier
October 18, 1856 – March 28, 1937
(aged 80)
January 19, 1903

March 21, 1905
Democratic 1902 Lawyer, politician
1904
29 Cox-john-isaac-governor-tn.jpg   John I. Cox
November 23, 1855 – September 5, 1946
(aged 90)
March 21, 1905

January 17, 1907
Democratic Lawyer
30 Patterson-malcolm-governor-tn2.jpg   Malcolm R. Patterson
June 7, 1861 – March 8, 1935
(aged 73)
January 17, 1907

January 26, 1911
Democratic 1906 Lawyer, judge
1908
31 Hooper-ben-by-bain.jpg   Ben W. Hooper
October 13, 1870 – April 18, 1957
(aged 86)
January 26, 1911

January 17, 1915
Republican 1910 Lawyer
1912
32 Rye-thomas-clarke-by-bain.jpg   Thomas C. Rye
June 2, 1863 – September 12, 1953
(aged 90)
January 17, 1915

January 15, 1919
Democratic 1914 Lawyer, judge
1916
33 Albert H. Roberts.jpg   Albert H. Roberts
July 4, 1868 – June 25, 1946
(aged 77)
January 15, 1919

January 15, 1921
Democratic 1918 Lawyer, judge
34 Alfred-alexander-taylor-tn2.jpg   Alfred A. Taylor
August 6, 1848 – November 25, 1931
(aged 83)
January 15, 1921

January 16, 1923
Republican 1920 Lawyer
35 AustinPeay.jpg   Austin Peay
June 1, 1876 – October 2, 1927
(aged 51)
January 16, 1923

October 3, 1927
Democratic 1922 Lawyer
1924
1926
36 Henry Hollis Horton.jpg   Henry Hollis Horton
February 17, 1866 – July 2, 1934
(aged 68)
October 3, 1927

January 17, 1933
Democratic Lawyer, farmer
1928
1930
37 Hill McAlister.jpg   Hill McAlister
July 15, 1875 – October 30, 1959
(aged 84)
January 17, 1933

January 15, 1937
Democratic 1932 Lawyer
1934
38 Gordon Browning (TN).png   Gordon Browning
November 22, 1889 – May 23, 1976
(aged 86)
January 15, 1937

January 16, 1939
Democratic 1936 Lawyer, judge
39 William Prentice Cooper, Tennessee Governor 1939-1945.jpg   Prentice Cooper
September 28, 1895 – May 18, 1969
(aged 73)
January 16, 1939

January 16, 1945
Democratic 1938 Lawyer
1940
1942
40 Mccord-jim-nance.jpg   Jim Nance McCord
March 17, 1879 – September 2, 1968
(aged 89)
January 16, 1945

January 16, 1949
Democratic 1944 Editor
1946
38 Gordon Browning (TN).png   Gordon Browning
November 22, 1889 – May 23, 1976
(aged 86)
January 16, 1949

January 15, 1953
Democratic 1950 Lawyer, judge
  Walter M. Haynes
41 Frank Goad Clement Tennessee Governor.jpg   Frank G. Clement
June 2, 1920 – November 4, 1969
(aged 49)
January 15, 1953

January 19, 1959
Democratic 1952 Lawyer Jared Maddux
1954
42 Earl Buford Ellington, Tennessee Governor.jpg   Buford Ellington
June 27, 1907 – April 3, 1972
(aged 64)
January 19, 1959

January 15, 1963
Democratic 1958 Farmer William D. Baird
41 Frank Goad Clement Tennessee Governor.jpg   Frank G. Clement
June 2, 1920 – November 4, 1969
(aged 49)
January 15, 1963

January 16, 1967
Democratic 1962 Lawyer James L. Bomar, Jr.
Jared Maddux
42 Earl Buford Ellington, Tennessee Governor.jpg   Buford Ellington
June 27, 1907 – April 3, 1972
(aged 64)
January 16, 1967

January 16, 1971
Democratic 1966 Farmer Frank Gorrell
43 Winfield Dunn 2007.jpg   Winfield Dunn
    (1927-07-01) July 1, 1927 (age 96)
January 16, 1971

January 18, 1975
Republican 1970 Dentist John S. Wilder
44 Ray Blanton.jpg   Ray Blanton
April 10, 1930 – November 22, 1996
(aged 66)
January 18, 1975

January 17, 1979
Democratic 1974 Farmer, businessman
45 Lamar Alexander (TN 2).png   Lamar Alexander
    (1940-07-03) July 3, 1940 (age 83)
January 20, 1979

January 17, 1987
Republican 1978 Lawyer, politician
1982
46 Ned McWherter Tennessee Governor 1987-1995.jpg   Ned McWherter
October 15, 1930 – April 4, 2011
(aged 80)
January 17, 1987

January 21, 1995
Democratic 1986 Businessman
1990
47 Donald Sundquist Tennessee Governor official portrait.jpg   Don Sundquist
    (1936-03-15) March 15, 1936 (age 88)
January 21, 1995

January 18, 2003
Republican 1994 Businessman
1998
48 Governor Bredesen (cropped).jpg   Phil Bredesen
    (1943-11-21) November 21, 1943 (age 80)
January 18, 2003

January 15, 2011
Democratic 2002 Businessman
2006   Ron Ramsey
49 Bill Haslam 2016.jpg   Bill Haslam
    (1958-08-23) August 23, 1958 (age 65)
January 15, 2011

January 19, 2019
Republican 2010 Businessman
2014
50 Bill Lee 2020.jpg   Bill Lee
    (1959-10-09) October 9, 1959 (age 64)
January 19, 2019

present
Republican 2018 Businessman, farmer Randy McNally
2022
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