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List of governors of Tennessee facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The governor of Tennessee is like the main leader or CEO of the U.S. state of Tennessee. This person is in charge of the state's government and helps make important decisions for everyone living in Tennessee.

Tennessee has had 50 governors so far. The person currently serving as governor is Bill Lee. Some governors, like John Sevier and Andrew Johnson, have served more than one term, but not always one right after the other. Each governor is counted only once, no matter how many times they served.

Leaders of Tennessee

Early Leaders: Southwest Territory

Before Tennessee became a state, it was known as the Territory South of the Ohio River, or the Southwest Territory. This territory was set up on May 26, 1790.

During its six years as a territory, it had only one governor. This governor was William Blount, who was chosen by the federal government.

Governor of the Territory Southwest of the River Ohio
Governor Time in Office Appointed by
William-blount-wb-cooper.jpg William Blount
(1749–1800)
June 8, 1790

March 28, 1796
(became a state)
George Washington

Governors of the State of Tennessee

The Southwest Territory officially became the state of Tennessee on June 1, 1796.

The first state constitution in 1796 said that a governor would serve for two years. It also said that no one could be governor for more than six years in any eight-year period. Later, in 1953, the rules changed. The governor's term became four years long, and they could not serve two terms in a row.

However, the rules changed again in 1978. Now, a governor is elected for a four-year term and can serve two terms in a row.


Governors of the State of Tennessee
No. Governor Time in Office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 John Sevier.jpg   John Sevier
(1745–1815)
March 30, 1796

September 23, 1801
(term limit reached)
Democratic-
Republican
1796 Office did not exist
1797
1799
2 Portrait of Archibald Roane by C. J. Fox.jpg Archibald Roane
(d. 1819)
September 23, 1801

September 23, 1803
(lost election)
Democratic-
Republican
1801
1 John Sevier.jpg John Sevier
(1745–1815)
September 23, 1803

September 20, 1809
(term limit reached)
Democratic-
Republican
1803
1805
1807
3 Willie-blount-wb-cooper.jpg Willie Blount
(1768–1835)
September 20, 1809

September 27, 1815
(term limit reached)
Democratic-
Republican
1809
1811
1813
4 McMinn-joseph-by-rembrandt-peale.jpg Joseph McMinn
(1758–1824)
September 27, 1815

October 1, 1821
(term limit reached)
Democratic-
Republican
1815
1817
1819
5 Governor-william-carroll-portrait.gif William Carroll
(1788–1844)
October 1, 1821

October 1, 1827
(term limit reached)
Democratic-
Republican
1821
1823
1825
6 Thomas Flintoff - Sam Houston - Google Art Project.jpg   Sam Houston
(1793–1863)
October 1, 1827

April 16, 1829
(resigned)
Democratic 1827
7 Hall-william-by-wb-cooper.jpg William Hall
(1775–1856)
April 16, 1829

October 1, 1829
(did not run)
Democratic Took over from
speaker of
the Senate
5 Governor-william-carroll-portrait.gif William Carroll
(1788–1844)
October 1, 1829

October 12, 1835
(term limit reached)
Democratic 1829
1831
1833
8 Cannon-newton-by-wb-cooper.jpg Newton Cannon
(1781–1841)
October 12, 1835

October 14, 1839
(lost election)
Whig 1835
1837
9 JamesKPolk1840.jpg James K. Polk
(1795–1849)
October 14, 1839

October 14, 1841
(lost election)
Democratic 1839
10 James Chamberlain Jones Governor of Tennessee.jpg James C. Jones
(1809–1859)
October 14, 1841

October 15, 1845
(did not run)
Whig 1841
1843
11 Hon. Aaron V. Brown, Tenn - NARA - 528326 (3x4a).jpg Aaron V. Brown
(1795–1859)
October 15, 1845

October 17, 1847
(lost election)
Democratic 1845
12 Neill Smith Brown by Mathew Brady 1849.jpg Neill S. Brown
(1810–1886)
October 17, 1847

October 16, 1849
(lost election)
Whig 1847
13 Trousdale-william-portrait1.jpg William Trousdale
(1790–1872)
October 16, 1849

October 16, 1851
(lost election)
Democratic 1849
14 Campbell-william-by-wb-cooper.jpg William B. Campbell
(1807–1867)
October 16, 1851

October 17, 1853
(did not run)
Whig 1851
15 President Andrew Johnson.jpg Andrew Johnson
(1808–1875)
October 17, 1853

November 3, 1857
(did not run)
Democratic 1853
1855
16 Isham-harris-by-brady.jpg Isham G. Harris
(1818–1897)
November 3, 1857

March 12, 1862
(removed from office)
Democratic 1857
1859
1861
15 President Andrew Johnson.jpg Andrew Johnson
(1808–1875)
March 12, 1862

March 4, 1865
(resigned)
Military governor
chosen by President
Edward-hazzard-east-by-ritchie.jpg Edward H. East
(1830–1904)
March 4, 1865

April 5, 1865
(new governor took office)
Secretary of
state
acting
17 William Gannaway Brownlow 2.jpg Parson Brownlow
(1805–1877)
April 5, 1865

February 25, 1869
(resigned)
Republican 1865
1867
18 Dewitt-clinton-senter-tn1.png Dewitt Clinton Senter
(1830–1898)
February 25, 1869

October 10, 1871
(did not run)
Republican Took over from
speaker of
the Senate
1869
19 JCBrown-tn-gov-gen.jpg John C. Brown
(1827–1889)
October 10, 1871

January 18, 1875
(did not run)
Democratic 1870
1872
20 Porter-james-by-wb-cooper.jpg James D. Porter
(1828–1912)
January 18, 1875

February 16, 1879
(did not run)
Democratic 1874
1876
21 Marks-albert-by-wb-cooper.jpg Albert S. Marks
(1836–1891)
February 16, 1879

January 17, 1881
(did not run)
Democratic 1878
22 Hawkins-alvin-by-wb-cooper.jpg Alvin Hawkins
(1821–1905)
January 17, 1881

January 15, 1883
(lost election)
Republican 1880
23 William Bate.jpg William B. Bate
(1826–1905)
January 15, 1883

January 17, 1887
(did not run)
Democratic 1882
1884
24 Taylor-robert-love-before-1912.jpg Robert Love Taylor
(1850–1912)
January 17, 1887

January 19, 1891
(did not run)
Democratic 1886
1888
25 Buchanan-john-price-by-wb-newman.jpg John P. Buchanan
(1847–1930)
January 19, 1891

January 16, 1893
(lost election)
Democratic 1890
26 Turney-peter-by-branson.jpg Peter Turney
(1827–1903)
January 16, 1893

January 21, 1897
(did not run)
Democratic 1892
1894
24 Taylor-robert-love-before-1912.jpg Robert Love Taylor
(1850–1912)
January 21, 1897

January 16, 1899
(did not run)
Democratic 1896
27 Benton McMillin 3575401083 6b3c77e538 o.jpg Benton McMillin
(1845–1933)
January 16, 1899

January 20, 1903
(did not run)
Democratic 1898
1900
28 Frazier-james-by-lloyd-branson.jpg James B. Frazier
(1856–1937)
January 20, 1903

March 27, 1905
(resigned)
Democratic 1902
1904
29 Cox-john-isaac-governor-tn.jpg John I. Cox
(1855–1946)
March 27, 1905

January 17, 1907
(lost nomination)
Democratic Took over from
speaker of
the Senate
30 Patterson-malcolm-governor-tn2.jpg Malcolm R. Patterson
(1861–1935)
January 17, 1907

January 25, 1911
(withdrew)
Democratic 1906
1908
31 Hooper-ben-by-bain.jpg Ben W. Hooper
(1870–1957)
January 25, 1911

January 15, 1915
(lost election)
Republican 1910
1912
32 Rye-thomas-clarke-by-bain.jpg Thomas Clarke Rye
(1863–1953)
January 15, 1915

January 15, 1919
(did not run)
Democratic 1914
1916
33 Albert H. Roberts.jpg Albert H. Roberts
(1868–1946)
January 15, 1919

January 15, 1921
(lost election)
Democratic 1918
34 Alfred-alexander-taylor-tn2.jpg Alfred A. Taylor
(1848–1931)
January 15, 1921

January 16, 1923
(lost election)
Republican 1920
35 AustinPeay.jpg Austin Peay
(1876–1927)
January 16, 1923

October 2, 1927
(died in office)
Democratic 1922
1924
1926
36 Henry Hollis Horton.jpg Henry Hollis Horton
(1866–1934)
October 2, 1927

January 17, 1933
(did not run)
Democratic Took over from
speaker of
the Senate
1928
1930
37 Hill McAlister.jpg Hill McAlister
(1875–1959)
January 17, 1933

January 15, 1937
(did not run)
Democratic 1932
1934
38 Gordon Browning (TN).png Gordon Browning
(1889–1976)
January 15, 1937

January 16, 1939
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1936
39 William Prentice Cooper, Tennessee Governor 1939-1945.jpg Prentice Cooper
(1895–1969)
January 16, 1939

January 16, 1945
(term limit reached)
Democratic 1938
1940
1942
40 Mccord-jim-nance.jpg Jim Nance McCord
(1879–1968)
January 16, 1945

January 17, 1949
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1944
1946
38 Gordon Browning (TN).png Gordon Browning
(1889–1976)
January 17, 1949

January 15, 1953
(term limit reached)
Democratic 1948
1950   Haynes, Walter M.Walter M. Haynes
41 Frank Goad Clement Tennessee Governor.jpg Frank G. Clement
(1920–1969)
January 15, 1953

January 19, 1959
(term limit reached)
Democratic 1952 Maddux, JaredJared Maddux
1954
42 Earl Buford Ellington, Tennessee Governor.jpg Buford Ellington
(1907–1972)
January 19, 1959

January 15, 1963
(term limit reached)
Democratic 1958 Baird, William D.William D. Baird
41 Frank Goad Clement Tennessee Governor.jpg Frank G. Clement
(1920–1969)
January 15, 1963

January 16, 1967
(term limit reached)
Democratic 1962 Bomar Jr., James L.James L. Bomar Jr.
Maddux, JaredJared Maddux
42 Earl Buford Ellington, Tennessee Governor.jpg Buford Ellington
(1907–1972)
January 16, 1967

January 16, 1971
(term limit reached)
Democratic 1966 Gorrell, FrankFrank Gorrell
43 Winfield Dunn 2007.jpg Winfield Dunn
(1927–2024)
January 16, 1971

January 18, 1975
(term limit reached)
Republican 1970 Wilder, John SheltonJohn Shelton Wilder
44 Ray Blanton.jpg Ray Blanton
(1930–1996)
January 18, 1975

January 17, 1979
(did not run)
Democratic 1974
45 Lamar Alexander (TN 2).png Lamar Alexander
(b. 1940)
January 17, 1979

January 17, 1987
(term limit reached)
Republican 1978
1982
46 Ned McWherter Tennessee Governor 1987-1995.jpg Ned McWherter
(1930–2011)
January 17, 1987

January 21, 1995
(term limit reached)
Democratic 1986
1990
47 Donald Sundquist Tennessee Governor official portrait.jpg Don Sundquist
(1936–2023)
January 21, 1995

January 18, 2003
(term limit reached)
Republican 1994
1998
48 Governor Bredesen (cropped).jpg Phil Bredesen
(b. 1943)
January 18, 2003

January 15, 2011
(term limit reached)
Democratic 2002
2006 Ramsey, RonRon Ramsey
49 Bill Haslam 2016.jpg Bill Haslam
(b. 1958)
January 15, 2011

January 19, 2019
(term limit reached)
Republican 2010
2014
McNally, RandyRandy McNally
50 Bill Lee at Change of Command Ceremony (1) (cropped).jpg Bill Lee
(b. 1959)
January 19, 2019

Incumbent
Republican 2018
2022

See also

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Tennessee
  • List of Tennessee General Assemblies
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