List of governors of the United States Virgin Islands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Virgin Islands |
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![]() Seal of the U.S. Virgin Islands
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Style |
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Residence | U.S. Virgin Islands Governor's Mansions |
Term length | Four-year term,
renewable once
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Constituting instrument | Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands Elective Governor Acts of 1968 |
Formation | 1917 (as Naval Governor) 1931 (as Civilian Governor) 1970 (as elected Governor) |
First holder | Melvin Herbert Evans |
Succession | Line of succession |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands |
Salary | $150,690 |
The governor of the United States Virgin Islands is like the chief leader of the United States Virgin Islands. This person is in charge of the government. Their jobs include giving a yearly speech about the territory's progress to the Virgin Islands Legislature. They also present the budget and make sure the laws are followed.
This important role was created in 1970. This happened after a law called the Elective Governor Acts of 1968 was passed. Melvin Herbert Evans was the very first governor chosen by the people.
This article lists the people who have served as governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Before the United States took over, the islands were ruled by Denmark. To learn about those earlier leaders, you can look at the List of governors of the Danish West Indies.
Contents
Governors Chosen by Appointment (1917–1970)
Before 1970, the governors of the U.S. Virgin Islands were not elected by the people. Instead, they were chosen and appointed by the President of the United States.
For a period, the governors were officers from the U.S. Navy. They were in charge of the islands.
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Time in Office | Appointed by | ||
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Started | Ended | Length of Time | ||||
– | ![]() |
Captain Edwin Taylor Pollock (1870–1943) Acting |
March 31, 1917 | April 20, 1917 | 20 days | Woodrow Wilson |
1 | ![]() |
Rear Admiral James Harrison Oliver (1857–1928) |
April 20, 1917 | April 8, 1919 | 1 year, 353 days | Woodrow Wilson |
2 | ![]() |
Rear Admiral Joseph Wallace Oman (1864–1941) |
April 8, 1919 | April 26, 1921 | 2 years, 18 days | Woodrow Wilson |
3 | ![]() |
Rear Admiral Sumner Ely Wetmore Kittelle (1867–1950) |
April 26, 1921 | September 16, 1922 | 1 year, 143 days | Warren G. Harding |
4 | ![]() |
Captain Henry Hughes Hough (1871–1943) |
September 16, 1922 | December 3, 1923 | 1 year, 78 days | Warren G. Harding |
5 | ![]() |
Captain Philip Williams (1869–1942) |
December 3, 1923 | September 11, 1925 | 1 year, 282 days | Calvin Coolidge |
6 | ![]() |
Captain Martin Edward Trench (1869–1927) |
September 12, 1925 | January 6, 1927 † | 1 year, 116 days | Calvin Coolidge |
7 | ![]() |
Captain Waldo A. Evans (1869–1936) |
January 19, 1927 | March 18, 1931 | 4 years, 58 days | Calvin Coolidge |
Civilian Governors (1931–1970)
After the naval governors, civilian leaders were appointed. They were still chosen by the U.S. President, not by the people of the Virgin Islands.
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Time in Office | Party | Appointed by | |||
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Started | Ended | Length of Time | ||||||
1 | ![]() |
Paul Martin Pearson (1871–1938) |
March 18, 1931 | July 23, 1935 | 4 years, 127 days | Republican | Herbert Hoover | |
– | ![]() |
Robert Herrick (1868–1938) Acting |
July 23, 1935 | August 21, 1935 | 29 days | Democratic | Franklin D. Roosevelt | |
2 | ![]() |
Lawrence William Cramer (1897–1978) |
August 21, 1935 | December 14, 1940 | 5 years, 115 days | Democratic | Franklin D. Roosevelt | |
– | ![]() |
Robert Morss Lovett (1870–1956) Acting |
December 14, 1940 | February 3, 1941 | 51 days | Democratic | Franklin D. Roosevelt | |
3 | ![]() |
Charles Harwood (1880–1950) |
February 3, 1941 | May 17, 1946 | 5 years, 103 days | Democratic | Franklin D. Roosevelt | |
4 | ![]() |
William H. Hastie (1904–1976) |
May 17, 1946 | October 21, 1949 | 3 years, 157 days | Democratic | Harry S. Truman | |
– | ![]() |
Morris Fidanque de Castro (1902–1966) |
October 21, 1949 | March 4, 1950 | 134 days | Democratic | Harry S. Truman | |
5 | March 4, 1950 | April 9, 1954 | 4 years, 36 days | |||||
6 | ![]() |
Archie Alexander (1888–1958) |
April 9, 1954 | August 18, 1955 | 1 year, 131 days | Republican | Dwight D. Eisenhower | |
– | ![]() |
Charles Kenneth Claunch (1899–1978) Acting |
August 18, 1955 | October 17, 1955 | 60 days | Republican | Dwight D. Eisenhower | |
7 | ![]() |
Walter A. Gordon (1894–1976) |
October 17, 1955 | September 25, 1958 | 2 years, 343 days | Republican | Dwight D. Eisenhower | |
8 | ![]() |
John David Merwin (1921–2013) |
September 25, 1958 | April 5, 1961 | 2 years, 192 days | Republican | Dwight D. Eisenhower | |
9 | ![]() |
Ralph Moses Paiewonsky (1907–1991) |
April 5, 1961 | February 12, 1969 | 8 years, 42 days | Democratic | John F. Kennedy | |
– | ![]() |
Cyril King (1921–1978) Acting |
February 12, 1969 | July 1, 1969 | 139 days | Independent Citizens Movement | Richard Nixon | |
10 | ![]() |
Melvin H. Evans (1917–1984) |
July 1, 1969 | November 1, 1970 | 1 year, 123 days | Republican | Richard Nixon |
Governors Chosen by Election (1970–Present)
Since 1970, the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands have been able to vote for their own governor. This was a big change that gave more power to the local residents.
- Parties
Republican (1) Independent Citizens Movement (1) Democratic (4) Independent (3)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Time in Office | Party | Election | |||
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Started | Ended | Length of Time | ||||||
1 | ![]() |
Melvin H. Evans (1917–1984) |
November 1, 1970 | January 6, 1975 | 4 years, 66 days | Republican | 1970 | |
2 | ![]() |
Cyril King (1921–1978) |
January 6, 1975 | January 2, 1978 | 2 years, 361 days | Independent Citizens Movement | 1974 | |
3 | ![]() |
Juan Francisco Luis (1940–2011) |
January 2, 1978 | January 5, 1987 | 9 years, 3 days | Independent Citizens Movement (until 1979) |
1978 1982 |
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Independent (1979 onward) |
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4 | ![]() |
Alexander Farrelly (1923–2002) |
January 5, 1987 | January 2, 1995 | 7 years, 362 days | Democratic | 1986 1990 |
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5 | ![]() |
Roy Schneider (1939–2022) |
January 2, 1995 | January 4, 1999 | 4 years, 2 days | Independent | 1994 | |
6 | ![]() |
Charles Wesley Turnbull (1935–2022) |
January 4, 1999 | January 1, 2007 | 7 years, 362 days | Democratic | 1998 2002 |
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7 | ![]() |
John de Jongh (born 1957) |
January 1, 2007 | January 5, 2015 | 8 years, 4 days | Democratic | 2006 2010 |
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8 | ![]() |
Kenneth Mapp (born 1955) |
January 5, 2015 | January 7, 2019 | 4 years, 2 days | Independent | 2014 | |
9 | ![]() |
Albert Bryan (born 1968) |
January 7, 2019 | Incumbent | 6 years, 200 days | Democratic | 2018 2022 |
More Information
- List of Virgin Islands Legislatures