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List of governors of the United States Virgin Islands facts for kids

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Governor of Virgin Islands
Seal of the United States Virgin Islands.svg
Seal of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Governor Albert Bryan Jr..jpg
Incumbent
Albert Bryan

since January 7, 2019
Style
Residence U.S. Virgin Islands Governor's Mansions
Term length Four-year term,
renewable once
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.

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.

Naval Governors (1917–1931)

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
Started Ended Length of Time
EdwinTaylorPollock.jpg Captain
Edwin Taylor Pollock
(1870–1943)
Acting
March 31, 1917 April 20, 1917 20 days Woodrow Wilson
1 Portrait of James Harrison Oliver.jpg Rear Admiral
James Harrison Oliver
(1857–1928)
April 20, 1917 April 8, 1919 1 year, 353 days Woodrow Wilson
2 LCDR J.WallaceOman 1905.jpg Rear Admiral
Joseph Wallace Oman
(1864–1941)
April 8, 1919 April 26, 1921 2 years, 18 days Woodrow Wilson
3 SumnerKittelle.jpg Rear Admiral
Sumner Ely Wetmore Kittelle
(1867–1950)
April 26, 1921 September 16, 1922 1 year, 143 days Warren G. Harding
4 Henry Hughes Hough in 1916.jpg Captain
Henry Hughes Hough
(1871–1943)
September 16, 1922 December 3, 1923 1 year, 78 days Warren G. Harding
5 No image.png Captain
Philip Williams
(1869–1942)
December 3, 1923 September 11, 1925 1 year, 282 days Calvin Coolidge
6 MartinEdwardTrench (cropped 2).jpg Captain
Martin Edward Trench
(1869–1927)
September 12, 1925 January 6, 1927 † 1 year, 116 days Calvin Coolidge
7 No image.png 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
Started Ended Length of Time
1 Paul M. Pearson LCCN2014697271 (cropped).jpg Paul Martin Pearson
(1871–1938)
March 18, 1931 July 23, 1935 4 years, 127 days   Republican Herbert Hoover
Picture of Robert Herrick.jpg Robert Herrick
(1868–1938)
Acting
July 23, 1935 August 21, 1935 29 days   Democratic Franklin D. Roosevelt
2 U.S. Territory Governors meet in Capitol. Washington, D.C., Aug. 13 (cropped).jpg Lawrence William Cramer
(1897–1978)
August 21, 1935 December 14, 1940 5 years, 115 days   Democratic Franklin D. Roosevelt
RobertMorssLovett.jpg Robert Morss Lovett
(1870–1956)
Acting
December 14, 1940 February 3, 1941 51 days   Democratic Franklin D. Roosevelt
3 No image.png Charles Harwood
(1880–1950)
February 3, 1941 May 17, 1946 5 years, 103 days   Democratic Franklin D. Roosevelt
4 Judge William H. Hastie, dean of the Howard University Law School, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War, ca. 1941 - NARA - 535835.jpg William H. Hastie
(1904–1976)
May 17, 1946 October 21, 1949 3 years, 157 days   Democratic Harry S. Truman
No image.png 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.jpg Archie Alexander
(1888–1958)
April 9, 1954 August 18, 1955 1 year, 131 days   Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower
No image.png Charles Kenneth Claunch
(1899–1978)
Acting
August 18, 1955 October 17, 1955 60 days   Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower
7 Walter Arthur Gordon 1918.jpg Walter A. Gordon
(1894–1976)
October 17, 1955 September 25, 1958 2 years, 343 days   Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower
8 No image.png John David Merwin
(1921–2013)
September 25, 1958 April 5, 1961 2 years, 192 days   Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower
9 Ralph Moses Paiewonsky.jpg Ralph Moses Paiewonsky
(1907–1991)
April 5, 1961 February 12, 1969 8 years, 42 days   Democratic John F. Kennedy
No image.png Cyril King
(1921–1978)
Acting
February 12, 1969 July 1, 1969 139 days   Independent Citizens Movement Richard Nixon
10 Melvin Evans123.jpg 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
Started Ended Length of Time
1 Melvin Evans123.jpg Melvin H. Evans
(1917–1984)
November 1, 1970 January 6, 1975 4 years, 66 days Republican 1970
2 No image.png Cyril King
(1921–1978)
January 6, 1975 January 2, 1978 2 years, 361 days Independent Citizens Movement 1974
3 Juan Luis Governor.jpg Juan Francisco Luis
(1940–2011)
January 2, 1978 January 5, 1987 9 years, 3 days Independent Citizens Movement
(until 1979)
1978
1982
Independent
(1979 onward)
4 No image.png Alexander Farrelly
(1923–2002)
January 5, 1987 January 2, 1995 7 years, 362 days Democratic 1986
1990
5 Roy L. Schneider.jpg Roy Schneider
(1939–2022)
January 2, 1995 January 4, 1999 4 years, 2 days Independent 1994
6 CharlesTurnbull (cropped).jpg Charles Wesley Turnbull
(1935–2022)
January 4, 1999 January 1, 2007 7 years, 362 days Democratic 1998
2002
7 Governor johndejongh.jpg John de Jongh
(born 1957)
January 1, 2007 January 5, 2015 8 years, 4 days Democratic 2006
2010
8 Kenneth Ezra Mapp (cropped).png Kenneth Mapp
(born 1955)
January 5, 2015 January 7, 2019 4 years, 2 days Independent 2014
9 Governor Albert Bryan Jr..jpg Albert Bryan
(born 1968)
January 7, 2019 Incumbent 6 years, 200 days Democratic 2018
2022

More Information

  • List of Virgin Islands Legislatures
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