List of governors of Georgia facts for kids

The governor of Georgia is like the main boss of the U.S. state of Georgia. They are the head of government and also the leader of the state's military forces, like the Georgia National Guard. The current governor is Brian Kemp, who is a Republican. He started his job on January 14, 2019.

Georgia has had 83 official governors since it became a state. 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 was governor during the American Civil War and was elected four times, serving for seven and a half years! The shortest term was by Matthew Talbot, who was governor for only 13 days after the previous governor passed away.

Georgia's Governors: A Look Back

Georgia was one of the first 13 colonies that formed the United States. It officially became a state on January 2, 1788. Before that, it was a colony of Great Britain.

During the American Civil War, Georgia left the United States on January 19, 1861. It then became one of the first 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 in Georgia. Georgia rejoined the U.S. on July 25, 1868, but was later temporarily removed from Congress. It was fully readmitted on July 15, 1870.

How Governor Terms Changed Over Time

When Georgia first started, in 1776, the leader was called a "president" and served for 6 months. In 1777, a new constitution created the job of "governor." Back then, a governor served for one year and couldn't serve more than one year out of every three.

Over the years, the rules for governors changed many times:

• 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.
• But in 1868, this changed again, allowing four-year terms with no limits.
• Then, in 1877, it went back to two-year terms and the limit from 1865.

The 1945 constitution made the term length four years. Governors had to wait four years before running again. This constitution also created the job of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. The Lieutenant Governor would take over if the governor's office became empty. Before this, the president of the state senate would take over.

In 1983, the rules changed again. Now, the Lieutenant Governor fully becomes governor if the position is empty. Also, governors can serve two terms in a row before they have to wait four years to run again. The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected together on the same ballot.

List of Georgia's Governors

Here is a list of the people who have served as governor of Georgia.

Governors of the State of Georgia

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