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List of governors of Maryland facts for kids

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The governor of Maryland is the head of government of the U.S. state of Maryland and is commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and the constitutional powers of Maryland's governors make them among the most powerful governors in the United States.

The current governor is Democrat Wes Moore, who took office on January 18, 2023.

Governors

Maryland was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on April 28, 1788. Before it declared its independence, Maryland was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Under the constitution of 1776, governors were appointed by the General Assembly legislature to one-year terms and could be reelected for two additional terms, though they must take four years off after leaving office. An 1838 constitutional amendment allowed for popular election of governors to three-year terms, though they could not succeed themselves. The 1851 constitution removed the term limit, and lengthened terms to four years, to commence on the second Wednesday of the January following the election. Governors were limited to two consecutive terms beginning in 1948.

The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1864, abolished in 1867, and recreated in 1970. The lieutenant governor succeeds to the office of governor should it become vacant. In the original constitution, the first named of the Governor's Council would act as governor if it were vacant, until a new governor were selected; this was changed to the secretary of state in 1837. The 1867 constitution originally called for the General Assembly to immediately elect a new governor; if they were not in session, the president of the Senate would act as governor until one was elected.

Governors of the State of Maryland
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 Thomas Johnson (governor).jpeg   Thomas Johnson
(1732–1819)
March 21, 1777

November 12, 1779
(did not run)
No party 1777 Office did not exist
1778
2 No image.svg Thomas Sim Lee
(1745–1819)
November 12, 1779

November 22, 1782
(term-limited)
No party 1779
1780
1781
3 William paca.jpg William Paca
(1740–1799)
November 22, 1782

November 26, 1785
(term-limited)
No party 1782
1783
1784
4 General William Smallwood SC-000580.jpg William Smallwood
(1732–1792)
November 26, 1785

November 27, 1788
(term-limited)
No party 1785
1786
1787
5 Johneagerhoward.jpg John Eager Howard
(1752–1827)
November 27, 1788

November 14, 1791
(term-limited)
Federalist 1788
1789
1790
6 George Plater portrait.jpg George Plater
(1735–1792)
November 14, 1791

February 10, 1792
(died in office)
Federalist 1791
Governor James Brice - Charles Willson Peale.jpg James Brice
(1746–1801)
February 10, 1792

April 5, 1792
(successor took office)
Federalist Senior council
member acting
2 No image.svg Thomas Sim Lee
(1745–1819)
April 5, 1792

November 17, 1794
(did not run)
Federalist 1792
1793
7 Portrait of Governor John Hoskins Stone of Maryland by Rembrandt Peale.jpg John Hoskins Stone
(1749–1804)
November 17, 1794

November 28, 1797
(term-limited)
Federalist 1794
1795
1796
8 No image.svg John Henry
(1750–1798)
November 28, 1797

November 14, 1798
(did not run)
Federalist 1797
9 Benjamin Ogle I 1749-1809.jpg Benjamin Ogle
(1749–1809)
November 14, 1798

November 10, 1801
(term-limited)
Federalist 1798
1799
1800
10 John Francis Mercer.jpg John Francis Mercer
(1759–1821)
November 10, 1801

November 13, 1803
(did not run)
Democratic-
Republican
1801
1802
11 Robert Bowie portrait.jpg Robert Bowie
(1750–1818)
November 15, 1803

November 12, 1806
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
1803
1804
1805
12 Robertwrightofmaryland.jpg Robert Wright
(1752–1826)
November 12, 1806

May 6, 1809
(resigned)
Democratic-
Republican
1806
1807
1808
No image.svg James Butcher May 6, 1809

June 9, 1809
(successor took office)
Democratic-
Republican
Senior council
member acting
13 Edwardlloydofmaryland.jpg Edward Lloyd
(1779–1834)
June 9, 1809

November 16, 1811
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
June 1809
(special)
Nov. 1809
1810
11 Robert Bowie portrait.jpg Robert Bowie
(1750–1818)
November 16, 1811

November 23, 1812
(lost election)
Democratic-
Republican
1811
14 Levin Winder, portrait by Florence Mackubin.jpg Levin Winder
(1757–1819)
November 23, 1812

January 2, 1816
(term-limited)
Federalist 1812
1813
1814
15 Thomas Sully, Charles Carnan Ridgely, 1820, NGA 32582.jpg Charles Carnan Ridgely
(1760–1829)
January 2, 1816

January 8, 1819
(term-limited)
Federalist 1815
1816
1817
16 Charles Goldsborough, 1802 painting.jpg Charles Goldsborough
(1765–1834)
January 8, 1819

December 20, 1819
(lost election)
Federalist 1818
17 Samuel Sprigg.jpg Samuel Sprigg
(1783–1855)
December 20, 1819

December 16, 1822
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
1819
1820
1821
18 Samuel Stevens, Jr. (Maryland Governor).jpg Samuel Stevens Jr.
(1778–1860)
December 16, 1822

January 9, 1826
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
1822
1823
1824
19 Joseph Kent of Maryland.jpg Joseph Kent
(1779–1837)
January 9, 1826

January 15, 1829
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
1825
1826
1827
20 No image.svg Daniel Martin
(1780–1831)
January 15, 1829

January 15, 1830
(lost election)
Anti-Jacksonian 1828
21 Thomas King Carroll (Maryland Governor).jpg Thomas King Carroll
(1793–1873)
January 15, 1830

January 13, 1831
(lost election)
Jacksonian 1829
20 No image.svg Daniel Martin
(1780–1831)
January 13, 1831

July 11, 1831
(died in office)
Anti-Jacksonian 1830
22 George Howard (Maryland Governor).jpg George Howard
(1789–1846)
July 11, 1831

January 17, 1833
(did not run)
Anti-Jacksonian Senior council
member acting
1832
23 James Thomas, Governor of Maryland.jpg James Thomas
(1785–1845)
January 17, 1833

January 14, 1836
(term-limited)
Anti-Jacksonian 1833
1834
1835
24 Thomas Veazey, 1836 painting.jpg Thomas Veazey
(1774–1842)
January 14, 1836

January 7, 1839
(term-limited)
Whig 1835
1836
1837
25 William Grason (Maryland Governor).jpg William Grason
(1788–1868)
January 7, 1839

January 3, 1842
(term-limited)
Democratic 1838
26 Francis Thomas of Maryland - photo portrait seated.jpg Francis Thomas
(1799–1876)
January 3, 1842

January 6, 1845
(term-limited)
Democratic 1841
27 Thomas Pratt by Dieterich, 1904.jpg Thomas Pratt
(1804–1869)
January 6, 1845

January 3, 1848
(term-limited)
Whig 1844
28 Philip Francis Thomas, sitting.jpg Philip Francis Thomas
(1810–1890)
January 3, 1848

January 6, 1851
(term-limited)
Democratic 1847
29 Enoch Louis Lowe.jpg Enoch Louis Lowe
(1820–1892)
January 6, 1851

January 11, 1854
(did not run)
Democratic 1850
30 Thomas ligon maryland.jpg Thomas Watkins Ligon
(1810–1881)
January 11, 1854

January 13, 1858
(did not run)
Democratic 1853
31 Thomas H. Hicks, Md - NARA - 525674.jpg Thomas Holliday Hicks
(1798–1865)
January 13, 1858

January 8, 1862
(did not run)
American 1857
32 Augustus Williamson Bradford - photo portrait standing.jpg Augustus Bradford
(1806–1881)
January 8, 1862

January 10, 1866
(did not run)
Union 1861
33 Thomas Swann of Maryland, sitting.jpg Thomas Swann
(1809–1883)
January 10, 1866

January 13, 1869
(did not run)
Union 1864   Cox, Christopher ChristianChristopher Christian Cox
34 Governor oden bowie of maryland.jpg Oden Bowie
(1826–1894)
January 13, 1869

January 10, 1872
(did not run)
Democratic 1867 Office did not exist
35 Williampinkneywhite.jpg William Pinkney Whyte
(1824–1908)
January 10, 1872

March 4, 1874
(resigned)
Democratic 1871
36 James Black Groome, sitting.jpg James Black Groome
(1838–1893)
March 4, 1874

January 12, 1876
(did not run)
Democratic Elected
governor by
legislature
37 John Lee Carroll (Maryland Governor).jpg John Lee Carroll
(1830–1911)
January 12, 1876

January 14, 1880
(did not run)
Democratic 1875
38 Williamthamilton.jpg William Thomas Hamilton
(1820–1888)
January 14, 1880

January 9, 1884
(did not run)
Democratic 1879
39 Governor robert mclane of maryland.jpg Robert Milligan McLane
(1815–1898)
January 9, 1884

March 27, 1885
(resigned)
Democratic 1883
40 Henry Lloyd (Maryland Governor).jpg Henry Lloyd
(1852–1920)
March 27, 1885

January 11, 1888
(did not run)
Democratic President of the
Senate acting
41 Governor elihu emory jackson of maryland.jpg Elihu Emory Jackson
(1837–1907)
January 11, 1888

January 13, 1892
(did not run)
Democratic 1887
42 Frank Brown, Maryland governor, portrait.jpg Frank Brown
(1846–1920)
January 13, 1892

January 8, 1896
(did not run)
Democratic 1891
43 Governor lloyd lowndes of maryland.jpg Lloyd Lowndes Jr.
(1845–1905)
January 8, 1896

January 10, 1900
(lost election)
Republican 1895
44 John Walter Smith, photo portrait head and shoulders.jpg John Walter Smith
(1845–1925)
January 10, 1900

January 13, 1904
(did not run)
Democratic 1899
45 Edwin Warfield of Maryland, sitting.jpg Edwin Warfield
(1848–1920)
January 13, 1904

January 8, 1908
(did not run)
Democratic 1903
46 Austin Lane Crothers, photograph of head with top hat.jpg Austin Lane Crothers
(1860–1912)
January 8, 1908

January 10, 1912
(did not run)
Democratic 1907
47 Governor phillips goldborough of maryland.jpg Phillips Lee Goldsborough
(1865–1946)
January 10, 1912

January 12, 1916
(did not run)
Republican 1911
48 Emerson Harrington, Bachrach photo portrait, 1919.jpg Emerson Harrington
(1864–1945)
January 12, 1916

January 14, 1920
(did not run)
Democratic 1915
49 Albert Ritchie cph.3b33171.jpg Albert Ritchie
(1876–1936)
January 14, 1920

January 9, 1935
(lost election)
Democratic 1919
1923
1926
1930
50 Harry W. Nice circa 1918 (cropped).jpg Harry Nice
(1877–1941)
January 9, 1935

January 11, 1939
(lost election)
Republican 1934
51 Herbert O'Conor (MD).png Herbert O'Conor
(1896–1960)
January 11, 1939

January 3, 1947
(resigned)
Democratic 1938
1942
52 William Preston Lane.jpg William Preston Lane Jr.
(1892–1967)
January 3, 1947

January 10, 1951
(lost election)
Democratic Elected by
legislature
1946
53 MarylandGovnr (cropped).jpg Theodore McKeldin
(1900–1974)
January 10, 1951

January 14, 1959
(term-limited)
Republican 1950
1954
54 J Millard Tawes.jpg J. Millard Tawes
(1894–1979)
January 14, 1959

January 25, 1967
(term-limited)
Democratic 1958
1962
55 Spiro Agnew (MD).png Spiro Agnew
(1918–1996)
January 25, 1967

January 7, 1969
(resigned)
Republican 1966
56 Marvin Mandel (MD).png Marvin Mandel
(1920–2015)
January 7, 1969

January 17, 1979
(term-limited)
Democratic 1969
(special)
Lee III, BlairBlair Lee III
1970
1974
Blair Lee III (Maryland governor).jpg Blair Lee III
(1916–1985)
June 4, 1977

January 15, 1979
(did not run)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
57 Maryland Governor Harry Hughes speaking at Fort Belvoir, Feb 16, 1988.jpg Harry Hughes
(1926–2019)
January 17, 1979

January 21, 1987
(term-limited)
Democratic 1978 Bogley, SamuelSamuel Bogley
1982 Curran Jr., J. JosephJ. Joseph Curran Jr.
58 William Donald Schaefer.jpg William Donald Schaefer
(1921–2011)
January 21, 1987

January 18, 1995
(term-limited)
Democratic 1986 Steinberg, MelvinMelvin Steinberg
1990
59 Parris Glendening speaking, September 2006 (cropped).jpg Parris Glendening
(b. 1942)
January 18, 1995

January 15, 2003
(term-limited)
Democratic 1994 Townsend, Kathleen KennedyKathleen Kennedy Townsend
1998
60 Robert ehrlich speaking at healthierUS summit cropped.jpg Bob Ehrlich
(b. 1957)
January 15, 2003

January 17, 2007
(lost election)
Republican 2002 Steele, MichaelMichael Steele
61 Governor O'Malley Portrait.jpg Martin O'Malley
(b. 1963)
January 17, 2007

January 21, 2015
(term-limited)
Democratic 2006 Brown, AnthonyAnthony Brown
2010
62 Larry Hogan (2021) (cropped).jpg Larry Hogan
(b. 1956)
January 21, 2015

January 18, 2023
(term-limited)
Republican 2014 Rutherford, BoydBoyd Rutherford
2018
63 Wes Moore Official Governor Portrait (9x12).jpg Wes Moore
(b. 1978)
January 18, 2023

Incumbent
Democratic 2022 Miller, ArunaAruna Miller
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