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List of governors of Maryland facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

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.

Since the American Revolution (1775–1783), Maryland has had four state constitutions that have specified different terms of office and methods of selection of its governors. 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. An 1838 constitutional amendment allowed the direct election of governors to 3-year terms, although the governors came from rotating election districts of regions. The terms were lengthened to four years in the 1851 Constitution and election districts were abolished in the 1864 version. Since then, under the current heavily amended Maryland Constitution of 1867 governors have been elected by the entire state of Maryland for a four-year term.

Maryland governors are limited to two consecutive terms, making former two-term governors eligible to run after four years out of office. Thomas Sim Lee, Daniel Martin, and Robert Bowie have served non-consecutive terms as Governor of Maryland. Albert C. Ritchie holds the record of Maryland's longest-serving governor with almost 15 years of service (1920–1935). Maryland has never yet had a female governor although four have been nominated by their parties since 1974. One woman, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, served as Lieutenant Governor under Parris Glendening from 1995 to 2003.

The current governor is Republican Larry Hogan, who took office on January 21, 2015.

Governors

      Federalist (8)       Democratic-Republican (9)       Anti-Jacksonian (3)       Jacksonian (1)       Whig (3)       Democratic (29)       Constitutional Union (1)       Republican (9)

Governor Term in office Party Term Previous office Lieutenant governor
1 Thomas Johnson (governor).jpeg   Thomas Johnson
(1732-11-04)November 4, 1732 – October 26, 1819(1819-10-26)


(Aged 86)

March 21, 1777

November 12, 1779
Independent 1
(1777)
Continental Congress
(1774–1775)
None
2
(1778)
2 No image.svg Thomas Sim Lee
(1745-10-29)October 29, 1745 – November 9, 1819(1819-11-09)


(Aged 74)

November 12, 1779

November 22, 1782
Independent 3
(1779)
Governor's Executive Council
(1777–1779)
4
(1780)
5
(1781)
3 William paca.jpg William Paca
(1740-10-31)October 31, 1740 – October 13, 1799(1799-10-13)


(Aged 58)

November 22, 1782

November 26, 1785
Independent 6
(1782)
Maryland State Senator
(1777–1779)
7
(1783)
8
(1784)
4 General William Smallwood SC-000580.jpg William Smallwood
1732 – February 14, 1792(1792-02-14)


(Aged 59–60)

November 26, 1785

November 24, 1788
Independent 9
(1785)
Major General
Continental Army

Maryland State Delegate
(1761–1774)

10
(1786)
11
(1787)
5 Johneagerhoward.jpg   John Eager Howard
(1752-06-04)June 4, 1752 – October 12, 1827(1827-10-12)


(Aged 75)

November 24, 1788

November 14, 1791
Federalist 12
(1788)
Colonel
Continental Army

Continental Congress
(1787–1788)

13
(1789)
14
(1790)
6 George Plater portrait.jpg George Plater
(1735-11-08)November 8, 1735 – February 10, 1792(1792-02-10)


(Aged 56)

November 14, 1791

February 10, 1792
Federalist 15
(1791)
Maryland State Senator
(1777–1790)
Governor James Brice - Charles Willson Peale.jpg James Brice
(1746-08-26)August 26, 1746 – July 11, 1801(1801-07-11)


(Aged 55)

February 10, 1792

April 5, 1792
Federalist Mayor of Annapolis

(1782–1783; 1787–1788)

2 No image.svg Thomas Sim Lee
(1745-10-29)October 29, 1745 – November 9, 1819(1819-11-09)


(Aged 74)

April 5, 1792

November 14, 1794
Federalist 16
(1792)
Governor of Maryland
(1779–1782)

Continental Congress
(1783–1784)

17
(1793)
7 Portrait of Governor John Hoskins Stone of Maryland by Rembrandt Peale.jpg John Hoskins Stone
1750 – October 5, 1804(1804-10-05)


(Aged 53–54)

November 14, 1794

November 17, 1797
Federalist 18
(1794)
Maryland State Delegate
(1790)
19
(1795)
20
(1796)
8   John Henry
November 1750 – December 16, 1798(1798-12-16)


(Aged 48)

November 17, 1797

November 14, 1798
Democratic-Republican 21
(1797)
U.S. Senator
from Maryland
(1789–1797)
9 Benjamin Ogle I 1749-1809.jpg   Benjamin Ogle
(1749-01-27)January 27, 1749 – July 7, 1809(1809-07-07)


(Aged 60)

November 14, 1798

November 10, 1801
Federalist 22
(1798)
None
23
(1799)
24
(1800)
10 John Francis Mercer.jpg   John F. Mercer
(1759-05-17)May 17, 1759 – July 30, 1821(1821-07-30)


(Aged 62)

November 10, 1801

November 13, 1803
Democratic-Republican 25
(1801)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 2nd
(1793–1794)
26
(1802)
11 Robert Bowie portrait.jpg Robert Bowie
March 1, 1750 – January 8, 1818(1818-01-08)


(Aged 67)

November 15, 1803

November 10, 1806
Democratic-Republican 27
(1803)
Maryland State Delegate
(1801–1803)
28
(1804)
29
(1805)
12 Robertwrightofmaryland.jpg Robert Wright
(1752-11-20)November 20, 1752 – September 7, 1826(1826-09-07)


(Aged 73)

November 12, 1806

June 9, 1809
Democratic-Republican 30
(1806)
U.S. Senator
from Maryland
(1801–1806)
31
(1807)
32
(1808)
13 Edwardlloydofmaryland.jpg Edward Lloyd V
(1779-07-22)July 22, 1779 – June 2, 1834(1834-06-02)


(Aged 54)

June 9, 1809

November 16, 1811
Democratic-Republican 33
(1809)
Maryland State Delegate
(1800–1805)
34
(1810)
11 Robert Bowie portrait.jpg Robert Bowie
March 1, 1750 – January 8, 1818(1818-01-08)


(Aged 67)

November 16, 1811

November 23, 1812
Democratic-Republican 35
(1811)
Governor of Maryland
(1803–1806)
14 Levin Winder, portrait by Florence Mackubin.jpg   Levin Winder
(1757-09-04)September 4, 1757 – July 1, 1819(1819-07-01)


(Aged 61)

November 25, 1812

January 2, 1816
Federalist 36
(1812)
Maryland State Delegate
(1806–1809)
37
(1813)
38
(1814)
15 Thomas Sully, Charles Carnan Ridgely, 1820, NGA 32582.jpg Charles Carnan Ridgely
(1760-12-06)December 6, 1760 – July 17, 1829(1829-07-17)


(Aged 68)

January 2, 1816

January 8, 1819
Federalist 39
(1816)
Maryland State Senator
(1796–1800)
40
(1817)
41
(1818)
16 Charles Goldsborough, 1802 painting.jpg Charles Goldsborough
(1765-07-15)July 15, 1765 – December 13, 1834(1834-12-13)


(Aged 69)

January 8, 1819

December 20, 1819
Federalist 42
(1819)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 8th
(1805–1817)
17 Samuel Sprigg.jpg   Samuel Sprigg
1783 – April 21, 1855(1855-04-21)


(Aged 71–72)

December 20, 1819

December 16, 1822
Democratic-Republican 43
(1819)
None
44
(1820)
45
(1821)
18 Samuel Stevens, Jr. (Maryland Governor).jpg Samuel Stevens Jr.
(1778-07-13)July 13, 1778 – February 7, 1860(1860-02-07)


(Aged 81)

December 16, 1822

January 9, 1826
Democratic-Republican 46
(1822)
Maryland State Delegate
(1819–1820)
47
(1823)
48
(1824)
19 Joseph Kent of Maryland.jpg Joseph Kent
(1779-01-14)January 14, 1779 – November 24, 1837(1837-11-24)


(Aged 58)

January 9, 1826

January 15, 1829
Democratic-Republican 49
(1826)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 2nd
(1819–1826)
50
(1827)
51
(1828)
20 No image.svg   Daniel Martin
December 1780 – July 11, 1831(1831-07-11)


(Aged 50)

January 15, 1829

January 15, 1830
Anti-Jacksonian 52
(1829)
Maryland State Delegate
(1819–1820)
21 Thomas King Carroll (Maryland Governor).jpg   Thomas King Carroll
(1793-04-29)April 29, 1793 – October 3, 1873(1873-10-03)


(Aged 80)

January 15, 1830

January 13, 1831
Jacksonian 53
(1830)
Maryland State Delegate
(1816–1817)
20 No image.svg   Daniel Martin
December 1780 – July 11, 1831(1831-07-11)


(Aged 50)

January 13, 1831

July 11, 1831
Anti-Jacksonian 54
(1831)
Maryland State Delegate
(1819–1820)
22 George Howard (Maryland Governor).jpg George Howard
(1789-11-21)November 21, 1789 – August 2, 1846(1846-08-02)


(Aged 56)

July 11, 1831

January 17, 1833
Anti-Jacksonian None
55
(1832)
23 James Thomas, Governor of Maryland.jpg   James Thomas
(1785-03-11)March 11, 1785 – December 25, 1845(1845-12-25)


(Aged 60)

January 17, 1833

January 14, 1836
Whig 56
(1833)
Maryland State Senator
(1826–1831)
57
(1834)
58
(1835)
24 Thomas Veazey, 1836 painting.jpg Thomas Veazey
(1774-01-31)January 31, 1774 – July 1, 1842(1842-07-01)


(Aged 68)

January 14, 1836

January 7, 1839
Whig 59
(1836)
Maryland State Delegate
(1811–1812)
60
(1837)
61
(1838)
25 William Grason (Maryland Governor).jpg   William Grason
(1788-03-11)March 11, 1788 – July 2, 1868(1868-07-02)


(Aged 80)

January 7, 1839

January 3, 1842
Democratic 62
(1838)
Maryland State Delegate
(1837)
26 Francis Thomas of Maryland - photo portrait seated.jpg Francis Thomas
(1799-02-03)February 3, 1799 – January 22, 1876(1876-01-22)


(Aged 76)

January 3, 1842

January 6, 1845
Democratic 63
(1841)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 6th
(1835–1841)
27 Thomas Pratt by Dieterich, 1904.jpg   Thomas Pratt
(1804-02-18)February 18, 1804 – November 9, 1869(1869-11-09)


(Aged 65)

January 6, 1845

January 3, 1848
Whig 64
(1844)
Maryland State Delegate
(1832–1835)
28 Philip Francis Thomas, sitting.jpg   Philip F. Thomas
(1810-09-12)September 12, 1810 – October 2, 1890(1890-10-02)


(Aged 80)

January 3, 1848

January 6, 1851
Democratic 65
(1847)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 1st
(1839–1841)
29 Enoch Louis Lowe.jpg Enoch Lowe
(1820-08-10)August 10, 1820 – August 23, 1892(1892-08-23)


(Aged 72)

January 6, 1851

January 11, 1854
Democratic 66
(1850)
Maryland State Delegate
(1845)
30 Thomas ligon maryland.jpg Thomas Watkins Ligon
(1810-05-10)May 10, 1810 – January 12, 1881(1881-01-12)


(Aged 70)

January 11, 1854

January 13, 1858
Democratic 67
(1853)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 3rd
(1845–1849)
31 Thomas H. Hicks, Md - NARA - 525674.jpg   Thomas H. Hicks
(1798-09-02)September 2, 1798 – February 14, 1865(1865-02-14)


(Aged 66)

January 13, 1858

January 8, 1862
American / Union 68
(1857)
Maryland State Delegate
(1830–1836)
32 Augustus Williamson Bradford - photo portrait standing.jpg   Augustus Bradford
(1806-01-09)January 9, 1806 – March 1, 1881(1881-03-01)


(Aged 75)

January 8, 1862

January 10, 1866
Union 69
(1861)
Baltimore County Clerk of Courts
(1845–1851)
33 Thomas Swann of Maryland, sitting.jpg Thomas Swann
(1809-03-03)March 3, 1809 – July 24, 1883(1883-07-24)


(Aged 74)

January 10, 1866

January 13, 1869
Union / Democratic 70
(1864)
Mayor of Baltimore
(1856–1860)
  Christopher C. Cox
34 Governor oden bowie of maryland.jpg   Oden Bowie
(1826-11-10)November 10, 1826 – December 4, 1894(1894-12-04)


(Aged 68)

January 13, 1869

January 10, 1872
Democratic 71
(1867)
Maryland State Senator
(1867–1869)
None
35 Williampinkneywhite.jpg William Pinkney Whyte
(1824-08-09)August 9, 1824 – March 17, 1908(1908-03-17)


(Aged 83)

January 10, 1872

March 4, 1874
Democratic 72
(1871)
U.S. Senator
from Maryland
(1868–1869)
36 James Black Groome, sitting.jpg James Black Groome
(1838-04-04)April 4, 1838 – October 5, 1893(1893-10-05)


(Aged 55)

March 4, 1874

January 12, 1876
Democratic Maryland State Delegate
(1872–1874)
37 John Lee Carroll (Maryland Governor).jpg John Lee Carroll
(1830-09-30)September 30, 1830 – February 27, 1911(1911-02-27)


(Aged 80)

January 12, 1876

January 14, 1880
Democratic 73
(1875)
Maryland State Senator
(1867–1876)
38 Williamthamilton.jpg William T. Hamilton
(1820-09-08)September 8, 1820 – October 26, 1888(1888-10-26)


(Aged 68)

January 14, 1880

January 9, 1884
Democratic 74
(1879)
U.S. Senator
from Maryland
(1869–1875)
39 Governor robert mclane of maryland.jpg Robert Milligan McLane
(1815-06-23)June 23, 1815 – April 16, 1898(1898-04-16)


(Aged 82)

January 9, 1884

March 27, 1885
Democratic 75
(1883)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 4th
(1879–1883)
40 Henry Lloyd (Maryland Governor).jpg Henry Lloyd
(1852-02-21)February 21, 1852 – December 20, 1920(1920-12-20)


(Aged 68)

March 27, 1885

January 11, 1888
Democratic Maryland State Senator
(1882–1885)
41 Governor elihu emory jackson of maryland.jpg Elihu Emory Jackson
(1837-11-03)November 3, 1837 – December 27, 1907(1907-12-27)


(Aged 70)

January 11, 1888

January 13, 1892
Democratic 76
(1887)
Maryland State Senator
(1884–1886)
42 Frank Brown, Maryland governor, portrait.jpg Frank Brown
(1846-08-08)August 8, 1846 – February 3, 1920(1920-02-03)


(Aged 73)

January 13, 1892

January 8, 1896
Democratic 77
(1891)
Maryland State Delegate
(1876–1878)
43 Governor lloyd lowndes of maryland.jpg   Lloyd Lowndes Jr.
(1845-02-21)February 21, 1845 – January 8, 1905(1905-01-08)


(Aged 59)

January 8, 1896

January 10, 1900
(lost election)
Republican 78
(1895)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 6th
(1873–1875)
44 John Walter Smith, photo portrait head and shoulders.jpg   John W. Smith
(1845-02-05)February 5, 1845 – April 19, 1925(1925-04-19)


(Aged 80)

January 10, 1900

January 13, 1904
Democratic 79
(1899)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 1st
(1899–1900)
45 Edwin Warfield of Maryland, sitting.jpg Edwin Warfield
(1848-05-07)May 7, 1848 – March 31, 1920(1920-03-31)


(Aged 71)

January 13, 1904

January 8, 1908
Democratic 80
(1903)
Maryland State Senator
(1881–1887)
46 Austin Lane Crothers, photograph of head with top hat.jpg Austin Lane Crothers
(1860-05-17)May 17, 1860 – May 25, 1912(1912-05-25)


(Aged 52)

January 8, 1908

January 10, 1912
Democratic 81
(1907)
Maryland State Delegate
(1897–1900)
47 Governor phillips goldborough of maryland.jpg   Phillips Lee Goldsborough
(1865-08-06)August 6, 1865 – October 22, 1946(1946-10-22)


(Aged 81)

January 10, 1912

January 12, 1916
Republican 82
(1911)
Comptroller of Maryland
(1898–1900)
48 Emerson Harrington, Bachrach photo portrait, 1919.jpg   Emerson Harrington
(1864-03-26)March 26, 1864 – December 15, 1945(1945-12-15)


(Aged 81)

January 12, 1916

January 14, 1920
Democratic 83
(1915)
Comptroller of Maryland
(1912–1916)
49 Albert Ritchie cph.3b33171.jpg Albert Ritchie
(1876-08-29)August 29, 1876 – February 24, 1936(1936-02-24)


(Aged 59)

January 14, 1920

January 9, 1935
(lost election)
Democratic 84
(1919)
Attorney General of Maryland
(1915–1919)
85
(1923)
86
(1926)
87
(1930)
50 Harry W. Nice circa 1918 (cropped).jpg   Harry Nice
(1877-12-05)December 5, 1877 – February 25, 1941(1941-02-25)


(Aged 63)

January 9, 1935

January 11, 1939
(lost election)
Republican 88
(1934)
Baltimore City Alderman
(1903–1905)
51 Herbert O'Conor (MD).png   Herbert O'Conor
(1896-11-17)November 17, 1896 – March 4, 1960(1960-03-04)


(Aged 63)

January 11, 1939

January 3, 1947
(term limited)
Democratic 89
(1938)
Attorney General of Maryland
(1935–1939)
90
(1942)
52 William Preston Lane.jpg William Preston Lane Jr.
(1892-05-12)May 12, 1892 – February 7, 1967(1967-02-07)


(Aged 74)

January 3, 1947

January 10, 1951
(lost election)
Democratic 91
(1946)
Attorney General of Maryland
(1930–1934)
53 MarylandGovnr (cropped).jpg   Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin
(1900-11-20)November 20, 1900 – August 10, 1974(1974-08-10)


(Aged 73)

January 10, 1951

January 14, 1959
(term limited)
Republican 92
(1950)
Mayor of Baltimore
(1943–1947)
93
(1954)
54 J Millard Tawes.jpg   John Millard Tawes
(1894-04-08)April 8, 1894 – June 25, 1979(1979-06-25)


(Aged 85)

January 14, 1959

January 25, 1967
(term limited)
Democratic 94
(1958)
Comptroller of Maryland
(1950–1959)
95
(1962)
55 Spiro Agnew (MD).png   Spiro Agnew
(1918-11-09)November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996(1996-09-17)


(Aged 77)

January 25, 1967

January 7, 1969
(resigned)
Republican 96
(1966)
Baltimore County Executive
(1962–1966)
56 Marvin Mandel (MD).png   Marvin Mandel
(1920-04-19)April 19, 1920 – August 30, 2015(2015-08-30)


(Aged 95)

January 7, 1969

January 17, 1979
(term limited)
Democratic 97
(1969)
Speaker of the Maryland
House of Delegates
(1964–1969)
  Blair Lee III
98
(1970)
99
(1974)
Blair Lee III (Maryland governor).jpg Blair Lee III
(1916-05-19)May 19, 1916 – October 25, 1985(1985-10-25)


(Aged 69)

June 4, 1977

January 15, 1979
(acting governor)
Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
(1971–1979)
Blair Lee III

(Continued to serve as

Lieutenant Governor

while Acting Governor)

57 Maryland Governor Harry Hughes speaking at Fort Belvoir, Feb 16, 1988.jpg Harry Hughes
(1926-11-13)November 13, 1926 – March 13, 2019(2019-03-13)


(Aged 92)

January 17, 1979

January 20, 1987
(term limited)
Democratic 100
(1978)
Maryland State Senator
(1959–1971)
Samuel Bogley
101
(1982)
J. Joseph Curran Jr.
58 William Donald Schaefer.jpg William Donald Schaefer
(1921-11-02)November 2, 1921 – April 18, 2011(2011-04-18)


(Aged 89)

January 20, 1987

January 18, 1995
(term limited)
Democratic 102
(1986)
Mayor of Baltimore
(1971–1987)
Melvin Steinberg
103
(1990)
59 Parris Glendening speaking, September 2006 (cropped).jpg Parris Glendening
(1942-06-11)June 11, 1942
(Age 81)
January 18, 1995

January 15, 2003
(term limited)
Democratic 104
(1994)
Prince George's County Executive
(1983–1994)
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
105
(1998)
60 Robert ehrlich speaking at healthierUS summit cropped.jpg   Bob Ehrlich
(1957-11-25)November 25, 1957
(Age 66)
January 15, 2003

January 17, 2007
(lost election)
Republican 106
(2002)
U.S. Representative
from Maryland's 2nd
(1995–2003)
  Michael Steele
61 Governor O'Malley Portrait.jpg   Martin O'Malley
(1963-01-18)January 18, 1963
(Age 61)
January 17, 2007

January 21, 2015
(term limited)
Democratic 107
(2006)
Mayor of Baltimore
(1999–2007)
  Anthony Brown
108
(2010)
62 Larry Hogan 2020.jpg   Larry Hogan
(1956-05-25)May 25, 1956
(Age 67)
January 21, 2015

Incumbent
Republican 109
(2014)
Maryland Secretary of Appointments
(2003–2007)
  Boyd Rutherford
110
(2018)
63 Wes Moore credit Amunankhra House Ltd.jpg   Wes Moore (elect)
(1978-10-15)October 15, 1978
(Age 45)
Taking office
January 18, 2023

Democratic 111
(2022)
CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation
(2017–2021)
  Aruna Miller (elect)

Succession

See also

kids search engine
List of governors of Maryland Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.