List of governors of New Hampshire facts for kids
The governor of New Hampshire is like the chief leader of the state. They are in charge of the state government and also lead New Hampshire's military forces, like the National Guard.
The current governor is Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, who started her term on January 9, 2025. The person who served as governor for the longest time was John Taylor Gilman. He was governor for 14 years, from 1794 to 1805 and again from 1813 to 1816.
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What is a Governor?
A governor is the top elected official in a U.S. state. Think of them as the state's president. They make sure state laws are followed and lead the state's different departments. They also represent the state to other states and the country.
History of New Hampshire's Governors
New Hampshire was one of the first 13 colonies that formed the United States. It became a state on June 21, 1788. Before becoming independent, New Hampshire was a colony ruled by the Kingdom of Great Britain.
The first constitution of New Hampshire, written in 1776, did not have a main leader like a governor. The job of "President" was created in 1784. This job was later renamed "Governor" in 1792.
Governors used to serve for only one year. But in 1877, a change was made to the state's rules, making the term two years long. There are no limits on how many terms a governor can serve. Also, New Hampshire does not have a lieutenant governor. If the governor's office becomes empty, the president of the New Hampshire Senate steps in as governor.
List of New Hampshire Governors
Here is a list of the people who have served as governor of New Hampshire since the office was created.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Meshech Weare (1713–1786) |
June 15, 1784 – June 8, 1785 (did not run) |
No parties | 1784 | |
2 | ![]() |
John Langdon (1741–1819) |
June 8, 1785 – June 9, 1786 (lost election) |
No parties | 1785 | |
3 | ![]() |
John Sullivan (1740–1795) |
June 9, 1786 – June 6, 1788 (lost election) |
No parties | 1786 | |
1787 | ||||||
2 | ![]() |
John Langdon (1741–1819) |
June 6, 1788 – January 22, 1789 (resigned) |
No parties | 1788 | |
— | ![]() |
John Pickering (1737–1805) |
January 22, 1789 – June 9, 1789 (lost election) |
No parties | President of the Senate acting |
|
3 | ![]() |
John Sullivan (1740–1795) |
June 9, 1789 – June 8, 1790 (did not run) |
No parties | 1789 | |
4 | ![]() |
Josiah Bartlett (1729–1795) |
June 8, 1790 – June 5, 1794 (did not run) |
No parties | 1790 | |
1791 | ||||||
1792 | ||||||
1793 | ||||||
5 | ![]() |
John Taylor Gilman (1753–1828) |
June 5, 1794 – June 6, 1805 (lost election) |
Federalist | 1794 | |
1795 | ||||||
1796 | ||||||
1797 | ||||||
1798 | ||||||
1799 | ||||||
1800 | ||||||
1801 | ||||||
1802 | ||||||
1803 | ||||||
1804 | ||||||
2 | ![]() |
John Langdon (1741–1819) |
June 6, 1805 – June 13, 1809 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1805 | |
1806 | ||||||
1807 | ||||||
1808 | ||||||
6 | ![]() |
Jeremiah Smith (1759–1842) |
June 13, 1809 – June 7, 1810 (lost election) |
Federalist | 1809 | |
2 | ![]() |
John Langdon (1741–1819) |
June 7, 1810 – June 6, 1812 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
1810 | |
1811 | ||||||
7 | ![]() |
William Plumer (1759–1850) |
June 6, 1812 – June 5, 1813 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1812 | |
5 | ![]() |
John Taylor Gilman (1753–1828) |
June 5, 1813 – June 6, 1816 (did not run) |
Federalist | 1813 | |
1814 | ||||||
1815 | ||||||
7 | ![]() |
William Plumer (1759–1850) |
June 6, 1816 – June 7, 1819 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
1816 | |
1817 | ||||||
1818 | ||||||
8 | ![]() |
Samuel Bell (1770–1850) |
June 7, 1819 – June 5, 1823 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
1819 | |
1820 | ||||||
1821 | ||||||
1822 | ||||||
9 | ![]() |
Levi Woodbury (1789–1851) |
June 5, 1823 – June 4, 1824 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1823 | |
10 | ![]() |
David L. Morril (1772–1849) |
June 4, 1824 – June 8, 1827 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1824 | |
1825 | ||||||
1826 | ||||||
11 | ![]() |
Benjamin Pierce (1757–1839) |
June 8, 1827 – June 9, 1828 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1827 | |
12 | ![]() |
John Bell (1765–1836) |
June 9, 1828 – June 6, 1829 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1828 | |
11 | ![]() |
Benjamin Pierce (1757–1839) |
June 6, 1829 – June 4, 1830 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1829 | |
13 | ![]() |
Matthew Harvey (1781–1866) |
June 4, 1830 – February 28, 1831 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1830 | |
— | ![]() |
Joseph M. Harper (1787–1865) |
February 28, 1831 – June 3, 1831 (successor took office) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting |
|
14 | ![]() |
Samuel Dinsmoor (1766–1835) |
June 3, 1831 – June 6, 1834 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1831 | |
1832 | ||||||
1833 | ||||||
15 | ![]() |
William Badger (1779–1852) |
June 6, 1834 – June 2, 1836 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1834 | |
1835 | ||||||
16 | ![]() |
Isaac Hill (1788–1851) |
June 2, 1836 – June 6, 1839 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1836 | |
1837 | ||||||
1838 | ||||||
17 | ![]() |
John Page (1787–1865) |
June 6, 1839 – June 2, 1842 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1839 | |
1840 | ||||||
1841 | ||||||
18 | ![]() |
Henry Hubbard (1784–1857) |
June 2, 1842 – June 6, 1844 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1842 | |
1843 | ||||||
19 | ![]() |
John Hardy Steele (1789–1865) |
June 6, 1844 – June 5, 1846 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1844 | |
1845 | ||||||
20 | ![]() |
Anthony Colby (1792–1873) |
June 5, 1846 – June 3, 1847 (lost election) |
Whig | 1846 | |
21 | ![]() |
Jared W. Williams (1796–1864) |
June 3, 1847 – June 7, 1849 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1847 | |
1848 | ||||||
22 | ![]() |
Samuel Dinsmoor Jr. (1799–1869) |
June 7, 1849 – June 3, 1852 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1849 | |
1850 | ||||||
1851 | ||||||
23 | ![]() |
Noah Martin (1801–1863) |
June 3, 1852 – June 8, 1854 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1852 | |
1853 | ||||||
24 | ![]() |
Nathaniel B. Baker (1818–1876) |
June 8, 1854 – June 7, 1855 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1854 | |
25 | ![]() |
Ralph Metcalf (1796–1858) |
June 7, 1855 – June 4, 1857 (did not run) |
Know Nothing | 1855 | |
1856 | ||||||
26 | ![]() |
William Haile (1807–1876) |
June 4, 1857 – June 2, 1859 (did not run) |
Republican | 1857 | |
1858 | ||||||
27 | ![]() |
Ichabod Goodwin (1794–1882) |
June 2, 1859 – June 6, 1861 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1859 | |
1860 | ||||||
28 | ![]() |
Nathaniel S. Berry (1796–1894) |
June 6, 1861 – June 4, 1863 (did not run) |
Republican | 1861 | |
1862 | ||||||
29 | ![]() |
Joseph A. Gilmore (1811–1867) |
June 4, 1863 – June 8, 1865 (did not run) |
Republican | 1863 | |
1864 | ||||||
30 | ![]() |
Frederick Smyth (1819–1899) |
June 8, 1865 – June 6, 1867 (did not run) |
Republican | 1865 | |
1866 | ||||||
31 | ![]() |
Walter Harriman (1817–1884) |
June 6, 1867 – June 3, 1869 (did not run) |
Republican | 1867 | |
1868 | ||||||
32 | ![]() |
Onslow Stearns (1810–1878) |
June 3, 1869 – June 14, 1871 (did not run) |
Republican | 1869 | |
1870 | ||||||
33 | ![]() |
James A. Weston (1827–1895) |
June 14, 1871 – June 6, 1872 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1871 | |
34 | ![]() |
Ezekiel A. Straw (1819–1882) |
June 6, 1872 – June 4, 1874 (did not run) |
Republican | 1872 | |
1873 | ||||||
33 | ![]() |
James A. Weston (1827–1895) |
June 4, 1874 – June 10, 1875 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1874 | |
35 | ![]() |
Person Colby Cheney (1828–1901) |
June 10, 1875 – June 7, 1877 (did not run) |
Republican | 1875 | |
1876 | ||||||
36 | ![]() |
Benjamin F. Prescott (1833–1895) |
June 7, 1877 – June 5, 1879 (did not run) |
Republican | 1877 | |
Mar. 1878 | ||||||
37 | ![]() |
Nathaniel Head (1828–1883) |
June 5, 1879 – June 2, 1881 (did not run) |
Republican | Nov. 1878 | |
38 | ![]() |
Charles H. Bell (1823–1893) |
June 2, 1881 – June 7, 1883 (did not run) |
Republican | 1880 | |
39 | ![]() |
Samuel W. Hale (1823–1891) |
June 7, 1883 – June 4, 1885 (did not run) |
Republican | 1882 | |
40 | ![]() |
Moody Currier (1806–1898) |
June 4, 1885 – June 2, 1887 (did not run) |
Republican | 1884 | |
41 | ![]() |
Charles H. Sawyer (1840–1908) |
June 2, 1887 – June 6, 1889 (did not run) |
Republican | 1886 | |
42 | ![]() |
David H. Goodell (1834–1915) |
June 6, 1889 – January 8, 1891 (did not run) |
Republican | 1888 | |
43 | ![]() |
Hiram A. Tuttle (1837–1911) |
January 8, 1891 – January 5, 1893 (did not run) |
Republican | 1890 | |
44 | ![]() |
John Butler Smith (1838–1914) |
January 5, 1893 – January 3, 1895 (did not run) |
Republican | 1892 | |
45 | ![]() |
Charles A. Busiel (1842–1901) |
January 3, 1895 – January 7, 1897 (did not run) |
Republican | 1894 | |
46 | ![]() |
George A. Ramsdell (1834–1900) |
January 7, 1897 – January 5, 1899 (did not run) |
Republican | 1896 | |
47 | ![]() |
Frank W. Rollins (1860–1915) |
January 5, 1899 – January 3, 1901 (did not run) |
Republican | 1898 | |
48 | ![]() |
Chester B. Jordan (1839–1914) |
January 3, 1901 – January 8, 1903 (did not run) |
Republican | 1900 | |
49 | ![]() |
Nahum J. Bachelder (1854–1934) |
January 8, 1903 – January 5, 1905 (did not run) |
Republican | 1902 | |
50 | ![]() |
John McLane (1852–1911) |
January 5, 1905 – January 3, 1907 (did not run) |
Republican | 1904 | |
51 | ![]() |
Charles M. Floyd (1861–1923) |
January 3, 1907 – January 7, 1909 (did not run) |
Republican | 1906 | |
52 | ![]() |
Henry B. Quinby (1846–1924) |
January 7, 1909 – January 5, 1911 (did not run) |
Republican | 1908 | |
53 | ![]() |
Robert P. Bass (1873–1960) |
January 5, 1911 – January 2, 1913 (did not run) |
Republican | 1910 | |
54 | ![]() |
Samuel D. Felker (1859–1932) |
January 2, 1913 – January 7, 1915 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1912 | |
55 | ![]() |
Rolland H. Spaulding (1873–1942) |
January 7, 1915 – January 4, 1917 (did not run) |
Republican | 1914 | |
56 | ![]() |
Henry W. Keyes (1863–1938) |
January 4, 1917 – January 2, 1919 (did not run) |
Republican | 1916 | |
57 | ![]() |
John H. Bartlett (1869–1952) |
January 2, 1919 – January 6, 1921 (did not run) |
Republican | 1918 | |
58 | ![]() |
Albert O. Brown (1852–1937) |
January 6, 1921 – January 4, 1923 (did not run) |
Republican | 1920 | |
59 | ![]() |
Fred H. Brown (1879–1955) |
January 4, 1923 – January 8, 1925 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1922 | |
60 | ![]() |
John Gilbert Winant (1889–1947) |
January 8, 1925 – January 6, 1927 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1924 | |
61 | ![]() |
Huntley N. Spaulding (1869–1955) |
January 6, 1927 – January 3, 1929 (did not run) |
Republican | 1926 | |
62 | ![]() |
Charles W. Tobey (1880–1953) |
January 3, 1929 – January 8, 1931 (did not run) |
Republican | 1928 | |
60 | ![]() |
John Gilbert Winant (1889–1947) |
January 8, 1931 – January 3, 1935 (did not run) |
Republican | 1930 | |
1932 | ||||||
63 | ![]() |
Styles Bridges (1898–1961) |
January 3, 1935 – January 7, 1937 (did not run) |
Republican | 1934 | |
64 | ![]() |
Francis P. Murphy (1877–1958) |
January 7, 1937 – January 2, 1941 (did not run) |
Republican | 1936 | |
1938 | ||||||
65 | ![]() |
Robert O. Blood (1887–1975) |
January 2, 1941 – January 4, 1945 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1940 | |
1942 | ||||||
66 | ![]() |
Charles M. Dale (1893–1978) |
January 4, 1945 – January 6, 1949 (did not run) |
Republican | 1944 | |
1946 | ||||||
67 | ![]() |
Sherman Adams (1899–1986) |
January 6, 1949 – January 8, 1953 (did not run) |
Republican | 1948 | |
1950 | ||||||
68 | ![]() |
Hugh Gregg (1917–2003) |
January 8, 1953 – January 6, 1955 (did not run) |
Republican | 1952 | |
69 | ![]() |
Lane Dwinell (1906–1997) |
January 6, 1955 – January 8, 1959 (did not run) |
Republican | 1954 | |
1956 | ||||||
70 | ![]() |
Wesley Powell (1915–1981) |
January 8, 1959 – January 5, 1963 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1958 | |
1960 | ||||||
71 | ![]() |
John W. King (1916–1996) |
January 5, 1963 – January 2, 1969 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1962 | |
1964 | ||||||
1966 | ||||||
72 | ![]() |
Walter R. Peterson Jr. (1922–2011) |
January 2, 1969 – January 4, 1973 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1968 | |
1970 | ||||||
73 | ![]() |
Meldrim Thomson (1912–2001) |
January 4, 1973 – January 4, 1979 (lost election) |
Republican | 1972 | |
1974 | ||||||
1976 | ||||||
74 | ![]() |
Hugh Gallen (1924–1982) |
January 4, 1979 – December 29, 1982 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1978 | |
1980 | ||||||
— | ![]() |
Vesta M. Roy (1925–2002) |
December 29, 1982 – January 6, 1983 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
75 | ![]() |
John H. Sununu (b. 1939) |
January 6, 1983 – January 5, 1989 (did not run) |
Republican | 1982 | |
1984 | ||||||
1986 | ||||||
76 | ![]() |
Judd Gregg (b. 1947) |
January 5, 1989 – January 2, 1993 (resigned) |
Republican | 1988 | |
1990 | ||||||
— | ![]() |
Ralph D. Hough (b. 1943) |
January 2, 1993 – January 7, 1993 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
77 | ![]() |
Steve Merrill (1946–2020) |
January 7, 1993 – January 9, 1997 (did not run) |
Republican | 1992 | |
1994 | ||||||
78 | ![]() |
Jeanne Shaheen (b. 1947) |
January 9, 1997 – January 9, 2003 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1996 | |
1998 | ||||||
2000 | ||||||
79 | Craig Benson (b. 1954) |
January 9, 2003 – January 6, 2005 (lost election) |
Republican | 2002 | ||
80 | ![]() |
John Lynch (b. 1952) |
January 6, 2005 – January 3, 2013 (did not run) |
Democratic | 2004 | |
2006 | ||||||
2008 | ||||||
2010 | ||||||
81 | ![]() |
Maggie Hassan (b. 1958) |
January 3, 2013 – January 2, 2017 (resigned) |
Democratic | 2012 | |
2014 | ||||||
— | ![]() |
Chuck Morse (b. 1960) |
January 3, 2017 – January 5, 2017 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
82 | ![]() |
Chris Sununu (b. 1974) |
January 5, 2017 – January 9, 2025 (did not run) |
Republican | 2016 | |
2018 | ||||||
2020 | ||||||
2022 | ||||||
83 | ![]() |
Kelly Ayotte (b. 1968) |
January 9, 2025 – Incumbent |
Republican | 2024 |
See also
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#New Hampshire
- List of New Hampshire General Courts