List of governors of Rhode Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of Rhode Island
Seal of the governor
Flag of the governor
Incumbent Dan McKee since March 2, 2021
Style	Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal)
Status	Head of state Head of government
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder	Nicholas Cooke
Formation	November 7, 1775 (250 years ago) (1775-11-07)
Succession	Line of succession
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Salary	$128,210 (2013)

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The governor of Rhode Island is like the main leader of the state government in Rhode Island. This person is also the top commander of the state's Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The current governor is Dan McKee.

Rhode Island's Governors: A Look Back

Rhode Island was one of the first 13 colonies in America. It officially became a state on May 29, 1790. Before that, it was a colony ruled by the Kingdom of Great Britain.

At first, Rhode Island used its old rules from a 1663 document called a charter. This charter simply said that the governor would be elected. In 1842, a new state constitution made the governor's term one year. Later, in 1911, the term changed to two years. In 1992, the term became four years. Governors can serve two terms in a row. If a governor leaves office early, the lieutenant governor takes over.

Who Has Been Governor?

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

Governors of the State of Rhode Island

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			Nicholas Cooke (1717–1782)	November 7, 1775 – May 6, 1778 (did not run)	None	1776		Bradford, WilliamWilliam Bradford
						1777
2			William Greene (1731–1809)	May 6, 1778 – May 3, 1786 (lost election)	None	1778		Bowen, JabezJabez Bowen
						1779
						1780		West, WilliamWilliam West
						1781		Bowen, JabezJabez Bowen
						1782
						1783
						1784
						1785
3			John Collins (1717–1795)	May 3, 1786 – May 5, 1790 (lost election)	None	1786		Owen, DanielDaniel Owen
						1787
						1788
						1789
4			Arthur Fenner (1745–1805)	May 5, 1790 – October 15, 1805 (died in office)	Country	1790		Potter, Samuel J.Samuel J. Potter
						1791
						1792
						1793
						1794
						1795
						1796
						1797
						1798			Brown, GeorgeGeorge Brown
						1799		Potter, Samuel J.Samuel J. Potter
						1800
						1801
						1802		Mumford, PaulPaul Mumford (died July 20, 1805)
						1803
						1804
						1805
							Vacant
5			Henry Smith (1766–1818)	October 15, 1805 – May 7, 1806 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate
6			Isaac Wilbour (1763–1837)	May 7, 1806 – May 6, 1807 (successor took office)	Democratic- Republican	1806		Acting as governor
7			James Fenner (1771–1846)	May 6, 1807 – May 1, 1811 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	1807		Taber, ConstantConstant Taber
						1808		Martin, SimeonSimeon Martin
						1809
						1810		Wilbour, IsaacIsaac Wilbour
8			William Jones (1753–1822)	May 1, 1811 – May 7, 1817 (lost election)	Federalist	1811		Martin, SimeonSimeon Martin
						1812
						1813
						1814
						1815
						1816		Thurston, JeremiahJeremiah Thurston
9			Nehemiah R. Knight (1780–1854)	May 7, 1817 – January 9, 1821 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1817		Wilcox, EdwardEdward Wilcox
						1818
						1819
						1820
—			Edward Wilcox (unknown)	January 9, 1821 – May 2, 1821 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
10			William C. Gibbs (1787–1871)	May 2, 1821 – May 5, 1824 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1821		Earle, CalebCaleb Earle
						1822
						1823
11			James Fenner (1771–1846)	May 5, 1824 – May 4, 1831 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	1824		Collins, CharlesCharles Collins
						1825
						1826
						1827
						1828
						1829
						1830
12			Lemuel H. Arnold (1792–1852)	May 4, 1831 – May 1, 1833 (lost election)	National Republican	1831
						1832
13			John Brown Francis (1791–1864)	May 1, 1833 – May 2, 1838 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican/ Anti-Masonic	1833		Hazard, JeffreyJeffrey Hazard
					Democratic	1834
						1835		Engs, GeorgeGeorge Engs
						1836		Hazard, JeffreyJeffrey Hazard
						1837		Thurston, Benjamin BabockBenjamin Babock Thurston
14			William Sprague III (1799–1856)	May 2, 1838 – May 2, 1839 (lost election)	Whig	1838		Childs, JosephJoseph Childs
15			Samuel Ward King (1786–1851)	May 2, 1839 – May 2, 1843 (did not run)	Whig	1839		Diman, ByronByron Diman
						1840
						1841
						1842
16			James Fenner (1771–1846)	May 2, 1843 – May 6, 1845 (lost election)	Law and Order	1843
						1844
17			Charles Jackson (1797–1876)	May 6, 1845 – May 6, 1846 (lost election)	Liberation	1845
18			Byron Diman (1795–1865)	May 6, 1846 – May 4, 1847 (did not run)	Law and Order	1846		Harris, ElishaElisha Harris
19			Elisha Harris (1791–1861)	May 4, 1847 – May 1, 1849 (did not run)	Whig	1847		Lawton, Edward W.Edward W. Lawton
						1848
20			Henry B. Anthony (1815–1884)	May 1, 1849 – May 6, 1851 (did not run)	Whig	1849		Whipple, ThomasThomas Whipple
						1850
21			Philip Allen (1785–1865)	May 6, 1851 – July 20, 1853 (resigned)	Democratic	1851		Lawrence, William BeachWilliam Beach Lawrence
						1852		Arnold, Samuel G.Samuel G. Arnold
						1853		Dimond, Francis M.Francis M. Dimond
22			Francis M. Dimond (1796–1859)	July 20, 1853 – May 2, 1854 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
23			William W. Hoppin (1807–1890)	May 2, 1854 – May 26, 1857 (did not run)	Whig	1854		Reynolds, John J.John J. Reynolds
						1855		Rose, Anderson C.Anderson C. Rose
						1856		Brown III, NicholasNicholas Brown III
24			Elisha Dyer (1811–1890)	May 26, 1857 – May 31, 1859 (did not run)	Republican	1857		Turner, Thomas G.Thomas G. Turner
						1858
25			Thomas G. Turner (1810–1875)	May 31, 1859 – May 29, 1860 (lost nomination)	Republican	1859		Saunders, IsaacIsaac Saunders
26			William Sprague IV (1830–1915)	May 29, 1860 – March 3, 1863 (resigned)	Democratic	1860		Bullock, J. RussellJ. Russell Bullock
						1861
						1862		Arnold, Samuel G.Samuel G. Arnold (resigned December 1, 1862)
							Vacant
27			William C. Cozzens (1811–1876)	March 3, 1863 – May 26, 1863 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from president of the Senate
28			James Y. Smith (1809–1876)	May 26, 1863 – May 29, 1866 (did not run)	Republican	1863		Padelford, SethSeth Padelford
						1864
						1865		Pell, DuncanDuncan Pell
29			Ambrose Burnside (1824–1881)	May 29, 1866 – May 25, 1869 (did not run)	Republican	1866		Greene, WilliamWilliam Greene
						1867
						1868		Stevens, PardonPardon Stevens
30			Seth Padelford (1807–1878)	May 25, 1869 – May 27, 1873 (did not run)	Republican	1869
						1870
						1871
						1872		Cutler, CharlesCharles Cutler
31			Henry Howard (1826–1905)	May 27, 1873 – May 25, 1875 (did not run)	Republican	1873		Van Zandt, Charles C.Charles C. Van Zandt
						1874
32			Henry Lippitt (1818–1891)	May 25, 1875 – May 29, 1877 (did not run)	Republican	1875		Sisson, Henry TillinghastHenry Tillinghast Sisson
						1876
33			Charles C. Van Zandt (1830–1894)	May 29, 1877 – May 25, 1880 (did not run)	Republican	1877		Howard, AlbertAlbert Howard
						1878
						1879
34			Alfred H. Littlefield (1829–1893)	May 25, 1880 – May 29, 1883 (did not run)	Republican	1880		Fay, HenryHenry Fay
						1881
						1882
35			Augustus O. Bourn (1834–1925)	May 29, 1883 – May 26, 1885 (did not run)	Republican	1883		Rathbun, OscarOscar Rathbun
						1884
36			George P. Wetmore (1846–1921)	May 26, 1885 – May 31, 1887 (lost election)	Republican	1885		Darling, Lucius B.Lucius B. Darling
						1886
37			John W. Davis (1826–1907)	May 31, 1887 – May 29, 1888 (lost election)	Democratic	1887		Honey, Samuel R.Samuel R. Honey
38			Royal C. Taft (1823–1912)	May 29, 1888 – May 28, 1889 (did not run)	Republican	1888		Lapham, EnosEnos Lapham
39			Herbert W. Ladd (1843–1913)	May 28, 1889 – May 27, 1890 (lost election)	Republican	1889		Littlefield, DanielDaniel Littlefield
40			John W. Davis (1826–1907)	May 27, 1890 – May 26, 1891 (lost election)	Democratic	1890		Wardwell, William T. C.William T. C. Wardwell
41			Herbert W. Ladd (1843–1913)	May 26, 1891 – May 31, 1892 (did not run)	Republican	1891		Stearns, Henry A.Henry A. Stearns
42			Daniel Russell Brown (1848–1919)	May 31, 1892 – May 29, 1895 (did not run)	Republican	1892		Bull, MelvilleMelville Bull
						1893
						1894		Allen, EdwinEdwin Allen
43			Charles W. Lippitt (1846–1924)	May 29, 1895 – May 25, 1897 (did not run)	Republican	1895
						1896
44			Elisha Dyer Jr. (1839–1906)	May 25, 1897 – May 29, 1900 (did not run)	Republican	1897		Pothier, Aram J.Aram J. Pothier
						1898		Gregory, WilliamWilliam Gregory
						1899
45			William Gregory (1849–1901)	May 29, 1900 – December 16, 1901 (died in office)	Republican	1900		Kimball, Charles D.Charles D. Kimball
46			Charles D. Kimball (1859–1930)	December 16, 1901 – January 6, 1903 (lost election)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
						1901
								Shepley, George L.George L. Shepley (elected February 18, 1902)
47			Lucius F. C. Garvin (1841–1922)	January 6, 1903 – January 3, 1905 (lost election)	Democratic	1902		Archambault, AdelardAdelard Archambault
						1903		Utter, George H.George H. Utter
48			George H. Utter (1854–1912)	January 3, 1905 – January 1, 1907 (lost election)	Republican	1904		Jackson, Frederick H.Frederick H. Jackson
						1905
49			James H. Higgins (1876–1927)	January 1, 1907 – January 5, 1909 (did not run)	Democratic	1906
						1907		Watrous, RalphRalph Watrous
50			Aram J. Pothier (1854–1928)	January 5, 1909 – January 5, 1915 (did not run)	Republican	1908		Dennis, Arthur W.Arthur W. Dennis
						1909		San Souci, Emery J.Emery J. San Souci
						1910
						1911
						1912		Burchard, RosewellRosewell Burchard
51			Robert Livingston Beeckman (1866–1935)	January 5, 1915 – January 4, 1921 (did not run)	Republican	1914		San Souci, Emery J.Emery J. San Souci
						1916
						1918
52			Emery J. San Souci (1857–1936)	January 4, 1921 – January 2, 1923 (lost nomination)	Republican	1920		Gross, HaroldHarold Gross
53			William S. Flynn (1885–1966)	January 2, 1923 – January 6, 1925 (did not run)	Democratic	1922		Toupin, Felix A.Felix A. Toupin
54			Aram J. Pothier (1854–1928)	January 6, 1925 – February 4, 1928 (died in office)	Republican	1924		Smith, Nathaniel W.Nathaniel W. Smith
						1926		Case, Norman S.Norman S. Case
55			Norman S. Case (1888–1967)	February 4, 1928 – January 3, 1933 (lost election)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
						1928		Connelly, James G.James G. Connelly
						1930
56			Theodore F. Green (1867–1966)	January 3, 1933 – January 5, 1937 (did not run)	Democratic	1932		Quinn, Robert E.Robert E. Quinn
						1934
57			Robert E. Quinn (1894–1975)	January 5, 1937 – January 3, 1939 (lost election)	Democratic	1936		Jordan, Raymond E.Raymond E. Jordan
58			William Henry Vanderbilt III (1901–1981)	January 3, 1939 – January 7, 1941 (lost election)	Republican	1938		McManus, James O.James O. McManus
59			J. Howard McGrath (1903–1966)	January 7, 1941 – October 6, 1945 (resigned)	Democratic	1940		Cappelli, Louis W.Louis W. Cappelli
						1942
						1944		Pastore, JohnJohn Pastore
60			John Pastore (1907–2000)	October 6, 1945 – December 19, 1950 (resigned)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor		McKiernan, John S.John S. McKiernan
						1946
						1948
61			John S. McKiernan (1911–1997)	December 19, 1950 – January 2, 1951 (successor took office)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
62			Dennis J. Roberts (1903–1994)	January 2, 1951 – January 6, 1959 (lost election)	Democratic	1950		McKiernan, John S.John S. McKiernan
						1952
						1954
						1956		Cote, Armand H.Armand H. Cote
63			Christopher Del Sesto (1907–1973)	January 6, 1959 – January 3, 1961 (lost election)	Republican	1958		Notte Jr., John A.John A. Notte Jr.
64			John A. Notte Jr. (1909–1983)	January 3, 1961 – January 1, 1963 (lost election)	Democratic	1960		Gallogly, Edward P.Edward P. Gallogly
65			John Chafee (1922–1999)	January 1, 1963 – January 7, 1969 (lost election)	Republican	1962
						1964		Folcarelli, GiovanniGiovanni Folcarelli
						1966		O'Donnell Jr., JosephJoseph O'Donnell Jr.
66			Frank Licht (1916–1987)	January 7, 1969 – January 2, 1973 (did not run)	Democratic	1968		Garrahy, J. JosephJ. Joseph Garrahy
						1970
67			Philip Noel (b. 1931)	January 2, 1973 – January 4, 1977 (did not run)	Democratic	1972
						1974
68			J. Joseph Garrahy (1930–2012)	January 4, 1977 – January 1, 1985 (did not run)	Democratic	1976		DiLuglio, Thomas R.Thomas R. DiLuglio
						1978
						1980
						1982
69			Edward D. DiPrete (1934–2025)	January 1, 1985 – January 1, 1991 (lost election)	Republican	1984		Licht, Richard A.Richard A. Licht
						1986
						1988		Begin, Roger N.Roger N. Begin
70			Bruce Sundlun (1920–2011)	January 1, 1991 – January 3, 1995 (lost nomination)	Democratic	1990
						1992		Weygand, RobertRobert Weygand
71			Lincoln Almond (1936–2023)	January 3, 1995 – January 7, 2003 (term-limited)	Republican	1994
								Jackvony, BernardBernard Jackvony
						1998		Fogarty, CharlesCharles Fogarty
72			Donald Carcieri (b. 1942)	January 7, 2003 – January 4, 2011 (term-limited)	Republican	2002
						2006		Roberts, Elizabeth H.Elizabeth H. Roberts
73			Lincoln Chafee (b. 1953)	January 4, 2011 – January 6, 2015 (did not run)	Independent	2010
74			Gina Raimondo (b. 1971)	January 6, 2015 – March 2, 2021 (resigned)	Democratic	2014		McKee, DanDan McKee
						2018
76			Dan McKee (b. 1951)	March 2, 2021 – Incumbent	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor		Matos, SabinaSabina Matos
						2022

More to Explore

• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Rhode Island
• List of Rhode Island state legislatures

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de Rhode Island para niños