List of governors of Tennessee explained

The governor of Tennessee is the head of government of the U.S. state of Tennessee.

Tennessee has had 50 governors, including the incumbent, Bill Lee.^[1] Seven governors (John Sevier, William Carroll, Andrew Johnson, Robert Love Taylor, Gordon Browning, Frank G. Clement, and Buford Ellington) have served non-consecutive terms. This tally does not include William Blount (the territorial governor) or Robert L. Caruthers (who never took office), though the Blue Book includes them in its list of governors.^[2] All governors are counted only once, regardless of number of terms served (e.g., John Sevier is considered the 1st governor, rather than the 1st and 3rd governor). The Blue Book does not include Edward H. East in its list of governors.

List of governors

Southwest Territory

The Territory South of the Ohio River, commonly known as the Southwest Territory, was organized on May 26, 1790.

Throughout its 6-year history, Southwest Territory had only one governor appointed by the federal government, William Blount.

Governor!scope="col"

Term in office	Appointed by
	William Blount	June 8, 1790  - March 28, 1796	George Washington

State of Tennessee

Southwest Territory was admitted to the Union as Tennessee on June 1, 1796.

The first constitution of Tennessee, enacted in 1796, set a term of two years for the governor and provided that no person could serve as governor for more than 6 years in any 8-year period.^[3] The term of office was lengthened to four years, without the possibility of consecutive terms, by constitutional amendments adopted in 1953. Under the current provisions of the state constitution, as amended in 1978, the governor is elected to a four-year term and may serve no more than two terms consecutively.^[4]

!scope="colgroup" colspan="3"

Governor	Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			John Sevier ^[5]	^[6]  - September 23, 1801	Democratic- Republican	1796	Office did not exist
						1797
						1799
2	data-sort-value="Roane, Archibald"			Archibald Roane ^[7]	- September 23, 1803	Democratic- Republican			1801
1			John Sevier	- September 20, 1809	Democratic- Republican	1803
						1805
						1807
3			Willie Blount ^[8]	^[9]  - September 27, 1815	Democratic- Republican	1809
						1811
						1813
4			Joseph McMinn ^[10]	- October 1, 1821	Democratic- Republican	1815
						1817
						1819
5			William Carroll ^[11]	^[12]  - October 1, 1827	Democratic- Republican	1821
						1823
						1825
6	data-sort-value="Houston, Sam"			Sam Houston	^[13]  - April 16, 1829	Democratic- Republican			1827
7	data-sort-value="Hall, William"			William Hall ^[14]	^[15]  - October 1, 1829	Democratic- Republican
5			William Carroll	^[16]  - October 12, 1835	Democratic	1829
						1831
						1833
8			Newton Cannon ^[17]	^[18]  - October 14, 1839	Whig	1835
						1837
9	data-sort-value="Polk, James"			James K. Polk ^[19]	^[20]  - October 14, 1841	Democratic			1839
10			James C. Jones ^[21]	^[22]  - October 15, 1845	Whig	1841
						1843
11	data-sort-value="Brown, Aaron"			Aaron V. Brown ^[23]	^[24]  - October 17, 1847	Democratic			1845
12	data-sort-value="Brown, Neill"			Neill S. Brown ^[25]	^[26]  - October 16, 1849	Whig			1847
13	data-sort-value="Trousdale, William"			William Trousdale ^[27]	^[28]  - October 16, 1851	Democratic			1849
14	data-sort-value="Campbell, William"			William B. Campbell ^[29]	^[30]  - October 17, 1853	Whig			1851
15			Andrew Johnson ^[31]	^[32]  - November 3, 1857	Democratic	1853
						1855
16			Isham G. Harris ^[33]	^[34]  - March 12, 1862	Democratic	1857
						1859
						1861
15	data-sort-value="Johnson, Andrew"			Andrew Johnson	- March 4, 1865
—	data-sort-value="East, Edward"			Edward H. East ^[35]	- April 5, 1865	—
17			Parson Brownlow ^[36]	^[37]  - February 25, 1869	Republican	1865
						1867
18			Dewitt Clinton Senter ^[38]	^[39]  - October 10, 1871	Republican
						1869
19			John C. Brown ^[40]	^[41]  - January 18, 1875	Democratic	1870
						1872
20			James D. Porter ^[42]	^[43]  - February 16, 1879	Democratic	1874
						1876
scope"row"	21		data-sort-value="Marks, Albert"		Albert S. Marks ^[44]	^[45]  - January 17, 1881	Democratic		1878
scope"row"	22	data-sort-value="Hawkins, Alvin"			Alvin Hawkins ^[46]	^[47]  - January 15, 1883	Republican		1880
23			William B. Bate ^[48]	^[49]  - January 17, 1887	Democratic	1882
						1884
24			Robert Love Taylor ^[50]	^[51]  - January 19, 1891	Democratic	1886
						1888
scope"row"	25		data-sort-value="Buchanan, John"		John P. Buchanan ^[52]	^[53]  - January 16, 1893	Democratic		1890
26			Peter Turney ^[54]	^[55]  - January 21, 1897	Democratic	1892
						1894
24	data-sort-value="Taylor, Robert"			Robert Love Taylor	^[56]  - January 16, 1899	Democratic	1896
27			Benton McMillin ^[57]	^[58]  - January 20, 1903	Democratic	1898
						1900
28			James B. Frazier ^[59]	^[60]  - March 27, 1905	Democratic	1902
						1904
scope"row"	29		data-sort-value="Cox, John"		John I. Cox ^[61]	^[62]  - January 17, 1907	Democratic
30			Malcolm R. Patterson ^[63]	^[64]  - January 25, 1911	Democratic	1906
						1908
31			Ben W. Hooper ^[65]	^[66]  - January 15, 1915	Republican	1910
						1912
32			Thomas Clarke Rye ^[67]	^[68]  - January 15, 1919	Democratic	1914
						1916
33	data-sort-value="Roberts, Albert"			Albert H. Roberts ^[69]	^[70]  - January 15, 1921	Democratic	1918
34	data-sort-value="Taylor, Alfred"			Alfred A. Taylor ^[71]	^[72]  - January 16, 1923	Republican	1920
35			Austin Peay ^[73]	^[74]  - October 2, 1927	Democratic	1922
						1924
						1926
36			Henry Hollis Horton ^[75]	^[76]  - January 17, 1933	Democratic
						1928
						1930
37			Hill McAlister ^[77]	^[78]  - January 15, 1937	Democratic	1932
						1934
38	data-sort-value="Browning, Gordon"			Gordon Browning ^[79]	^[80]  - January 16, 1939	Democratic	1936
39			Prentice Cooper ^[81]	^[82]  - January 16, 1945	Democratic	1938
						1940
						1942
40			Jim Nance McCord ^[83]	^[84]  - January 17, 1949	Democratic	1944
						1946
38			Gordon Browning	^[85]  - January 15, 1953	Democratic	1948
						1950
41			Frank G. Clement ^[86]	^[87]  - January 19, 1959	Democratic	1952
						1954
42	data-sort-value="Ellington, Buford"			Buford Ellington ^[88]	^[89]  - January 15, 1963	Democratic		1958
41			Frank G. Clement	^[90]  - January 16, 1967	Democratic	1962
42	data-sort-value="Ellington, Buford"			Buford Ellington	^[91]  - January 16, 1971	Democratic		1966
43	data-sort-value="Dunn, Winfield"			Winfield Dunn ^[92]	^[93]  - January 18, 1975	Republican		1970
44	data-sort-value="Blanton, Ray"			Ray Blanton ^[94]	^[95]  - January 17, 1979	Democratic		1974
45			Lamar Alexander ^[96]	^[97]  - January 17, 1987	Republican	1978
						1982
46			Ned McWherter ^[98]	^[99]  - January 21, 1995	Democratic	1986
						1990
47			Don Sundquist ^[100]	^[101]  - January 18, 2003	Republican	1994
						1998
48			Phil Bredesen ^[102]	^[103]  - January 15, 2011	Democratic	2002
						2006
49			Bill Haslam ^[104]	^[105]  - January 19, 2019	Republican	2010
						2014
50			Bill Lee ^[106]	^[107]  - Incumbent	Republican	2018
						2022

See also

• • List of Tennessee General Assemblies

References

General

• Web site: Former Tennessee Governors . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
• Book: Sobel, Robert . Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. IV . Meckler Books . 1978 . 9780930466008 . June 13, 2023.
• Book: McMullin, Thomas A. . Biographical directory of American territorial governors . 1984 . Westport, CT : Meckler . 978-0-930466-11-4 . January 19, 2023.
• Book: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County . 2003 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-1439-0.
• Book: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County . 2014 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-5646-8 . en.
• Book: Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest . American State Governors, 1776-1976 . 1977 . Oceana Publications . 978-0-379-00665-0 . September 23, 2023.
• Book: Glashan, Roy R. . American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978 . 1979 . Meckler Books . 978-0-930466-17-6.
• Web site: Our Campaigns - Governor of Tennessee - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.
• Web site: Our Campaigns - Governor of Tennessee (CSA) - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.

Specific

External links

• Office of the Governor of Tennessee

Notes and References

1. https://www.tn.gov/governor/about-bill-lee.html Office of the Governor
2. "Past Governors," Tennessee Blue Book (2011 - 2012), pp. 547, 553.
3. Jonathan M. Atkins. "William Carroll" in Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture (online edition). Accessed January 27, 2012.
4. Book: Government and politics in Tennessee . . 2001 . 48.
5. Web site: John Sevier . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
6. News: 1796-05-11 . Knoxville, April 1 . 3 . The Pennsylvania Herald, and York General Advertiser . 2023-07-05.
7. Web site: Archibald Roane . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
8. Web site: Willie Blount . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
9. News: 1809-09-29 . Wednesday, Sept. 20 . 2 . The Democratic Clarion . 2023-07-05.
10. Web site: Joseph McMinn . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
11. Web site: William Carroll . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
12. News: 1821-10-24 . State of Tennessee . 4 . The Hillsborough Recorder . 2023-07-06.
13. News: 1827-10-06 . Legislature of Tennessee . en-us . 4 . National Banner and Nashville Whig . 2023-10-02.
14. Web site: William Hall . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
15. News: 1829-04-18 . none . 3 . National Banner and Nashville Whig . Governor Houston having resigned the office of Governor of the state, the duties for the remainder of the term devolve upon Gen. Wm. Hall, Speaker of the Senate... . 2023-07-06.
16. News: 1829-10-03 . Legislature of Tennessee . 3 . National Banner and Nashville Whig . 2023-07-06.
17. Web site: Newton Cannon . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
18. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 21st general assembly, 24, accessed July 6, 2023
19. Web site: James Knox Polk . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
20. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 23rd general assembly, 30, accessed July 6, 2023
21. Web site: James Chamberlain Jones . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
22. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 24th general assembly, 78, accessed July 6, 2023
23. Web site: Aaron Venable Brown . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
24. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 26th general assembly, 102, accessed July 6, 2023
25. Web site: Neill Smith Brown . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
26. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 27th general assembly, 77, accessed July 6, 2023
27. Web site: William Trousdale . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
28. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 28th general assembly, 104, accessed July 6, 2023
29. Web site: William Bowen Campbell . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
30. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 29th general assembly, 75, accessed July 6, 2023
31. Web site: Andrew Johnson . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
32. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 30th general assembly, 64, accessed July 6, 2023
33. Web site: Isham Green Harris . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
34. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 32nd general assembly, 100, accessed July 6, 2023
35. Web site: Edward Hazzard East . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
36. Web site: William Gannaway Brownlow . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
37. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1865 general assembly, 19, accessed July 6, 2023
38. Web site: DeWitt Clinton Senter . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
39. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 35th general assembly, 309, accessed July 7, 2023
40. Web site: John Calvin Brown . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
41. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 37th general assembly, 39, accessed July 7, 2023
42. Web site: James Davis Porter . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
43. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 39th general assembly, 120, accessed July 7, 2023
44. Web site: Albert Smith Marks . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
45. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 41st general assembly, 132, accessed July 7, 2023
46. Web site: Alvin Hawkins . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
47. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 42nd general assembly, 162, accessed July 7, 2023
48. Web site: William Brimage Bate . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
49. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 43rd general assembly, 184, accessed July 7, 2023
50. Web site: Robert Love Taylor . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
51. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 45th general assembly, 185, accessed July 7, 2023
52. Web site: John Price Buchanan . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
53. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 47th general assembly, 58, accessed July 7, 2023
54. Web site: Peter Turney . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
55. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 48th general assembly, 95, accessed July 7, 2023
56. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 50th general assembly, 170, accessed July 7, 2023
57. Web site: Benton McMillin . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
58. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 51st general assembly, 85, accessed July 7, 2023
59. Web site: James Beriah Frazier . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
60. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 53rd general assembly, 71, accessed July 7, 2023
61. Web site: John Isaac Cox . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
62. News: 1905-03-28 . John I. Cox Takes Oath . 1 . Chattanooga Daily Times . 2023-07-07.
63. Web site: Malcolm Rice Patterson . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
64. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 55th general assembly, 86, accessed July 7, 2023
65. Web site: Ben Walter Hooper . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
66. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 57th general assembly, 118, accessed July 7, 2023
67. Web site: Thomas Clarke Rye . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
68. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 59th general assembly, 135, accessed July 7, 2023
69. Web site: Albert Houston Roberts . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
70. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 61st general assembly, 91, accessed July 7, 2023
71. Web site: Alfred Alexander Taylor . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
72. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 62nd general assembly, 139, accessed July 7, 2023
73. Web site: Austin Peay III . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
74. News: 1923-01-16 . Peay Becomes Governor Before Vast Audience . 1 . The Leaf-Chronicle . 2023-07-07.
75. Web site: Henry Hollis Horton . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
76. News: 1927-10-03 . Governor Peay Dies Peacefully . 1 . The Tennessean . 2023-07-07.
77. Web site: Harry Hill McAlister . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
78. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 68th general assembly, 149, accessed July 7, 2023
79. Web site: Gordon Browning . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
80. News: 1937-01-15 . Browning Takes Oath of Office Before Huge Throng; Pledges Honest, Efficient Government . 1 . Kingsport Times . Associated Press . 2023-07-07.
81. Web site: William Prentice Cooper . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
82. News: Barnes . O. K. . 1939-01-17 . Cooper Takes State Reins; Posts Filled . 1 . The Tennessean . 2023-07-07.
83. Web site: Jim Nance McCord . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
84. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 74th general assembly, 164, accessed July 7, 2023
85. News: Fontenay . Charles L. . 1949-01-18 . Browning Strikes at Dictators, Foes on Taking Office . 1 . The Tennessean . 2023-07-07.
86. Web site: Frank Goad Clement . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
87. News: Fontenay . Charles L. . 1953-01-16 . Browning Passes Keys to Clement with Challenge . 1 . The Tennessean . 2023-07-07.
88. Web site: Earl Buford Ellington . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
89. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 81st general assembly, 119, accessed July 7, 2023
90. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 83rd general assembly, 64, accessed July 7, 2023
91. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 85th general assembly, 64, accessed July 7, 2023
92. Web site: Bryant Winfield Culberson Dunn . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
93. Tennessee General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 87th general assembly, 85, accessed July 7, 2023
94. Web site: Ray Blanton . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
95. News: Daughtrey . Larry . 1975-01-19 . Blanton Says Austerity a Must . 1 . The Tennessean . 2023-07-08.
96. Web site: Lamar Alexander . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
97. News: Daughtrey . Larry . Hall . Doug . 1979-01-18 . Alexander Sworn In; Blanton Pushed Out . 1 . The Tennessean . 2023-07-08.
98. Web site: Ned Ray McWherter . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
99. News: Daughtrey . Larry . 1987-01-18 . McWherter: We Are Family . 1A . The Tennessean . 2023-07-08.
100. Web site: Don Sundquist . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
101. News: Daughtrey . Larry . 1995-01-22 . State Enters Sundquist Years . 1A . The Tennessean . 2023-07-08.
102. Web site: Phil Bredesen . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
103. News: de la Cruz . Bonna . 2003-01-19 . Bredesen Sworn In to State's Top Office . 1A . The Tennessean . 2023-07-08.
104. Web site: Bill Haslam . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
105. News: 2011-01-16 . Rise of the House of Haslam . A1 . The Knoxville News-Sentinel . 2023-07-08.
106. Web site: Bill Lee . July 5, 2023 . National Governors Association.
107. News: Allison . Natalie . Ebert . Joel . Bill Lee sworn in as Tennessee's 50th governor, nearly 2 years after long-shot bid . en-US . The Tennessean . 2023-10-02.