List of governors of Indiana explained

The governor of Indiana is the head of government of the U.S. state of Indiana. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Indiana's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws.

While a territory, Indiana had two governors appointed by the president of the United States. Since statehood in 1816, it has had 49 governors, serving 51 distinct terms; Isaac P. Gray and Henry F. Schricker are the only governors to have served non-consecutive terms. Four governors have served two four-year terms; territorial governor William Henry Harrison served for 11 years. The shortest-serving governor is Henry S. Lane, who served two days before resigning to become a U.S. senator. The current governor is Eric Holcomb, who took office on January 9, 2017.

List of governors

Territory of Indiana

Indiana Territory was formed on July 4, 1800, from the Northwest Territory. Despite remaining a territory for nearly 16 years, it had only two governors appointed by the president of the United States before it became a state.

!scope="colgroup" colspan="2"

Governor	Term in office	Appointed by
1		William Henry Harrison	– December 28, 1812
2	data-sort-value="Posey, Thomas"		Thomas Posey	– November 7, 1816

State of Indiana

Indiana was admitted to the Union on December 11, 1816.

The original 1816 Constitution of Indiana provided for the election of a governor and a lieutenant governor every three years, limited to six years out of any nine-year period.^[1] The second and current constitution of 1851 lengthened terms to four years and set the commencement of the governor's term on the second Monday in the January following the election.^[2] Governors were allowed to serve for four years in any eight-year period, but a 1972 amendment permitted governors to serve for eight years in any twelve-year period.^[3] Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.^[4] If the office of lieutenant governor is vacant, the president pro tempore of the Indiana Senate becomes governor; this has happened once, when James B. Ray succeeded William Hendricks.^[5]

!scope="colgroup" colspan="3"

Governor	Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			Jonathan Jennings ^[6]	^[7]  - September 12, 1822	Democratic- Republican	1816
							Vacant
						1819
2	data-sort-value="Boon, Ratliff"			Ratliff Boon ^[8]	- December 4, 1822	Democratic- Republican		Vacant
3			William Hendricks ^[9]	^[10]  - February 12, 1825	Democratic- Republican	1822
							Vacant
4			James B. Ray ^[11]	- December 7, 1831	Democratic- Republican
						1825
						1828
5			Noah Noble ^[12]	^[13]  - December 6, 1837	National Republican	1831
					Whig	1834
6	data-sort-value="Wallace, David"			David Wallace ^[14]	^[15]  - December 9, 1840	Whig		1837
7	data-sort-value="Bigger, Samuel"			Samuel Bigger ^[16]	^[17]  - December 6, 1843	Whig		1840
8			James Whitcomb ^[18]	^[19]  - December 27, 1848	Democratic	1843
							Vacant
						1846
9	data-sort-value="Dunning, Paris"			Paris C. Dunning ^[20]	^[21]  - December 5, 1849	Democratic		Vacant
10			Joseph A. Wright ^[22]	^[23]  - January 12, 1857	Democratic	1849
						1852
11	data-sort-value="Willard, Ashbel"			Ashbel P. Willard ^[24]	^[25]  - October 4, 1860	Democratic		1856
12	data-sort-value="Hammond, Abram"			Abram A. Hammond ^[26]	^[27]  - January 14, 1861	Democratic		Vacant
13	data-sort-value="Lane, Henry S."			Henry S. Lane ^[28]	^[29]  - January 16, 1861	Republican	1860
14		Oliver P. Morton ^[30]		^[31]  - January 24, 1867	Republican		Vacant
					Union^[32]	1864
15		Conrad Baker ^[33]		^[34]  - January 13, 1873	Republican		Vacant
						1868
							Vacant
16	data-sort-value="Hendricks, Thomas"			Thomas A. Hendricks ^[35]	^[36]  - January 8, 1877	Democratic	1872
17	data-sort-value="Williams, James"			James D. Williams ^[37]	^[38]  - November 20, 1880	Democratic	1876
18	data-sort-value="Gray, Isaac"			Isaac P. Gray ^[39]	^[40]  - January 10, 1881	Democratic		Vacant
19	data-sort-value="Porter, Albert"			Albert G. Porter ^[41]	^[42]  - January 12, 1885	Republican	1880
20			Isaac P. Gray	^[43]  - January 14, 1889	Democratic	1884
							Vacant
21	data-sort-value="Hovey, Alvin"			Alvin Peterson Hovey ^[44]	^[45]  - November 23, 1891	Republican	1888
22	data-sort-value="Chase, Ira"			Ira Joy Chase ^[46]	^[47]  - January 9, 1893	Republican		Vacant
23	data-sort-value="Matthews, Claude"			Claude Matthews ^[48]	^[49]  - January 11, 1897	Democratic	1892
24	data-sort-value="Mount, James"			James A. Mount ^[50]	^[51]  - January 14, 1901	Republican	1896
25	data-sort-value="Durbin, Winfield"			Winfield T. Durbin ^[52]	^[53]  - January 9, 1905	Republican	1900
26	data-sort-value="Hanly, Frank"			Frank Hanly ^[54]	^[55]  - January 11, 1909	Republican	1904
27	data-sort-value="Marshall, Thomas"			Thomas R. Marshall ^[56]	^[57]  - January 13, 1913	Democratic	1908
28	data-sort-value="Ralston, Samuel"			Samuel M. Ralston ^[58]	^[59]  - January 8, 1917	Democratic	1912
29	data-sort-value="Goodrich, James"			James P. Goodrich ^[60]	^[61]  - January 10, 1921	Republican	1916
30	data-sort-value="McCray, Warren"			Warren T. McCray ^[62]	^[63]  - April 30, 1924	Republican	1920
31	data-sort-value="Branch, Emmett"			Emmett Forest Branch ^[64]	^[65]  - January 12, 1925	Republican		Vacant
32	data-sort-value="Jackson, Edward"			Edward L. Jackson ^[66]	^[67]  - January 14, 1929	Republican	1924
33	data-sort-value="Leslie, Harry"			Harry G. Leslie ^[68]	^[69]  - January 9, 1933	Republican	1928
34	data-sort-value="McNutt, Paul"			Paul V. McNutt ^[70]	^[71]  - January 11, 1937	Democratic	1932
35	data-sort-value="Townsend, M. Clifford"			M. Clifford Townsend ^[72]	^[73]  - January 13, 1941	Democratic	1936
36	data-sort-value="Schricker, Henry"			Henry F. Schricker ^[74]	^[75]  - January 8, 1945	Democratic	1940
37			Ralph F. Gates ^[76]	^[77]  - January 10, 1949	Republican	1944
							Vacant
							Vacant
38	data-sort-value="Schricker, Henry"			Henry F. Schricker	^[78]  - January 12, 1953	Democratic	1948
39	data-sort-value="Craig, George"			George N. Craig ^[79]	^[80]  - January 14, 1957	Republican	1952
40	data-sort-value="Handley, Harold"			Harold W. Handley ^[81]	^[82]  - January 9, 1961	Republican	1956
41	data-sort-value="Welsh, Matthew"			Matthew E. Welsh ^[83]	^[84]  - January 11, 1965	Democratic	1960
42	data-sort-value="Branigin, Roger"			Roger D. Branigin ^[85]	^[86]  - January 13, 1969	Democratic	1964
43	data-sort-value="Whitcomb, Edgar"			Edgar Whitcomb ^[87]	^[88]  - January 8, 1973	Republican	1968
44		Otis Bowen ^[89]		^[90]  - January 12, 1981	Republican	1972
						1976
45		Robert D. Orr ^[91]		^[92]  - January 9, 1989	Republican	1980
						1984
46			Evan Bayh ^[93]	^[94]  - January 13, 1997	Democratic	1988
						1992
47			Frank O'Bannon ^[95]	^[96]  - September 13, 2003	Democratic	1996
						2000
48			Joe Kernan ^[97]	^[98]  - January 10, 2005	Democratic		Vacant
49			Mitch Daniels ^[99]	^[100]  - January 14, 2013	Republican	2004
						2008
50			Mike Pence ^[101]	^[102]  - January 9, 2017	Republican	2012
							Vacant
51			Eric Holcomb ^[103]	^[104]  - Incumbent	Republican	2016
						2020

See also

• • List of Indiana General Assemblies

References

General

• Book: Funk, Arville L . A Sketchbook of Indiana History . Christian Book Press . 1983 . Rochester, Indiana . 1969.
• Web site: Indiana Historical Bureau . Lieutenant Governors . May 27, 2008 . State of Indiana.
• Web site: Former Indiana Governors . February 24, 2023 . National Governors Association.
• Book: McLauchlan, William P. . The Indiana State Constitution . Greenwood Publishing Group . 1996 . 0-313-29208-6.
• Web site: Previous Governors . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081201171826/http://www.in.gov/gov/2342.htm . December 1, 2008 . December 6, 2008 . State of Indiana.
• Book: Woollen, William Wesley . Biographical and Historical Sketches of Early Indiana . Ayer Publishing . 1975 . 0-405-06896-4.
• Book: Year Book of the State of Indiana . 1919.
• Book: Sobel, Robert . Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I . Meckler Books . 1978 . 9780930466015 . July 10, 2019.
• 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 Indiana - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.

Constitutions

• Web site: Constitution of the State of Indiana . December 8, 2008 . Indiana Legislature.
• Web site: 1816 Constitution of the State of Indiana . July 13, 2010 . State of Indian.
• Web site: 1851 Constitution of the State of Indiana . December 8, 2008 . Indiana Historical Bureau.

Specific

External links

• Office of the Governor of Indiana

Notes and References

1. 1816 Const. art. IV, § 3
2. IN Const. art. V, § 1
3. McLauchlan p. 94
4. IN Const. art. V, § 10
5. Woollen, p. 56
6. Web site: Johnathan Jennings . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
7. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1816 sess., 10, accessed August 18, 2023
8. Web site: Ratliff Boon . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
9. Web site: William Hendricks . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
10. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1822 sess., 26, accessed August 18, 2023
11. Web site: James Brown Ray . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
12. Web site: Noah Noble . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
13. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1831 sess., 32, accessed August 19, 2023
14. Web site: David Wallace . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
15. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1837 sess., 30, accessed August 19, 2023
16. Web site: Samuel Bigger . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
17. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1840 sess., 35, accessed August 19, 2023
18. Web site: James Whitcomb . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
19. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1843 sess., 33, accessed August 19, 2023
20. Web site: Paris Chipman Dunning . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
21. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1848 sess., 202, accessed August 19, 2023
22. Web site: Joseph Albert Wright . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
23. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1849 sess., 42, accessed August 19, 2023
24. Web site: Ashbel Parsons Willard . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
25. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1857 sess., 60, accessed August 19, 2023
26. Web site: Abram Adams Hammond . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
27. News: 1860-10-11 . Death of Gov. Willard . 2 . Richmond Weekly Palladium . 2023-08-19.
28. Web site: Henry Smith Lane . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
29. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1861 sess., 60, accessed August 19, 2023
30. Web site: Oliver Morton Perry . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
31. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1861 sess., 94, accessed August 19, 2023
32. Book: Thornbrough . Emma Lou . Indiana in the Civil War Era, 1850–1880 . 1989 . Indiana Historical Society . Indianapolis . 209 .
33. Web site: Conrad Baker . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
34. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1867 sess., 197, accessed August 19, 2023
35. Web site: Thomas Andrews Hendricks . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
36. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1873 sess., 77, accessed August 19, 2023
37. Web site: James Douglas Williams . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
38. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1877 sess., 66, accessed August 19, 2023
39. Web site: Isaac Pusey Gray . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
40. News: 1880-11-20 . none . He will be succeeded in office by Lieutenant-Governor Gray... . 1 . The South Bend Tribune . 2023-08-19.
41. Web site: Albert Gallatin Porter . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
42. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1881 sess., 79, accessed August 19, 2023
43. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1885 sess., 60, accessed August 19, 2023
44. Web site: Alvin Peterson Hovey . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
45. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1889 sess., 62, accessed August 19, 2023
46. Web site: Ira Joy Chase . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
47. News: 1891-11-23 . The Governor Dead . 1 . The Indianapolis News . 2023-08-19.
48. Web site: Claude Matthews . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
49. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1893 sess., 50, accessed August 19, 2023
50. Web site: James Atwell Mount . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
51. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1897 sess., 63, accessed August 19, 2023
52. Web site: Winfield Taylor Durbin . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
53. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1901 sess., 72, accessed August 19, 2023
54. Web site: James Frank Hanly . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
55. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1905 sess., 103, accessed August 19, 2023
56. Web site: Thomas Riley Marshall . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
57. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1909 sess., 79, accessed August 19, 2023
58. Web site: Samuel Moffett Ralston . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
59. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1913 sess., 69, accessed August 19, 2023
60. Web site: James Putnam Goodrich . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
61. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1917 sess., 51, accessed August 19, 2023
62. Web site: Warren T. McCray . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
63. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1921 sess., 149, accessed August 19, 2023
64. Web site: Emmett Forrest Branch . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
65. News: 1924-04-30 . Branch Made Governor . 1 . The Indianapolis Times . 2023-08-19.
66. Web site: Edward L. Jackson . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
67. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1925 sess., 26, accessed August 19, 2023
68. Web site: Harry Guyer Leslie . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
69. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1929 sess., 13, accessed August 19, 2023
70. Web site: Paul Vories McNutt . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
71. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1933 sess., 88, accessed August 19, 2023
72. Web site: Maurice Clifford Townsend . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
73. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1937 sess., 76, accessed August 19, 2023
74. Web site: Henry Frederick Schricker . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
75. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1941 sess., 97, accessed August 19, 2023
76. Web site: Ralph Fesler Gates . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
77. News: Maddox . Tom . 1945-01-09 . Gates Pledges Service to All Indiana People . 1 . The Star Press . Associated Press . 2023-08-20.
78. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1949 sess., 54, accessed August 19, 2023
79. Web site: George N. Craig . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
80. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1953 sess., 44, accessed August 19, 2023
81. Web site: Harold Willis Handley . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
82. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1957 sess., 47, accessed August 19, 2023
83. Web site: Matthew Empson Welsh . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
84. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1961 sess., 55, accessed August 19, 2023
85. Web site: Roger Douglas Branigin . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
86. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1965 sess., 50, accessed August 19, 2023
87. Web site: Edgar Doud Whitcomb . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
88. Indiana General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1969 sess., 89, accessed August 19, 2023
89. Web site: Otis Ray Bowen . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
90. News: Mooney . Robert P. . 1973-01-09 . Bowen Asks for Guidance in Taking His Oath of Office . 10 . The Indianapolis Star . 2023-08-20.
91. Web site: Robert D. Orr . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
92. News: Hibbs . Maria Pojeta . 1981-01-13 . Evansville's Orr Assumes Governorship Amid Pomp . 1 . Evansville Courier and Press . 2023-08-20.
93. Web site: Evan Bayh . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
94. News: Richardson . Doug . 1989-01-10 . Bayh Calls on Hoosier Hysteria . 1 . The South Bend Tribune . Associated Press . 2023-08-20.
95. Web site: Frank O'Bannon . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
96. News: Scheider . Mary Beth . 1997-01-14 . Warm Words on a Cold Day . 1 . The Indianapolis Star . 2023-08-20.
97. Web site: Joseph E. Kernan . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
98. News: Schneider . Mary Beth . 2003-09-14 . O'Bannon Dies . A1 . The Indianapolis Star . 2023-08-20.
99. Web site: Mitch Daniels . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
100. News: Schneider . Mary Beth . 2005-01-11 . 'Our Actions Must Be Bold,' Governor Says at Inauguration . A1 . The Indianapolis Star . 2023-08-20.
101. Web site: Mike Pence . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
102. News: Bradner . Eric . 2013-01-15 . Pence: 'The Time Is Now' . 1A . Evansville Courier and Press . 2023-08-20.
103. Web site: Eric Holcomb . February 25, 2023 . National Governors Association.
104. News: Schneider . Chelsea . Lange . Kaitlin L. . Mack . Justin L. . 2017-01-10 . Igniting State's Third Century . 1A . The Indianapolis Star . 2023-08-20.