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This is a list of the Presidents and Governors of the State of Delaware.

The Governor serves as head of the executive branch of the state's government, and was called President under the Delaware Constitution of 1776. With the Delaware Constitution of 1792 the name was changed to conform to usage in the rest of the U.S. states. The Presidents were particularly weak executive officials, being elected by the Delaware General Assembly, having no legislative veto, ineligible for immediate reelection, and whose actions required the approval of an executive Privy Council. Starting in 1792 the Governor was popularly elected and the Privy Council was abolished, but it wasn't until 1897 that a legislative veto or election to a second term was possible. As a result, the office was part time and largely ceremonial until the mid twentieth century.

List of Governors

Presidents under the Constitution of 1776

The General Assembly chose the State President for a term of three years.

#	Picture	Name	Birth / Death	Term of Office	Party	Residence Occupation	Other offices	Notes
1		John McKinly	February 21, 1721– August 21, 1796	February 12, 1777– September 22, 1777	no parties	Wilmington, New Castle Co. physician	Wilmington Chief Burgess State Assemblyman	resigned
2		Thomas McKean	March 19, 1734– June 24, 1817	September 22, 1777– October 20, 1777	no parties	New Castle, New Castle Co. lawyer	President of Congress Continental Congressman Pennsylvania Chief Justice Governor of Pennsylvania Delaware State Assemblyman
3		George Read	September 18, 1733– September 21, 1798	October 20, 1777– March 31, 1778	no parties	New Castle, New Castle Co. lawyer	U. S. Senator Continental Congressman State Chief Justice State Councilman State Assemblyman
4		Caesar Rodney	October 7, 1728– June 26, 1784	March 31, 1778– November 6, 1781	no parties	Dover, Kent Co. lawyer	Continental Congressman State Councilman State Assemblyman
5		John Dickinson	November 2, 1732– February 14, 1808	November 13, 1781– November 4, 1782	no parties	Dover, Kent Co. lawyer	Continental Congressman President of Pennsylvania State Senator State Assemblyman	resigned
6		John Cook	1730– October 27, 1789	November 4, 1782– February 1, 1783	no parties	Smyrna, Kent Co. farmer	State Councilman State Assemblyman
7		Nicholas Van Dyke	September 25, 1738– February 19, 1789	February 1, 1783– October 27, 1786	no parties	New Castle, New Castle Co. lawyer	Continental Congressman State Councilman State Assemblyman
8		Thomas Collins	1732– March 29, 1789	October 27, 1786– March 29, 1789	no parties	Smyrna, Kent Co. lawyer	State Councilman State Assemblyman	died in office
9		Jehu Davis	1738– May 11, 1802	March 29, 1789– June 2, 1789	no parties	Milford, Kent Co. farmer	State Assemblyman
10		Joshua Clayton	July 20, 1744– August 11, 1798	June 2, 1789– January 15, 1793	no parties	Pencader, New Castle Co. physician	U. S. Senator State Assemblyman

Governors under the Constitution of 1792

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. The Governor took office the third Tuesday in January, for a term of three years. If the governor did not complete their term, the president of the State Senate succeeded to the office.

#	Picture	Name	Birth / Death	Term of Office	Party	Residence Occupation	Other offices	Notes
10		Joshua Clayton	July 20, 1744– August 11, 1798	January 15, 1793– January 19, 1796	Federalist	Pencader, New Castle Co. physician	U. S. Senator State Assemblyman
11		Gunning Bedford, Sr.	April 7, 1742– September 28, 1797	January 19, 1796– September 28, 1797	Federalist	New Castle, New Castle Co. lawyer	State Councilman State Assemblyman	died in office
12		Daniel Rogers	January 3, 1754– February 2, 1806	September 28, 1797– January 15, 1799	Federalist	Milford, Sussex Co. miller	State Senator State Assemblyman
13		Richard Bassett	April 2, 1745– August 15, 1815	January 15, 1799– February 20, 1801	Federalist	Pencader, New Castle Co. lawyer	U. S. Senator U. S. District Court Judge State Councilman State Assemblyman	resigned
14		James Sykes, Jr.	March 27, 1761– October 18, 1822	March 4, 1801– January 19, 1802	Federalist	Dover, Kent Co. physician	State Senator
15		David Hall	January 4, 1752– September 18, 1817	January 19, 1802– January 15, 1805	Democratic- Republican	Lewes, Sussex Co. lawyer
16		Nathaniel Mitchell	1753– February 21, 1815	January 15, 1805– January 19, 1808	Federalist	Laurel, Sussex Co. lawyer	Continental Congressman State Senator State Representative
17		George Truitt	1756– October 8, 1818	January 19, 1808– January 15, 1811	Federalist	Felton, Kent Co. farmer	State Senator State Representative
18		Joseph Haslet	1769– June 20, 1823	January 15, 1811– January 18, 1814	Democratic- Republican	Milford, Sussex Co. farmer
19		Daniel Rodney	September 10, 1764– September 2, 1846	January 18, 1814– January 21, 1817	Federalist	Lewes, Sussex Co. merchant	U. S. Senator U.S. Representative
20		John Clark	February 1, 1761– August 14, 1821	January 21, 1817– January 15, 1820	Federalist	Blackbird, New Castle Co. farmer	State Treasurer State Representative
		Henry Molleston	January 1, 1762– November 11, 1819	never served	Federalist	Dover, Kent Co. physician	State Treasurer State Senator State Representative	died
21		Jacob Stout	1764– November 1, 1857	January 18, 1820– January 16, 1821	Federalist	Smyrna, Kent Co. farmer	State Senator State Representative
22		John Collins	March 1, 1776– April 16, 1822	January 16, 1821– April 16, 1822	Democratic- Republican	Laurel, Sussex Co. miller		died in office
23		Caleb Rodney	April 29, 1767– April 29, 1840	April 23, 1822– January 21, 1823	Federalist	Lewes, Sussex Co. merchant	State Senator State Representative
24		Joseph Haslet	1769– June 20, 1823	January 21, 1823– June 20, 1823	Democratic- Republican	Milford, Sussex Co. farmer		died in office
25		Charles Thomas	June 23, 1790– February 8, 1848	June 24, 1823– January 20, 1824	Democratic- Republican	New Castle, New Castle Co. lawyer	State Senator State Representative
26		Samuel Paynter	August 24, 1768– October 2, 1845	January 20, 1824– January 16, 1827	Federalist	Milton, Sussex Co. merchant	State Treasurer State Senator State Representative
27		Charles Polk, Jr.	November 14, 1788– October 27, 1857	January 16, 1827– January 19, 1830	Federalist	Milford, Kent Co. farmer	State Senator State Representative
28		David Hazzard	May 18, 1781– July 8, 1864	January 19, 1830– January 15, 1833	National Republican	Milton, Sussex Co. merchant	Superior Court Justice State Senator

Governors under the Constitution of 1831

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday in January, for a term of four years. If the governor did not complete their term, the president of the State Senate succeeded to the office.

#	Picture	Name	Birth / Death	Term of Office	Party	Residence Occupation	Other offices	Notes
29		Caleb P. Bennett	November 11, 1758– July 11, 1836	January 15, 1833– July 11, 1836	Democratic	Wilmington, New Castle Co. soldier		died in office
30		Charles Polk, Jr.	November 14, 1788– October 27, 1857	July 11, 1836– January 17, 1837	Whig	Milford, Kent Co. farmer	State Senator State Representative
31		Cornelius P. Comegys	January 15, 1780– January 27, 1851	January 17, 1837– January 19, 1841	Whig	Little Creek, Kent Co. farmer	State Representative State Treasurer
32		William B. Cooper	December 16, 1771– April 29, 1849	January 19, 1841– January 21, 1845	Whig	Laurel, Sussex Co. farmer	State Representative
33		Thomas Stockton	April 1, 1781– March 2, 1846	January 21, 1845– March 2, 1846	Whig	New Castle, New Castle Co. soldier		died in office
34		Joseph Maull	September 6, 1781– May 3, 1846	March 2, 1846– May 3, 1846	Whig	Lewes, Sussex Co. physician	State Senator	died in office
35		William Temple	February 28, 1814– May 28, 1863	May 6, 1846– January 19, 1847	Whig	Smyrna, Kent Co. merchant	U.S. Representative State Senator State Representative
36		William Tharp	November 27, 1803– January 9, 1865	January 19, 1847– January 21, 1851	Democratic	Milford, Kent Co. farmer	State Senator
37		William H. H. Ross	June 2, 1814– June 30, 1887	January 21, 1851– January 14, 1855	Democratic	Seaford, Sussex Co. farmer
38		Peter F. Causey	January 11, 1801– February 17, 1871	January 14, 1855– January 18, 1859	American	Milford, Sussex Co. merchant	State Representative
39	File:WilliamBurton.jpg	William Burton	October 16, 1789– August 5, 1866	January 18, 1859– January 20, 1863	Democratic	Milford, Sussex Co. physician
40		William Cannon	March 15, 1809– March 1, 1865	January 20, 1863– March 1, 1865	Republican	Bridgeville, Sussex Co. farmer	State Representative State Treasurer	died in office
41		Gove Saulsbury	May 29, 1815– July 31, 1881	March 1, 1865– January 17, 1871	Democratic	Dover, Kent Co. physician	State Senator
42		James Ponder	October 31, 1819– November 5, 1897	January 17, 1871– January 19, 1875	Democratic	Milton, Sussex Co. merchant	State Senator State Representative
43		John P. Cochran	February 7, 1809– December 27, 1898	January 19, 1875– January 21, 1879	Democratic	Middletown, New Castle Co. farmer
44		John W. Hall	January 1, 1817– January 23, 1893	January 21, 1879– January 16, 1883	Democratic	Frederica, Kent Co. merchant	State Senator
45		Charles C. Stockley	November 6, 1819– April 20, 1901	January 16, 1883– January 18, 1887	Democratic	Georgetown, Sussex Co. farmer	State Senator
46		Benjamin T. Biggs	October 1, 1821– December 25, 1893	January 18, 1887– January 20, 1891	Democratic	Middletown, New Castle Co. farmer	U. S. Representative
47		Robert J. Reynolds	March 17, 1838– June 10, 1909	January 20, 1891– January 15, 1895	Democratic	Petersburg, Kent Co. farmer	State Representative State Treasurer
48		Joshua H. Marvil	September 3, 1825– April 8, 1895	January 15, 1895– April 8, 1895	Republican	Laurel, Sussex Co. farmer		died in office
49		William T. Watson	June 22, 1849– April 14, 1917	April 8, 1895– January 19, 1897	Democratic	Milford, Kent Co. banker	State Senator
50		Ebe W. Tunnell	December 31, 1844– December 13, 1917	January 19, 1897– January 15, 1901	Democratic	Lewes, Sussex Co. merchant	State Representative

Governors under the Constitution of 1897

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday in January, for a term of four years. If the governor does not complete the term, the lieutenant governor succeeds to the office.

#	Picture	Name	Birth / Death	Term of Office	Party	Residence Occupation	Other offices	Notes
51		John Hunn	June 29, 1849– September 1, 1926	January 15, 1901– January 17, 1905	Republican	Camden, Kent Co. businessman
52	File:Lea1.gif	Preston Lea	November 12, 1841– December 4, 1916	January 17, 1905– January 19, 1909	Republican	Wilmington, New Castle Co. miller
53		Simeon S. Pennewill	July 23, 1867– September 10, 1935	January 19, 1909– January 21, 1913	Republican	Dover, Kent Co. farmer	State Senator
54		Charles R. Miller	September 30, 1857– September 18, 1927	January 21, 1913– January 16, 1917	Republican	Wilmington, New Castle Co. lawyer	State Senator
55		John G. Townsend, Jr.	May 31, 1871– April 10, 1964	January 16, 1917– January 18, 1921	Republican	Selbyville, Sussex Co. businessman	U.S. Senator State Representative
56	File:Denney.gif	William D. Denney	March 31, 1873– November 21, 1953	January 18, 1921– January 20, 1925	Republican	Dover, Kent Co. businessman	State Representative
57	File:RobertPRobinson.gif	Robert P. Robinson	March 28, 1869– March 4, 1949	January 20, 1925– January 15, 1929	Republican	Wilmington, New Castle Co. banker
58	File:Cdouglassbuck.jpg	C. Douglass Buck	March 21, 1890– January 27, 1965	January 15, 1929– January 19, 1937	Republican	New Castle, New Castle Co. engineer	U.S. Senator
59	File:McMullen.gif	Richard C. McMullen	January 2, 1868– February 18, 1944	January 19, 1937– January 21, 1941	Democratic	Wilmington, New Castle Co. executive
60	File:WBacon.jpg	Walter W. Bacon	January 20, 1879– March 18, 1962	January 21, 1941– January 18, 1949	Republican	Wilmington, New Castle Co. accountant	Mayor of Wilmington
61	File:Carvel.gif	Elbert N. Carvel	February 9, 1910– February 6, 2005	January 18, 1949– January 20, 1953	Democratic	Laurel, Sussex Co. businessman	Lieutenant Governor
62		J. Caleb Boggs	May 15, 1909– March 26, 1993	January 20, 1953– December 30, 1960	Republican	Cheswold, Kent Co. lawyer	U. S. Senator U.S. Representative	resigned
63	File:Buckson.gif	David P. Buckson	July 25, 1920– living	December 30, 1960– January 17, 1961	Republican	Camden, Kent Co. lawyer	Lieutenant Governor State Attorney General
64	File:Carvel.gif	Elbert N. Carvel	February 9, 1910– February 6, 2005	January 17, 1961– January 19, 1965	Democratic	Laurel, Sussex Co. businessman	Lieutenant Governor
65	File:Charles-layman-terry-jr.gif	Charles L. Terry, Jr.	September 17, 1900– February 6, 1970	January 19, 1965– January 21, 1969	Democratic	Dover, Kent Co. lawyer	Chief Justice
66		Russell W. Peterson	October 3, 1916– living	January 21, 1969– January 16, 1973	Republican	Wilmington, New Castle Co. chemist
67	File:Tribbit.gif	Sherman W. Tribbitt	November 9, 1922– living	January 16, 1973– January 18, 1977	Democratic	Odessa, New Castle Co. merchant	Lieutenant Governor State Representative
68	File:DuPontPierre.jpg	Pierre S. du Pont, IV	January 22, 1935– living	January 18, 1977– January 15, 1985	Republican	Rockland, New Castle Co. lawyer	U.S. Representative State Representative
69		Michael N. Castle	July 2, 1939– living	January 15, 1985– December 31, 1992	Republican	Wilmington, New Castle Co. lawyer	U.S. Representative Lieutenant Governor State Senator State Representative	resigned
70	File:Dalewolf.gif	Dale E. Wolf	September 6, 1924– living	December 31, 1992– January 19, 1993	Republican	Wilmington, New Castle Co. executive	Lieutenant Governor
71		Thomas R. Carper	January 23, 1947– living	January 19, 1993– January 3, 2001	Democratic	Wilmington, New Castle Co. economist	U. S. Senator U.S. Representative State Treasurer	resigned
72	File:MinnerRA.jpg	Ruth Ann Minner	January 17, 1935– living	January 3, 2001– incumbent	Democratic	Milford, Kent Co. businesswoman	Lieutenant Governor State Senator State Representative

Summaries

Colonial Governors

for Dutch Directors-General 1624-1664.

for Swedish Directors 1638-1655.

for New York Proprietary Governors 1664-1682.

for the Penn family Proprietors and the Penn Proprietary Lieutenant Governors 1682-1776.

Notes

1. Before 1792 shading indicates association with loose factions that were precursors to parties.
2. McKinly was captured and taken prisoner by the British.
3. succeeded to office upon the capture of Governor McKinly, and resigned upon the return of George Read, the righful successor to McKinly
4. succeeded to office upon the resignation of Governor McLean
5. resigned to accept election as President of Pennsylvania
6. succeeded to office upon the resignation of Governor Dickinson
7. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Collins
8. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Bedford
9. resigned to accept appointment to U.S. District Court
10. succeeded to office upon the resignation of Governor Bassett
11. Molleston died before taking office. He never served as Governor.
12. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor-elect Molleston
13. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Collins
14. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Haslet
15. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Bennett
16. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Stockton, then died in office himself.
17. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Maull
18. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Cannon, then was elected to office in his own right
19. succeeded to office upon the death of Governor Marvil
20. resigned office to begin term in the U.S. Senate
21. succeeded to office upon the resignation of Governor Boggs
22. resigned office to begin term in the U.S. House of Representatives
23. succeeded to office upon the resignation of Governor Castle
24. resigned office to begin term in the U.S. Senate
25. present term ends January 20, 2009
26. succeeded to office upon the resignation of Governor Carper, then assumed office in her own right
27. Tables includes Joshua Clayton (Federalist), Charles Polk (Federalist), Elbert Carvel (Democratic) only once, and Henry Molleston, who never took office.

References

• Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• "Governors of Delaware". National Governors Association. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

External links

• Delaware's Governors
• Political Graveyard

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