List of governors of Tennessee

This is a list of people who have served as governor of Tennessee.

The governor's term in office is limited by the Tennessee state constitution. The first constitution, 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.^[1] The term of office was lengthened to four years, without the possibility of consecutive terms, by constitutional amendments adopted in 1953.^[2] 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.^[2]^[3] For a period of nearly five decades in the 20th century, the Tennessee Democratic Party held the Tennessee governorship continuously.

Tennessee has had 50 governors, including the incumbent, Bill Lee.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.

Southwest Territory

The Territory South of the River Ohio, commonly called the Southwest Territory, was formed in 1790 from lands ceded by North Carolina to the United States government. The territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Tennessee in 1796.

Parties

Democratic-Republican

#	Picture	Governor (Birth–Death)		Term in office	Party	State of birth	Occupation	Notes
1			William Blount (1749–1800)	September 20, 1790 – March 30, 1796	Democratic-Republican	NC	Land speculator	^[6]

State of Tennessee

Parties

Democratic-Republican (6) Democratic (31) Whig (4) Unionist/Military (1) Republican (10)

#^[7]		Term in office	Party	Election	Occupation	Lt. Governor
1	John Sevier September 23, 1745 – September 24, 1815 (aged 70)	March 30, 1796 – September 23, 1801	Democratic-Republican		Soldier, farmer	None
2	Archibald Roane 1759/60 – January 18, 1819 (aged 58–60)	September 23, 1801 – September 23, 1803	Democratic-Republican		Lawyer
1	John Sevier September 23, 1745 – September 24, 1815 (aged 70)	September 23, 1803 – September 20, 1809	Democratic-Republican		Soldier, farmer
3	Willie Blount April 18, 1768 – September 10, 1835 (aged 67)	September 20, 1809 – September 27, 1815	Democratic-Republican		Lawyer, planter
4	Joseph McMinn June 22, 1758 – October 17, 1824 (aged 66)	September 27, 1815 – October 1, 1821	Democratic-Republican		Merchant
5	William Carroll March 3, 1788 – March 22, 1844 (aged 56)	October 1, 1821 – October 1, 1827	Democratic-Republican		Merchant, soldier
6	Sam Houston March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863 (aged 70)	October 1, 1827 – April 16, 1829	Democratic-Republican		Lawyer
7	William Hall February 11, 1775 – October 7, 1856 (aged 81)	April 16, 1829 – October 1, 1829	Democratic		Planter, soldier
5	William Carroll March 3, 1788 – March 22, 1844 (aged 56)	October 1, 1829 – October 12, 1835	Democratic		Merchant, soldier
8	Newton Cannon May 22, 1781 – September 16, 1841 (aged 60)	October 12, 1835 – October 14, 1839	Whig		Planter
9	James K. Polk November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849 (aged 53)	October 14, 1839 – October 15, 1841	Democratic		Lawyer, politician
10	James C. Jones April 20, 1809 – October 29, 1859 (aged 50)	October 15, 1841 – October 14, 1845	Whig		Lawyer
11	Aaron V. Brown August 15, 1795 – March 8, 1859 (aged 63)	October 14, 1845 – October 17, 1847	Democratic		Lawyer
12	Neill S. Brown April 18, 1810 – January 30, 1886 (aged 75)	October 17, 1847 – October 16, 1849	Whig		Lawyer
13	William Trousdale September 23, 1790 – March 27, 1872 (aged 81)	October 16, 1849 – October 16, 1851	Democratic		Lawyer
14	William B. Campbell February 1, 1807 – August 19, 1867 (aged 60)	October 16, 1851 – October 17, 1853	Whig		Lawyer
15	Andrew Johnson December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875 (aged 66)	October 17, 1853 – November 3, 1857	Democratic		Tailor, lawyer, politician
16	Isham G. Harris February 10, 1818 – July 8, 1897 (aged 79)	November 3, 1857 – March 12, 1862^[8]	Democratic		Lawyer, politician
15	Andrew Johnson December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875 (aged 66)	March 12, 1862 – March 4, 1865	Unionist/Military		Lawyer, politician
—	Edward H. East October 1, 1830 – November 12, 1904 (aged 74)	March 4, 1865 – April 5, 1865^[9]	Republican		Lawyer
17	William G. Brownlow August 29, 1805 – April 29, 1877 (aged 71)	April 5, 1865 – February 25, 1869	Republican		Editor, preacher
18	Dewitt Clinton Senter March 26, 1830 – June 14, 1898 (aged 68)	February 25, 1869 – October 10, 1871	Republican		Lawyer
19	John C. Brown January 6, 1827 – August 17, 1889 (aged 62)	October 10, 1871 – January 18, 1875	Democratic		Lawyer
20	James D. Porter December 7, 1828 – May 18, 1912 (aged 83)	January 18, 1875 – February 16, 1879	Democratic	1874	Lawyer, educator
20		January 18, 1875 – February 16, 1879	Democratic	1876	Lawyer, educator
21	Albert S. Marks October 16, 1836 – November 4, 1891 (aged 55)	February 16, 1879 – January 17, 1881	Democratic	1878	Lawyer, judge
22	Alvin Hawkins December 2, 1821 – April 27, 1905 (aged 83)	January 17, 1881 – January 15, 1883	Republican	1880	Lawyer, judge
23	William B. Bate October 7, 1826 – March 9, 1905 (aged 78)	January 15, 1883 – January 17, 1887	Democratic	1882	Lawyer, politician
23		January 15, 1883 – January 17, 1887	Democratic	1884	Lawyer, politician
24	Robert Love Taylor July 31, 1850 – March 31, 1912 (aged 61)	January 17, 1887 – January 19, 1891	Democratic	1886	Lawyer, politician
24		January 17, 1887 – January 19, 1891	Democratic	1888	Lawyer, politician
25	John P. Buchanan October 24, 1847 – May 14, 1930 (aged 82)	January 19, 1891 – January 16, 1893	Democratic	1890	Farmer
26	Peter Turney September 22, 1827 – October 19, 1903 (aged 76)	January 16, 1893 – January 21, 1897	Democratic	1892	Lawyer, judge
26		January 16, 1893 – January 21, 1897	Democratic	1894	Lawyer, judge
24	Robert Love Taylor July 31, 1850 – March 31, 1912 (aged 61)	January 21, 1897 – January 16, 1899	Democratic	1896	Lawyer, politician
27	Benton McMillin September 11, 1845 – January 8, 1933 (aged 87)	January 16, 1899 – January 19, 1903	Democratic	1898	Lawyer, diplomat
27		January 16, 1899 – January 19, 1903	Democratic	1900	Lawyer, diplomat
28	James B. Frazier October 18, 1856 – March 28, 1937 (aged 80)	January 19, 1903 – March 21, 1905	Democratic	1902	Lawyer, politician
28		January 19, 1903 – March 21, 1905	Democratic	1904	Lawyer, politician
29	John I. Cox November 23, 1855 – September 5, 1946 (aged 90)	March 21, 1905 – January 17, 1907	Democratic	1904	Lawyer
30	Malcolm R. Patterson June 7, 1861 – March 8, 1935 (aged 73)	January 17, 1907 – January 26, 1911	Democratic	1906	Lawyer, judge
30		January 17, 1907 – January 26, 1911	Democratic	1908	Lawyer, judge
31	Ben W. Hooper October 13, 1870 – April 18, 1957 (aged 86)	January 26, 1911 – January 17, 1915	Republican	1910	Lawyer
31		January 26, 1911 – January 17, 1915	Republican	1912	Lawyer
32	Thomas C. Rye June 2, 1863 – September 12, 1953 (aged 90)	January 17, 1915 – January 15, 1919	Democratic	1914	Lawyer, judge
32		January 17, 1915 – January 15, 1919	Democratic	1916	Lawyer, judge
33	Albert H. Roberts July 4, 1868 – June 25, 1946 (aged 77)	January 15, 1919 – January 15, 1921	Democratic	1918	Lawyer, judge
34	Alfred A. Taylor August 6, 1848 – November 25, 1931 (aged 83)	January 15, 1921 – January 16, 1923	Republican	1920	Lawyer
35	Austin Peay June 1, 1876 – October 2, 1927 (aged 51)	January 16, 1923 – October 3, 1927^[10]	Democratic	1922	Lawyer
				1924
				1926
36	Henry Hollis Horton February 17, 1866 – July 2, 1934 (aged 68)	October 3, 1927 – January 17, 1933	Democratic	1926	Lawyer, farmer
				1928
				1930
37	Hill McAlister July 15, 1875 – October 30, 1959 (aged 84)	January 17, 1933 – January 15, 1937	Democratic	1932	Lawyer
37		January 17, 1933 – January 15, 1937	Democratic	1934	Lawyer
38	Gordon Browning November 22, 1889 – May 23, 1976 (aged 86)	January 15, 1937 – January 16, 1939	Democratic	1936	Lawyer, judge
39	Prentice Cooper September 28, 1895 – May 18, 1969 (aged 73)	January 16, 1939 – January 16, 1945	Democratic	1938	Lawyer
				1940
				1942
40	Jim Nance McCord March 17, 1879 – September 2, 1968 (aged 89)	January 16, 1945 – January 16, 1949	Democratic	1944	Herausgeber
40		January 16, 1945 – January 16, 1949	Democratic	1946	Herausgeber
38	Gordon Browning November 22, 1889 – May 23, 1976 (aged 86)	January 16, 1949 – January 15, 1953	Democratic	1950	Lawyer, judge
38		January 16, 1949 – January 15, 1953	Democratic	1950	Lawyer, judge		Walter M. Haynes
41	Frank G. Clement June 2, 1920 – November 4, 1969 (aged 49)	January 15, 1953 – January 19, 1959	Democratic	1952	Lawyer		Jared Maddux
41		January 15, 1953 – January 19, 1959	Democratic	1954	Lawyer		Jared Maddux
42	Buford Ellington June 27, 1907 – April 3, 1972 (aged 64)	January 19, 1959 – January 15, 1963	Democratic	1958	Farmer		William D. Baird
41	Frank G. Clement June 2, 1920 – November 4, 1969 (aged 49)	January 15, 1963 – January 16, 1967	Democratic	1962	Lawyer		James L. Bomar, Jr.
41		January 15, 1963 – January 16, 1967	Democratic	1962	Lawyer		Jared Maddux
42	Buford Ellington June 27, 1907 – April 3, 1972 (aged 64)	January 16, 1967 – January 16, 1971	Democratic	1966	Farmer		Frank Gorrell
43	Winfield Dunn (1927-07-01) July 1, 1927 (age 97)	January 16, 1971 – January 18, 1975	Republican	1970	Dentist		John S. Wilder
44	Ray Blanton April 10, 1930 – November 22, 1996 (aged 66)	January 18, 1975 – January 17, 1979	Democratic	1974	Farmer, businessman
45	Lamar Alexander (1940-07-03) July 3, 1940 (age 84)	January 20, 1979 – January 17, 1987	Republican	1978	Lawyer, politician
45	Lamar Alexander (1940-07-03) July 3, 1940 (age 84)	January 20, 1979 – January 17, 1987	Republican	1982	Lawyer, politician
46	Ned McWherter October 15, 1930 – April 4, 2011 (aged 80)	January 17, 1987 – January 21, 1995	Democratic	1986	Businessman
46		January 17, 1987 – January 21, 1995	Democratic	1990	Businessman
47	Don Sundquist (1936-03-15) March 15, 1936 (age 88)	January 21, 1995 – January 18, 2003	Republican	1994	Businessman
47	Don Sundquist (1936-03-15) March 15, 1936 (age 88)	January 21, 1995 – January 18, 2003	Republican	1998	Businessman
48	Phil Bredesen (1943-11-21) November 21, 1943 (age 80)	January 18, 2003 – January 15, 2011	Democratic	2002	Businessman
48	Phil Bredesen (1943-11-21) November 21, 1943 (age 80)	January 18, 2003 – January 15, 2011	Democratic	2006	Businessman		Ron Ramsey
49	Bill Haslam (1958-08-23) August 23, 1958 (age 66)	January 15, 2011 – January 19, 2019	Republican	2010	Businessman
49	Bill Haslam (1958-08-23) August 23, 1958 (age 66)	January 15, 2011 – January 19, 2019	Republican	2014	Businessman
50	Bill Lee (1959-10-09) October 9, 1959 (age 64)	January 19, 2019 – present^[11]	Republican	2018	Businessman, farmer		Randy McNally
50	Bill Lee (1959-10-09) October 9, 1959 (age 64)	January 19, 2019 – present^[11]	Republican	2022	Businessman, farmer		Randy McNally

Other high offices held by governors

This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Tennessee except where noted. * denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.

Governor	Gubernatorial term	U.S. Congress		Other offices held
Governor	Gubernatorial term	House	Senate	Other offices held
William Blount	1790–1796 (territorial)		S	Continental Congressman from North Carolina
John Sevier	1796–1801 1803–1809	H		U.S. Representative from North Carolina; Governor of the State of Franklin
Sam Houston	1827–1829	H		President of the Republic of Texas; U.S. Senator from Texas; Governor of Texas
William Hall	1829	H
Newton Cannon	1835–1839	H
James K. Polk	1839–1841	H		11th President of the United States
James C. Jones	1841–1845		S
Aaron V. Brown	1845–1847	H		United States Postmaster General
Neill S. Brown	1847–1849			United States Minister to Russia
William Trousdale	1849–1851			United States Minister to Brazil
William B. Campbell	1851–1853	H
Andrew Johnson	1853–1857 1862–1865	H	S	17th President of the United States; 16th Vice President of the United States
Isham G. Harris	1857–1862	H	S
William G. Brownlow	1865–1869		S
James D. Porter	1875–1879			United States Minister to Chile
William B. Bate	1883–1887		S
Robert Love Taylor	1897–1899	H	S
Benton McMillin	1899–1903	H		United States Minister to Peru; United States Minister to Guatemala
James B. Frazier	1903–1905		S*
Malcolm R. Patterson	1907–1911	H
Alfred A. Taylor	1921–1923	H
Gordon Browning	1937–1939 1949–1953	H
Prentice Cooper	1939–1945			United States Ambassador to Peru
Jim Nance McCord	1945–1949	H
Ray Blanton	1975–1979	H
Lamar Alexander	1979–1987		S	United States Secretary of Education
Don Sundquist	1995–2003	H

Living former governors of Tennessee

As of 30 August 2024, there are five former governors from Tennessee who are currently living, the oldest being Winfield Dunn (served 1971–1975, born 1927). The most recent and most recently governor to die Ned McWherter (served 1987–1995, born 1930) on April 4, 2011.

Governor	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth (and age)
Winfield Dunn	1971–1975	(1927-07-01) July 1, 1927 (age 97)
Lamar Alexander	1979–1987	(1940-07-03) July 3, 1940 (age 84)
Don Sundquist	1995–2003	(1936-03-15) March 15, 1936 (age 88)
Phil Bredesen	2003–2011	(1943-11-21) November 21, 1943 (age 80)
Bill Haslam	2011–2019	(1958-08-23) August 23, 1958 (age 66)

References

Specific

^ Jonathan M. Atkins. "William Carroll" in Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture (online edition). Accessed January 27, 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Government", Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
^ Government and politics in Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press. 2001. p. 48–49. ISBN 978-1-57233-141-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
^ Office of the Governor
^ "Past Governors Archived July 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine," Tennessee Blue Book (2011–2012), pp. 547, 553.
^ Appointed governor by President George Washington
^ Numbering of the governors was deduced from the fact that the document at www.tn.gov/sos/bluebook/11-12/2_ExecutiveBranch.pdf identifies Bill Haslam as Tennessee's 49th Governor. Governors who served multiple non-consecutive terms have their numbers repeated in italics in subsequent terms.
^ Harris continued issuing edicts as governor throughout the Civil War. Confederate Tennesseans elected Robert L. Caruthers as Harris's successor in 1863, but Caruthers never took office.
^ East was Tennessee Secretary of State from 1862–1865, appointed by Andrew Johnson, the military governor of the state under Union occupation during the Civil War. After Johnson was inaugurated as Vice President of the United States on March 4, 1865, East became the Acting Governor of Tennessee until William G. Brownlow, the "elected" governor of Tennessee, was inaugurated on April 5, 1865. The official Tennessee Blue Book does not include East in its list of former governors.
^ Peay was the only Governor of Tennessee to die in office, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Henry Horton.
^ Lee's second term will begin on January 21, 2023 and will expire January 16, 2027; He will be term-limited

Allgemein

Vile, John R., and Byrnes, Mark E. Tennessee Government and Politics: Democracy in the Volunteer State. 1998, Vanderbilt University Press. p. 43

External links

Template:Years in Tennessee

[tnenccarroll-1] Jonathan M. Atkins. "William Carroll" in Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture (online edition). Accessed January 27, 2012.

[tnencGovt-2] "Government", Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture

[LyonsSchebStair-3] Government and politics in Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press. 2001. p. 48–49. ISBN 978-1-57233-141-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)

[4] Office of the Governor

[5] "Past Governors Archived July 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine," Tennessee Blue Book (2011–2012), pp. 547, 553.

[6] Appointed governor by President George Washington

[7] Numbering of the governors was deduced from the fact that the document at www.tn.gov/sos/bluebook/11-12/2_ExecutiveBranch.pdf identifies Bill Haslam as Tennessee's 49th Governor. Governors who served multiple non-consecutive terms have their numbers repeated in italics in subsequent terms.

[8] Harris continued issuing edicts as governor throughout the Civil War. Confederate Tennesseans elected Robert L. Caruthers as Harris's successor in 1863, but Caruthers never took office.

[9] East was Tennessee Secretary of State from 1862–1865, appointed by Andrew Johnson, the military governor of the state under Union occupation during the Civil War. After Johnson was inaugurated as Vice President of the United States on March 4, 1865, East became the Acting Governor of Tennessee until William G. Brownlow, the "elected" governor of Tennessee, was inaugurated on April 5, 1865. The official Tennessee Blue Book does not include East in its list of former governors.

[10] Peay was the only Governor of Tennessee to die in office, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Henry Horton.

[11] Lee's second term will begin on January 21, 2023 and will expire January 16, 2027; He will be term-limited

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

v t e Chief executives of the United States
Federal	President of the United States list
State governors (current list)	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California list Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgien list Hawaii list Idaho Illinois list Indiana list Iowa Kansas Kentucky list Louisiana list Maine list Maryland list Massachusetts Michigan list Minnesota list Mississippi list Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire list New Jersey list New Mexico list New York list North Carolina list North Dakota list Ohio Oklahoma list Oregon list Pennsylvania Rhode Island list South Carolina list South Dakota list Tennessee list Texas list Utah Vermont list Virginia list Washington West Virginia Wisconsin list Wyoming
Territorial (current list)	Amerikanisch-Samoa District of Columbia list Guam Nördliche Marianen Puerto Rico list United States Virgin Islands
Defunct	Cuba Dakota Territory Panama Canal Zone Philippine Islands (until 1935) Philippine Commonwealth (until 1946) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Santo Domingo

v t e State of Tennessee
Nashville (capital)
Topics	Abortion Cannabis Climate change Name History Outline Geography Gun laws Homelessness Tennesseans African Americans LGBT rights Mass media newspapers radio TV Constitution Elections Governor list Lieutenant Governor General Assembly Supreme Court Tennessee National Guard Law enforcement Symbols Tourist attractions
Culture	Colleges and universities Crime Demographics Economy Bildung Literature Music Media newspapers radio TV
Grand Divisions	East Middle West
Regions	Blue Ridge Mountains Cumberland Mountains Cumberland Plateau Great Appalachian Valley Highland Rim Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi embayment Nashville Basin Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians Tennessee Valley Tri-Cities
Largest cities	Nashville Memphis Knoxville Chattanooga Clarksville Murfreesboro Franklin Johnson City Jackson Hendersonville
Metropolitan areas	Chattanooga Clarksville Cleveland Jackson Johnson City Kingsport–Bristol–Bristol Knoxville Memphis Morristown Nashville
Combined statistical areas	Chattanooga–Cleveland–Dalton
Micropolitan areas	Cookeville Tullahoma–Manchester Union City
Counties	Anderson Bedford Benton Bledsoe Blount Bradley Campbell Cannon Carroll Carter Cheatham Chester Claiborne Clay Cocke Coffee Crockett Cumberland Davidson Decatur DeKalb Dickson Dyer Fayette Fentress Franklin Gibson Giles Grainger Greene Grundy Hamblen Hamilton Hancock Hardeman Hardin Hawkins Haywood Henderson Henry Hickman Houston Humphreys Jackson Jefferson Johnson Knox Lake Lauderdale Lawrence Lewis Lincoln Loudon Macon Madison Marion Marshall Maury McMinn McNairy Meigs Monroe Montgomery Moore Morgan Obion Overton Perry Pickett Polk Putnam Rhea Roane Robertson Rutherford Scott Sequatchie Sevier Shelby Smith Stewart Sullivan Sumner Tipton Trousdale Unicoi Union Van Buren Warren Washington Wayne Weakley White Williamson Wilson
Tennessee portal