Wikiwand AI

List of governors of Maryland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The governor of Maryland is the head of government of the U.S. state of Maryland and is the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[1] The governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and the constitutional powers of Maryland's governors make them among the most powerful governors in the United States.[2]

Wes Moore has been governor since January 18, 2023

The current governor is Democrat Wes Moore, who took office on January 18, 2023.[3]

Governors

For the period before independence, see List of colonial governors of Maryland.

Maryland was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on April 28, 1788.[4] Before it declared its independence, Maryland was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Under the constitution of 1776, governors were appointed by the General Assembly legislature to one-year terms. They could be reelected for two additional terms, though they must take four years off after leaving office. An 1838 constitutional amendment allowed for popular election of governors to three-year terms, though they could not succeed themselves. The 1851 constitution removed the term limit, and lengthened terms to four years, to commence on the second Wednesday of January following the election. Governors were limited to two consecutive terms beginning in 1948.[5]

The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1864, abolished in 1867, and recreated in 1970. The lieutenant governor succeeds to the office of governor should it become vacant. In the original constitution, the first named of the Governor's Council would act as governor if it were vacant, until a new governor was selected; this was changed to the secretary of state in 1837.[6] The 1867 constitution originally called for the General Assembly to immediately elect a new governor; if they were not in session, the president of the Senate would act as governor until one was elected.[7]

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of the State of Maryland
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[a][b]
1   Thomas Johnson
(1732–1819)
[10][11]		 March 21, 1777[12]
–
November 12, 1779
(967 days; retired)		 No parties[13] 1777 Office did not exist
1778
2 Thomas Sim Lee
(1745–1819)
[14][15][16]		 November 12, 1779[17]
–
November 22, 1782
(1107 days; term-limited)[c]		 1779
1780
1781
3 William Paca
(1740–1799)
[19][20]		 November 22, 1782[21]
–
November 26, 1785
(1101 days; term-limited)[c]		 1782
1783
1784
4 William Smallwood
(1732–1792)
[22]		 November 26, 1785[23]
–
November 27, 1788
(1098 days; term-limited)[c]		 1785
1786
1787
5 John Eager Howard
(1752–1827)
[24][25][26]		 November 27, 1788[27]
–
November 14, 1791
(1083 days; term-limited)[c]		 Federalist[13] 1788
1789
1790
6 George Plater
(1735–1792)
[28][29][30]		 November 14, 1791[31]
–
February 10, 1792
(89 days; died in office)		 Federalist[13] 1791
— James Brice
(1746–1801)
[32]		 February 10, 1792[33]
–
April 5, 1792
(56 days; retired)		 Federalist[13] Senior council
member acting
2 Thomas Sim Lee
(1745–1819)
[14][15][16]		 April 5, 1792[34]
–
November 17, 1794
(957 days; retired)		 Federalist[13] 1792
1793
7 John Hoskins Stone
(1749–1804)
[35][36][37]		 November 17, 1794[38]
–
November 28, 1797
(1108 days; term-limited)[c]		 Federalist[39] 1794
1795
1796
8 John Henry
(1750–1798)
[40][41][42]		 November 28, 1797[43]
–
November 14, 1798
(352 days; retired)[40]		 Federalist[39] 1797
9 Benjamin Ogle
(1749–1809)
[44][45][46]		 November 14, 1798[47]
–
November 10, 1801
(1092 days; term-limited)[c]		 Federalist[39] 1798
1799
1800
10 John Francis Mercer
(1759–1821)
[48][49][50]		 November 10, 1801[51]
–
November 15, 1803
(736 days; retired)[48]		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 1801
1802
11 Robert Bowie
(1750–1818)
[52][53][54]		 November 15, 1803[55]
–
November 12, 1806
(1094 days; term-limited)[c]		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 1803
1804
1805
12 Robert Wright
(1752–1826)
[56][57][58]		 November 12, 1806[59]
–
May 6, 1809
(907 days; resigned)[d]		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 1806
1807
1808
— James Butcher May 6, 1809[60]
–
June 9, 1809
(35 days; succeeded)		 Democratic-
Republican[61]		 Senior council
member acting[58]
13 Edward Lloyd
(1779–1834)
[62][63][64]		 June 9, 1809[65]
–
November 16, 1811
(891 days; term-limited)[c]		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 June 1809
(special)[e]
Nov. 1809
1810
11 Robert Bowie
(1750–1818)
[52][53][54]		 November 16, 1811[66]
–
November 23, 1812
(374 days; lost election)		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 1811
14 Levin Winder
(1757–1819)
[67][68][69]		 November 23, 1812[70]
–
January 2, 1816
(1136 days; term-limited)[c]		 Federalist[39] 1812
1813
1814
15 Charles Carnan Ridgely
(1760–1829)
[71][72][73]		 January 2, 1816[74]
–
January 8, 1819
(1103 days; term-limited)[c]		 Federalist[39] 1815
1816
1817
16 Charles Goldsborough
(1765–1834)
[75][76][77]		 January 8, 1819[78]
–
December 20, 1819
(347 days; lost election)		 Federalist[39] 1818
17 Samuel Sprigg
(1783–1855)
[79][80][81]		 December 20, 1819[82]
–
December 16, 1822
(1093 days; term-limited)[c]		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 1819
1820
1821
18 Samuel Stevens Jr.
(1778–1860)
[83][84][85]		 December 16, 1822[86]
–
January 9, 1826
(1121 days; term-limited)[c]		 Democratic-
Republican[61]		 1822
1823
1824
19 Joseph Kent
(1779–1837)
[87][88][89]		 January 9, 1826[90]
–
January 15, 1829
(1103 days; term-limited)[c]		 Democratic-
Republican[61]		 1826
1827
1828
20 Daniel Martin
(1780–1831)
[91][92][93]		 January 15, 1829[94]
–
January 15, 1830
(366 days; lost election)		 Anti-Jacksonian[39] 1829
21 Thomas King Carroll
(1793–1873)
[95][96][97]		 January 15, 1830[98]
–
January 13, 1831
(364 days; lost election)		 Jacksonian[39] 1830
20 Daniel Martin
(1780–1831)
[91][92][93]		 January 13, 1831[99]
–
July 11, 1831
(180 days; died in office)		 Anti-Jacksonian[39] 1831
22 George Howard
(1789–1846)
[100][101][102]		 July 11, 1831[103]
–
January 17, 1833
(557 days; retired)[100]		 Anti-Jacksonian[39] Senior council
member acting
1832
23 James Thomas
(1785–1845)
[104][105][106]		 January 17, 1833[107]
–
January 14, 1836
(1093 days; term-limited)[c]		 Anti-Jacksonian[39] 1833
1834
1835
24 Thomas Veazey
(1774–1842)
[108][109][110]		 January 14, 1836[111]
–
January 7, 1839
(1090 days; term-limited)[f]		 Whig[39] 1836
1837
Jan. 1838
25 William Grason
(1788–1868)
[113][114][115]		 January 7, 1839[116]
–
January 3, 1842
(1093 days; term-limited)[f]		 Democratic[39] Oct. 1838
26 Francis Thomas
(1799–1876)
[117][118][119]		 January 3, 1842[120]
–
January 6, 1845
(1100 days; term-limited)[f]		 Democratic[121] 1841
27 Thomas Pratt
(1804–1869)
[122][123][124]		 January 6, 1845[125]
–
January 3, 1848
(1093 days; term-limited)[f]		 Whig[121] 1844
28 Philip Francis Thomas
(1810–1890)
[126][127][128]		 January 3, 1848[129]
–
January 6, 1851
(1100 days; term-limited)[f]		 Democratic[121] 1847
29 Enoch Louis Lowe
(1820–1892)
[130][131][132]		 January 6, 1851[133]
–
January 11, 1854
(1102 days; retired)[g]		 Democratic[121] 1850
30 Thomas Watkins Ligon
(1810–1881)
[134][135][136]		 January 11, 1854[137]
–
January 13, 1858
(1464 days; retired)		 Democratic[138] 1853
31 Thomas Holliday Hicks
(1798–1865)
[139][140][141]		 January 13, 1858[142]
–
January 8, 1862
(1457 days; retired)		 American[138] 1857
32 Augustus Bradford
(1806–1881)
[143][144][145]		 January 8, 1862[146]
–
January 10, 1866
(1464 days; retired)		 Union[61] 1861
33 Thomas Swann
(1809–1883)
[147][148][149]		 January 10, 1866[61]
–
January 13, 1869
(1100 days; retired)		 Union[61] 1864   Christopher Christian Cox
34 Oden Bowie
(1826–1894)
[150][151][152]		 January 13, 1869[153]
–
January 10, 1872
(1093 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1867 Office did not exist
35 William Pinkney Whyte
(1824–1908)
[154][155][156]		 January 10, 1872[157]
–
March 4, 1874
(785 days; resigned)[h]		 Democratic[61] 1871
36 James Black Groome
(1838–1893)
[158][159][160]		 March 4, 1874[161]
–
January 12, 1876
(680 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] Elected
governor by
legislature
37 John Lee Carroll
(1830–1911)
[162][163][164]		 January 12, 1876[165]
–
January 14, 1880
(1464 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1875
38 William Thomas Hamilton
(1820–1888)
[166][167][168]		 January 14, 1880[169]
–
January 9, 1884
(1457 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1879
39 Robert Milligan McLane
(1815–1898)
[170][171][172]		 January 9, 1884[173]
–
March 27, 1885
(444 days; resigned)[i]		 Democratic[61] 1883
40 Henry Lloyd
(1852–1920)
[174][175][176]		 March 27, 1885[177]
–
January 11, 1888
(1021 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] President of the
Senate acting
41 Elihu Emory Jackson
(1837–1907)
[178][179][180]		 January 11, 1888[181]
–
January 13, 1892
(1464 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1887
42 Frank Brown
(1846–1920)
[182][183][184]		 January 13, 1892[185]
–
January 8, 1896
(1457 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1891
43 Lloyd Lowndes Jr.
(1845–1905)
[186][187][188]		 January 8, 1896[189]
–
January 10, 1900
(1464 days; lost election)		 Republican[61] 1895
44 John Walter Smith
(1845–1925)
[190][191][192]		 January 10, 1900[193]
–
January 13, 1904
(1464 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1899
45 Edwin Warfield
(1848–1920)
[194][195][196]		 January 13, 1904[197]
–
January 8, 1908
(1457 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1903
46 Austin Lane Crothers
(1860–1912)
[198][199][200]		 January 8, 1908[201]
–
January 10, 1912
(1464 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1907
47 Phillips Lee Goldsborough
(1865–1946)
[202][203][204]		 January 10, 1912[205]
–
January 12, 1916
(1464 days; retired)		 Republican[61] 1911
48 Emerson Harrington
(1864–1945)
[206][207][208]		 January 12, 1916[209]
–
January 14, 1920
(1464 days; retired)		 Democratic[61] 1915
49 Albert Ritchie
(1876–1936)
[210][211][212]		 January 14, 1920[213]
–
January 9, 1935
(5475 days; lost election)		 Democratic[61] 1919
1923
1926
1930
50 Harry Nice
(1877–1941)
[214][215][216]		 January 9, 1935[217]
–
January 11, 1939
(1464 days; lost election)		 Republican[61] 1934
51 Herbert O'Conor
(1896–1960)
[218][219][220]		 January 11, 1939[221]
–
January 3, 1947
(2915 days; resigned)[j]		 Democratic[61] 1938
1942
52 William Preston Lane Jr.
(1892–1967)
[223][224][225]		 January 3, 1947[j]
–
January 10, 1951
(1469 days; lost election)		 Democratic[61] Elected by
legislature[j]
1946
53 Theodore McKeldin
(1900–1974)
[226][227][228]		 January 10, 1951[229]
–
January 14, 1959
(2927 days; term-limited)[k]		 Republican[61] 1950
1954
54 J. Millard Tawes
(1894–1979)
[231][232][233]		 January 14, 1959[234]
–
January 25, 1967
(2934 days; term-limited)[k]		 Democratic[61] 1958
1962
55 Spiro Agnew
(1918–1996)
[235][236][237]		 January 25, 1967[238]
–
January 7, 1969
(714 days; resigned)[l]		 Republican[61] 1966
56 Marvin Mandel
(1920–2015)
[239][240][241]		 January 7, 1969[242]
–
January 17, 1979
(3663 days; term-limited)[k]		 Democratic[61] 1969
(special)[m]		 Blair Lee III
1970
1974
— Blair Lee III
(1916–1985)
[243][244][245]		 June 4, 1977[n]
–
January 15, 1979
(591 days;
lost nomination)		 Democratic[244] Lieutenant
governor
acting[n]		 Acting as governor
57 Harry Hughes
(1926–2019)
[247][248]		 January 17, 1979[249]
–
January 21, 1987
(2927 days; term-limited)[k]		 Democratic[247] 1978 Samuel Bogley
1982 J. Joseph Curran Jr.
58 William Donald Schaefer
(1921–2011)
[250][251]		 January 21, 1987[252]
–
January 18, 1995
(2920 days; term-limited)[k]		 Democratic[250] 1986 Melvin Steinberg
1990
59 Parris Glendening
(b. 1942)
[253][254]		 January 18, 1995[255]
–
January 15, 2003
(2920 days; term-limited)[k]		 Democratic[253] 1994 Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
1998
60 Bob Ehrlich
(b. 1957)
[256][257]		 January 15, 2003[258]
–
January 17, 2007
(1464 days; lost election)		 Republican[256] 2002 Michael Steele
61 Martin O'Malley
(b. 1963)
[259][260]		 January 17, 2007[261]
–
January 21, 2015
(2927 days; term-limited)[k]		 Democratic[259] 2006 Anthony Brown
2010
62 Larry Hogan
(b. 1956)
[262][263]		 January 21, 2015[264]
–
January 18, 2023
(2920 days; term-limited)[k]		 Republican[262] 2014 Boyd Rutherford
2018
63 Wes Moore
(b. 1978)
[265][266]		 January 18, 2023[267]
–
Incumbent[o]
(in office 1324 days)		 Democratic[265] 2022 Aruna Miller
Close

Notes

  1. [a]
    The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1864, abolished in 1867, and recreated in 1970.[8][9]
  2. [b]
    Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  3. [c]
    Under the 1776 constitution, governors were limited to no more than three years successively, and ineligible until four years after they had been out of office.[18]
  4. [d]
    Wright resigned due to a loss of popularity,[56] and to secure a seat on the Maryland Court of Appeals, though he was not appointed to it.[57]
  5. [e]
    Special election to fill the remainder of Robert Wright's term.
  6. [f]
    Under an 1837 amendment to the constitution, elected governors were ineligible to succeed themselves.[112]
  7. [g]
    Sobel says Lowe was limited from succeeding himself due to an 1846 amendment, but this appears to be in error.[130]
  8. [h]
    Whyte resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[154]
  9. [i]
    McLane resigned, having been confirmed as United States Minister to France.[170]
  10. [j]
    O'Conor resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate. Lane, who won the election, was elected by the legislature to succeed O'Conor immediately, five days before he would have taken office.[222]
  11. [k]
    Under a 1948 amendment to the constitution, governors who have served two consecutive elected terms are ineligible for the next term.[230]
  12. [l]
    Agnew resigned, having been elected Vice President of the United States.[235]
  13. [m]
    Mandel was elected by the Maryland General Assembly to fill the vacancy left by Agnew's resignation.
  14. [n]
    Mandel named Lieutenant Governor Lee acting governor on June 4, 1977, as he was dealing with charges of mail fraud and racketeering, and citing health reasons;[246] he would be found guilty in August, and sentenced to four years in prison in October. He rescinded the designation on January 15, 1979, two days before the end of the term; he then made Lee acting governor again for a time on January 16 so he could preside at the installation of a judge on the Court of Appeals.[245][239]
  15. [o]
    Moore's term will expire on January 20, 2027.

See also

References

External links

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks