List of Governors of Georgia

Governor of Georgia
Seal of the State of Georgia
Incumbent Nathan Deal since January 10, 2011
Residence	Georgia Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	William Ewen 1775
Formation	Georgia State Constitution
Salary	$139,339 (2013)[1]

The Governor of Georgia is the head of the executive branch of Georgia's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

The current governor is Nathan Deal. Governor Deal is only the second governor of Georgia from the Republican Party since the Reconstruction era.

Governors

For the period before independence, see the list of colonial governors of Georgia.

Georgia was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and ratified the Constitution of the United States on January 2, 1788.^[2] Before it declared its independence, Georgia was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Like most early states, Georgia had claims to western areas, but did not cede its claims during the formation of the country like the other states. It sold this area, the Yazoo Lands, to the federal government on April 24, 1802,^[3] when it was assigned to Mississippi Territory.

In Georgia's Rules and Regulations of 1776, considered by some to be the first constitution, the chief executive was a president chosen by the legislature every six months.^[4] This was quickly superseded by the 1777 constitution, which called for a governor to be chosen by the legislature each year,^[5] with a term limited to one year out of every three.^[6] In the event of a vacancy, the president of the executive council acted as governor.^[7] The governor's term was lengthened to two years in the 1789 constitution.^[8] The 1798 constitution modified succession so that the president of the senate would act as governor should that office become vacant. An 1818 amendment to that constitution extended the line of succession to the speaker of the house,^[9] and an 1824 amendment provided for popular election of the governor.^[10]

While the 1861 secessionist constitution kept the office the same, the other constitutions surrounding the American Civil War brought lots of changes. The 1865 constitution, following Georgia's surrender, limited governors to two consecutive terms of two years each, allowing them to serve again after a gap of four years.^[11] The Reconstruction constitution of 1868 increased the governor's term to four years.^[12] The 1877 constitution, after local rule was re-established, returned the office to the provisions of the 1865 constitution.^[13] An amendment in 1941 lengthened terms to 4 years, but governors could no longer succeed themselves, having to wait four years to serve again.^[14] The constitution does not specify when terms start, only that the governor is installed at the next session of the General Assembly.^[15]

The 1945 constitution provided for a lieutenant governor, to serve the same term as governor and to act as governor if that office became vacant. Should it become vacant within 30 days of the next general election, or if the governor's term would have ended within 90 days of the next election, the lieutenant governor acts out the term; otherwise, a successor is chosen in the next general election.^[16] This was retained in the 1976 constitution. The current constitution of 1983 allows governors to succeed themselves once before having to wait four years to serve again,^[17] and lieutenant governors now become governor in the event of a vacancy. Should the office of lieutenant governor be vacant, the speaker of the house acts as governor, and a special election to fill the office must happen in 90 days.^[18]

The revolutionary government had several names and schisms, and it is unknown who should have been considered the chief executive at various times. This article ignores the Council of Safety in favor of Archibald Bulloch, considered by many to be the first governor of Georgia.

Parties

  No party   Military   Democratic-Republican   Democratic   Whig   Republican

#[lower-alpha 1]	Picture	Governor		Term in office[lower-alpha 2]	Party	Term[lower-alpha 3]	Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 4]
1			Archibald Bulloch	July 12, 1775 – February 22, 1777	None	— [lower-alpha 5][lower-alpha 6]	Office did not exist
2			Button Gwinnett	February 22, 1777 – May 8, 1777	None	— [lower-alpha 6]
3			John A. Treutlen	May 8, 1777 – January 10, 1778	None	—
4			John Houstoun	January 10, 1778 – December 26, 1778	None	—
—	—	Interregnum		December 26, 1778 – January 4, 1780	—	— [lower-alpha 7]
5			Richard Howly	January 4, 1780 – February 5, 1780	None	— [lower-alpha 8]
6			George Wells	February 5, 1780 – February 15, 1780	None	— [lower-alpha 8]
7			Stephen Heard	February 15, 1780 – August 1780	None	— [lower-alpha 8]
8			Myrick Davies	August 1780 – August 16, 1781	None	— [lower-alpha 8]
9			Nathan Brownson	August 16, 1781 – January 3, 1782	None	1781
10			John Martin	January 3, 1782 – January 8, 1783	None	1782
11			Lyman Hall	January 8, 1783 – January 9, 1784	None	1783
12			John Houstoun	January 9, 1784 – January 6, 1785	None	1784
13			Samuel Elbert	January 6, 1785 – January 9, 1786	None	1785
14			Edward Telfair	January 9, 1786 – January 9, 1787	None	1786
15			George Mathews	January 9, 1787 – January 26, 1788	None	1787
16			George Handley	January 26, 1788 – January 7, 1789	None	1788
17			George Walton	January 7, 1789 – November 11, 1789	Democratic-Republican	1st 1789 [lower-alpha 9]
18			Edward Telfair	November 11, 1789 – November 7, 1793	Democratic-Republican	2nd 1789 [lower-alpha 9][lower-alpha 10]
						1791
19			George Mathews	November 7, 1793 – January 15, 1796	Democratic-Republican	1793
20			Jared Irwin	January 15, 1796 – January 12, 1798	Democratic-Republican	1795
21			James Jackson	January 12, 1798 – March 3, 1801	Democratic-Republican	1797
						1799 [lower-alpha 11]
22			David Emanuel	March 3, 1801 – November 7, 1801	Democratic-Republican
23			Josiah Tattnall, Sr.	November 7, 1801 – November 4, 1802	Democratic-Republican	1801 [lower-alpha 12]
24			John Milledge	November 4, 1802 – September 23, 1806	Democratic-Republican
						1803
						1805 [lower-alpha 13]
25			Jared Irwin	September 23, 1806 – November 10, 1809	Democratic-Republican
						1807
26			David B. Mitchell	November 10, 1809 – November 5, 1813	Democratic-Republican	1809
						1811
27			Peter Early	November 5, 1813 – November 20, 1815	Democratic-Republican	1813
28			David B. Mitchell	November 20, 1815 – March 4, 1817	Democratic-Republican	1815 [lower-alpha 14]
29			William Rabun	March 4, 1817 – October 24, 1819	Democratic-Republican
						1817 [lower-alpha 15]
30			Matthew Talbot	October 24, 1819 – November 5, 1819	Democratic-Republican
31			John Clark	November 5, 1819 – November 7, 1823	Democratic-Republican	1819
						1821
32			George M. Troup	November 7, 1823 – November 7, 1827	Democratic-Republican	1823
						1825
33			John Forsyth	November 7, 1827 – November 4, 1829	Democratic-Republican	1827
34			George R. Gilmer	November 4, 1829 – November 9, 1831	Democratic-Republican	1829
35			Wilson Lumpkin	November 9, 1831 – November 4, 1835	Union (Democratic)	1831
						1833
36			William Schley	November 4, 1835 – November 8, 1837	Union (Democratic)	1835
37			George R. Gilmer	November 8, 1837 – November 6, 1839	State Rights (Whig)	1837
38			Charles J. McDonald	November 6, 1839 – November 8, 1843	Union (Democratic)	1839
						1841
39			George W. Crawford	November 8, 1843 – November 3, 1847	Whig	1843
						1845
40			George W. Towns	November 3, 1847 – November 5, 1851	Democratic	1847
						1849
41			Howell Cobb	November 5, 1851 – November 9, 1853	Constitutional Union	1851
42			Herschel V. Johnson	November 9, 1853 – November 6, 1857	Democratic	1853
						1855
43			Joseph E. Brown	November 6, 1857 – June 17, 1865	Democratic	1857
						1859
						1861
						1863 [lower-alpha 16]
44			James Johnson	June 17, 1865 – December 14, 1865[lower-alpha 17]	Democratic
45			Charles J. Jenkins	December 14, 1865 – January 13, 1868	Democratic	1865 [lower-alpha 18]
—			Thomas H. Ruger	January 13, 1868 – July 4, 1868	Military	— [lower-alpha 19]
46			Rufus B. Bullock	July 4, 1868[lower-alpha 20] – October 30, 1871[lower-alpha 21]	Republican	1868 [lower-alpha 22]
47			Benjamin F. Conley	October 30, 1871 – January 12, 1872	Republican
48			James M. Smith	January 12, 1872 – January 12, 1877	Democratic
						1872
49			Alfred H. Colquitt	January 12, 1877 – November 4, 1882	Democratic	1876
						1880 [lower-alpha 23]
50			Alexander H. Stephens	November 4, 1882 – March 4, 1883	Democratic	1882 [lower-alpha 24]
51			James S. Boynton	March 4, 1883 – May 10, 1883	Democratic
52			Henry D. McDaniel	May 10, 1883 – November 9, 1886	Democratic
						1884
53			John B. Gordon	November 9, 1886 – November 8, 1890	Democratic	1886
						1888
54			William J. Northen	November 8, 1890 – October 27, 1894	Democratic	1890
						1892
55			William Y. Atkinson	October 27, 1894 – October 29, 1898	Democratic	1894
						1896
56			Allen D. Candler	October 29, 1898 – October 25, 1902	Democratic	1898
						1900
57			Joseph M. Terrell	October 25, 1902 – June 29, 1907	Democratic	1902
						1904 [lower-alpha 25]
58			Hoke Smith	June 29, 1907 – June 26, 1909	Democratic	1906
59			Joseph M. Brown	June 26, 1909 – July 1, 1911	Democratic	1908
60			Hoke Smith	July 1, 1911 – November 15, 1911[lower-alpha 26]	Democratic	1910 [lower-alpha 27]
61			John M. Slaton	November 16, 1911 – January 25, 1912	Democratic
62			Joseph M. Brown	January 25, 1912 – June 28, 1913	Democratic
63			John M. Slaton	June 28, 1913 – June 26, 1915	Democratic	1912
64			Nathaniel E. Harris	June 26, 1915 – June 30, 1917	Democratic	1914
65			Hugh Dorsey	June 30, 1917 – June 25, 1921	Democratic	1916
						1918
66			Thomas W. Hardwick	June 25, 1921 – June 30, 1923	Democratic	1920
67			Clifford Walker	June 30, 1923 – June 25, 1927	Democratic	1922
						1924
68			Lamartine G. Hardman	June 25, 1927 – June 27, 1931	Democratic	1926
						1928
69			Richard Russell Jr.	June 27, 1931 – January 10, 1933	Democratic	1930 [lower-alpha 28]
70			Eugene Talmadge	January 10, 1933 – January 12, 1937	Democratic	1932
						1934
71			Eurith D. Rivers	January 12, 1937 – January 14, 1941	Democratic	1936
						1938
72			Eugene Talmadge	January 14, 1941 – January 12, 1943	Democratic	1940
73			Ellis Arnall	January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947	Democratic	1942 [lower-alpha 29]
—			Eugene Talmadge	—	Democratic	1946 [lower-alpha 30]		Melvin E. Thompson
74			Herman Talmadge	January 14, 1947 – March 18, 1947	Democratic
75			Melvin E. Thompson	March 18, 1947 – November 17, 1948	Democratic		Vacant
76			Herman Talmadge	November 17, 1948 – January 11, 1955	Democratic			Marvin Griffin
						1950
77			Marvin Griffin	January 11, 1955 – January 13, 1959	Democratic	1954		Ernest Vandiver
78			Ernest Vandiver	January 13, 1959 – January 15, 1963	Democratic	1958		Garland T. Byrd
79			Carl Sanders	January 15, 1963 – January 11, 1967	Democratic	1962		Peter Zack Geer
80			Lester Maddox	January 11, 1967 – January 12, 1971	Democratic	1966		George Thornewell Smith
81			Jimmy Carter	January 12, 1971 – January 14, 1975	Democratic	1970		Lester Maddox
82			George Busbee	January 14, 1975 – January 11, 1983	Democratic	1974		Zell Miller
						1978
83			Joe Frank Harris	January 11, 1983 – January 14, 1991	Democratic	1982
						1986
84			Zell Miller	January 14, 1991 – January 11, 1999	Democratic	1990		Pierre Howard
						1994
85			Roy Barnes	January 11, 1999 – January 13, 2003	Democratic	1998		Mark Taylor[lower-alpha 31]
86			George E. "Sonny" Perdue	January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2011	Republican	2002
						2006		Casey Cagle
87			Nathan Deal	January 10, 2011 – Incumbent	Republican	2010
						2014 [lower-alpha 32]

Other high offices held

This table lists congressional seats, other federal offices, and Confederate offices. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Georgia. * denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.

Governor	Gubernatorial term	U.S. House	U.S. Senate	Other offices held
George Walton	1775–1776 1779–1780 1789–1790	—	S	Continental Delegate
Archibald Bulloch	1776–1777	—	—	Continental Delegate
Button Gwinnett	1777	—	—	Continental Delegate
John Houstoun	1778–1779 1784–1785	—	—	Continental Delegate
Richard Howly	1780	—	—	Continental Delegate
Nathan Brownson	1781–1782	—	—	Continental Delegate
Lyman Hall	1783–1784	—	—	Continental Delegate
Samuel Elbert	1785–1786	—	—	Elected to the Continental Congress but declined to serve
Edward Telfair	1786–1786 1790–1793	—	—	Continental Delegate
George Mathews	1787–1788 1793–1796	H	—
James Jackson	1798–1801	H	S*
Josiah Tattnall	1801–1802	—	S
John Milledge	1802–1806	H	S*
Peter Early	1813–1815	H	—
George Troup	1823–1827	H	S
John Forsyth	1827–1829	H†	S	Minister to Spain, U.S. Secretary of State[27]
George R. Gilmer	1829–1831 1837–1839	H	—
Wilson Lumpkin	1831–1835	H	S
William Schley	1835–1837	H	—
George W. Crawford	1843–1847	H	—	U.S. Secretary of War
George W. Towns	1847–1851	H	—
Howell Cobb	1851–1853	H	—	Speaker of the House, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, President of the Provisional Confederate Congress
Herschel V. Johnson	1853–1857	—	S	Confederate Senator
Joseph E. Brown	1857–1865	—	S
James Johnson	1865	H	—
James Milton Smith	1872–1877	—	—	Confederate Representative
Alfred H. Colquitt	1877–1882	H	S
Alexander H. Stephens	1882–1883	H	—	Confederate Representative, Vice President of the Confederate States of America; elected to the U.S. Senate but was refused his seat
John Brown Gordon	1886–1890	—	S
Allen D. Candler	1898–1902	H	—
Joseph M. Terrell	1902–1907	—	S
Hoke Smith	1907–1909 1911	—	S*	U.S. Secretary of the Interior[28]
Thomas W. Hardwick	1921–1923	H	S
Richard Russell, Jr.	1931–1933	—	S	President pro tempore of the Senate
Herman Talmadge	1947 1948–1955	—	S
Jimmy Carter	1971–1975	—	—	President of the United States
Zell Miller	1991–1999	—	S	United States Senator
Nathan Deal	2011–	H	—

Living former governors

There are five living former governors, the oldest being Jimmy Carter (served 1971–1975, born 1924). The governor to die most recently was Carl Sanders (served 1963–1967, born 1926), on November 16, 2014; the most recently serving governor to die was George Busbee (served 1975–1983, born 1929), on July 16, 2004.

Governor	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth (and age)
Jimmy Carter	1971–1975	October 1, 1924
Joe Frank Harris	1983–1991	February 16, 1936
Zell Miller	1991–1999	February 24, 1931
Roy Barnes	1999–2003	March 11, 1948
George E. "Sonny" Perdue	2003–2011	December 20, 1946

Notes

1. Deal is officially the 82nd governor; however, it is unknown what numbering rules allow for that.^[19]
2. Sourcing on term dates in the 18th century is very light and often contradictory; this article uses the dates from the National Governors Association for that period unless otherwise noted.
3. Each term for which a governor is elected is listed here; if multiple governors served in a single term, due to resignations, deaths, and the like, then that term will be shared among those governors. If a governor was elected multiple times, then there will be multiple terms listed for that governor.
4. The office of Lieutenant Governor was created in 1945, first being filled in 1947.
5. The revolutionary government did not necessarily follow any schedule or term lengths, and thus the election year is omitted until 1781, when it becomes easier to determine.
6. Bulloch died in office; Gwinnett was elected by the council to succeed him.
7. The fall of Savannah threw the government into disarray, leading to a schism which chose two separate chief executives; it was not fully resolved until early 1780.
8. Howly resigned to be a delegate to the Continental Congress. George Wells succeeded him, but was killed in a duel ten days later, at which time Stephen Heard took over. In August 1780, exact day unknown, Myrick Davies then became president of the council.
9. There is much confusion among sources as to who served as governor in 1789 and 1790. At least one contemporary source states that George Walton served from January 9, 1789, to November 9, 1790;^[20] however, other sources state Telfair was elected governor in 1789, including one citing election returns from 1789.^[21] Term lengths began to be two years long beginning with this term, so it further seems incorrect for a term to have ended in 1790. This article assumes Telfair's term began in 1789, as it is the most logical solution.
10. The 1789 constitution took effect beginning with this term, lengthening terms from one to two years.
11. Jackson resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate; as president of the senate, Emanuel filled the position for the remainder of the term.
12. Tattnall resigned due to declining health. Milledge was chosen in a special election to fill the term.^[22]
13. Millege resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate; as president of the senate, Irwin filled the position for the remainder of the term.
14. Mitchell resigned to be agent to the Creek Indians; as president of the senate, Rabun assumed the position for the remainder of the term.
15. Rabun died in office; as president of the senate, Talbot assumed the position for the remainder of the term.
16. Brown resigned following the defeat of the Confederate States of America. Johnson was a provisional governor appointed by President Andrew Johnson following the American Civil War.
17. At least one source states Johnson left office "five days after" Jenkins took office, which would be December 19.^[23] However, more contemporary sources say he left office on December 14.^[20]
18. Jenkins was removed from office by the military because he refused to allow state funds to be used for a racially integrated state constitutional convention; the state was still under military occupation during Reconstruction.
19. Provisional governor appointed by General George Meade.
20. Some sources state Bullock took office on July 21, but more contemporary sources say July 4.^[20]
21. Some sources state Bullock resigned on October 23, but that is when he secretly submitted his resignation; it did not take effect until October 30.^[24]
22. Bullock resigned and fled the state to avoid impeachment; he was arrested in 1876 and found not guilty of embezzlement. As president of the senate, Conley acted as governor until a special election was held, in which Smith was elected to fill the remainder of the term.
23. The 1877 constitution came into effect during this term, shortening term lengths to two years.
24. Stephens died in office. As president of the senate, Boynton acted as governor until a special election was held, in which Gordon was elected to fill the remainder of the term.
25. The start of a gubernatorial term has always been set by the legislature, rather than the constitution; it appears the start of the this term changed from the last Saturday in October to the last Saturday in June, lengthening it by eight months.
26. Sources are split on whether Smith resigned on November 15 or November 16, with contemporary sources leaning towards November 15.^[25]
27. Smith resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate. As president of the senate, Slaton acted as governor until a special election was held, in which Brown was elected to fill the remainder of the term.
28. The start of the term changed from the last Saturday in June to the second Tuesday in January, shortening this term by five months.^[26]
29. A constitutional amendment took effect starting with this term, lengthening terms from two to four years.
30. Eugene Talmadge was elected to a third term in 1946, but died before taking office. Ellis Arnall, governor at the time, claimed the office, as did Lieutenant Governor Melvin Thompson. The state legislature chose Eugene Talmadge's son, Herman Talmadge, to be governor, but during what came to be called the "Three Governors controversy", the state supreme court declared this unconstitutional and declared Thompson rightful governor, and Talmadge stepped down after 67 days. Talmadge later defeated Thompson in a special election.
31. Represented the Democratic Party.
32. Governor Deal's second term expires January 14, 2019; he will be term limited.

References

General

• "Governors of Georgia". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
• "The New Georgia Encyclopedia". Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• A History of Georgia, second ed. Kenneth Coleman, general editor. University of Georgia Press: 1991.
• The Revolutionary Records of the State of Georgia Volume 1. Retrieved August 28, 2016.

Constitutions

• "Constitution of the State of Georgia, as amended" (PDF). Secretary of State of Georgia. 1983. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia, as ratified". University of Georgia. 1983. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1976. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1945. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1877. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1868. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1865. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1861. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1798. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1789. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1777. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Rules and Regulations of the Colony of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1776. Retrieved November 28, 2012.

Specific

1. "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
2. "Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Georgia - January 2, 1788". The Avalon Project at Yale Law School. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
3. "Yazoo Land Fraud". Our Georgia History. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
4. 1776 Const. art. I
5. 1777 Const. art. II
6. 1777 Const. art. XXIII
7. 1777 Const. art. XXIX
8. 1789 Const. art. 2, § 1
9. 1798 Const. Amendment 4
10. 1798 Const. Amendment 7
11. 1865 Const. art III, § 1
12. 1868 Const. art. IV, § 1
13. 1877 Const. art. 5, § 1 par. 2
15. GA Const. art V, § 1 par. 2
16. 1945 Const. art. V, § 1 par. 7
17. GA Const. art V, § 1 par 4
18. GA Const. art. V, § 1 par 5
19. "Nathan Deal". Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. He was elected on Nov. 2 as the 82nd Governor of Georgia and will be inaugurated on January 10, 2011
20. The Government of the People of the State of Georgia. 1896. pp. 184–186. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
21. "Georgia 1789 Governor". Tufts University. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
22. "Georgia 1802 Governor, Special". Tufts University. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
23. "James Johnson". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
24. "This Day in Georgia History - October 23, 1871: Rufus Bullock Resigned". Georgia Library Learning Online. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
25. Official Congressional Directory. 1919. p. 17. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
26. "Richard Brevard Russell". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 27, 2016.

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