GOVERNORS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives has records for many of the governors. These holding are described in:
Catalog of Kentucky State Archives Holdings
Click on Governors' name for a full size drawing or photo of that governor
Governor |
Term Served |
State/County of Birth |
County of Residence |
Party Affiliation |
Occupation |
Notes |
| 1792 - 1796 | Maryland | Lincoln | Jeffersonian Republican | Farmer, Surveyor, Soldier | Active in American Revolution and frontier campaigns against the Indians; elected Governor again in 1812. | |
| JAMES GARRARD | 1796 - 1804 | Virginia | Bourbon | Jeffersonian Republican | Farmer, Soldier, Baptist Minister | Only Kentucky Governor to serve two full successive terms; first to live in Governor's Mansion. |
| CHRISTOPHER GREENUP | 1804 - 1808 | Virginia | Mercer and Fayette | Jeffersonian Republican | Lawyer | Elected Governor without opposition. "Spanish Conspiracy" and Aaron Burr's activities revealed during this administration. |
| CHARLES SCOTT | 1808 - 1812 | Virginia | Woodford | Jeffersonian Republican | Soldier, Farmer | Extensive service in Revolution and Indian wars. Supported the War of 1812 which began at the end of his term. |
| ISAAC SHELBY | 1812 - 1816 | Maryland | Lincoln | Jeffersonian Republican | Soldier, Farmer | Second term devoted mainly to the War of 1812. |
| GEORGE MADISON | 1816 | Virginia | Franklin | Jeffersonian Republican | Soldier, Public Servant | Served as Auditor of Public Accounts, 1796-1816. First Governor to die in office, shortly after his inauguration in 1816. |
| GABRIEL SLAUGHTER | 1816 - 1820 | Virginia | Mercer | Democratic Republican | Farmer, Soldier | Saw action at Battle of New Orleans. Became Governor upon Madison's death. "Panic of 1819" caused economic disruption. |
| JOHN ADAIR | 1820 - 1824 | South Carolina | Mercer | Democratic Republican | Farmer, Soldier | Charged with conspiring with Aaron Burr, but exonerated. As Governor, signed bill creating Bank of the Commonwealth, one of several relief measures that brought about Old Court/New Court controversy. |
| JOSEPH DESHA | 1824 - 1828 | Pennsylvania | Mason | Jeffersonian Republican | Farmer, Soldier | Elected on a pro-relief platform, actively supported creation of New Court. The Old Court/New Court controversy dominated his administration. |
| THOMAS METCALFE | 1828 - 1832 | Virginia | Nicholas | National Republican (Whig) | Stonemason | Strong advocate of internal improvements. Later served in State Senate and U.S. Senate. |
| JOHN BREATHITT | 1832 - 1834 | Virginia | Logan | Jacksonian Democrat | Lawyer | Only Democratic Governor elected in Kentucky between 1828 and 1850, faced opposition majority in legislature. Died in office. |
| JAMES TURNER MOREHEAD | 1834 - 1836 | Bullitt | Warren | Whig | Lawyer | First native-born Governor, succeeded to office upon death of Breathitt. Supporter of Henry Clay. Later served in U.S. Senate, 1841-1847. |
| JAMES CLARK | 1836 - 1839 | Virginia | Clark | Whig | Lawyer, Judge | As judge, rendered decision which initiated Old Court/New Court controversy. First common schools created during this administration. Clark died in office. |
| CHARLES ANDERSON WICKLIFFE | 1839 - 1840 | Nelson | Nelson | Whig | Lawyer | Succeeded to office upon Clark's death. Later served as U.S. Postmaster General. |
| ROBERT P. LETCHER | 1840 - 1844 | Virginia | Garrard | Whig | Lawyer | Took office in midst of economic depression; state in recovery by end of his term. Strong supporter of Henry Clay. Served as ambassador to Mexico, 1849-1852. |
| WILLIAM OWSLEY | 1844 - 1848 | Virginia | Lincoln | Whig | Lawyer, Judge | Served on "Old Court" during Old Court/New Court controversy. Mexican War fought during his administration; although Owsley not an advocate of the war, he quickly sent troops when called upon. |
| JOHN JORDAN CRITTENDEN | 1848 - 1850 | Woodford | Logan | Whig | Lawyer | Active in national politics; served 20 years in U.S. Senate. Resigned as Governor to become U.S. Attorney General. |
| JOHN L. HELM | 1850 - 1851 | Hardin | Hardin | Whig | Lawyer | Succeeded to office upon Crittenden's resignation. Elected in own right in 1867 as a Democrat. |
| LAZARUS W. POWELL | 1851 - 1855 | Henderson | Henderson | Democrat | Lawyer | Successfully advocated initiation of a geological survey; also able to pass a tax increase to improve the common schools. Served as U.S. Senator, 1858-1865. |
| CHARLES SLAUGHTER MOREHEAD | 1855 - 1859 | Nelson | Franklin | American ("Know-Nothing") | Lawyer | Geological survey completed. Enlarged and improved penitentiary. Began funding an annual State Fair to encourage agricultural production. Imprisoned for 4 months in 1861 for anti-administration sympathies. |
| BERIAH MAGOFFIN | 1859 - 1862 | Mercer | Mercer | Democrat | Lawyer | Attempted to uphold Kentucky neutrality as Civil War began, but lost power to pro-Union legislature. Resigned in 1862 after negotiations allowed him to pick his successor. |
| JAMES F. ROBINSON | 1862 - 1863 | Scott | Scott | Democrat | Lawyer | Although a Unionist, he raised objections to the policies of federal authority in Kentucky, which he considered to be unconstitutional. |
| THOMAS E. BRAMLETTE | 1863 - 1867 | Cumberland | Jefferson | Democrat | Lawyer, Judge | Serving as a General in Union Army when nominated for Governor. He opposed the restrictive policies of the federal government in Kentucky. In 1865, granted a general pardon to those indicted for treason in the state. |
| JOHN L. HELM | 1867 | Hardin | Hardin | Democrat | Lawyer | Became ill during election campaign, died five days after inauguration. |
| JOHN W. STEVENSON | 1867 - 1871 | Virginia | Kenton | Democrat | Lawyer | Succeeded to office upon death of Helm. He faced post-war issues of civil rights and violence. Resigned in 1871 to become U.S. Senator. |
| PRESTON H. LESLIE | 1871 - 1875 | Wayne | Barren | Democrat | Lawyer, Farmer | Succeeded to office upon resignation of Stevenson. Proposed strict measures to stop mob violence of "Regulators." Appointed territorial Governor of Montana in 1887. |
| JAMES B. McCREARY | 1875 - 1879 | Madison | Madison | Democrat | Lawyer | Confederate veteran. Served in U.S. Congress beginning in 1885. Elected Governor again in 1911. |
| LUKE P. BLACKBURN | 1879 - 1883 | Woodford | Jefferson | Democrat | Doctor | Renowned for his medical work in cholera and yellow fever epidemics. As Governor, strong advocate of prison reform, issued numerous pardons and pushed for construction of new penitentiary. |
| J. PROCTOR KNOTT | 1883 - 1887 | Marion | Marion | Democrat | Lawyer | Served six terms in U.S. Congress, 1867-1883. As Governor, achieved some success with tax reform and state finances. First Dean of Law Department at Centre College, 1894. |
| SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER | 1887 - 1891 | Hart | Hart | Democrat | Soldier, Businessman, Newspaperman | Instructor at West Point, served in Mexican War, and as a Confederate General in Civil War. As Governor, vetoed many private interest bills and granted few pardons. |
| JOHN YOUNG BROWN | 1891 - 1895 | Hardin | Henderson | Democrat | Lawyer | First Governor to operate under new Constitution. Faced conflicts with legislature and with corporate interests. Unsuccessfully ran for Governor again in 1899. |
| WILLIAM 0. BRADLEY | 1895 - 1899 | Garrard | Garrard | Republican | Lawyer | First Republican Governor. Faced political difficulties with Democratic General Assembly. Served in U.S. Senate, 1909-1914. |
| WILLIAM S. TAYLOR | 1899 - 1900 | Butler | Butler | Republican | Lawyer, Farmer | Inaugurated after close race with William Goebel. Democratic General Assembly contested the election. Armed militia from both sides in Frankfort. Courts ruled against Taylor's election, after Goebel's death. |
| WILLIAM GOEBEL | 1900 | Pennsylvania | Kenton | Democrat | Lawyer | Shot in front of Capitol on Jan. 30, 1900 while election being contested. Sworn in on deathbed, courts later upheld his election. Only U.S. Governor to die by assassination. |
| JOHN CREPPS WICKLIFFE BECKHAM | 1900 - 1907 | Nelson | Nelson | Democrat | Lawyer | Succeeded to office upon Goebel's death. Elected to full term in 1903. Strong advocate of prohibition. Kentucky's first popularly elected U.S. Senator, 1914. |
| AUGUSTUS E. WILLSON | 1907 - 1911 | Mason | Jefferson | Republican | Lawyer | Declared martial law to end "Black Patch War" in western Kentucky. Disagreements with Democratic General Assembly precluded much progress. |
| JAMES B. McCREARY | 1911 - 1915 | Madison | Madison | Democrat | Lawyer | Ran on a progressive platform; as Governor, successfully advocated passage of primary election law and compulsory education legislation. |
| AUGUSTUS OWSLEY STANLEY | 1915 - 1919 | Shelby | Henderson | Democrat | Lawyer | Supported and passed progressive legislation. Major disagreements within Democratic Party over issue of prohibition. Resigned in 1919 after election to U.S. Senate. |
| JAMES D. BLACK | 1919 | Knox | Knox | Democrat | Teacher, Lawyer | Succeeded to office upon resignation of Stanley, served only seven months. Defeated in his own race for Governor in November, 1919. |
| EDWIN P. MORROW | 1919 - 1923 | Pulaski | Pulaski | Republican | Lawyer | Strong opponent of lynching and the Ku Klux Klan. Passage of legislation creating Board of Charities and Corrections. Supported suffrage for women. |
| WILLIAM J. FIELDS | 1923 - 1927 | Carter | Carter | Democrat | Businessman, Lawyer | Served seven terms in U.S. House before becoming Governor. Defeated in attempt to pass bond issue to fund roads, schools, and prisons. Passage of legislation reorganizing state government. |
| FLEM D. SAMPSON | 1927 - 1931 | Knox | Knox | Republican | Judge, Lawyer | Court of Appeals Justice prior to election as Governor. Few achievements due to disagreements with Democratic General Assembly, and onset of Great Depression. |
| RUBY LAFFOON | 1931 - 1935 | Hopkins | Hopkins | Democrat | Lawyer | Proposed sales tax to increase revenue during Great Depression, opposed by Lt. Governor Chandler. After much party in-fighting, Laffoon's measures defeated. |
| A. B. (Happy) CHANDLER | 1935 - 1939 | Henderson | Woodford | Democrat | Lawyer | Repealed sales tax, increased income and excise taxes. Reorganized state government. Began rural electrification, built new hospitals and prisons. Resigned to enter U.S. Senate, later served as baseball commissioner. Elected Governor again in 1955. Papers at University of Kentucky |
| KEEN JOHNSON | 1939 - 1943 | Lyon | Madison | Democrat | Journalist, Businessman | Succeeded upon Chandler's resignation, then elected to a full term. Faced restrictions due to World War II, still able to leave office with a budget surplus. Supported purchase of power from TVA, and successfully pushed for legislative redistricting. |
| SIMEON S. WILLIS | 1943 - 1947 | Ohio (state) | Boyd | Republican | Lawyer, Judge | Achievements included educational improvements, construction of five tuberculosis hospitals, and increased aid to the elderly and dependent children. |
| EARLE C. CLEMENTS | 1947 - 1950 | Union | Union | Democrat | Public Servant | Successfully advocated development of state parks, road construction, and industrialization. Established the Legislative Research Commission and a professional state police department. Resigned in 1950 to run for U.S. Senate. Papers at University of Kentucky |
| LAWRENCE W. WETHERBY | 1950 - 1955 | Jefferson | Jefferson | Democrat | Lawyer, Judge | Succeeded to office upon Clements' resignation, then elected to a full term. Supported and desegregated public schools, began Bookmobile program, encouraged tourism, built hospitals, created Department of Mental Health. Passed a "sin tax" to raise revenues. Papers at University of Kentucky |
| A. B. (Happy) CHANDLER | 1955 - 1959 | Henderson | Woodford | Democrat | Lawyer | Passed bond issue to fund federal and state highways, enforced desegregation. Prominent role in establishing medical school and hospital at University of Kentucky. Papers at University of Kentucky |
| BERT T. COMBS | 1959 - 1963 | Clay | Floyd | Democrat | Lawyer | Passed sales tax to fund improvements in education, parks, and highways; created Commission on Human Rights; desegregated all public accommodations; established statutory merit system for state government. |
| EDWARD (Ned) T. BREATHITT | 1963 - 1967 | Christian | Christian | Democrat | Lawyer | Passed civil rights bill, strip mining regulations, increased budget for education. Kentucky Educational Television created. Strengthened campaign financing laws. Passed bond issue to fund capital improvements. |
| LOUIE B. NUNN | 1967 - 1971 | Barren | Barren | Republican | Lawyer | Worked with Democratic General Assembly to achieve most of his goals, including increased funding for colleges and universities, mental health facilities, and state parks. Sent National Guard to Louisville and Lexington in response to civil rights and anti-war disturbances. |
| WENDELL H. FORD | 1971 - 1974 | Daviess | Daviess | Democrat | Businessman | Successfully advocated reorganization of state government, passage of severance tax on coal, and creation of an environmental protection agency. Supported Equal Rights Amendment. Resigned upon winning election to U.S. Senate. |
| JULIAN M. CARROLL | 1974 - 1979 | McCracken | McCracken | Democrat | Lawyer | Succeeded to office when Ford resigned, then elected to a full term. Increased funding for primary and secondary schools, created Dept. of Energy, advocated use of coal to offset energy crisis. Chairman of National Governors Association in 1978. |
| JOHN YOUNG BROWN, JR. | 1979 - 1983 | Fayette | Fayette | Democrat | Businessman | A millionaire businessman, he brought other business leaders into his administration. Cut state workforce, but raised salaries. Reformed process of awarding road contracts. Balanced budget despite reduction of federal funds. |
| MARTHA LAYNE (HALL) COLLINS | 1983 - 1987 | Shelby | Woodford | Democrat | Teacher | First woman to be elected Governor of Kentucky. Advocated educational reform, but unable to fully fund proposals. Through bond issues and tax incentives, brought a major Toyota automotive plant to the state. Chaired Democratic National Convention in 1984. |
| WALLACE WILKINSON | 1987 - 1991 | Casey | Fayette | Democrat | Businessman | Supported passage of Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and creation of a state lottery; advocated economic development in rural areas through the use of bonds and incentives. |
| BRERETON CHANDLER JONES | 1991 - 1995 | Ohio (state) | Woodford | Democrat | Businessman | Successfully advocated health care reform legislation, as well as ethics and election laws. Downsized state government and left office with budget surplus. |
| PAUL EDWARD PATTON | 1995 - | Lawrence | Pike | Democrat | Engineer, Businessman | Created EMPOWER program to increase efficiency of state government. Proposed revisions in juvenile justice system and in higher education. Governor's Web Page |
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Last revised: June 8, 1998