List of governors of Maine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seal of the Governor of Maine
The Blaine House is the official residence of the Governor of Maine. The Executive Mansion was officially declared the residence of the Governor in 1919 with the name "The Blaine House". It is located in Augusta, Maine, across the street from the Maine State House.

The governor of Maine is the head of government of Maine[1] and the commander-in-chief of its military forces.[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,[3] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Maine Legislature,[4] to convene the legislature at any time,[5] and, except in cases of impeachment, to grant pardons.[6]

There have been 75 governors of Maine since statehood. 70 people have held the office; 4 of them served multiple non-consecutive terms (Edward Kent, John Fairfield, John W. Dana, and Burton M. Cross).[7] The longest-serving governor was Joseph E. Brennan, who served two terms from 1979 to 1987. The shortest-serving governors were Nathaniel M. Haskell and Richard H. Vose, who each served only one day. John W. Dana also served for one day in 1844, after the incumbent governor resigned, but was later elected to the governorship. The current governor is Democrat Janet Mills, who took office on January 2, 2019.

Governors[]

Maine was admitted to the Union on March 15, 1820, as the 23rd state. Before then, it was the District of Maine, part of the state of Massachusetts.[8] The Maine Constitution of 1820 originally established a gubernatorial term of one year,[9] to begin on the first Wednesday of January; constitutional amendments expanded this to two years in 1879[10] and to four years in 1957.[11] The 1957 amendment also prohibited governors from succeeding themselves after serving two terms.[11] The constitution does not establish an office of lieutenant governor; a vacancy in the office of governor is filled by the president of the Maine Senate.[12] Prior to an amendment in 1964, the president of the senate only acted as governor.[13][14]

Parties

  Democratic (23)   Democratic-Republican (6)   Greenback (1)   Independent (2)   National Republican (1)   Republican (37)   Whig (4)
(Above numbering includes repeat governors: one Whig, one Republican, and two Democrats who served two nonconsecutive terms. It also includes one governor who was a Greenback but co-nominated by the Democrats.)

# Portrait   Governor Party Took office Left office Terms
[note 1]
1 Governor William King in 1806.png   William King Democratic-Republican March 15, 1820 May 28, 1821

(resigned)

14

[note 2]

2 William Durkee Williamson.jpg William D. Williamson Democratic-Republican May 28, 1821 December 5, 1821 (resigned) 14

[note 3]
[note 4]

3 Blank.gif Benjamin Ames Democratic-Republican December 5, 1821 January 2, 1822

(resigned)

14

[note 5]
[note 6]

4 Blank.gif Daniel Rose Democratic-Republican January 2, 1822 January 5, 1822 14

[note 7]

5 Albion K. Parris.jpg Albion K. Parris Democratic-Republican January 5, 1822 January 3, 1827 5
6 EnochLincoln.png Enoch Lincoln Democratic-Republican January 3, 1827 October 8, 1829

(died in office)

2+13

[note 8]

7 Nathan Cutler c1850.png Nathan Cutler Democratic October 8, 1829 January 6, 1830 13

[note 9]

8 JoshuaHall.jpg Joshua Hall Democratic January 6, 1830 February 9, 1830 13

[note 5]

9 Jonathan G. Hunton (Maine Governor).jpg Jonathan G. Hunton National Republican February 9, 1830 January 5, 1831

(lost election)

1
10 Samuel Emerson Smith, Maine Governor.jpg Samuel E. Smith Democratic January 5, 1831 January 1, 1834 3
11 Robert Pinckney Dunlap c1831.jpg Robert P. Dunlap Democratic January 1, 1834 January 3, 1838 4
12 Governor Edward Kent.jpg Edward Kent Whig January 19, 1838 January 2, 1839 1

[note 10]

13 JohnFairfield (cropped).jpg John Fairfield Democratic January 2, 1839 January 12, 1841 (resigned) 1+12

[note 11]

14 Blank.gif Richard H. Vose Whig January 12, 1841 January 13, 1841 12

[note 7]

15 Governor Edward Kent.jpg Edward Kent Whig January 13, 1841 January 5, 1842 1
16 JohnFairfield.jpg John Fairfield Democratic January 5, 1842 March 7, 1843

(resigned)

1+14

[note 12]

17 Edward Kavanagh (Maine Governor).jpg Edward Kavanagh Democratic March 7, 1843 January 1, 1844

(resigned)

14

[note 3]
[note 13]

18 Governor David Dunn 1846.jpg David Dunn Democratic January 1, 1844 January 3, 1844

(resigned)

14

[note 5]
[note 14]

19 John Winchester Dana (Maine Governor).jpg John W. Dana Democratic January 3, 1844 January 3, 1844 14

[note 7]

20 Hugh J. Anderson (Maine Governor).jpg Hugh J. Anderson Democratic January 3, 1844 May 12, 1847 3
21 John Winchester Dana (Maine Governor).jpg John W. Dana Democratic May 12, 1847 May 8, 1850 3
22 Governor John Hubbard of Maine, c1850.jpg John Hubbard Democratic May 8, 1850 January 5, 1853

(lost election)

3
23 William G. Crosby (Maine Governor).jpg William G. Crosby Whig January 5, 1853 January 3, 1855

(did not seek re-election)

2
24 Anson P. Morrill - Brady-Handy.jpg Anson Morrill Republican January 3, 1855 January 2, 1856

(Lost election)

1
25 Samuel Wells (Maine Governor).jpg Samuel Wells Democratic January 2, 1856 January 8, 1857

(Lost election)

1
26 Hannibal Hamlin, photo portrait seated, c1860-65.jpg Hannibal Hamlin Republican January 8, 1857 February 25, 1857

(resigned)

12

[note 12]

27 Joseph Hartwell Williams (Maine Governor).jpg Joseph H. Williams Republican February 25, 1857 January 6, 1858 12

[note 7]

28 Lot Morrill, Brady-Handy photo portrait, ca1865-1880.jpg Lot M. Morrill Republican January 6, 1858 January 2, 1861 3
29 Israel Washburn, Jr. - Brady-Handy.jpg Israel Washburn, Jr. Republican January 2, 1861 January 7, 1863 2
30 Abner Coburn.png Abner Coburn Republican January 7, 1863 January 6, 1864 1
31 Samuel Cony.jpg Samuel Cony Republican January 6, 1864 January 2, 1867 2
32 Joshua Chamberlain - Brady-Handy.jpg Joshua Chamberlain Republican January 2, 1867 January 4, 1871 4
33 SPerham.jpg Sidney Perham Republican January 4, 1871 January 7, 1874 3
34 Nelson-dingley-jr.jpg Nelson Dingley Jr. Republican January 7, 1874 January 5, 1876 2
35 Selden Connor (Maine Governor).jpg Seldon Connor Republican January 5, 1876 January 8, 1879

(lost elections)

3
36 Alonzo Garcelon Governor of Maine.jpg Alonzo Garcelon Democratic January 8, 1879 January 17, 1880 1
37 Daniel F. Davis (Maine Governor).jpg Daniel F. Davis Republican January 17, 1880 January 13, 1881

(lost election)

1
38 HMPlaisted.jpg Harris M. Plaisted Greenback / Democratic January 13, 1881 January 3, 1883

(lost election)

1
39 Frederick Robie (Maine Governor).jpg Frederick Robie Republican January 3, 1883 January 5, 1887 2
40 Joseph R. Bodwell.jpg Joseph R. Bodwell Republican January 5, 1887 December 15, 1887

(died in office)

12

[note 8]

41 Sebastian Streeter Marble (Maine Governor).jpg Sebastian Streeter Marble Republican December 15, 1887 January 2, 1889 12

[note 7]

42 Edwin Chick Burleigh.jpg Edwin C. Burleigh Republican January 2, 1889 January 4, 1893

(did not seek re-election)

2
43 Henry B. Cleaves (Maine Governor).jpg Henry B. Cleaves Republican January 4, 1893 January 2, 1897

(did not seek re-election)

2
44 Lewellyn Powers.jpg Llewellyn Powers Republican January 2, 1897 January 2, 1901 2
45 John Fremont Hill, 1855-1912, head and shoulders, c1900.jpg John Fremont Hill Republican January 2, 1901 January 4, 1905 2
46 William T. Cobb (Maine Governor).jpg William T. Cobb Republican January 4, 1905 January 6, 1909 2
47 Bert Manfred Fernald.jpg Bert M. Fernald Republican January 6, 1909 January 4, 1911

(lost election)

1
48 Frederick William Plaisted, 1910.jpg Frederick W. Plaisted Democratic January 4, 1911 January 1, 1913

(lost election)

1
49 William T. Haines.jpg William T. Haines Republican January 1, 1913 January 6, 1915

(lost election)

1
50 Oakley curtis.jpg Oakley C. Curtis Democratic January 6, 1915 January 3, 1917

(lost election)

1
51 Carl Milliken.jpg Carl Milliken Republican January 3, 1917 January 5, 1921

(lost election)

2
52 FredericParkhurst.jpg Frederic Hale Parkhurst Republican January 5, 1921 January 31, 1921

(died in office)

12

[note 8]

53 Baxter-garry.jpg Percival P. Baxter Republican January 31, 1921 January 7, 1925

(did not seek re-election)

1+12

[note 15]

54 Owenbrewster.jpg Owen Brewster Republican January 7, 1925 January 2, 1929

(did not seek re-election)

2
55 WilliamTudorGardiner.jpg William Tudor Gardiner Republican January 2, 1929 January 4, 1933 2
56 Louis J. Brann (Maine Governor) 2.jpg Louis J. Brann Democratic January 4, 1933 January 6, 1937

(did not seek re-election)

2
57 Lewis O. Barrows (Maine Governor).jpg Lewis O. Barrows Republican January 6, 1937 January 1, 1941

(term limited)

2
58 SumnerSewall.jpg Sumner Sewall Republican January 1, 1941 January 3, 1945

(term limited)

2
59 HoraceHildreth.jpg Horace Hildreth Republican January 3, 1945 January 5, 1949

(term limited)

2
60 FrederickGPayne.jpg Frederick G. Payne Republican January 5, 1949 December 24, 1952

(resigned)

1+13

[note 12]

61 BurtonMCross.jpg Burton M. Cross Republican December 24, 1952 January 6, 1953

(resigned)

13

[note 9]

62 Blank.gif Nathaniel M. Haskell Republican January 6, 1953 January 7, 1953 13

[note 16]

63 BurtonMCross.jpg Burton M. Cross Republican January 7, 1953 January 5, 1955

(Lost election)

1
64 Muskie for Maine (cropped).jpg Edmund Muskie Democratic January 5, 1955 January 2, 1959

(term limited)

1+12

[note 12]

65 HaskellNR.jpg Robert Haskell Republican January 2, 1959 January 7, 1959 12

[note 7]

66 ClintonClauson.jpg Clinton Clauson Democratic January 7, 1959 December 30, 1959

(died in office)

12

[note 8]

67 JohnReed-Maine.jpg John H. Reed Republican December 30, 1959 January 5, 1967

(lost election)

1+12

[note 15]

68 Photo DED 1967 1975 Curtis Kenneth M. Leeds 193390.jpg Kenneth M. Curtis Democratic January 5, 1967 January 2, 1975

(term limited)

2
69 James B. Longley (Maine governor).jpg James B. Longley Independent January 2, 1975 January 3, 1979

(did not seek re-election)

1
70 Joseph E. Brennan (ME).png Joseph Brennan Democratic January 3, 1979 January 7, 1987

(term limited)

2
71 John R. McKernan (Maine Governor).jpg John McKernan Republican January 7, 1987 January 5, 1995

(term limited)

2
72 Angus King official portrait.jpg Angus King Independent January 5, 1995 January 8, 2003

(term limited)

2
73 John Baldacci - 107th United States Congress.jpg John Baldacci Democratic January 8, 2003 January 5, 2011

(term limited)

2
74 Paul LePage crop.jpg Paul LePage Republican January 5, 2011 January 2, 2019

(term limited)

2
75 Janet Mills in 2019.jpg Janet Mills Democratic January 2, 2019

Other high offices held[]

24 of Maine's governors have served higher federal offices. Seventeen have represented Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives, while 2 early in the state's history represented Massachusetts. There were also nine governors who served in the U.S. Senate, 5 (marked with *) resigning their office as governor to enter the Senate. 1 governor, Hannibal Hamlin, resigned his seat in the Senate to be governor (marked with †), then resigned as governor the next month to rejoin the Senate. Hamlin was also one of three governors to be ambassadors, and the only one to be Vice President of the United States. Two other governors served in the Cabinet.

Governor Gubernatorial term U.S. House U.S. Senate Other offices held Source
William D. Williamson 1821 H [19]
Albion K. Parris 1822–1827 S* U.S. Representative from Massachusetts [20]
Enoch Lincoln 1827–1829 H U.S. Representative from Massachusetts [21]
Robert P. Dunlap 1834–1838 H [22]
John Fairfield 1839–1841
1842–1843
H S* [23]
Edward Kavanagh 1843–1844 H [24]
Hugh J. Anderson 1844–1847 H [25]
Anson Morrill 1858–1861 H [26]
Hannibal Hamlin 1857 H S†* U.S. Minister to Spain, Vice President of the United States [27]
Lot M. Morrill 1858–1861 S U.S. Secretary of the Treasury [28]
Sidney Perham 1871–1874 H [29]
Nelson Dingley, Jr. 1874–1876 H [30]
Harris M. Plaisted 1881–1883 H [31]
Edwin C. Burleigh 1889–1893 H S [32]
Llewellyn Powers 1897–1901 H [33]
Bert M. Fernald 1909–1911 S [34]
Owen Brewster 1925–1929 H S [35]
Horace A. Hildreth 1945–1949 U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan [36]
Frederick G. Payne 1949–1952 S* [37]
Edmund Muskie 1955–1959 S* U.S. Secretary of State [38]
Kenneth M. Curtis 1967–1974 U.S. Ambassador to Canada [39]
Joseph E. Brennan 1979–1987 H [40]
John R. McKernan, Jr. 1987–1995 H [41]
Angus King 1995–2003 S
John Baldacci 2003–2011 H [42]

Succession[]

Living former governors of Maine[]

As of January 2019, six former governors are alive, the oldest being Kenneth M. Curtis (served 1967–1975, born 1931). The most recent governor to die was John H. Reed (served 1959–1967, born 1921), on October 31, 2012. The most recently serving governor to die was James B. Longley (served 1975–1979, born 1924), on August 16, 1980.

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Kenneth M. Curtis 1967–1975 (1931-02-08) February 8, 1931 (age 90)
Joseph E. Brennan 1979–1987 (1934-11-02) November 2, 1934 (age 86)
John R. McKernan, Jr. 1987–1995 (1948-05-20) May 20, 1948 (age 73)
Angus King 1995–2003 (1944-03-31) March 31, 1944 (age 77)
John Baldacci 2003–2011 (1955-01-30) January 30, 1955 (age 66)
Paul LePage 2011–2019 (1948-10-09) October 9, 1948 (age 72)

Notes[]

  1. ^ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
  2. ^ Resigned to take appointment as a minister to negotiate a treaty with Spain.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b As president of the senate, acted as governor until his resignation.
  4. ^ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States House of Representatives.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c As speaker of the state house, acted as governor for unexpired term.
  6. ^ Once the new Maine Senate was sworn in, Ames saw no purpose in completing the remaining three days of the gubernatorial term and resigned.[15]
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Died in office.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b As president of the state senate, acted as governor until his senate term expired.
  10. ^ Edward Kent won a close election, but Democrats challenged the election. He was finally declared winner by the state supreme court and sworn in on January 19, 1838.[16]
  11. ^ Resigned; no reason is known.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  13. ^ Resigned due to ill health.[17]
  14. ^ Resigned once the new Maine Legislature was sworn in.[18]
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
  16. ^ Acting governor Burton Cross had been elected to the governorship, but his Senate term ended 25 hours before his term as governor began; therefore, he could not act as governor for that day. As president of the Senate, Haskell served as acting governor until Cross's inauguration.

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 1.
  2. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 7.
  3. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 12.
  4. ^ ME Const. art. IV (Pt. III), § 3.
  5. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 13.
  6. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 11.
  7. ^ Governors of Maine. Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library.
  8. ^ "Mass Moments: Massachusetts Loses Maine". Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  9. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 2, orig.
  10. ^ ME Const. Amend. 23.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b ME Const. Amend. 84.
  12. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 14.
  13. ^ ME Const. Amend. 97.
  14. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 14, orig.
  15. ^ Hallowell Gazette (Maine): p. 2. January 9, 1822. Benjamin Ames to the Maine Legislature, January 2, 1822: "The Senators of the State of Maine, for the present political year, having been qualified to enter upon the duties of their place by having taken and subscribed the oaths required by the constitution, and chosen their President, I have no longer any authority, as I apprehend, to exercise the office of Governor, and therefore resign the same, that it may be filled according to the provisions of the constitution."
  16. ^ "Maine Governor Edward Kent". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on January 9, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  17. ^ Lucey, William Leo (1946). Edward Kavanagh: Catholic, Statesman, Diplomat, from Maine 1795–1844: p. 22. College of the Holy Cross. Reprinted 2006, Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1-4286-5468-2.
  18. ^ The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA): p. 2. January 11, 1844. "Hon. David Dunn, as Speaker of the House for 1843, entered upon the discharge of the duties of that office on Tuesday, and continued to discharge them until he had completed the administration of the necessary oaths to the members of the Senate and House, yesterday. He then resigned that place, and took his seat in the House."
  19. ^ "Williamson, William Durkee". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  20. ^ "Maine Governor Albion Keith Parris". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  21. ^ "Lincoln, Enoth." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  22. ^ "Dunlap, Robert Pinckney." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  23. ^ "Fairfield, John." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  24. ^ "Kavanaugh, Edward". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  25. ^ "Anderson, Hugh Johnston." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  26. ^ "Morrill, Anson Peasley." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  27. ^ "Hamlin, Hannibal." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  28. ^ "Morrill, Lot Myrick." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  29. ^ "Perham, Sydney." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  30. ^ "Dingley, Nelson, Jr." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  31. ^ "Plaisted, Harris Merrill." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  32. ^ "Burleigh, Edwin Chick." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  33. ^ "Powers, Llewellyn." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  34. ^ "Fernald, Bert Manfred." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  35. ^ "Brewster, Ralph Owen." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  36. ^ "Maine Governor Horace Augustus Hildreth Archived 2010-02-23 at the Wayback Machine." National Governors Association. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  37. ^ "Maine Governor Frederick George Payne". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  38. ^ "Maine Governor Edmund Sixtus Muskie". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  39. ^ "Maine Governor Kenneth M. Curtis Archived 2010-02-23 at the Wayback Machine." National Governors Association. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  40. ^ "Brennan, Joseph Edward." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  41. ^ "McKernan, John Rettie, Jr." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  42. ^ "Baldacci, John Elias." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.

Sources[]

General
Constitutions

External links[]

Retrieved from ""