List of Governors of Mississippi - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Governor of Mississippi is the head of the executive branch of Mississippi

Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...

's government and the commander-in-chief of the state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

's military forces

Mississippi National Guard

The Mississippi National Guard is Mississippi's component of the United States National Guard.The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to...

. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Mississippi Legislature

Mississippi Legislature

The Mississippi Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The bicameral Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi Senate, with 52 members. Both Representatives and Senators serve four-year...

, to convene the legislature at any time, and, except in cases of treason or impeachment, to grant pardon

Pardon

Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...

s and reprieves

Pardon

.

To be elected governor, a person must be at least 30 years old, and must have been a citizen of the United States for twenty years and a resident of Mississippi for at least five years at the time of inauguration. The Constitution of Mississippi

Mississippi Constitution

The Constitution of the State of Mississippi is the governing document of Mississippi. It describes the structure and function of the state's government. The constitution was adopted November 1, 1890.- Contents :...

, ratified in 1890, calls for a four-year term for the governor. The original constitution of 1817 had only a two-year term for governor; this was expanded to four years in the 1868 constitution. The lieutenant governor is elected at the same time as the governor and serves as president of the Mississippi Senate. When the office of governor becomes vacant for any reason, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term.

Since Mississippi became a state, it has had 63 governors, including 55 Democrats

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

and 5 Republicans

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

. The state's longest-serving governor was John M. Stone, who served two terms over ten years (his second term was extended to six years by a transitional provision in the 1890 constitution). The shortest-serving governor was James Whitfield

James Whitfield

James Whitfield may refer to:*James Whitfield , Roman Catholic Bishop of Baltimore from 1828–1834*James Whitfield , Governor of Mississippi from 1858–1859...

, who served months from 1851 to 1852. The current governor is Republican

Republican Party (United States)

Haley Barbour

Haley Reeves Barbour is an American Republican politician currently serving as the 63rd Governor of Mississippi. He gained a national spotlight in August 2005 after Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Barbour won re-election as Governor in 2007...

, who took office January 13, 2004.

Governors of Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....

, 1798–1817

Prior to 1804, parts of Mississippi were part of the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

; see List of Governors of Georgia for this period.
The southern bit of Mississippi was part of the self-proclaimed Republic of West Florida
West Florida
West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...

in 1810; it had only one president, Fulwar Skipwith
Fulwar Skipwith
Fulwar Skipwith was an American diplomat and politician, who served as a U.S. Consul in Martinique, and later as the U.S. Consul-General in France...

.
Prior to then, that bit was part of the Spanish colony
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...

of West Florida
West Florida
West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...

; see List of Colonial Governors of Florida.

#	Winthrop Sargent	May 7, 1798	May 25, 1801	Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
2	William C. C. Claiborne	May 25, 1801	March 1, 1805	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
3	Robert Williams Robert Williams (American politician) Robert Williams was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1797 and 1803 and the Governor of the Mississippi Territory from 1805 to 1809...	March 1, 1805	March 7, 1809	Democratic
4	David Holmes David Holmes (politician) David Holmes was the last governor of the Mississippi Territory and the first governor of the State of Mississippi.-Career:...	March 7, 1809	December 10, 1817	Democratic

Governors of the State of Mississippi, 1817–present

#	Term	Notes
1	David Holmes David Holmes (politician) David Holmes was the last governor of the Mississippi Territory and the first governor of the State of Mississippi.-Career:...			Democratic-Republican		Duncan Stewart Duncan Stewart (Mississippi politician) Duncan Stewart was a United States politician, who during his career held offices in three U.S. states: North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi and holding a very rare distinction of serving in three different state legislatures .He is best known as first...	1	David Holmes was inaugurated as the first state governor on October 7, 1817, but Mississippi did not officially become a state until December 10, 1817.
2	George Poindexter George Poindexter George Poindexter was an American politician, lawyer and judge from Mississippi.-Background:Poindexter was born in Louisa County, Virginia and was of Huguenot ancestry. He was orphaned early in life and had a sporadic education growing up...			Democratic-Republican		James Patton	2
3	Walter Leake Walter Leake Walter Leake served as a United States Senator from Mississippi and as Governor of Mississippi .He was the first Governor of Mississippi to die in office...			Democratic-Republican		David Dickson David Dickson (politician) David Dickson was a U.S. Representative from Mississippi.-Biography:Born in Georgia, United States, Dickson moved to Mississippi.He studied medicine and practiced extensively in Pike County....	3	Died in office.
3				Democratic-Republican		Gerard Brandon Gerard Brandon Gerard Chittocque Brandon was an American political leader who twice served as Governor of Mississippi during its early years of statehood.-Early life and education:...	4	Died in office.
4	Gerard Brandon Gerard Brandon Gerard Chittocque Brandon was an American political leader who twice served as Governor of Mississippi during its early years of statehood.-Early life and education:...			Democratic	—		4	As lieutenant governor, filled term until next election.
5	David Holmes David Holmes (politician) David Holmes was the last governor of the Mississippi Territory and the first governor of the State of Mississippi.-Career:...			Democratic		Gerard Brandon Gerard Brandon Gerard Chittocque Brandon was an American political leader who twice served as Governor of Mississippi during its early years of statehood.-Early life and education:...	5	Resigned due to illness.
6	Gerard Brandon Gerard Brandon Gerard Chittocque Brandon was an American political leader who twice served as Governor of Mississippi during its early years of statehood.-Early life and education:...			Democratic	—		5
						Abram M. Scott Abram M. Scott Abram Marshall Scott was a Democratic Mississippi politician born in South Carolina .He was an early settler of Wilkinson County, Mississippi and was instrumental in founding the town of Woodville, Mississippi...	6
							7
7	Abram M. Scott Abram M. Scott Abram Marshall Scott was a Democratic Mississippi politician born in South Carolina .He was an early settler of Wilkinson County, Mississippi and was instrumental in founding the town of Woodville, Mississippi...			Democratic		Fountain Winston Fountain Winston Fountain Winston was an American politician from Mississippi.-Biography:Born in Germantown as a son of the Representative Joseph Winston... The 1832 constitution abolished the office of lieutenant governor; the office was reinstated in 1868.	8
7				Democratic	—
8	Charles Lynch Charles Lynch (politician) Charles Lynch was a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Mississippi. He was elected to the Mississippi State Senate and served in 1827 and 1832-1833. In July 1833, he succeeded Governor Abram L. Scott, who had died in office and remained so until the election of Hiram Runnels in November...			Democratic	—			As president of the state senate, filled term until next election.
9	Hiram Runnels Hiram Runnels Hiram George Runnels was a U.S. politician from the state of Mississippi.He was a Democrat who served as governor of Mississippi from November 20, 1833 to December 3, 1835....			Democratic	—
9				Democratic	—		9
10	John A. Quitman John A. Quitman John Anthony Quitman was an American politician and soldier. He served as Governor of Mississippi from 1835 to 1836 as a Whig and again from 1850 to 1851 as a Democrat and one of the leading Fire-Eaters.-Early life:John A. Quitman studied Classics at Hartwick Seminary, graduating in 1816...			Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...	—		9
11	Charles Lynch Charles Lynch (politician) Charles Lynch was a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Mississippi. He was elected to the Mississippi State Senate and served in 1827 and 1832-1833. In July 1833, he succeeded Governor Abram L. Scott, who had died in office and remained so until the election of Hiram Runnels in November...		January 8, 1838	Democratic	—		10
12	Alexander G. McNutt Alexander G. McNutt Alexander Gallatin McNutt was a Mississippi politician that served two consecutive 2-year terms as that state's governor, having previously served as a state senator .McNutt studied at Washington College and moved to Jackson,...	January 8, 1838	January 10, 1842	Democratic	—		11
12		January 8, 1838	January 10, 1842	Democratic	—		12
13	Tilghman Tucker Tilghman Tucker Tilghman Mayfield Tucker was Governor of Mississippi from 1842 to 1844. He was a Democrat.-Biography: Tucker was born in North Carolina and lived in Alabama for a time before moving to Mississippi. He left his career of blacksmithing and studied law under Judge Daniel W. Wright in Ham;;;ilton,...	January 10, 1842	January 10, 1844	Democratic	—		13
14	Albert G. Brown Albert G. Brown Albert Gallatin Brown was Governor of Mississippi from 1844 to 1848 and a United States Senator from Mississippi from 1854 through 1861. Brown attended Mississippi College. He was a Democrat....	January 10, 1844	January 10, 1848	Democratic	—		14
14		January 10, 1844	January 10, 1848	Democratic	—		15
15	Joseph W. Matthews Joseph W. Matthews Joseph Warren Matthews was an American politician who served as Governor of Mississippi from 1848 to 1850.-Biography:Matthews was born near Huntsville, Alabama. During his early manhood he came to Mississippi as a government surveyor, engaged in laying out the newly purchased Indian lands...	January 10, 1848	January 10, 1850	Democratic	—		16
16	John A. Quitman John A. Quitman John Anthony Quitman was an American politician and soldier. He served as Governor of Mississippi from 1835 to 1836 as a Whig and again from 1850 to 1851 as a Democrat and one of the leading Fire-Eaters.-Early life:John A. Quitman studied Classics at Hartwick Seminary, graduating in 1816...	January 10, 1850	February 3, 1851	Democratic	—		17	Resigned following an arrest for violating neutrality laws by assisting with the liberation of Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... . He was found not guilty, but the political fallout led to his resignation.
17	John I. Guion John I. Guion John Isaac Guion was an American politician from Mississippi. From 1842 to 1850, he served two terms in the state senate. In February 1851, with the resignation of John A. Quitman, he became Governor of Mississippi, serving as a Democrat until the end of November of that year....	February 3, 1851	November 4, 1851	Democratic	—			As president of the senate, filled term until his senate term expired.
18	James Whitfield James Whitfield (Mississippi) James Whitfield was Governor of Mississippi from November 24, 1851 to January 10, 1852. He served until United States Senator Henry S. Foote, who had been elected governor, could complete his service in the Senate and resign from that body. Whitfield was a Democrat...	November 24, 1851	January 10, 1852	Democratic	—			As president of the senate, filled unexpired term.
19	Henry S. Foote Henry S. Foote Henry Stuart Foote was a United States Senator from Mississippi from 1847 to 1852 and Governor of Mississippi from 1852 to 1854. His emotional leadership on the Senate floor helped secure passage of the Compromise of 1850, which for a time averted a civil war in the United States.-Biography:Henry...	January 10, 1852	January 5, 1854	Union Union (American Civil War) During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the... Democratic	—		18	Resigned due to political tension over secession Secession Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:... .
20	John J. Pettus John J. Pettus John Jones Pettus was a United States politician. A member of the Democratic party, he was Governor of the state of Mississippi from January 5, 1854 to January 10, 1854, and later was elected to a full term, from 21 November 1859 - 16 November 1863...	January 5, 1854	January 10, 1854	Democratic	—		18
21	John J. McRae John J. McRae John Jones McCrae was the 21st governor of Mississippi, from 1854 to 1857. He was a Democrat. He also represented Mississippi in the United States Senate in 1851 and 1852, in the U.S. Congress in the 35th and 36th congresses, and in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War.-External...	January 10, 1854	November 16, 1857	Democratic	—		19
21		January 10, 1854	November 16, 1857	Democratic	—		20
22	William McWillie William McWillie William McWillie was the twenty-second governor of Mississippi from 1857 to 1859. He was a Democrat. McWillie was the last governor of Mississippi prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War.-Biography:...	November 16, 1857	November 21, 1859	Democratic	—		21
23	John J. Pettus John J. Pettus John Jones Pettus was a United States politician. A member of the Democratic party, he was Governor of the state of Mississippi from January 5, 1854 to January 10, 1854, and later was elected to a full term, from 21 November 1859 - 16 November 1863...	November 21, 1859	November 16, 1863	Democratic	—		22
23		November 21, 1859	November 16, 1863	Democratic	—		23
24	Charles Clark Charles Clark (governor) Charles Clark was a Mississippi Democratic political figure, as well as a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:Clark was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1811...	November 16, 1863	May 22, 1865	Democratic	—		24	Charles Clark's term effective ended when he was arrested by Union Union (American Civil War) During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the... forces.
25	William L. Sharkey William L. Sharkey William Lewis Sharkey was an American judge and politician from Mississippi.-Biography:He was born in Sumner County, Tennessee, where he and his family lived until they moved to Warren County, Mississippi, when he was six years of age. In 1822, he was accepted into the bar at Natchez...	June 13, 1865	October 16, 1865	Provisional	—			Appointed by President President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.... Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American... following the end of the American Civil War American Civil War The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... .Resigned.
26	Benjamin G. Humphreys Benjamin G. Humphreys Benjamin Grubb Humphreys was an American politician from Mississippi. He was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and served as Governor of Mississippi from 1865 to 1868, during Reconstruction.-Early life:Humphreys was born in Claiborne County, Mississippi, on the...	October 16, 1865	June 15, 1868	Democratic	—			Forced to resign and physically removed from office by federal forces after his government failed to comply with Reconstruction.
26		October 16, 1865	June 15, 1868	Democratic	—		25
27	Adelbert Ames Adelbert Ames Adelbert Ames was an American sailor, soldier, and politician. He served with distinction as a Union Army general during the American Civil War. As a Radical Republican and a Carpetbagger, he was military governor, Senator and civilian governor in Reconstruction-era Mississippi...	June 15, 1868	March 10, 1870	Military	—		25	Left office as Reconstruction ended.
28	James L. Alcorn James L. Alcorn James Lusk Alcorn was a prominent American political figure in Mississippi during the 19th century. He was a leading southern white Republican or "scalawag" during Reconstruction in Mississippi, where he served as governor and U.S. Senator...	March 10, 1870	November 30, 1871	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...		Ridgley C. Powers Ridgley C. Powers Ridgley Ceylon Powers was a Union officer in the American Civil War and a Mississippi politician.-Biography:He was born in Mecca, Ohio, on Christmas Eve...	26	Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... ; Alcorn's senate term began March 4, 1871 but he delayed taking it, preferring to continue as governor.
29	Ridgley C. Powers Ridgley C. Powers Ridgley Ceylon Powers was a Union officer in the American Civil War and a Mississippi politician.-Biography:He was born in Mecca, Ohio, on Christmas Eve...	November 30, 1871	January 4, 1874	Republican		Alexander K. DavisImpeached and removed from office.	26	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
30	Adelbert Ames Adelbert Ames Adelbert Ames was an American sailor, soldier, and politician. He served with distinction as a Union Army general during the American Civil War. As a Radical Republican and a Carpetbagger, he was military governor, Senator and civilian governor in Reconstruction-era Mississippi...	January 4, 1874	March 29, 1876	Republican		Alexander K. DavisImpeached and removed from office.	27	Impeached; made a deal with the legislature to resign, and all charges were dropped.
31	John M. Stone	March 29, 1876	January 29, 1882	Democratic	—		27	As president of the senate, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right; since both the governor and lieutenant governor had been impeached, with the governor resigning and lieutenant governor being removed from office, Stone was next in line for governor.
31	John M. Stone	March 29, 1876	January 29, 1882	Democratic		William H. Sims	28
32	Robert Lowry	January 2, 1882	January 13, 1890	Democratic		G. D. Shands	29
32	Robert Lowry	January 2, 1882	January 13, 1890	Democratic		G. D. Shands	30
33	John M. Stone	January 13, 1890	January 20, 1896	Democratic		M. M. Evans	31
34	Anselm J. McLaurin Anselm J. McLaurin Anselm Joseph McLaurin was an American politician from Mississippi.McLaurin was born in Brandon, Mississippi, the son of Ellen Caroline and Lauchlin McLaurin III. A Democrat, he served briefly in the U.S...	January 20, 1896	January 16, 1900	Democratic		J. H. Jones	32
35	Andrew H. Longino Andrew H. Longino Andrew Houston Longino was a Mississippi politician who served as a Democrat in the State Senate , the U.S. District Attorney's , and Governor's offices .-Biography:...	January 16, 1900	January 19, 1904	Democratic		James T. Harrison	33
36	James K. Vardaman James K. Vardaman James Kimble Vardaman was an American politician from the state of Mississippi, serving as Governor of Mississippi from 1904 to 1908 and in the U.S. Senate from 1913 to 1919. Vardaman, known as "The Great White Chief", advocated white supremacy...	January 19, 1904	January 21, 1908	Democratic		John Prentiss Carter	34
37	Edmond Noel Edmond Noel Edmond Favor Noel was an American politician who was the governor of Mississippi from 1908 to 1912.-Biography:...	January 21, 1908	January 16, 1912	Democratic		Luther Manship	35
38	Earl L. Brewer Earl L. Brewer Earl Leroy Brewer was the Governor of Mississippi from 1912 to 1916. Elected as a Democrat, he was unopposed in the primary and won the governorship without ever making a single public campaign speech.-Biography:...	January 16, 1912	January 18, 1916	Democratic		Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore Gilmore Bilbo was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi and later was elected a U.S. Senator . A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a rough-and-tumble fighter in debate, he made his name a synonym for white supremacy...	36
39	Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore Gilmore Bilbo was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi and later was elected a U.S. Senator . A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a rough-and-tumble fighter in debate, he made his name a synonym for white supremacy...	January 18, 1916	January 18, 1920	Democratic		Lee M. Russell Lee M. Russell Lee Maurice Russell – May 5, 1943, Jackson, Mississippi) was a Mississippi politician.-Biography:...	37
40	Lee M. Russell Lee M. Russell Lee Maurice Russell – May 5, 1943, Jackson, Mississippi) was a Mississippi politician.-Biography:...	January 18, 1920	January 18, 1924	Democratic		Homer H. Casteel	38
41	Henry L. Whitfield Henry L. Whitfield Henry Lewis Whitfield was an American politician who was Governor of Mississippi from 1924 until his death.-Biography:Whitfield was born in Rankin County, Mississippi. He began his teaching career at the age of sixteen...	January 22, 1924	March 18, 1927	Democratic		Dennis Murphree Dennis Murphree Dennis Herron Murphree was a Mississippi politician. He was twice elected to the lieutenant governorship, once in 1923 and again in 1939. In each instance, he succeeded the governor who died in office and completed the term of his predecessor.He was a member of the Mississippi House of...	39
42	Dennis Murphree Dennis Murphree Dennis Herron Murphree was a Mississippi politician. He was twice elected to the lieutenant governorship, once in 1923 and again in 1939. In each instance, he succeeded the governor who died in office and completed the term of his predecessor.He was a member of the Mississippi House of...	March 18, 1927	January 16, 1928	Democratic	—		39
43	Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore Gilmore Bilbo was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi and later was elected a U.S. Senator . A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a rough-and-tumble fighter in debate, he made his name a synonym for white supremacy...	January 16, 1928	January 19, 1932	Democratic		Clayton B. Adams	40
44	Martin Sennett Conner Martin Sennett Conner Martin Sennett Conner was an American lawyer, politician, and college sports administrator. Conner served as the Governor of Mississippi from 1932 to 1936, serving as a Democrat.-Biography:...	January 17, 1932	January 21, 1936	Democratic		Dennis Murphree Dennis Murphree Dennis Herron Murphree was a Mississippi politician. He was twice elected to the lieutenant governorship, once in 1923 and again in 1939. In each instance, he succeeded the governor who died in office and completed the term of his predecessor.He was a member of the Mississippi House of...	41
45	Hugh L. White Hugh L. White Hugh Lawson White was an American politician from Mississippi and a member of the Democratic Party. He served two non-consecutive terms as Governor of Mississippi .-Biography:...	January 26, 1936	January 16, 1940	Democratic		Jacob Buehler Snider	42
46	Paul B. Johnson, Sr. Paul B. Johnson, Sr. Paul Burney Johnson, Sr. was a judge, United States Representative and Governor of Mississippi. From 1907 to 1908 he was a judge of the city court of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Two years later he became circuit judge of the 12th judicial district, with his tenure ending in 1919. From 1919 to 1923,...	January 16, 1940	December 26, 1943	Democratic		Dennis Murphree Dennis Murphree Dennis Herron Murphree was a Mississippi politician. He was twice elected to the lieutenant governorship, once in 1923 and again in 1939. In each instance, he succeeded the governor who died in office and completed the term of his predecessor.He was a member of the Mississippi House of...	43
47	Dennis Murphree Dennis Murphree Dennis Herron Murphree was a Mississippi politician. He was twice elected to the lieutenant governorship, once in 1923 and again in 1939. In each instance, he succeeded the governor who died in office and completed the term of his predecessor.He was a member of the Mississippi House of...	December 26, 1943	January 18, 1944	Democratic	—		43
48	Thomas L. Bailey Thomas L. Bailey Thomas Lowry Bailey was a politician from the state of Mississippi.-Biography:Bailey was born in Webster County, Mississippi and graduated from Millsaps College. Bailey was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives as a democratic candidate in 1915 and served from 1916 to 1940...	January 18, 1944	November 2, 1946	Democratic		Fielding L. Wright Fielding L. Wright Fielding Lewis Wright was a Democratic politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1944 to 1946, then as Governor after the incumbent, Thomas L. Bailey, died in office in 1946. Wright was elected Governor in his own right in 1947 and served a full four year term...	44
49	Fielding L. Wright Fielding L. Wright Fielding Lewis Wright was a Democratic politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1944 to 1946, then as Governor after the incumbent, Thomas L. Bailey, died in office in 1946. Wright was elected Governor in his own right in 1947 and served a full four year term...	November 2, 1946	January 22, 1952	Democratic	—		44	Hugh L. White Hugh L. White Hugh Lawson White was an American politician from Mississippi and a member of the Democratic Party. He served two non-consecutive terms as Governor of Mississippi .-Biography:...	January 22, 1952	January 17, 1956	Democratic	Carroll Gartin Carroll Gartin Carrol Gartin was an American Democratic politician from Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, who served three terms as the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi....	46
49		November 2, 1946	January 22, 1952	Democratic	51		James P. Coleman James P. Coleman James Plemon "J.P." Coleman was a politician from the state of Mississippi.-Biography:Coleman was born in Ackerman, Mississippi. He obtained a law degree from The George Washington University Law School in 1939. As a young man, he served upon the staff of Mississippi Congressman A. L. Ford...		January 17, 1956	January 19, 1960	Democratic		47
52	Ross R. Barnett	January 19, 1960	January 21, 1964	Democratic		Paul B. Johnson, Jr. Paul B. Johnson, Jr. Paul Burney Johnson, Jr. was a United States Democratic Mississippi politician and son of former Mississippi Governor Paul B. Johnson, Sr.....	48
53	Paul B. Johnson, Jr. Paul B. Johnson, Jr. Paul Burney Johnson, Jr. was a United States Democratic Mississippi politician and son of former Mississippi Governor Paul B. Johnson, Sr.....	January 21, 1964	January 16, 1968	Democratic		Carroll Gartin Carroll Gartin Carrol Gartin was an American Democratic politician from Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, who served three terms as the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi....	49
53		January 21, 1964	January 16, 1968	Democratic	—		49
54	John Bell Williams John Bell Williams John Bell Williams was an American Democratic politician who was governor of Mississippi from 1968 to 1972.-Biography:...	January 16, 1968	January 18, 1972	Democratic		Charles L. Sullivan Charles L. Sullivan Charles L. Sullivan was an American politician, attorney and military pilot. He was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1968 to 1972 and a General in the United States Air National Guard...	50
55	William Waller Bill Waller William Lowe "Bill" Waller, Sr. was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as Governor of Mississippi from 1972 to 1976. As a local prosecutor, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Byron De La Beckwith in the murder of civil rights advocate Medgar Evers. Both trials ended in hung juries...	January 18, 1972	January 20, 1976	Democratic		William F. Winter	51
56	Cliff Finch Cliff Finch Charles Clifton "Cliff" Finch was an American politician who was 56th Governor of the U.S. state of Mississippi from 1976 to 1980.-Life and career:...	January 20, 1976	January 22, 1980	Democratic		Evelyn Gandy Evelyn Gandy Edythe Evelyn Gandy was an American politician who was the first female elected to a statewide office in Mississippi– that of Treasurer for the State of Mississippi...	52
58	William Winter William Winter (politician) William Forrest Winter is an American politician from Mississippi. He served as the 58th Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984 as a Democrat. He is known for his strong support of public education, racial reconciliation, and historic preservation. Winter is best remembered for the passage of...	January 22, 1980	January 10, 1984	Democratic		Brad Dye Brad Dye Brad Dye is a retired American politician who served three 4-year terms as 27th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1980 until 1992. He was a member of the Democratic Party.Dye was born in Charleston, Mississippi....	53
59	William Allain William Allain William A. "Bill" Allain is a Mississippi politician who served as the 59th Governor of that state as a Democrat from 1984 to 1988.-Biography:...	January 10, 1984	January 12, 1988	Democratic			54
60	Ray Mabus Ray Mabus Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...	January 12, 1988	January 14, 1992	Democratic			55
61	Kirk Fordice Kirk Fordice Daniel Kirkwood "Kirk" Fordice, Jr. was a politician from the US state of Mississippi. He was the 61st Governor of Mississippi from January 14, 1992, until January 11, 2000.-Biography:...	January 14, 1992	January 11, 2000	Republican		Eddie Briggs Eddie Briggs Eddie Briggs is a United States politician from De Kalb, Mississippi. Briggs served as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1992 to 1996 under Republican Governor Kirk Fordice. Briggs was the first Republican to hold the office of Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi since Reconstruction...	56
61		January 14, 1992	January 11, 2000	Republican		Ronnie Musgrove Ronnie Musgrove David Ronald "Ronnie" Musgrove is an American politician who was the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from January 16, 1996 to January 11, 2000 and the 62nd Governor of Mississippi from January 11, 2000 to January 13, 2004 of the U.S. state of Mississippi. He was recently defeated by...	57
62	Ronnie Musgrove Ronnie Musgrove David Ronald "Ronnie" Musgrove is an American politician who was the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from January 16, 1996 to January 11, 2000 and the 62nd Governor of Mississippi from January 11, 2000 to January 13, 2004 of the U.S. state of Mississippi. He was recently defeated by...	January 11, 2000	January 13, 2004	Democratic		Amy Tuck Amy Tuck Amy Tuck was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi. A Republican, she is only the second woman elected to statewide office in Mississippi and the first to have been re-elected.-Biography:... Changed parties in 2002.	58
63	Haley Barbour Haley Barbour Haley Reeves Barbour is an American Republican politician currently serving as the 63rd Governor of Mississippi. He gained a national spotlight in August 2005 after Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Barbour won re-election as Governor in 2007...	January 13, 2004	Incumbent	Republican			59 Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2003 The 2003 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on 4 November 2003 for the post of governor of Mississippi. The incumbent governor, Democrat Ronnie Musgrove, was defeated by Republican Haley Barbour....	Governor Barbour's first term expires in 2008; he won re-election Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2007 The Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2007 was held on Tuesday, November 6. Incumbent Haley Barbour was re-elected and will serve a four-year term as Governor of Mississippi from January 15, 2008 through January 10, 2012... to a second term, which expires in 2012.
63		January 13, 2004	Incumbent	Republican		Phil Bryant	60 Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2007 The Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2007 was held on Tuesday, November 6. Incumbent Haley Barbour was re-elected and will serve a four-year term as Governor of Mississippi from January 15, 2008 through January 10, 2012...

Other high offices held

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

Name	Gubernatorial term	U.S. Congress United States Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....		Other offices held
Name	Gubernatorial term	House United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...	Senate United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...	Other offices held
William C. C. Claiborne	1801–1805 (territorial)			U.S. Representative from Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area... , U.S. Senator from Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... , Governor of Orleans Territory, Governor of Louisiana
Robert Williams Robert Williams (American politician) Robert Williams was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1797 and 1803 and the Governor of the Mississippi Territory from 1805 to 1809...	1805–1809 (territorial)			U.S. Representative from North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
David Holmes (politician) David Holmes (politician) David Holmes was the last governor of the Mississippi Territory and the first governor of the State of Mississippi.-Career:...	1809–1820, 1826		S	U.S. Representative from Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
George Poindexter George Poindexter George Poindexter was an American politician, lawyer and judge from Mississippi.-Background:Poindexter was born in Louisa County, Virginia and was of Huguenot ancestry. He was orphaned early in life and had a sporadic education growing up...	1820–1822	H	S	Territorial Delegate United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... , President pro tempore President pro tempore of the United States Senate The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body... of the Senate
Walter Leake Walter Leake Walter Leake served as a United States Senator from Mississippi and as Governor of Mississippi .He was the first Governor of Mississippi to die in office...	1822–1825		S
John A. Quitman John A. Quitman John Anthony Quitman was an American politician and soldier. He served as Governor of Mississippi from 1835 to 1836 as a Whig and again from 1850 to 1851 as a Democrat and one of the leading Fire-Eaters.-Early life:John A. Quitman studied Classics at Hartwick Seminary, graduating in 1816...	1835–1836, 1850–1851	H
Tilghman Tucker Tilghman Tucker Tilghman Mayfield Tucker was Governor of Mississippi from 1842 to 1844. He was a Democrat.-Biography: Tucker was born in North Carolina and lived in Alabama for a time before moving to Mississippi. He left his career of blacksmithing and studied law under Judge Daniel W. Wright in Ham;;;ilton,...	1842–1844	H
Albert G. Brown Albert G. Brown Albert Gallatin Brown was Governor of Mississippi from 1844 to 1848 and a United States Senator from Mississippi from 1854 through 1861. Brown attended Mississippi College. He was a Democrat....	1844–1848	H	S	Confederate Senator Congress of the Confederate States The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865...
Henry S. Foote Henry S. Foote Henry Stuart Foote was a United States Senator from Mississippi from 1847 to 1852 and Governor of Mississippi from 1852 to 1854. His emotional leadership on the Senate floor helped secure passage of the Compromise of 1850, which for a time averted a civil war in the United States.-Biography:Henry...	1852–1854		S	Confederate Representative Congress of the Confederate States The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865...
John J. McRae John J. McRae John Jones McCrae was the 21st governor of Mississippi, from 1854 to 1857. He was a Democrat. He also represented Mississippi in the United States Senate in 1851 and 1852, in the U.S. Congress in the 35th and 36th congresses, and in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War.-External...	1854–1857	H	S	Confederate Representative
William McWillie William McWillie William McWillie was the twenty-second governor of Mississippi from 1857 to 1859. He was a Democrat. McWillie was the last governor of Mississippi prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War.-Biography:...	1857–1859	H
Adelbert Ames Adelbert Ames Adelbert Ames was an American sailor, soldier, and politician. He served with distinction as a Union Army general during the American Civil War. As a Radical Republican and a Carpetbagger, he was military governor, Senator and civilian governor in Reconstruction-era Mississippi...	1868–1870, 1874–1876		S
James L. Alcorn James L. Alcorn James Lusk Alcorn was a prominent American political figure in Mississippi during the 19th century. He was a leading southern white Republican or "scalawag" during Reconstruction in Mississippi, where he served as governor and U.S. Senator...	1870–1871		S*
Anselm J. McLaurin Anselm J. McLaurin Anselm Joseph McLaurin was an American politician from Mississippi.McLaurin was born in Brandon, Mississippi, the son of Ellen Caroline and Lauchlin McLaurin III. A Democrat, he served briefly in the U.S...	1896–1900		S
James K. Vardaman James K. Vardaman James Kimble Vardaman was an American politician from the state of Mississippi, serving as Governor of Mississippi from 1904 to 1908 and in the U.S. Senate from 1913 to 1919. Vardaman, known as "The Great White Chief", advocated white supremacy...	1904–1908		S
Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore Gilmore Bilbo was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi and later was elected a U.S. Senator . A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a rough-and-tumble fighter in debate, he made his name a synonym for white supremacy...	1916–1920, 1928–1932		S
Paul B. Johnson, Sr. Paul B. Johnson, Sr. Paul Burney Johnson, Sr. was a judge, United States Representative and Governor of Mississippi. From 1907 to 1908 he was a judge of the city court of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Two years later he became circuit judge of the 12th judicial district, with his tenure ending in 1919. From 1919 to 1923,...	1940–1943	H
James P. Coleman James P. Coleman James Plemon "J.P." Coleman was a politician from the state of Mississippi.-Biography:Coleman was born in Ackerman, Mississippi. He obtained a law degree from The George Washington University Law School in 1939. As a young man, he served upon the staff of Mississippi Congressman A. L. Ford...	1956–1960			Fifth Circuit Court Judge United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
John Bell Williams John Bell Williams John Bell Williams was an American Democratic politician who was governor of Mississippi from 1968 to 1972.-Biography:...	1968–1972	H
Ray Mabus Ray Mabus Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...	1988–1992			Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, United States Secretary of the Navy United States Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...

Living former governors

, four former governors are alive, the oldest being William Winter

William Winter (politician)

William Forrest Winter is an American politician from Mississippi. He served as the 58th Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984 as a Democrat. He is known for his strong support of public education, racial reconciliation, and historic preservation. Winter is best remembered for the passage of...

(1980–1984, born 1923). The most recent governor to die was Bill Waller

Bill Waller

William Lowe "Bill" Waller, Sr. was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as Governor of Mississippi from 1972 to 1976. As a local prosecutor, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Byron De La Beckwith in the murder of civil rights advocate Medgar Evers. Both trials ended in hung juries...

(1972–1976), on November 30, 2011. The most recently serving governor to die was Kirk Fordice

Kirk Fordice

Daniel Kirkwood "Kirk" Fordice, Jr. was a politician from the US state of Mississippi. He was the 61st Governor of Mississippi from January 14, 1992, until January 11, 2000.-Biography:...

(1992-2000), on September 7, 2004.

Name	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
William Winter William Winter (politician) William Forrest Winter is an American politician from Mississippi. He served as the 58th Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984 as a Democrat. He is known for his strong support of public education, racial reconciliation, and historic preservation. Winter is best remembered for the passage of...	1980–1984	February 21, 1923 (age 88)
William Allain William Allain William A. "Bill" Allain is a Mississippi politician who served as the 59th Governor of that state as a Democrat from 1984 to 1988.-Biography:...	1984–1988	February 14, 1928 (age 83)
Ray Mabus Ray Mabus Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...	1988–1992	October 11, 1948 (age 63)
Ronnie Musgrove Ronnie Musgrove David Ronald "Ronnie" Musgrove is an American politician who was the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from January 16, 1996 to January 11, 2000 and the 62nd Governor of Mississippi from January 11, 2000 to January 13, 2004 of the U.S. state of Mississippi. He was recently defeated by...	2000–2004	July 29, 1956 (age 55)

Governors of the State of Mississippi, 1817–present

Other high offices held

Living former governors

See also