List of United States Virgin Islands Governors
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of Governors of the United States Virgin Islands. For Governors of the territory that is now the U.S. Virgin Islands prior to United States
administration, see List of Governors of the Danish West Indies.
(1958–1961, born 1921). Merwin is also the only living appointed governor of the territory. The most recent governor to die was Juan Francisco Luis
(1978-1987), on June 4, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
administration, see List of Governors of the Danish West Indies.
Appointed Governors (1917-1970)
- 1917 - 1917 Edwin Taylor PollockEdwin Taylor PollockEdwin Taylor Pollock was a career officer in the United States Navy, serving in both the Spanish-American War and World War I. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain. Like many naval officers, his name was often abbreviated using initials: Pollock.As a young ensign, Pollock served...
- 1917 - 1919 James Harrison OliverJames Harrison OliverJames Harrison Oliver was a Rear Admiral and member of the Naval Board of Strategy during World War I. He was also the first military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1917 to 1919. He was often referred to as J. H. Oliver.-Biography:Oliver was born in Houston County, Georgia...
- 1919 - 1921 Joseph Wallace OmanJoseph Wallace OmanJoseph Wallace Oman was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and veteran of the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, and World War I. He is a recipient of the Navy Cross. He was also the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1919 to 1921.-Biography:Oman was born in...
- 1921 - 1922 Sumner Ely Wetmore KittelleSumner Ely Wetmore KittelleSumner Ely Wetmore Kittelle was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and a veteran of the Spanish-American War and World War I. He was also the third military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. Late in life, he also became an author and published a book on his family's...
- 1922 - 1923 Henry Hughes HoughHenry Hughes HoughHenry Hughes Hough was a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy and one-time military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. He was born in the French overseas colony of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland.Hough graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1891...
- 1923 - 1925 Philip Williams
- 1925 - 1927 Martin Edwin TrenchMartin Edwin TrenchMartin Edward Trench was a Captain of the United States Navy and Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1925 until his death in 1927. He is the first Governor of the territory to have died while in office....
- 1927 - 1931 Waldo A. EvansWaldo A. EvansWaldo A. Evans was a Captain of the United States Navy and military Governor of both the United States Virgin Islands and American Samoa. He was the last military governor of the U. S. Virgin Islands.-Biography:...
- 1931 - 1935 Paul Martin PearsonPaul Martin PearsonDr. Paul Martin Pearson was an author, college professor, and a very embattled first civilian Governor of the United States Virgin Islands....
- 1935 - 1935 Robert HerrickRobert Herrick (novelist)Robert Welch Herrick was a novelist who was part of a new generation of American realists. His novels deal with the turbulence of industrialized society and the turmoil it can create in sensitive, isolated people...
- 1935 - 1940 Lawrence William CramerLawrence William CramerLawrence William Cramer was the second civilian Governor of the United States Virgin Islands.Cramer was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and obtained a master's degree from Columbia University. He then spent two years in the United States...
- 1940 - 1941 Robert Morss LovettRobert Morss LovettRobert Morss Lovett was an American academic, writer, editor, political activist, and government official....
- 1941 - 1945 Charles HarwoodCharles HarwoodCharles A. Harwood was a politician, lawyer, judge, and Governor of the United States Virgin Islands.Harwood was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Hamilton College and New York University. He passed the bar exam in 1904 and practiced law until 1936. He was also elected for one term in the...
- 1946 - 1949 William Henry Hastie
- 1949 - 1954 Morris Fidanque de CastroMorris Fidanque de CastroMorris Fidanque de Castro was the first native Governor of the United States Virgin Islands and a life-time government servant for the territory.-Early life:...
- 1954 - 1955 Archibald A. Alexander
- 1955 - 1955 Charles K. ClaunchCharles K. ClaunchCharles Kenneth Claunch, Sr. was an usher for the White House who was appointed as Government Secretary to the United States Virgin Islands and was briefly acting-Governor in 1955 after a scandal.-Biography:...
- 1955 - 1958 Walter A. GordonWalter A. GordonWalter Arthur Gordon was the first African American to receive a doctorate of law from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall law school. He had an extremely long and varied career where he served as a police officer, lawyer, assistant football coach, member of the California Adult Authority, Governor of the...
- 1958 - 1961 John David MerwinJohn David MerwinJohn David Merwin is a former politician of the United States Virgin Islands who served in that territory's Legislature, as Government Secretary , and as the first native born Governor...
- January 1, 1961 - July 1, 1969 Ralph Moses PaiewonskyRalph Moses PaiewonskyRalph Moses Paiewonsky was a businessman and politician who served as the ninth civilian governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1961-1969....
- (1969 - 1970 Melvin Herbert Evans, continued as first elected governor)
Elected Governors (1970-Present)
| Tenure | Governor | Party |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 1969 - January 6, 1975 | Melvin Herbert Evans Melvin H. Evans Melvin Herbert Evans was the first elected Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, serving from 1969 to 1975. After serving as governor he was delegate from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1981.Evans was born in Christiansted in... |
Republican Republican Party of the Virgin Islands The Republican Party is a political party in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was founded in 1948 by a committee led by Roy Gordon as a successor to the Republican Club of the Virgin Islands founded in 1924 by Adolph Achille Gereau.... |
| January 6, 1975 - January 2, 1978 | Cyril Emmanuel King Cyril E. King Cyril Emanuel King was the second elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands, serving from 1975 until his death in 1978.... |
Independent Citizens Movement Independent Citizens Movement The Independent Citizens Movement is a conservative political party in the U.S. Virgin Islands that was founded by Virdin C. Brown and Steve O'Reilly in 1968. Its symbol is the torch.- Early history:... |
| January 2, 1978 - January 5, 1987 | Juan Francisco Luis Juan Francisco Luis Juan Francisco Luis was a U.S. Virgin Island politician who served as the third elected Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the territory's 23rd Governor overall. Luis assumed the governorship on January 2, 1978, succeeding Governor Cyril King, who died in office... |
Independent Citizens Movement Independent/Nonpartisan after Jan. 1979 |
| January 5, 1987 - January 2, 1995 | Alexander Anthony Farrelly Alexander A. Farrelly Alexander Anthony Farrelly was the governor of the United States Virgin Islands serving from 1987 to 1995.Farrelly graduated from St. John's University, Queens, New York in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in law... |
Democratic Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands The Democratic Party is a political party in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It won the gubernatorial elections of 2006 when its candidate John de Jongh was elected with 57.3 %.At the last elections, 7 November 2006, the party won 8 out of 15 seats.... |
| January 2, 1995 - January 4, 1999 | Roy Lester Schneider Roy L. Schneider Roy Lester Schneider is a physician in the United States Virgin Islands who served as governor of that territory from January 5, 1995 to January 4, 1999. He was the fifth elected governor of that territory and the 25th overall.-Biography:... |
Independent |
| January 4, 1999 - January 1, 2007 | Charles Wesley Turnbull Charles Wesley Turnbull Charles Wesley Turnbull , was the 26th Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.He was born on St. Thomas. Prior to being elected in 1998, he was a professor at the University of the Virgin Islands, Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of the territorial Department of Education, principal and... |
Democratic |
| January 1, 2007 – Present | John de Jongh John de Jongh John Percy de Jongh, Jr. is the current Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.-Life and career:de Jongh was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child he attended Sts. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas. After his parents' divorce, he lived with his mother in Detroit, Michigan while his mother did... |
Democratic |
Living former governors
, three former governors were alive, the oldest being John David MerwinJohn David Merwin
John David Merwin is a former politician of the United States Virgin Islands who served in that territory's Legislature, as Government Secretary , and as the first native born Governor...
(1958–1961, born 1921). Merwin is also the only living appointed governor of the territory. The most recent governor to die was Juan Francisco Luis
Juan Francisco Luis
Juan Francisco Luis was a U.S. Virgin Island politician who served as the third elected Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the territory's 23rd Governor overall. Luis assumed the governorship on January 2, 1978, succeeding Governor Cyril King, who died in office...
(1978-1987), on June 4, 2011.
| Name | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| John David Merwin John David Merwin John David Merwin is a former politician of the United States Virgin Islands who served in that territory's Legislature, as Government Secretary , and as the first native born Governor... |
1958-1961 (appointed) | September 26, 1921 |
| Roy Lester Schneider Roy L. Schneider Roy Lester Schneider is a physician in the United States Virgin Islands who served as governor of that territory from January 5, 1995 to January 4, 1999. He was the fifth elected governor of that territory and the 25th overall.-Biography:... |
1995–1999 | May 13, 1939 |
| Charles Wesley Turnbull Charles Wesley Turnbull Charles Wesley Turnbull , was the 26th Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.He was born on St. Thomas. Prior to being elected in 1998, he was a professor at the University of the Virgin Islands, Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of the territorial Department of Education, principal and... |
1999–2007 | February 5, 1935 |