Delaware's Governors

By: Russell S. Pickett
( All weblinks within this document are "Blue" )

      The information presented here has been researched & compiled by myself and is not in any way to be considered an "official version" presented by the Government of the State of Delaware.  Any question or comments concerning its content should be directed to me via email by "Clicking Here".
      There are multiple lists below for you to view:  The first list displays a heading and each governor in order by date of office.  If you click on the "heading" for each group it will display all Governors from that time period.  However you can also click on a Governor's name below the heading and get a quick link to each individual should you choose to only read about certain Governors.  Below these listings are other multiple lists that I hope you enjoy.
      There are also "multiple" links (highlighted in "blue") on almost each Governor's individual record that will provide you with even more information on them.
      If anyone has a picture of a Governor, their home, grave site, or more detailed informtion on them personally please send me the info that your have via email by "Clicking Here".. Thanks for visiting my "Delaware Governor's Page" and please let me know if you see anything that needs to be changed.

Last Governor To Pass Away:


" Russell W. Peterson "

October 3, 1916   -   February 21, 2011

" Click Here "
for introduction information to the Delaware Governors!

( " Click here for entire listing in this date series " )
( " Or Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

John McKinly        ( 1^st - February 12, 1777 to September 3, 1777 )

Thomas McKean        ( 2^nd - September 22, 1777 to October 20, 1777 - Assumed Term )

George Read, Sr.        ( 3^rd - October 20, 1777 to March 31, 1778 - Assumed Term )

Caesar Rodney        ( 4^th - March 31, 1778 to November 6, 1781 )

John Dickinson        ( 5^th - November 13, 1781 to November 4, 1782 )

John Cook        ( 6^th - November 4, 1782 to February 1, 1783 - Assumed Term )

Nicholas Van Dyke, Sr.        ( 7^th - February 1, 1783 to October 27, 1786 )

Thomas Collins        ( 8^th - October 28, 1786 to March 29, 1789 )

John (Jehu) Davis        ( 9^th - March 29, 1789 to June 2, 1789 - Assumed Term )

Joshua Clayton        ( 10^th - February 1, 1783 to October 27, 1786 )

Joshua Clayton        ( 11^th - February 1, 1783 to October 27, 1786 )

Gunning Bedford, Sr.        ( 12^th - January 19, 1796 to September 28, 1797 )

Daniel Rogers        ( 13^th - September 28, 1797 to January 15, 1799 - Assumed Term )

Richard Bassett        ( 14^th - January 15, 1799 to February 20, 1801 )

( " Click here for entire listing in this date series " )
( " Or Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

James Sykes        ( 15^th - March 4, 1801 to January 19, 1802 - Assumed Term )

David Hall        ( 16^th - January 19, 1802 to January 15, 1805 )

Nathaniel Mitchell        ( 17^th - January 15, 1805 to January 19, 1808 )

George Truitt        ( 18^th - January 19, 1808 to January 15, 1811 )

Joseph Haslet        ( 19^th - January 15, 1811 to January 18, 1814 )

Daniel Rodney        ( 20^th - January 18, 1814 to January 21, 1817 )

John Clark        ( 21^th - January 21, 1817 to January 15, 1820 )

Henry Molleston        ( Died before taking oath of office )

Jacob Stout        ( 22^nd - January 18, 1820 to January 16, 1821 - Assumed Term )

John Collins        ( 23^rd - January 16, 1821 to April 16, 1822 )

Caleb Rodney        ( 24^th - April 23, 1822 to January 21, 1823 - Assumed Term )

Joseph Haslet        ( 25^th - January 21, 1823 to June 20, 1823 )

Charles Thomas        ( 26^th - June 24, 1823 to January 20, 1824 - Assumed Term )

Samuel Paynter        ( 27^th - January 20, 1824 to January 16, 1827 )

Charles Polk        ( 28^th - January 16, 1827 to January 19, 1830 )

David Hazzard        ( 29^th - January 19, 1830 to January 15, 1833 )

Caleb P. Bennett        ( 30^th - January 15, 1833 to July 11, 1836 )

Charles Polk        ( 31^st - July 11, 1836 to January 17, 1837 - Assumed Term )

Cornelius P. Comegys        ( 32^nd - January 17, 1837 to January 19, 1841 )

William B. Cooper        ( 33^rd - January 19, 1841 to January 21, 1845 )

Thomas Stockton        ( 34^th - January 21, 1845 to March 2, 1846 )

Joseph Maull        ( 35^th - March 2, 1846 to May 3, 1846 - Assumed Term )

William Temple        ( 36^th - May 6, 1846 to January 19, 1847 - Assumed Term )

William Tharp        ( 37^th - January 19, 1847 to January 21, 1851 )

( " Click here for entire listing in this date series " )
( " Or Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

William H. H. Ross        ( 38^th - January 21,1851 to January 16, 1855 )

Peter F. Causey        ( 39^th - January 16, 1855 to January 18, 1859 )

William Burton        ( 40^th - January 18, 1859 to January 20, 1863 )

William Cannon        ( 41^st - January 20, 1863 to March 1, 1865 )

Gove Saulsbury        ( 42^nd - March 1, 1865 to January 15, 1867 - Assumed Term )

Gove Saulsbury        ( 43^rd - January 15, 1867 to January 17, 1871 )

James Ponder        ( 44^th - January 17, 1871 to January 19, 1875 )

John P. Cochran        ( 45^th - January 19, 1875 to January 21, 1879 )

John Hall        ( 46^nd - January 21, 1879 to January 16, 1883 )

Charles C. Stockley        ( 47^th - January 16, 1883 to January 18, 1887 )

Benjamin T. Biggs        ( 48^th - January 18, 1887 to January 20, 1891 )

Robert J. Reynolds        ( 49^th - January 20, 1891 to January 15, 1895 )

Joshua H. Marvil        ( 50^th - January 15, 1895 to April 8, 1895 )

William T. Watson        ( 51^st - April 8, 1895 to January 19, 1897 - Assumed Term )

Ebe W. Tunnell        ( 52^nd - January 19, 1897 to January 15, 1901 )

( " Click here for entire listing in this date series " )
( " Or Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

John Hunn        ( 53^rd - January 15,1901 to January 17, 1905 )

Preston Lea        ( 54^th - January 17, 1905 to January 19, 1909 )

Simon S. Pennewill        ( 55^th - January 19, 1909 to January 21, 1913 )

Charles R. Miller        ( 56^th - January 21, 1913 to January 16, 1917 )

John G. Townsend, Jr.        ( 57^th - January 16, 1917 to January 18, 1921 )

William d. Denney        ( 58^th - January 18, 1921 to January 20, 1925 )

Robert P. Robinson        ( 59^th - January 20, 1925 to January 15, 1929 )

C. Douglass Buck, Sr.        ( 60^th - January 15, 1929 to January 16, 1933 - 1^st Term )

C. Douglass Buck, Sr.        ( 61^st - January 16, 1933 to January 19, 1937 - 2^nd Term )

Richard C. McMullen        ( 62^nd - January 19, 1937 to January 21, 1941 )

Walter W. Bacon        ( 63^rd - January 21, 1941 to January 19, 1945 - 1^st Term )

Walter W. Bacon        ( 64^th - January 19, 1945 to January 18, 1949 - 2^nd Term )

( " Click here for entire listing in this date series " )
( " Or Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

Elbert N. Carvel        ( 65^th - January 18, 1949 to January 20, 1953 - 1^st Term )

J. Caleb Boggs        ( 66^th - January 20, 1953 to January 18, 1957 - 1^st Term )

J. Caleb Boggs        ( 67^th- January 18, 1957 to December 30, 1960 - 2^nd Term )

David P. Buckson        ( 68^th - December 30, 1960 to January 17, 1961 - Assumed Term )

Elbert N. Carvel        ( 69^th - January 17, 1961 to January 19, 1965 - 2^nd Term )

Charles L. Terry, Jr.        ( 70^th - January 19, 1965 to January 21, 1969 )

Russell W. Peterson        ( 71^st - January 21, 1969 to January 16, 1973 )

Sherman W. Tribbitt        ( 72^nd - January 16, 1973 to January 18, 1977 )

Pierre S. du Pont, IV        ( 73^rd - January 18, 1977 to January 20, 1981 - 1^st Term )

Pierre S. du Pont, IV        ( 74^th - January 20, 1981 to January 15, 1985 - 2^nd Term )

Michael N. Castle        ( 75^th - January 15, 1985 to January 20, 1989 - 1^st Term )

Michael N. Castle        ( 76^th - January 20, 1989 to December 31, 1992 - 2^nd Term )

Dale E. Wolf        ( 77^th - December 31, 1992 to January 19, 1993 - Assumed Term )

Thomas R. Carper        ( 78^th - January 19, 1993 to January 20, 1997 - 1^st Term )

Thomas R. Carper        ( 79^th - January 20, 1997 to January 3, 2001 - 2^nd Term )

Ruth Ann Minner        ( 80^th - January 3, 2001 to January 16, 2001 - Assumed Term )

Ruth Ann Minner        ( 81^st - January 16, 2001 to January 20, 2009 )

Jack Markell        ( 82^nd - January 20, 2009 to Present )

( " Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

John McKinly        ( Only Governor born in a Foreign Country )

Henry Molleston        ( Only Governor to die before taking oath of office )

Joseph Haslet        ( Only individual to run for Governor four times )

Joshua H. Marvil        ( Last Governor to die in office )

Caleb P. Bennett        ( Oldest Governor to be inaugurated - Age 74 )

Elbert N. Carvel        ( Oldest surviving Governor - Currently 93 years old )

William Temple        ( Youngest Governor to serve in office - Age 31 )

William Ross        ( Youngest Governor elected to office - Age 36 )



Thomas Collins        ( 1st Governor to pass away while in office )

John Davis        ( 1st Governor to assume the Governor's office after a death )

Caesar Rodney        ( 1st Governor to serve longer than 7 months )

Caesar Rodney        ( 1st Governor to be born in Delaware )

Joshua Clayton        ( 1st Governor elected by popular vote )

Joseph Haslet        ( 1st Governor to serve a non-consecutive 2nd term )

John Collins        ( 1st Governor that held no previous political office )

Caleb P. Bennett        ( 1st Governor elected to a 4 year term )

Cornelius P. Comegys        ( 1st Governor to serve a full 4 year term )

John Hunn        ( 1st Governor to have a Lt. Governor )

Charles R. Miller        ( 1st Governor to have a Lt. Governor of a different party )

Charles L. Terry, Jr.        ( 1st Governor to use "Woodburn" )

Sherman W. Tribbitt        ( 1st Governor to reside in "Woodburn" fulltime )

Ruth Ann Minner        ( 1st female Governor )

Caesar Rodney        ( 1st Governor from Kent County )

John McKinly        ( 1st Governor from New Castle County )

Daniel Rogers        ( 1st Governor from Sussex County )

Thomas McKean        ( 1st Speaker of the House to assume Governor's Office )

George Read, Sr.        ( 1st Speaker of the Senate to assume Governor's Office )

( " Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

Thomas Collins        ( 1^st - Passed away on March 29, 1789 )

Gunning Bedford, Sr.        ( 2^nd - Passed away on September 28, 1797 )

John Collins        ( 3^rd - Passed away on April 16, 1822 )

Joseph Haslet        ( 4^th - Passed away on June 20, 1823 )

Caleb Prew Bennett        ( 5^th - Passed away on July 11, 1836 )

Thomas Stockton        ( 6^th - Passed away on March 2, 1846 )

Joseph Maull        ( 7^th - Passed away on May 3, 1846 )

William Cannon        ( 8^th - Passed away on March 1, 1865 )

Joshua Hopkins Marvil        ( 9^th - Passed away on April 8, 1895 )

( " Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

Joshua Clayton        ( 10^th & 11^th - June 2, 1789 to January 19, 1796 )

Gove Saulsbury        ( 42^nd & 43^rd - March 1, 1865 to January 17, 1871 - Assumed 1^st term )

C. Douglass Buck        ( 60^th & 61^st - January 15, 1929 to January 19, 1937 )

Walter W. Bacon        ( 63^rd & 64^th - January 21, 1941 to January 18, 1949 )

J. Caleb Boggs        ( 66^th & 67^th- January 20, 1953 to December 30, 1960 )

Pierre S. du Pont        ( 73^rd & 74^th - January 18, 1977 to January 15, 1985 )

Michael N. Castle        ( 75^th & 76^th - January 15, 1985 to December 31, 1992 )

Thomas R. Carper        ( 78^th & 79^th - January 19, 1993 to January 3, 2001 )

Ruth Ann Minner        ( 80^th & 81^st - January 3, 2001 to January 20, 2009 )

Jack Markell        ( 82^nd & 83^rd - January 20, 2009 to present )

( " Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )
Joseph Haslet ( 19^th Governor - January 15, 1811 to January 18, 1814 )
( 25^th Governor - January 21, 1823 to June 20, 1823 )
Charles Polk ( 28^th Governor - January 16, 1827 to January 19, 1830 )
( 31^st Governor - July 11, 1836 to January 17, 1837 - Assumed Term of Gov. Caleb P. Bennett )
Elbert N. Carvel ( 65^th Governor - January 18, 1949 to January 20, 1953 )
( 69^th Governor - January 17, 1961 to January 19, 1965 )

( " Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

|   Caesar Rodney   |   John Cook   |   Nicholas Van Dyke, Sr.   |   Thomas Collins   |
|   Gunning Bedford, Sr.   |   James Sykes   |   David Hall   |   Nathaniel Mitchell   |
|   George Truitt   |   Joseph Haslet   |   Daniel Rodney   |   John Clark   |
|   Henry Molleston   |   Jacob Stout   |   John Collins   |   Caleb Rodney   |
|   Charles Thomas   |   Samuel Paynter   |   Charles Polk   |   William Cooper   |
|   Thomas Stockton   |   Joseph Maull   |   William Tharp   |   William Ross   |
|   Peter F. Causey   |   William Burton   |   William Cannon   |   Gove Saulsbury   |
|   James Ponder   |   John P. Cochran   |   John Hall   |   Charles C. Stockley   |
|   Robert J. Reynolds   |   Joshua H. Marvil   |   William T. Watson   |
|   Ebe W. Tunnell   |   John Hunn   |   Preston Lea   |   Simon S. Pennewill   |
|   William Denney   |   Robert P. Robinson   |   C. Douglass Buck   |
|   Richard C. McMullen   |   Walter W. Bacon   |   J. Caleb Boggs   |
|   David P. Buckson   |   Charles L. Terry, Jr.   |   Pierre S. du Pont   |
|   Michael N. Castle   |   Ruth Ann Minner   |   Jack Markell   |

( " Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

|   Caesar Rodney   |   John Cook   |   Thomas Collins   |   John Davis   |
|   Richard Bassett   |   James Sykes   |   George Truitt   |   Henry Molleston   |
|   Jacob Stout   |   Charles Polk   |   Cornelius Comegys   |   William Temple   |
|   William Tharp   |   Gove Saulsbury   |   John Hall   |   Robert J. Reynolds   |
|   William T. Watson   |   John Hunn   |   William Denney   |   David P. Buckson   |
|   Charles L. Terry, Jr.   |   Ruth Ann Minner   |

( " Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

|   John McKinly   |   Thomas McKean   |   George Read, Sr.   |   John Dickinson   |
|   Nicholas Van Dyke, Sr.   |   Joshua Clayton   |   Gunning Bedford, Sr.   |
|   John Clark   |   Charles Thomas   |   Caleb P. Bennett   |   Thomas Stockton   |
|   John P. Cochran   |   Benjamin T. Biggs   |   Preston Lea   |   Charles R. Miller   |
|   Robert P. Robinson   |   C. Douglass Buck   |   Richard C. McMullen   |
|   Walter W. Bacon   |   J. Caleb Boggs   |   Russell W. Peterson   |
|   Sherman W. Tribbitt   |   Pierre S. du Pont   |   Michael N. Castle   |   Dale E. Wolf   |
|   Thomas R. Carper   |   Jack Markell   |

( " Click on each Governor's individual name below for detailed information on them " )

|   Daniel Rogers   |   David Hall   |   Nathaniel Mitchell   |   Joseph Haslet   |
|   Daniel Rodney   |   John Collins   |   Caleb Rodney   |   Samuel Paynter   |
|   Charles Polk|   David Hazzard   |   William Cooper   |   Joseph Maull   |
|   William Ross   |    Peter F. Causey   |   William Burton   |   William Cannon   |
|   James Ponder   |    Charles C. Stockley   |   Joshua H. Marvil   |   Ebe W. Tunnell   |
|   Simon S. Pennewill   |   John G. Townsend, Jr.   |   Elbert N. Carvel   |

Woodburn, The Governor's House
Delaware's Past & Current Lieutenant Governor
Delaware's Past & Current U. S. Senators
Delaware's Past & Current U. S. Representative

Email any questions to:
Russ Pickett
Click Here
Last update: Sunday, November 11, 2012