List of governors of Alabama
This is a list of the governors of U.S. state Alabama.
| Governor of Alabama | |
|---|---|
Seal of the Governor | |
Standard of the Governor | |
| Style |
|
| Status | |
| Residence | Alabama Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Precursor | Governor of Alabama Territory |
| Inaugural holder | William Wyatt Bibb |
| Formation | December 14, 1819 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Alabama |
| Salary | $119,950 (2013)[1] |
| Website | http://www.governor.state.al.us |
List of governors
| No.[b] | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor[c][d] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Wyatt Bibb | November 9, 1819[e] – July 10, 1820[3] (died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
1819 | Office did not exist | |||
| 2 | Thomas Bibb | July 10, 1820[f] – November 9, 1821 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
Succeeded from President of the Senate | ||||
| 3 | Israel Pickens | November 9, 1821 – November 25, 1825 (term limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1821 | ||||
| 1823 | ||||||||
| 4 | John Murphy | November 25, 1825 – November 25, 1829 (term limited) |
Jackson Democrat |
1825 | ||||
| 1827 | ||||||||
| 5 | Gabriel Moore | November 25, 1829 – March 3, 1831 (resigned)[g] |
Jackson Democrat |
1829 | ||||
| 6 | Samuel B. Moore | March 3, 1831 – November 26, 1831 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from President of the Senate | ||||
| 7 | John Gayle | November 26, 1831 – November 21, 1835 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1831 | ||||
| 1833 | ||||||||
| 8 | Clement Comer Clay | November 21, 1835 – July 17, 1837[h] (resigned)[i] |
Democratic | 1835 | ||||
| 9 | Hugh McVay | July 17, 1837[h] – November 21, 1837[8] (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from President of the Senate | ||||
| 10 | Arthur P. Bagby | November 21, 1837[8] – November 22, 1841 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1837 | ||||
| 1839 | ||||||||
| 11 | Benjamin Fitzpatrick | November 22, 1841 – December 10, 1845 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1841 | ||||
| 1843 | ||||||||
| 12 | Joshua L. Martin | December 10, 1845 – December 16, 1847 (withdrew from election)[j] |
Independent[k] | 1845 | ||||
| 13 | Reuben Chapman | December 16, 1847 – December 17, 1849 (lost renomination)[l] |
Democratic | 1847 | ||||
| 14 | Henry W. Collier | December 17, 1849 – December 20, 1853 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1849 | ||||
| 1851 | ||||||||
| 15 | John A. Winston | December 20, 1853 – December 1, 1857 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1853 | ||||
| 1855 | ||||||||
| 16 | Andrew B. Moore | December 1, 1857 – December 2, 1861 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1857 | ||||
| 1859 | ||||||||
| 17 | John Gill Shorter | December 2, 1861 – December 1, 1863 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1861 | ||||
| 18 | Thomas H. Watts | December 1, 1863 – May 3, 1865[m] (arrested and removed)[n] |
Whig[o] | 1863 | ||||
| — | Vacant | May 3, 1865[m] – June 21, 1865 |
— | Office vacated after civil war | ||||
| 19 | Lewis E. Parsons | June 21, 1865 – December 13, 1865 (provisional term ended) |
—[p] | Provisional governor appointed by President[q] | ||||
| 20 | Robert M. Patton | December 13, 1865 – July 14, 1868[r] (not candidate for election) |
Pre-War Whig[s] | 1865[t] | ||||
| — | Wager Swayne | March 2, 1867[u] – January 11, 1868[v] (removed)[21] |
— | Military occupation[t] | ||||
| 21 | William Hugh Smith | July 14, 1868[r] – November 26, 1870[w] (lost election) |
Republican | 1868 | ||||
| Andrew J. Applegate (took office August 13, 1868) (died August 21, 1870) | ||||||||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 22 | Robert B. Lindsay | November 26, 1870 – November 25, 1872[x] (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1870[w] | Edward H. Moren | |||
| 23 | David P. Lewis | November 17, 1872[x] – November 24, 1874 (lost election)[24] |
Republican | 1872 | Alexander McKinstry | |||
| 24 | George S. Houston | November 24, 1874 – November 27, 1878[y] (not candidate for election)[z] |
Democratic | 1874 | Robert F. Ligon | |||
| 1876 | Office did not exist | |||||||
| 25 | Rufus W. Cobb | November 27, 1878[y] – December 1, 1882 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1878 | ||||
| 1880 | ||||||||
| 26 | Edward A. O'Neal | December 1, 1882 – December 1, 1886 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1882 | ||||
| 1884 | ||||||||
| 27 | Thomas Seay | December 1, 1886 – December 1, 1890 (not candidate for election)[aa] |
Democratic | 1886 | ||||
| 1888 | ||||||||
| 28 | Thomas G. Jones | December 1, 1890 – December 1, 1894 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1890 | ||||
| 1892 | ||||||||
| 29 | William C. Oates | December 1, 1894 – December 1, 1896 (not candidate for election)[ab] |
Democratic | 1894 | ||||
| 30 | Joseph F. Johnston | December 1, 1896 – December 1, 1900 (not candidate for election)[ac] |
Democratic | 1896 | ||||
| 1898 | ||||||||
| — | William D. Jelks | December 1, 1900 – December 26, 1900 (acting) |
Democratic | 1900[ad] | ||||
| 31 | William J. Samford | December 1, 1900 – June 11, 1901 (died in office) |
Democratic | |||||
| 32 | William D. Jelks | June 11, 1901 – January 14, 1907 (term limited) |
Democratic | Succeeded from President of the Senate | ||||
| 1902[ae] | Russell McWhortor Cunningham (acted as governor April 25, 1904–March 5, 1905)[af] | |||||||
| 33 | B. B. Comer | January 14, 1907[ag] – January 16, 1911 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1906 | Henry B. Gray | |||
| 34 | Emmet O'Neal | January 17, 1911[ag] – January 18, 1915 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1910 | Walter D. Seed Sr. | |||
| 35 | Charles Henderson | January 19, 1915[ag] – January 20, 1919 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1914 | Thomas Kilby | |||
| 36 | Thomas Kilby | January 21, 1919[ag] – January 15, 1923 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1918 | Nathan Lee Miller | |||
| 37 | William W. Brandon | January 16, 1923[ag] – January 17, 1927 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1922 | Charles S. McDowell (acted as governor July 10, 1924–July 11, 1924)[ah] | |||
| 38 | Bibb Graves | January 18, 1927[ag] – January 19, 1931 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1926 | William C. Davis | |||
| 39 | Benjamin M. Miller | January 20, 1931[ag] – January 14, 1935 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1930 | Hugh Davis Merrill | |||
| 40 | Bibb Graves | January 15, 1935[ag] – January 16, 1939 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1934 | Thomas E. Knight (died May 17, 1937) | |||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 41 | Frank M. Dixon | January 17, 1939[ag] – January 18, 1943 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1938 | Albert A. Carmichael | |||
| 42 | Chauncey Sparks | January 19, 1943[ag] – January 20, 1947 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1942 | Leven H. Ellis | |||
| 43 | Jim Folsom | January 21, 1947[ag] – January 15, 1951 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1946 | James C. Inzer | |||
| 44 | Gordon Persons | January 16, 1951[ag] – January 17, 1955 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1950 | James Allen | |||
| 45 | Jim Folsom | January 18, 1955[ag] – January 19, 1959 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1954 | William G. Hardwick | |||
| 46 | John Malcolm Patterson | January 20, 1959[ag] – January 14, 1963 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1958 | Albert Boutwell | |||
| 47 | George Wallace | January 15, 1963[ag] – January 16, 1967 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1962 | James Allen | |||
| 48 | Lurleen Wallace | January 17, 1967[ag] – May 7, 1968 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1966 | Albert Brewer (acted as governor July 25, 1967)[ai] | |||
| 49 | Albert Brewer | May 7, 1968 – January 18, 1971 (lost renomination)[aj] |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
| 50 | George Wallace | January 19, 1971[ag] – January 15, 1979 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1970 | Jere Beasley (acted as governor June 5, 1972–July 7, 1972)[ak] | |||
| 1974 | ||||||||
| 51 | Fob James | January 16, 1979[ag] – January 17, 1983 (lost renomination)[al] |
Democratic | 1978 | George McMillan | |||
| 52 | George Wallace | January 18, 1983[ag] – January 19, 1987 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1982 | Bill Baxley | |||
| 53 | H. Guy Hunt | January 20, 1987[ag] – April 22, 1993 (resigned)[am] |
Republican | 1986 | Jim Folsom Jr.[an] | |||
| 1990 | ||||||||
| 54 | Jim Folsom Jr. | April 22, 1993 – January 16, 1995 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
| 55 | Fob James | January 17, 1995[ag] – January 18, 1999 (lost election)[38] |
Republican | 1994 | Don Siegelman[an] | |||
| 56 | Don Siegelman | January 19, 1999[ag] – January 20, 2003 (lost election)[38] |
Democratic | 1998 | Steve Windom[ao] | |||
| 57 | Bob Riley | January 21, 2003[ag] – January 17, 2011 (term limited) |
Republican | 2002 | Lucy Baxley[an] | |||
| 2006 | Jim Folsom Jr.[an] | |||||||
| 58 | Robert J. Bentley | January 18, 2011[ag] – April 10, 2017 (resigned)[ap] |
Republican | 2010 | Kay Ivey | |||
| 2014 | ||||||||
| 59 | Kay Ivey | April 10, 2017 – present[aq] |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
| 2018 | Will Ainsworth | |||||||
Living former Governors of Alabama
As of March 2026, there are seven living former Governors of Alabama, the oldest being Fob James, who served as the 48th and 51st Governor of Alabama (served 1979-1983, 1995-1999), at 91. The most recent death of a former governor was that of John M. Patterson (served 1959-1963) on June 4, 2021.[ar]
Jere Beasley
(June 5-July 7, 1972)
Born December 12, 1935
(age 90 years, 178 days)Fob James
(1979-1983)
Born September 15, 1934
(age 91 years, 266 days)Jim Folsom Jr.
(1993-1995)
Born May 14, 1949
(age 77 years, 25 days)Fob James
(1995-1999)
Born September 15, 1934
(age 91 years, 266 days)Don Siegelman
(1999-2003)
Born February 24, 1946
(age 80 years, 104 days)Bob Riley
(2003-2011)
Born October 3, 1944
(age 81 years, 248 days)Robert J. Bentley
(2011-2017)
Born February 3, 1943
(age 84 years, 125 days)
List Of Governors Of Alabama Media
Seal for use by the governor-elect
Governor's flag before 1939
References
- ↑ CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries (June 25, 2013)The Council of State Governments. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Alabama GovernorsAlabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ↑ Died. Hillsborough, North Carolina. August 16, 1820. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33761662/william_w_bibb_died/. Retrieved July 11, 2019. "On Monday morning the 10th ultimo, at his residence near Fort Jackson, his excellency William W. Bibb, governor and commander in chief of the state of Alabama".
- ↑ Thomas BibbNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ Gabriel MooreNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ Clement Comer ClayNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ United States Congress. CLAY, Clement Comer (id: C000481). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Inauguration". Voice of Sumter (Livingston, Alabama). November 28, 1837. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/320982339/. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ↑ No title. Washington, Arkansas. August 4, 1847. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33796112/martin_withdraws_from_1847_election/. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- ↑ Joshua Lanier MartinNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ Reuben ChapmanNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ The Latest by Telegraph. Leavenworth, Kansas. May 25, 1865. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33764121/watts_arrested/. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ↑ Gov. Watts Arrested. Raleigh, North Carolina. May 30, 1865. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33764163/the_daily_progress/. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Thomas Hill WattsNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ Thomas Hill WattsAlabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ↑ Thornton, J. Mills. Politics and Power in a Slave Society: Alabama, 1800–1860 (2014)LSU Press. p. 440–441. ISBN 9780807159156. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ↑ Alexander, Thomas. Persistent Whiggery in the Confederate South, 1860-1877. The Journal of Southern History 27 (3) (August 1961). p. 305–329. doi:10.2307/2205211.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lewis Eliphalet ParsonsNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Robert Miller PattonNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ Robert Miller PattonAlabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Wager T. Swayne. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ↑ White, James Terry. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (1900)James T. White & Company. p. 435. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
- ↑ Politics in Alabama. Baltimore. November 26, 1872. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33775772/alabama_governor_lewis_inaugurated/. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ↑ David Peter LewisNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ George Smith HoustonNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ Governor Cobb. Huntsville, Alabama. November 28, 1878. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33775921/alabama_governor_cobb_inaugurated/. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ↑ Sobel p. 22
- ↑ Sobel p. 24
- ↑ Joseph Forney JohnstonAlabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ↑ William Dorsey JelksAlabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ↑ Russell CunninghamAlabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ↑ Oberhaus v. State ex rel. McNamara, [https://books.google.com/books?id=pVotAQAAMAAJ pp. 483–499
- ↑ White, David (January 17, 2011). "Robert Bentley ready to take office as next Alabama governor". The Birmingham News. http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/01/bentley_ready_to_take_office_a.html. Retrieved December 10, 2018. "Bentley under state law won't officially be governor until just after the stroke of midnight Tuesday morning.".
- ↑ Owen, Thomas McAdory. Alabama Official and Statistical Register (1979)Alabama Department of Archives & History. p. 17. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ↑ Sobel p. 39
- ↑ Forrest Hood JamesNational Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ Nossiter, Adam (12 June 1997). "Ex-Gov. Hunt of Alabama Cleared by Pardon Board". The New York Times: 18. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/12/us/ex-gov-hunt-of-alabama-cleared-by-pardon-board.html. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Don Siegelman (1999-2003)Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ↑ Blinder, Alan (10 April 2017). "Robert Bentley, Alabama Governor, Resigns Amid Scandal". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/us/robert-bentley-alabama-governor.html. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
Notes
- ↑ Data is sourced from the Alabama Department of Archives and History, unless supplemental references are required.
- ↑ Repeat governors are officially numbered only once;[2] subsequent terms are marked with their original number italicized.
- ↑ The office of Lieutenant Governor was created in the 1868 constitution, abolished in the 1875 Constitution, and recreated in the 1901 Constitution.
- ↑ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- ↑ Bibb was inaugurated on November 9, even though Alabama did not formally become a state until December 14.[2]
- ↑ Multiple sources state that Thomas Bibb did not succeed William Wyatt Bibb until either July 15[4] or July 25.[2] It is unknown if this was the formal inauguration, or if a vacancy existed in the office; it is assumed that succession was automatic, as per the constitution, and that Thomas Bibb's term began on July 10.
- ↑ Moore resigned to take office in the United States Senate.[5]
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sources disagree on the exact date McVay succeeded Clay, with the Alabama Department of Archives and History and National Governors Association mentioning both July 16 and July 17, though July 17 is used more prominently. Further confusing matters, the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress says that Clay's term in the United States Senate began on June 19.[7]
- ↑ Clay resigned to take office in the United States Senate.[6]
- ↑ Martin withdrew in the final days of the election.[9] It is unknown if his name still appeared on the ballot, but no sources list any votes recorded for him.
- ↑ Martin was a Democrat who opposed party leaders and ran as an independent.[10]
- ↑ Chapman lost the Democratic nomination to Henry W. Collier.[11]
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Though modern sources say Watts was captured on May 1, contemporary news sources report he was arrested on May 3.[12][13]
- ↑ Watts was arrested by Union forces soon after the American Civil War ended; he was released a few weeks later.[14][15]
- ↑ Sources disagree on Watts' party; the Alabama Department of Archives and History says Democratic,[2] but most others say Whig.[14][16][17]
- ↑ Parsons was appointed and therefore did not run for office under a party; he was a member of the Democratic Party.[18]
- ↑ Parsons was appointed provisional governor by the Union occupation.[18]
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Some sources say Patton left office on July 24, after Smith was sworn in on July 14;[19][2] it is unknown what would cause this discrepancy.
- ↑ Patton later switched to the Republican Party, but ran as a Whig.[19]
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 The United States Congress stripped Patton of most of his authority in March 1867, after which time the state was effectively under the control of Major General Swayne.[19]
- ↑ The date given for Swayne is the date of the first Reconstruction Act, which placed Alabama into the Third Military District; all references only say "March 1867"[19] and "when the Reconstruction Acts were passed".[20]
- ↑ In December 1867, President Andrew Johnson ordered the removal of Major General Swayne, and he was replaced on January 11, 1868, by Major General Julius Hayden.[21]
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lindsay was sworn into office on November 26, 1870, but Smith refused to leave his seat for two weeks, claiming Lindsay was fraudulently elected; he finally left office on December 8, 1870, when a court so ordered.[22]
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 All modern sources say Lewis took office on November 17; however, all contemporary news sources say it was on November 25.[23]
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 All modern sources say Cobb took office on November 28; however, all contemporary news sources say it was on November 27.[26]
- ↑ Houston instead successfully ran for United States Senate.[25]
- ↑ Seay instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[27]
- ↑ Oates instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[28]
- ↑ Johnston instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[29]
- ↑ At the start of Samford's term, he was out of state seeking medical treatment; as president of the senate, Jelks acted as governor in his absence. Samford later died in office, and Jelks succeeded him.[30]
- ↑ First term under the 1901 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.
- ↑ Jelks was out of state for medical treatment for nearly a year; as lieutenant governor, Cunningham acted as governor in his absence.[31]
- ↑ 33.00 33.01 33.02 33.03 33.04 33.05 33.06 33.07 33.08 33.09 33.10 33.11 33.12 33.13 33.14 33.15 33.16 33.17 33.18 33.19 33.20 33.21 33.22 33.23 The constitutional start date for 1911 was January 16. However, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in the case of Oberhaus v. State ex rel. McNamara that, regardless of when the swearing in took place, B. B. Comer's term did not end until the end of Monday, and Emmet O'Neal's term did not begin until the first minute of the next day.[32] This precedent appears to have quietly continued, as contemporary news coverage of Robert J. Bentley's inauguration noted he would not officially take office until midnight.[33] Therefore, governors since 1911 that served to the end of their term are noted as leaving office on Monday, and their successor taking office on Tuesday. It is assumed this did not apply ex post facto to terms between when the constitutional date was established in 1901, and the court ruling in 1911.
- ↑ Brandon was out of state for 21 days as a delegate to the 1924 Democratic National Convention; as lieutenant governor, McDowell acted as governor for two days.[2]
- ↑ Wallace was out of state for 20 days for medical treatment; as lieutenant governor, Brewer became acting governor on July 25, 1967; Wallace returned to the state later that day.[2][34]
- ↑ Brewer lost the Democratic Party nomination to George Wallace.[35]
- ↑ Wallace was out of state for 52 days for medical treatment following an assassination attempt while campaigning for President of the United States; as lieutenant governor, Beasley acted as governor for 32 days.[2]
- ↑ James lost the Democratic nomination to George Wallace.[36]
- ↑ Hunt was forced to resign upon being convicted of illegally using campaign and inaugural funds to pay personal debts; he was later pardoned by the state parole board.[37]
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 Represented the Democratic Party
- ↑ Represented the Republican Party
- ↑ Bentley resigned from office as part of a plea deal involving campaign violations.[39]
- ↑ Ivey's first full term began on January 15, 2019, and will expire on January 16, 2023.
- ↑ Beasley had served as acting Governor from June 5 to July 7, 1972 while Governor George Wallace was incapacitated after an assassination attempt on May 15, 1972.
