The governor of Tennessee is the head of government of the U.S. state of Tennessee.
Tennessee has had 50 governors, including the incumbent, Bill Lee. Seven governors (John Sevier, William Carroll, Andrew Johnson, Robert Love Taylor, Gordon Browning, Frank G. Clement, and Buford Ellington) have served non-consecutive terms. This tally does not include William Blount (the territorial governor) or Robert L. Caruthers (who never took office), though the Blue Book includes them in its list of governors. All governors are counted only once, regardless of number of terms served (e.g., John Sevier is considered the 1st governor, rather than the 1st and 3rd governor). The Blue Book does not include Edward H. East in its list of governors.
List of governors
Southwest Territory
The Territory South of the Ohio River, commonly known as the Southwest Territory, was organized on May 26, 1790.
Throughout its 6-year history, Southwest Territory had only one governor appointed by the federal government, William Blount.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Governor of the Territory Southwest of the River Ohio
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2"|Governor
!scope="col"|Term in office
!scope="col"|Appointed by
|- style="height:2em;"
|75px
|William Blount<br /><br>
|June 8, 1790<br />–<br />March 28, 1796<br>
|George Washington
|}
State of Tennessee
Southwest Territory was admitted to the Union as Tennessee on June 1, 1796.
The first constitution of Tennessee, enacted in 1796, set a term of two years for the governor and provided that no person could serve as governor for more than 6 years in any 8-year period. The term of office was lengthened to four years, without the possibility of consecutive terms, by constitutional amendments adopted in 1953. Under the current provisions of the state constitution, as amended in 1978, the governor is elected to a four-year term and may serve no more than two terms consecutively.
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible sticky-header-multi" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Governors of the State of Tennessee
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|
!scope="colgroup" colspan="3"|Governor
!scope="col"|Term in office
!scope="col"|Party
!scope="col"|Election
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2"|Lt. Governor
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|1
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Sevier, John"|75px
|rowspan="16" style="background: ;"|
|rowspan="3"|John Sevier<br><br>
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />September 23, 1801<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic-<br>Republican
|1796
|colspan="2" rowspan="83" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Office did not exist
|- style="height:2em;"
|1797
|- style="height:2em;"
|1799
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|2
|data-sort-value="Roane, Archibald"|75px
|Archibald Roane<br><br>
|<br />–<br />September 23, 1803<br>
|Democratic-<br>Republican
|1801
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|1
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Sevier, John"|75px
|rowspan="3"|John Sevier<br><br>
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />September 27, 1815<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic-<br>Republican
|1809
|- style="height:2em;"
|1811
|- style="height:2em;"
|1813
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|4
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="McMinn, Joseph"|75px
|rowspan="3"|Joseph McMinn<br><br>
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />October 1, 1821<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic-<br>Republican
|1815
|- style="height:2em;"
|1817
|- style="height:2em;"
|1819
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|5
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Carroll, William"|75px
|rowspan="3"|William Carroll<br><br>
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />October 1, 1827<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic-<br>Republican
|1821
|- style="height:2em;"
|1823
|- style="height:2em;"
|1825
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|6
|data-sort-value="Houston, Sam"|75px
|rowspan="5" style="background: ;"|
|Sam Houston<br><br>
|<br />–<br />April 16, 1829<br>
|Democratic
|1827
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|7
|data-sort-value="Hall, William"|75px
|William Hall<br><br>
|<br />–<br />October 1, 1829<br>
|Democratic
|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|5
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Carroll, William"|75px
|rowspan="3"|William Carroll<br><br><br />–<br />October 12, 1835<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic
|1829
|- style="height:2em;"
|1831
|- style="height:2em;"
|1833
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|8
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Cannon, Newton"|75px
|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|Newton Cannon<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />October 14, 1839<br>
|rowspan="2"|Whig
|1835
|- style="height:2em;"
|1837
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|9
|data-sort-value="Polk, James"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|James K. Polk<br><br>
|<br />–<br />October 14, 1841<br>
|Democratic
|1839
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|10
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Jones, James"|75px
|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|James C. Jones<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />October 15, 1845<br>
|rowspan="2"|Whig
|1841
|- style="height:2em;"
|1843
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|11
|data-sort-value="Brown, Aaron"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|Aaron V. Brown<br><br>
|<br />–<br />October 17, 1847<br>
|Democratic
|1845
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|12
|data-sort-value="Brown, Neill"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|Neill S. Brown<br><br>
|<br />–<br />October 16, 1849<br>
|Whig
|1847
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|13
|data-sort-value="Trousdale, William"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|William Trousdale<br><br>
|<br />–<br />October 16, 1851<br>
|Democratic
|1849
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|14
|data-sort-value="Campbell, William"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|William B. Campbell<br><br>
|<br />–<br />October 17, 1853<br>
|Whig
|1851
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|15
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Johnson, Andrew"|75px
|rowspan="5" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|Andrew Johnson<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />November 3, 1857<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1853
|- style="height:2em;"
|1855
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|16
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Harris, Isham"|75px
|rowspan="3"|Isham G. Harris<br><br>
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />March 12, 1862<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic
|1857
|- style="height:2em;"
|1859
|- style="height:2em;"
|1861
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|15
|data-sort-value="Johnson, Andrew"|75px
|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background:;"|
|Andrew Johnson<br><br> he arrived in Nashville on March 12.<br />–<br />March 4, 1865<br>
|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|—
|data-sort-value="East, Edward"|75px
|Edward H. East<br><br>
|<br />–<br />April 5, 1865<br>
|—
|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|17
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Brownlow, William"|75px
|rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|Parson Brownlow<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />February 25, 1869<br>
|rowspan="2"|Republican
|1865
|- style="height:2em;"
|1867
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|18
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Senter, Dewitt"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Dewitt Clinton Senter<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />October 10, 1871<br>
|rowspan="2"|Republican
|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|
|- style="height:2em;"
|1869
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|19
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Brown, John"|75px
|rowspan="5" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|John C. Brown<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 18, 1875<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1870
|- style="height:2em;"
|1872
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope"row"|20
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Porter, James"|75px
|rowspan="2"|James D. Porter<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />February 16, 1879<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1874
|- style="height:2em;"
|1876
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope"row"|21
|data-sort-value="Marks, Albert"|75px
|Albert S. Marks<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 17, 1881<br>
|Democratic
|1878
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope"row"|22
|data-sort-value="Hawkins, Alvin"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|Alvin Hawkins<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 15, 1883<br>
|Republican
|1880
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope"row"|23
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Bate, William"|75px
|rowspan="15" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|William B. Bate<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 17, 1887<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1882
|- style="height:2em;"
|1884
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope"row"|24
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Taylor, Robert"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Robert Love Taylor<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 19, 1891<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1886
|- style="height:2em;"
|1888
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope"row"|25
|data-sort-value="Buchanan, John"|75px
|John P. Buchanan<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 16, 1893<br>
|Democratic
|1890
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope"row"|26
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Turney, Peter"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Peter Turney<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 21, 1897<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1892
|- style="height:2em;"
|1894
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|24
|data-sort-value="Taylor, Robert"|75px
|Robert Love Taylor<br><br><br />–<br />January 16, 1899<br>
|Democratic
|1896
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope"row"|27
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="McMillin, Benton"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Benton McMillin<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 20, 1903<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1898
|- style="height:2em;"
|1900
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope"row"|28
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Frazier, James"|75px
|rowspan="2"|James B. Frazier<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />March 27, 1905<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1902
|- style="height:2em;"
|1904
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope"row"|29
|data-sort-value="Cox, John"|75px
|John I. Cox<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 17, 1907<br>
|Democratic
|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope"row"|30
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Patterson, Maclolm"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Malcolm R. Patterson<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 25, 1911<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1906
|- style="height:2em;"
|1908
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|31
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Hooper, Ben"|75px
|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|Ben W. Hooper<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 15, 1915<br>
|rowspan="2"|Republican
|1910
|- style="height:2em;"
|1912
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|32
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Rye, Thomas"|75px
|rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|Thomas Clarke Rye<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 15, 1919<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1914
|- style="height:2em;"
|1916
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|33
|data-sort-value="Roberts, Albert"|75px
|Albert H. Roberts<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 15, 1921<br>
|Democratic
|1918
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|34
|data-sort-value="Taylor, Alfred"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|Alfred A. Taylor<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 16, 1923<br>
|Republican
|1920
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|35
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Peay, Austin"|75px
|rowspan="22" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="3"|Austin Peay<br><br>
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />October 2, 1927<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic
|1922
|- style="height:2em;"
|1924
|- style="height:2em;"
|1926
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|36
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Horton, Henry"|75px
|rowspan="3"|Henry Hollis Horton<br><br>
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />January 17, 1933<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic
|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|
|- style="height:2em;"
|1928
|- style="height:2em;"
|1930
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|37
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="McAlister, Hill"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Hill McAlister<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 15, 1937<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1932
|- style="height:2em;"
|1934
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|38
|data-sort-value="Browning, Gordon"|75px
|Gordon Browning<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 16, 1939<br>
|Democratic
|1936
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"scope="rowgroup"|39
|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Cooper, Prentice"|75px
|rowspan="3"|Prentice Cooper<br><br>
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />January 16, 1945<br>
|rowspan="3"|Democratic
|1938
|- style="height:2em;"
|1940
|- style="height:2em;"
|1942
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|40
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="McCord, Jim"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Jim Nance McCord<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 17, 1949<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1944
|- style="height:2em;"
|1946
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|38
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Browning, Gordon"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Gordon Browning<br><br><br />–<br />January 15, 1953<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1948
|- style="height:2em;"
|1950
|rowspan="16" style="background: ;"|
|
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|41
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Clement, Frank"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Frank G. Clement<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 19, 1959<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|1952
|rowspan="2"|
|- style="height:2em;"
|1954
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|42
|data-sort-value="Ellington, Buford"|75px
|Buford Ellington<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 15, 1963<br>
|Democratic
|1958
|
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|41
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Clement, Frank"|75px
|rowspan="2"|Frank G. Clement<br><br><br />–<br />January 16, 1967<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|rowspan="2"|1962
|
|- style="height:2em;"
|
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|42
|data-sort-value="Ellington, Buford"|75px
|Buford Ellington<br><br><br />–<br />January 16, 1971<br>
|Democratic
|1966
|
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|43
|data-sort-value="Dunn, Winfield"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|Winfield Dunn<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 18, 1975<br>
|Republican
|1970
|rowspan="9"|
|- style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|44
|data-sort-value="Blanton, Ray"|75px
|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|Ray Blanton<br><br>
|<br />–<br />January 17, 1979<br>
|Democratic
|1974
|- style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|45
|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Alexander, Lamar"|75px
|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|
|rowspan="2"|Lamar Alexander<br><br>
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 17, 1987<br>
|rowspan="2"|Republican
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 21, 1995<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 18, 2003<br>
|rowspan="2"|Republican
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />January 15, 2011<br>
|rowspan="2"|Democratic
|rowspan="3"|<br />–<br />January 19, 2019<br>
|rowspan="3"|Republican
|rowspan="2"|<br />–<br />Incumbent
|rowspan="2"|Republican