Kentucky: State Governors: 1792-1867 - Archontology
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Kentucky: State Governors: 1792-1867

Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
4 Jun 1792 - 31 May 1796 Isaac Shelby [1]
1 Jun 1796 - 5 Sep 1804 James Garrard
5 Sep 1804 - 1 Sep 1808 Christopher Greenup
1 Sep 1808 - 25 Aug 1812 Charles Scott
25 Aug 1812 - 5 Sep 1816 Isaac Shelby 
5 Sep 1816 - 14 Oct 1816 George Madison
Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (ex officio)
21 Oct 1816 - 6 Sep 1820 Gabriel Slaughter [2]
Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
6 Sep 1820 - 24 Aug 1824 John Adair
24 Aug 1824 - 26 Aug 1828 Joseph Desha
26 Aug 1828 - 4 Sep 1832 Thomas Metcalfe
4 Sep 1832 - 21 Feb 1834 John Breathitt
Lieutenant and Acting Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
22 Feb 1834 - 30 Aug 1836 James Turner Morehead [3]
Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
30 Aug 1836 - 27 Aug 1839 James Clark
Lieutenant and Acting Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
5 Sep 1839 - 2 Sep 1840 Charles Anderson Wickliffe [4]
Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
2 Sep 1840 - 4 Sep 1844 Robert Perkins Letcher
4 Sep 1844 - 6 Sep 1848 William Owsley
6 Sep 1848 - 30 Jul 1850 John Jordan Crittenden
31 Jul 1850 - 2 Sep 1851 John LaRue Helm [5]
2 Sep 1851 - 4 Sep 1855 Lazarus Whitehead Powell
4 Sep 1855 - 30 Aug 1859 Charles Slaughter Morehead
30 Aug 1859 - 18 Aug 1862 Beriah Magoffin [6]
18 Aug 1862 - 1 Sep 1863 James Fisher Robinson
1 Sep 1863 - 3 Sep 1867 Thomas Elliott Bramlette
3 Sep 1867 - 8 Sep 1867 John LaRue Helm 
  1. According to the Constitution of 1792, the term of Shelby commenced on 1 Jun 1792, but he took the oath of office on 4 Jun 1792.
  2. George Madison died on 14 Oct 1816. The functions of Governor devolved on the Lieutenant Governor Slaughter who took the oath of office on 21 Oct 1816.
  3. John Breathitt died on 21 Feb 1834. The functions of Governor devolved on the Lieutenant Governor Morehead who took the oath of office on 22 Feb 1834.
  4. James Clark died on 27 Aug 1839. The functions of Governor devolved on the Lieutenant Governor Wickliffe who took the oath of office on 5 Sep 1839.
  5. The resignation of Crittenden took effect on 30 Jul 1850. The office of the Lieutenant Governor being vacant, the functions of Governor devolved on the Speaker of the Senate Helm who took the oath of office on 31 Jul 1850.
  6. Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (in dissidence)
    • 20 Nov 1861 - Feb 1862
    • George Washington Johnson