Mississippi: Territorial Governors: 1798-1817 Governor of the Mississippi Territory [1] 18 Aug 1798 - 7 May 1801 Winthrop Sargent [2] Secretary, exercising the powers, and performing the duties of Governor of the Mississippi Territory 7 May 1801 - 23 Nov 1801 John Steele [3] Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Mississippi Territory [1] 23 Nov 1801 - 2 Oct 1804 William Charles Cole Claiborne [4][5] Secretary of the Mississippi Territory, acting as Governor of the same [6] 2 Oct 1804 - 10 May 1805 Cato West Governor of the Mississippi Territory 10 May 1805 - 3 Mar 1809 Robert Williams Secretary, exercising the powers, and performing the duties of Governor of the Mississippi Territory [7] 3 Mar 1809 - 30 Jun 1809 Thomas Hill Williams Governor of the Mississippi Territory 30 Jun 1809 - 7 Oct 1817 David Holmes [8] [1] The commissions issued for the appointment refer to the office as Governor in and over the Mississippi Territory. [2] The commission issued by the President of the United States on 7 May 1798 was delivered to Sargent residing at Cincinnati, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 28 May 1798. Sargent arrived to Natchez, the seat of government of Mississippi 6 Aug 1798 and assumed the functions of governor 18 Aug 1798. [3] Steel exercised the functions of Governor from 3 Apr 1801 to 23 Nov 1801, the period which elapsed between the departure of Sargent from, and the arrival of Clairborne to Natchez. The term of Sargent expired on 7 May 1801. [4] The commission issued by the President of the United States on 25 May 1801 was delivered to Claiborne residing at Nashville, Tennessee, 2 Aug 1801. Claiborne arrived to Natchez, the seat of government of Mississippi and assumed the functions of governor 23 Nov 1801. [5] Also in Louisiana. [6] Also in official use: Secretary, exercising the powers, and performing the duties of Governor of the Mississippi Territory. [7] Also in official use: Secretary of the Mississippi Territory, exercising the powers, and performing the duties of Governor thereof. [8] The commission appointing Holmes Governor of the Mississippi Territory was signed by the President of the United States on 7 Mar 1809. Holmes took oath of office 9 Mar 1809 in Washington, D.C., and arrived to Natchez, the seat of government of Mississippi, 30 Jun 1809. Last updated on: 15 Dec 2017 21:00:00
