List of Governors of Louisiana

Governor of Louisiana ; Gouverneurs de Louisiane
	Great Seal of the State of Louisiana
	Incumbent; John Bel Edwards; since January 11, 2016
Style	The Honorable
Residence	Louisiana Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Precursor	Governor of Orleans Territory
Inaugural holder	William C. C. Claiborne
Formation	April 30, 1812; (206 years ago)
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
Salary	US$130,000 per year; (2013)
Website	Official Website

This is a list of the Governors of Louisiana (French: Gouverneurs de Louisiane), from acquisition by the United States in 1803 to the present day. For earlier governors of Louisiana see List of colonial governors of Louisiana.

The longest-serving Governor is Edwin Edwards, who served for 16 years from (1972-1980; 1984-1988; 1992-1996).

GovernorsEdit

Governor of Orleans TerritoryEdit

In 1803, Europe was about to become involved in a continental war. The French Empire, led by Napoleon, had begun an aggressive expansionist policy which challenged the interests of United Kingdom. When the Haitian Revolution, with British support, overthrew the French colonial rule on that island, the French Empire began reorganizing its military. To finance this, Napoleon sold the colony of Louisiana to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. From 1804 to 1812, the lower area, which would eventually become the modern state, was known as the "Territory of Orleans". The vast area to the north and west of the Mississippi River was called the "Louisiana Territory".

Governor of the Territory of Orleans
Governor		Term in office	Appointed by
	William C. C. Claiborne	December 20, 1803^[a] – July 30, 1812	Thomas Jefferson
	William C. C. Claiborne	December 20, 1803^[a] – July 30, 1812	James Madison

Governors of LouisianaEdit

Governors of the State of Louisiana
No.		Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor^[b]
1	William C. C. Claiborne	July 30, 1812 – December 17, 1816	Democratic- Republican	1812 ^[c]	Office did not exist
2	Jacques Villeré	December 17, 1816 – December 18, 1820	Democratic- Republican	1816
3	Thomas B. Robertson	December 18, 1820 – November 15, 1824	Democratic- Republican	1820 ^[d]
4	Henry S. Thibodaux	November 15, 1824 – December 13, 1824	Democratic- Republican	1820 ^[d]
5	Henry Johnson	December 13, 1824 – December 15, 1828	Democratic- Republican	1824
6	Pierre Derbigny	December 15, 1828 – October 6, 1829	National Republican	1828 ^[e]
7	Armand Beauvais	October 6, 1829 – January 14, 1830	National Republican
8	Jacques Dupré	January 14, 1830 – January 31, 1831	National Republican
9	Andre B. Roman	January 31, 1831 – February 4, 1835	National Republican	1830
10	Edward Douglass White Sr.	February 4, 1835 – February 4, 1839	Whig	1834
9	Andre B. Roman	February 4, 1839 – January 30, 1843	Whig	1838
11	Alexandre Mouton	January 30, 1843 – February 12, 1846	Democratic	1842
12	Isaac Johnson	February 12, 1846 – January 28, 1850	Democratic	1846		Trasimond Landry
13	Joseph Marshall Walker	January 28, 1850 – January 18, 1853	Democratic	1849 ^[f]		Jean Baptiste Plauché
14	Paul Octave Hébert	January 18, 1853 – January 22, 1856	Democratic	1852 ^[f]		William W. Farmer (died October 29, 1854)
14	Paul Octave Hébert	January 18, 1853 – January 22, 1856	Democratic	1852 ^[f]		Robert C. Wickliffe
15	Robert C. Wickliffe	January 22, 1856 – January 23, 1860	Democratic	1855		Charles Homer Mouton (resigned 1856)
15	Robert C. Wickliffe	January 22, 1856 – January 23, 1860	Democratic	1855		William F. Griffin
16	Thomas Overton Moore	January 23, 1860 – January 25, 1864	Democratic	1859 ^[g]		Henry M. Hyams
17	George Foster Shepley	July 2, 1862 – March 4, 1864	Military	— (Union)^[g]^[h]	Vacant
18	Henry Watkins Allen	January 25, 1864 – June 2, 1865	Democratic	1863 (Confederate)^[g]^[i]		Benjamin W. Pearce
19	Michael Hahn	March 4, 1864 – March 4, 1865	Republican	1864 (Union)^[g]^[j]		James Madison Wells
20	James Madison Wells	March 4, 1865 – June 3, 1867	Republican	1864 (Union)^[g]^[j]	Vacant
20	James Madison Wells	March 4, 1865 – June 3, 1867	Republican	1865 ^[g]^[k]		Albert Voorhies^[l]
21	Benjamin Flanders	June 3, 1867 – January 8, 1868	Republican		Vacant
22	Joshua Baker	January 8, 1868 – June 27, 1868	Democratic		Vacant
23	Henry C. Warmoth	June 27, 1868 – December 9, 1872	Republican	1868 ^[m]		Oscar Dunn (died November 22, 1871)
23	Henry C. Warmoth	June 27, 1868 – December 9, 1872	Republican			P. B. S. Pinchback
24	P. B. S. Pinchback	December 9, 1872 – January 13, 1873	Republican		Vacant
25	John McEnery	January 13, 1873 – May 22, 1873	Democratic	1872 ^[n]		Davidson B. Penn
26	William Pitt Kellogg	January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877	Republican	1872 ^[n]		Caesar Antoine
27	Stephen B. Packard	January 8, 1877 – April 25, 1877	Republican	1876 ^[o]		Caesar Antoine
28	Francis T. Nicholls	January 8, 1877 – January 14, 1880	Democratic	1876 ^[o]		Louis A. Wiltz
29	Louis A. Wiltz	January 14, 1880 – October 16, 1881	Democratic	1879 ^[p]		Samuel D. McEnery
30	Samuel D. McEnery	October 16, 1881 – May 20, 1888	Democratic			William A. Robertson (removed December 24, 1881)
						George L. Walton
				1884		Clay Knobloch
28	Francis T. Nicholls	May 20, 1888 – May 10, 1892	Democratic	1888		James Jeffries
31	Murphy J. Foster	May 10, 1892 – May 8, 1900	Democratic	1892		Charles Parlange (resigned December 11, 1893)
						Hiram R. Lott (died June 2, 1895)
						Robert H. Snyder
				1896		Robert H. Snyder
32	William Wright Heard	May 8, 1900 – May 10, 1904	Democratic	1900		Albert Estopinal
33	Newton C. Blanchard	May 10, 1904 – May 20, 1908	Democratic	1904		Jared Y. Sanders Sr.
34	Jared Y. Sanders Sr.	May 20, 1908 – May 14, 1912	Democratic	1908		Paul M. Lambremont
35	Luther E. Hall	May 14, 1912 – May 9, 1916	Democratic	1912		Thomas C. Barret
36	Ruffin Pleasant	May 9, 1916 – May 11, 1920	Democratic	1916		Fernand Mouton
37	John M. Parker	May 11, 1920 – May 13, 1924	Democratic	1920		Hewitt Bouanchaud (resigned April 12, 1924)
37	John M. Parker	May 11, 1920 – May 13, 1924	Democratic	1920		Delos R. Johnson
38	Henry L. Fuqua	May 13, 1924 – October 11, 1926	Democratic	1924 ^[q]		Oramel H. Simpson
39	Oramel H. Simpson	October 11, 1926 – May 21, 1928	Democratic	1924 ^[q]		Philip H. Gilbert
40	Huey Long	May 21, 1928 – January 25, 1932	Democratic	1928 ^[r]		Paul N. Cyr (removed March 4, 1931)
40	Huey Long	May 21, 1928 – January 25, 1932	Democratic			Alvin Olin King
41	Alvin Olin King	January 25, 1932 – May 10, 1932	Democratic		Vacant
42	Oscar K. Allen	May 10, 1932 – January 28, 1936	Democratic	1932 ^[s]		John B. Fournet (resigned January 2, 1935)
42	Oscar K. Allen	May 10, 1932 – January 28, 1936	Democratic			James A. Noe
43	James A. Noe	January 28, 1936 – May 12, 1936	Democratic		Vacant
44	Richard W. Leche	May 12, 1936 – June 26, 1939	Democratic	1936 ^[t]		Earl Long
45	Earl Long	June 26, 1939 – May 14, 1940	Democratic	1936 ^[t]		Coleman Lindsey
46	Sam H. Jones	May 14, 1940 – May 9, 1944	Democratic	1940		Marc M. Mouton
47	Jimmie Davis	May 9, 1944 – May 11, 1948	Democratic	1944		J. Emile Verret
45	Earl Long	May 11, 1948 – May 13, 1952	Democratic	1948		Bill Dodd
48	Robert F. Kennon	May 13, 1952 – May 8, 1956	Democratic	1952		C. E. "Cap" Barham
45	Earl Long	May 8, 1956 – May 10, 1960	Democratic	1956		Lether Frazar
47	Jimmie Davis	May 10, 1960 – May 12, 1964	Democratic	1959–60		Taddy Aycock
49	John McKeithen	May 12, 1964 – May 9, 1972	Democratic	1963–64
49	John McKeithen	May 12, 1964 – May 9, 1972	Democratic	1967
50	Edwin Edwards	May 9, 1972 – March 10, 1980	Democratic	1971–72		Jimmy Fitzmorris
50	Edwin Edwards	May 9, 1972 – March 10, 1980	Democratic	1975		Jimmy Fitzmorris
51	Dave Treen	March 10, 1980 – March 12, 1984	Republican	1979		Bobby Freeman
50	Edwin Edwards	March 12, 1984 – March 14, 1988	Democratic	1983		Bobby Freeman
52	Buddy Roemer	March 14, 1988 – January 13, 1992	Democratic	1987		Paul Hardy
50	Edwin Edwards	January 13, 1992 – January 8, 1996	Democratic	1991		Melinda Schwegmann
53	Mike Foster	January 8, 1996 – January 12, 2004	Republican	1995		Kathleen Blanco
53	Mike Foster	January 8, 1996 – January 12, 2004	Republican	1999		Kathleen Blanco
54	Kathleen Blanco	January 12, 2004 – January 14, 2008	Democratic	2003		Mitch Landrieu (resigned May 3, 2010)
55	Bobby Jindal	January 14, 2008 – January 11, 2016	Republican	2007		Mitch Landrieu (resigned May 3, 2010)
						Scott Angelle
						Jay Dardenne (elected November 22, 2010)
				2011		Jay Dardenne (elected November 22, 2010)
56	John Bel Edwards	January 11, 2016 – Present	Democratic	2015 ^[u]		Billy Nungesser

NotesEdit

^ Claiborne received his commission on October 31, 1803, and proclaimed the acquisition of Louisiana in New Orleans on this date.^[3]
^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
^ Louisiana became a state on April 30, 1812, but Claiborne was not sworn in as state governor until July 30.^[4]
^ Robertson resigned to take a joint seat on the United States District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana; as president of the senate, Thibodaux assumed the duties of governor.
^ Derbigny died in office; as president of the senate, Beauvais assumed the duties of governor until his term as president ended, at which time the new president, Dupre, assumed the duties. Sources disagree on why Beauvais' term ended; some say he lost his bid to be reelected as senate president,^[5], while others say he resigned so that he could run for governor.^[6]
^ ^a ^b While all sources state Walker resigned due to objections to the 1852 constitution,^[7]^[8]^[9] there is no mention made of Hébert taking office early; it's possible that Walker's resignation was a symbolic one of protest on his last day, or that it was so close to the end of the term that Hébert simply took office then. No known source elaborates.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e The area around New Orleans was captured by the Union on April 25, 1862. The control was enough that it operated within the United States as the legitimate state of Louisiana, electing members to the United States House of Representatives. With both governments being considered legitimate, both lines are included in all lists of governors. The schism ended when the Confederate governor fled and the whole state came under Union control.
^ Shepley was appointed military governor by General Benjamin Butler.
^ Allen fled to Mexico to avoid capture following the American Civil War.
^ Hahn resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate; however, congressmen from the Confederate states were denied their seats in the 39th United States Congress. As lieutenant governor, Wells became governor.
^ Wells was removed from office by General Philip Sheridan for failing to properly implement Reconstruction reforms. Flanders was appointed by Sheridan to replace Wells, but later resigned due to Major General Winfield Scott Hancock's removing Radical Republicans that Flanders had appointed to positions in state government. Hancock then appointed Baker to replace Flanders.
^ Represented the Democratic Party.
^ During the 1872 election, Warmoth endorsed John McEnery for governor, and the State Returning Board, which he appointed, declared McEnery the winner. However, a rival board declared William Pitt Kellogg the winner, and the legislature impeached Warmoth on charges related to the election. Impeached officials are suspended from office, so at this time, Pinchback filled the office. The term expired only 35 days later, at which point impeachment charges were dropped, as Warmoth was no longer governor.
^ The State Election Board certified McEnery as the winner of the 1872 election; however, a rival board declared Kellogg the winner, and the legislature went with that. Both McEnery and Kellogg declared victory and formed governments, and conflict culminated in the Battle of Liberty Place and the Colfax massacre. President Ulysses S. Grant issued a proclamation on May 22, 1873, declaring Kellogg the winner.^[10]^[11]
^ Much like the 1872 election, this election was disputed. Both Packard and Nicholls declared victory and formed governments, until President Rutherford B. Hayes recognized Nicholls as governor in the Compromise of 1877.^[12]
^ Wiltz died in office; as lieutenant governor, McEnery replaced him.
^ Fuqua died in office; as lieutenant governor, Simpson replaced him.
^ Long was elected to the United States Senate for a term beginning March 4, 1931; however, he did not take the seat until January 25, 1932. This was in part to prevent Cyr from replacing him as governor. When the senate term began, Cyr took the oath of office as governor and claimed the office; however, Long called this illegitimate, and said that by taking the oath of office of the governor, he had resigned from being lieutenant governor. This opened the way for the president pro tempore of the senate, King, to become lieutenant governor, and ultimately succeed Long. Cyr continued to claim the office of governor on and off until 1932, but ultimately lacked recognition.^[13]^[14]
^ Allen died in office; as lieutenant governor, Noe replaced him.
^ Leche resigned due to scandals; as lieutenant governor, Long replaced him.
^ Bel Edwards's first term expires January 13, 2020.

ReferencesEdit

^ "Louisiana Constitution of 1974" (PDF). Article IV, section 3. A person who has served as governor for more than one and one-half terms in two consecutive terms shall not be elected governor for the succeeding term.
^ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
^ "Claiborne, Proclamation to the People of New Orleans, 1803". Humanities Texas. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
^ Brown, Everett Somerville (1920). The Constitutional History of the Louisiana Purchase, 1803-1812. University of California Press. p. 195. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
^ "Armand Beauvais". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
^ "Armand Julie Beauvais". Secretary of State of Louisiana. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
^ "Joseph Marshall Walker". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ "Joseph M. Walker". Secretary of State of Louisiana. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ White, J. T. (1900). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. 10. p. 77. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ "William Pitt Kellogg is officially named Governor of Louisiana by President Grant". University of Richmond. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ "Statutes of the United States of America passed at the First Session of the Forty-Third Congress". United States Government Printing Office. p. 293. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ Kelman, Ari (April 24, 2008). ""The Surrender Complete"". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ "Alvin Olin King". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ "Alvin O. King". Secretary of State of Louisiana. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

External linksEdit

[4] Claiborne received his commission on October 31, 1803, and proclaimed the acquisition of Louisiana in New Orleans on this date.^[3]

[5] Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.

[7] Louisiana became a state on April 30, 1812, but Claiborne was not sworn in as state governor until July 30.^[4]

[8] Robertson resigned to take a joint seat on the United States District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana; as president of the senate, Thibodaux assumed the duties of governor.

[11] Derbigny died in office; as president of the senate, Beauvais assumed the duties of governor until his term as president ended, at which time the new president, Dupre, assumed the duties. Sources disagree on why Beauvais' term ended; some say he lost his bid to be reelected as senate president,^[5], while others say he resigned so that he could run for governor.^[6]

[walker-15] While all sources state Walker resigned due to objections to the 1852 constitution,^[7]^[8]^[9] there is no mention made of Hébert taking office early; it's possible that Walker's resignation was a symbolic one of protest on his last day, or that it was so close to the end of the term that Hébert simply took office then. No known source elaborates.

[schism-16] The area around New Orleans was captured by the Union on April 25, 1862. The control was enough that it operated within the United States as the legitimate state of Louisiana, electing members to the United States House of Representatives. With both governments being considered legitimate, both lines are included in all lists of governors. The schism ended when the Confederate governor fled and the whole state came under Union control.

[17] Shepley was appointed military governor by General Benjamin Butler.

[18] Allen fled to Mexico to avoid capture following the American Civil War.

[19] Hahn resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate; however, congressmen from the Confederate states were denied their seats in the 39th United States Congress. As lieutenant governor, Wells became governor.

[wells-20] Wells was removed from office by General Philip Sheridan for failing to properly implement Reconstruction reforms. Flanders was appointed by Sheridan to replace Wells, but later resigned due to Major General Winfield Scott Hancock's removing Radical Republicans that Flanders had appointed to positions in state government. Hancock then appointed Baker to replace Flanders.

[lt-dem-21] Represented the Democratic Party.

[22] During the 1872 election, Warmoth endorsed John McEnery for governor, and the State Returning Board, which he appointed, declared McEnery the winner. However, a rival board declared William Pitt Kellogg the winner, and the legislature impeached Warmoth on charges related to the election. Impeached officials are suspended from office, so at this time, Pinchback filled the office. The term expired only 35 days later, at which point impeachment charges were dropped, as Warmoth was no longer governor.

[25] The State Election Board certified McEnery as the winner of the 1872 election; however, a rival board declared Kellogg the winner, and the legislature went with that. Both McEnery and Kellogg declared victory and formed governments, and conflict culminated in the Battle of Liberty Place and the Colfax massacre. President Ulysses S. Grant issued a proclamation on May 22, 1873, declaring Kellogg the winner.^[10]^[11]

[27] Much like the 1872 election, this election was disputed. Both Packard and Nicholls declared victory and formed governments, until President Rutherford B. Hayes recognized Nicholls as governor in the Compromise of 1877.^[12]

[28] Wiltz died in office; as lieutenant governor, McEnery replaced him.

[29] Fuqua died in office; as lieutenant governor, Simpson replaced him.

[32] Long was elected to the United States Senate for a term beginning March 4, 1931; however, he did not take the seat until January 25, 1932. This was in part to prevent Cyr from replacing him as governor. When the senate term began, Cyr took the oath of office as governor and claimed the office; however, Long called this illegitimate, and said that by taking the oath of office of the governor, he had resigned from being lieutenant governor. This opened the way for the president pro tempore of the senate, King, to become lieutenant governor, and ultimately succeed Long. Cyr continued to claim the office of governor on and off until 1932, but ultimately lacked recognition.^[13]^[14]

[33] Allen died in office; as lieutenant governor, Noe replaced him.

[34] Leche resigned due to scandals; as lieutenant governor, Long replaced him.

[35] Bel Edwards's first term expires January 13, 2020.

[1] "Louisiana Constitution of 1974" (PDF). Article IV, section 3. A person who has served as governor for more than one and one-half terms in two consecutive terms shall not be elected governor for the succeeding term.

[2] "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.

[3] "Claiborne, Proclamation to the People of New Orleans, 1803". Humanities Texas. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

[6] Brown, Everett Somerville (1920). The Constitutional History of the Louisiana Purchase, 1803-1812. University of California Press. p. 195. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

[9] "Armand Beauvais". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

[10] "Armand Julie Beauvais". Secretary of State of Louisiana. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

[12] "Joseph Marshall Walker". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

[13] "Joseph M. Walker". Secretary of State of Louisiana. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

[14] White, J. T. (1900). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. 10. p. 77. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

[23] "William Pitt Kellogg is officially named Governor of Louisiana by President Grant". University of Richmond. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

[24] "Statutes of the United States of America passed at the First Session of the Forty-Third Congress". United States Government Printing Office. p. 293. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

[26] Kelman, Ari (April 24, 2008). ""The Surrender Complete"". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

[30] "Alvin Olin King". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

[31] "Alvin O. King". Secretary of State of Louisiana. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

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