List of governors of Alabama

Governor of Alabama
Governor of Alabama
	Seal of the Governor
	Standard of the Governor
	Incumbent; Kay Ivey; since April 10, 2017
Style	Governor; (informal); The Honorable; (formal);
Status	Head of state; Head of government;
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	$127,833 (2022)[1]
Website	http://www.governor.state.al.us

The governor of Alabama is the head of government of the U.S. state of Alabama. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Alabama's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws.

There have officially been 54 governors of the state of Alabama; this official numbering skips acting and military governors.[2] The first governor, William Wyatt Bibb, served as the only governor of the Alabama Territory. Five people have served as acting governor, bringing the total number of people serving as governor to 59, spread over 63 distinct terms. Four governors have served multiple non-consecutive terms: Bibb Graves, Jim Folsom, and Fob James each served two, and George Wallace served three non-consecutive periods. Officially, these non-consecutive terms are numbered only with the number of their first term. William D. Jelks also served non-consecutive terms, but his first term was in an acting capacity.

The longest-serving governor was George Wallace, who served 16 years over four terms. The shortest term for a non-acting governor was that of Hugh McVay, who served four and a half months after replacing the resigning Clement Comer Clay. Lurleen Wallace, wife of George Wallace, was the first woman to serve as governor of Alabama, and the third woman to serve as governor of any state. The current governor is Republican Kay Ivey, who took office on April 10, 2017 following Governor Robert J. Bentley's court-mandated resignation following a guilty plea-deal amidst a corruption scandal. She is the second female governor of Alabama.

Governors

Governor of the Territory of Alabama

Alabama Territory was formed on March 3, 1817, from Mississippi Territory. It had only one governor appointed by the President of the United States before it became a state; he became the first state governor.

Governor of the Territory of Alabama
Governor		Term in office	Appointed by
	William Wyatt Bibb October 2, 1781 – July 10, 1820 (aged 38)	March 6, 1817[lower-alpha 1] – November 9, 1819[lower-alpha 2]	James Monroe

Governors of the State of Alabama

Seal for use by the Governor-Elect

Governor's Flag before 1939

Alabama was admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. It seceded from the Union on January 11, 1861, and was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861. Following the end of the American Civil War, Alabama during Reconstruction was part of the Third Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. Alabama was readmitted to the Union on July 14, 1868.

The first Alabama Constitution, ratified in 1819, provided that a governor be elected every two years, limited to serve no more than 4 out of every 6 years.[4] This limit remained in place until the constitution of 1868, which simply allowed governors to serve terms of two years.[5] The current constitution of 1901 increased terms to four years,[6] but prohibited governors from succeeding themselves.[7] Amendment 282 to the constitution, passed in 1968, allowed governors to succeed themselves once; a governor serving two consecutive terms can run again after waiting out the next term.[8] The constitution had no set date for the commencement of a governor's term until 1901, when it was set at the first Monday after the second Tuesday in the January following an election.[7] However, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in 1911 that a governor's term ends at midnight at the end of Monday, and the next governor's term begins the next day, regardless of if they were sworn in on Monday.[9]

The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1868,[10] abolished in 1875,[11] and recreated in 1901.[12] According to the current constitution, should the governor be out of the state for more than 20 days, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor, and if the office of governor becomes vacant the lieutenant governor ascends to the governorship.[13] Earlier constitutions said the powers of the governor devolved upon the successor, rather than them necessarily becoming governor,[14] but the official listing includes these as full governors.[2] The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket.

Alabama was a strongly Democratic state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic-Republican and Democratic parties. It had two Republican governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 112 years passed before voters chose another Republican.

Governors of the State of Alabama[lower-alpha 3]
No.[lower-alpha 4]	Governor		Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 5][lower-alpha 6]
1		William Wyatt Bibb October 2, 1781 – July 10, 1820 (aged 38)	November 9, 1819[lower-alpha 2] – July 10, 1820[15] (died in office)	Democratic- Republican	1819	Office did not exist
2		Thomas Bibb May 8, 1783 – September 20, 1839 (aged 56)	July 10, 1820[lower-alpha 7] – November 9, 1821 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from President of the Senate
3		Israel Pickens January 30, 1780 – April 24, 1827 (aged 47)	November 9, 1821 – November 25, 1825 (term limited)	Democratic- Republican	1821
3			November 9, 1821 – November 25, 1825 (term limited)	Democratic- Republican	1823
4		John Murphy 1786 – September 21, 1841 (aged 54 or 55)	November 25, 1825 – November 25, 1829 (term limited)	Jackson Democrat	1825
4		John Murphy 1786 – September 21, 1841 (aged 54 or 55)	November 25, 1825 – November 25, 1829 (term limited)	Jackson Democrat	1827
5		Gabriel Moore 1785 – June 9, 1845 (aged 59 or 60)	November 25, 1829 – March 3, 1831 (resigned)[lower-alpha 8]	Jackson Democrat	1829
6		Samuel B. Moore June 6, 1789 – November 7, 1846 (aged 57)	March 3, 1831 – November 26, 1831 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from President of the Senate
7		John Gayle September 11, 1792 – July 21, 1859 (aged 66)	November 26, 1831 – November 21, 1835 (term limited)	Democratic	1831
7		John Gayle September 11, 1792 – July 21, 1859 (aged 66)	November 26, 1831 – November 21, 1835 (term limited)	Democratic	1833
8		Clement Comer Clay December 17, 1789 – September 6, 1866 (aged 76)	November 21, 1835 – July 17, 1837[lower-alpha 9] (resigned)[lower-alpha 10]	Democratic	1835
9		Hugh McVay April 29, 1766 – May 9, 1851 (aged 85)	July 17, 1837[lower-alpha 9] – November 21, 1837[20] (not candidate for election)	Democratic	Succeeded from President of the Senate
10		Arthur P. Bagby 1794 – September 21, 1858 (aged 63 or 64)	November 21, 1837[20] – November 22, 1841 (term limited)	Democratic	1837
10			November 21, 1837[20] – November 22, 1841 (term limited)	Democratic	1839
11		Benjamin Fitzpatrick June 30, 1802 – November 21, 1869 (aged 67)	November 22, 1841 – December 10, 1845 (term limited)	Democratic	1841
11			November 22, 1841 – December 10, 1845 (term limited)	Democratic	1843
12		Joshua L. Martin December 5, 1799 – November 2, 1856 (aged 56)	December 10, 1845 – December 16, 1847 (withdrew from election)[lower-alpha 11]	Independent[lower-alpha 12]	1845
13		Reuben Chapman July 15, 1799 – May 17, 1882 (aged 82)	December 16, 1847 – December 17, 1849 (lost renomination)[lower-alpha 13]	Democratic	1847
14		Henry W. Collier January 17, 1801 – August 28, 1855 (aged 54)	December 17, 1849 – December 20, 1853 (term limited)	Democratic	1849
14			December 17, 1849 – December 20, 1853 (term limited)	Democratic	1851
15		John A. Winston Septembere 4, 1812 – December 21, 1871 (aged 59)	December 20, 1853 – December 1, 1857 (term limited)	Democratic	1853
15			December 20, 1853 – December 1, 1857 (term limited)	Democratic	1855
16		Andrew B. Moore March 7, 1807 – April 5, 1873 (aged 66)	December 1, 1857 – December 2, 1861 (term limited)	Democratic	1857
16		Andrew B. Moore March 7, 1807 – April 5, 1873 (aged 66)	December 1, 1857 – December 2, 1861 (term limited)	Democratic	1859
17		John Gill Shorter April 23, 1818 – May 29, 1872 (aged 54)	December 2, 1861 – December 1, 1863 (lost election)	Democratic	1861
18		Thomas H. Watts January 3, 1819 – September 16, 1892 (aged 73)	December 1, 1863 – May 3, 1865[lower-alpha 14] (arrested and removed)[lower-alpha 15]	Whig[lower-alpha 16]	1863
—	Vacant		May 3, 1865[lower-alpha 14] – June 21, 1865	—	Office vacated after civil war
19		Lewis E. Parsons April 28, 1817 – June 8, 1895 (aged 78)	June 21, 1865 – December 13, 1865 (provisional term ended)	—[lower-alpha 17]	Provisional governor appointed by President[lower-alpha 18]
20		Robert M. Patton July 10, 1809 – February 28, 1885 (aged 75)	December 13, 1865 – July 14, 1868[lower-alpha 19] (not candidate for election)	Pre-War Whig[lower-alpha 20]	1865[lower-alpha 21]
—		Wager Swayne November 10, 1834 – December 20, 1903 (aged 68)	March 2, 1867[lower-alpha 22] – January 11, 1868[lower-alpha 23] (removed)[33]	—	Military occupation[lower-alpha 21]
21		William Hugh Smith April 26, 1826 – January 1, 1899 (aged 72)	July 14, 1868[lower-alpha 19] – November 26, 1870[lower-alpha 24] (lost election)	Republican	1868
							Andrew J. Applegate (took office August 13, 1868) (died August 21, 1870)
						Vacant
22		Robert B. Lindsay July 4, 1824 – February 13, 1902 (aged 77)	November 26, 1870 – November 25, 1872[lower-alpha 25] (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1870[lower-alpha 24]		Edward H. Moren
23		David P. Lewis May 18, 1820 – July 3, 1884 (aged 64)	November 17, 1872[lower-alpha 25] – November 24, 1874 (lost election)[36]	Republican	1872		Alexander McKinstry
24		George S. Houston January 17, 1811 – December 31, 1879 (aged 68)	November 24, 1874 – November 27, 1878[lower-alpha 26] (not candidate for election)[lower-alpha 27]	Democratic	1874		Robert F. Ligon
24				Democratic	1876	Office did not exist
25		Rufus W. Cobb February 25, 1829 – November 26, 1913 (aged 84)	November 27, 1878[lower-alpha 26] – December 1, 1882 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1878
25				Democratic	1880
26		Edward A. O'Neal September 20, 1818 – November 7, 1890 (aged 72)	December 1, 1882 – December 1, 1886 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1882
26				Democratic	1884
27		Thomas Seay November 20, 1846 – March 30, 1896 (aged 49)	December 1, 1886 – December 1, 1890 (not candidate for election)[lower-alpha 28]	Democratic	1886
27				Democratic	1888
28		Thomas G. Jones November 26, 1844 – April 28, 1914 (aged 69)	December 1, 1890 – December 1, 1894 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1890
28				Democratic	1892
29		William C. Oates November 30, 1835 – September 9, 1910 (aged 74)	December 1, 1894 – December 1, 1896 (not candidate for election)[lower-alpha 29]	Democratic	1894
30		Joseph F. Johnston March 30, 1843 – August 8, 1913 (aged 70)	December 1, 1896 – December 1, 1900 (not candidate for election)[lower-alpha 30]	Democratic	1896
30				Democratic	1898
—		William D. Jelks November 7, 1855 – December 13, 1931 (aged 76)	December 1, 1900 – December 26, 1900 (acting)	Democratic	1900[lower-alpha 31]
31		William J. Samford September 16, 1844 – June 11, 1901 (aged 56)	December 1, 1900 – June 11, 1901 (died in office)	Democratic	1900[lower-alpha 31]
32		William D. Jelks November 7, 1855 – December 13, 1931 (aged 76)	June 11, 1901 – January 14, 1907 (term limited)	Democratic	Succeeded from President of the Senate
32			June 11, 1901 – January 14, 1907 (term limited)	Democratic	1902[lower-alpha 32]		Russell McWhortor Cunningham (acted as governor April 25, 1904–March 5, 1905)[lower-alpha 33]
33		B. B. Comer November 7, 1848 – August 15, 1927 (aged 78)	January 14, 1907[lower-alpha 34] – January 16, 1911 (term limited)	Democratic	1906		Henry B. Gray
34		Emmet O'Neal September 23, 1853 – September 7, 1922 (aged 68)	January 17, 1911[lower-alpha 34] – January 18, 1915 (term limited)	Democratic	1910		Walter D. Seed Sr.
35		Charles Henderson April 26, 1860 – January 7, 1937 (aged 76)	January 19, 1915[lower-alpha 34] – January 20, 1919 (term limited)	Democratic	1914		Thomas Kilby
36		Thomas Kilby July 9, 1865 – October 33, 1943 (aged 78)	January 21, 1919[lower-alpha 34] – January 15, 1923 (term limited)	Democratic	1918		Nathan Lee Miller
37		William W. Brandon June 5, 1868 – December 7, 1934 (aged 66)	January 16, 1923[lower-alpha 34] – January 17, 1927 (term limited)	Democratic	1922		Charles S. McDowell (acted as governor July 10, 1924–July 11, 1924)[lower-alpha 35]
38		Bibb Graves April 1, 1873 – March 14, 1942 (aged 68)	January 18, 1927[lower-alpha 34] – January 19, 1931 (term limited)	Democratic	1926		William C. Davis
39		Benjamin M. Miller March 13, 1864 – February 6, 1944 (aged 79)	January 20, 1931[lower-alpha 34] – January 14, 1935 (term limited)	Democratic	1930		Hugh Davis Merrill
38		Bibb Graves April 1, 1873 – March 14, 1942 (aged 68)	January 15, 1935[lower-alpha 34] – January 16, 1939 (term limited)	Democratic	1934		Thomas E. Knight (died May 17, 1937)
38		Bibb Graves April 1, 1873 – March 14, 1942 (aged 68)		Democratic	1934	Vacant
40		Frank M. Dixon July 25, 1892 – October 11, 1965 (aged 73)	January 17, 1939[lower-alpha 34] – January 18, 1943 (term limited)	Democratic	1938		Albert A. Carmichael
41		Chauncey Sparks October 8, 1884 – November 6, 1968 (aged 84)	January 19, 1943[lower-alpha 34] – January 20, 1947 (term limited)	Democratic	1942		Leven H. Ellis
42		Jim Folsom October 9, 1908 – November 21, 1987 (aged 79)	January 21, 1947[lower-alpha 34] – January 15, 1951 (term limited)	Democratic	1946		James C. Inzer
43		Gordon Persons February 5, 1902 – May 29, 1965 (aged 63)	January 16, 1951[lower-alpha 34] – January 17, 1955 (term limited)	Democratic	1950		James Allen
42		Jim Folsom October 9, 1908 – November 21, 1987 (aged 79)	January 18, 1955[lower-alpha 34] – January 19, 1959 (term limited)	Democratic	1954		William G. Hardwick
44		John M. Patterson September 27, 1921 – June 4, 2021 (aged 99)	January 20, 1959[lower-alpha 34] – January 14, 1963 (term limited)	Democratic	1958		Albert Boutwell
45		George Wallace August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998 (aged 79)	January 15, 1963[lower-alpha 34] – January 16, 1967 (term limited)	Democratic	1962		James Allen
46		Lurleen Wallace September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968 (aged 41)	January 17, 1967[lower-alpha 34] – May 7, 1968 (died in office)	Democratic	1966		Albert Brewer (acted as governor July 25, 1967)[lower-alpha 36]
47		Albert Brewer October 26, 1928 – January 2, 2017 (aged 88)	May 7, 1968 – January 18, 1971 (lost renomination)[lower-alpha 37]	Democratic	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	Vacant
45		George Wallace August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998 (aged 79)	January 19, 1971[lower-alpha 34] – January 15, 1979 (term limited)	Democratic	1970		Jere Beasley (acted as governor June 5, 1972–July 7, 1972)[lower-alpha 38]
45				Democratic	1974
48		Fob James (1934-09-15) September 15, 1934	January 16, 1979[lower-alpha 34] – January 17, 1983 (lost renomination)[lower-alpha 39]	Democratic	1978		George McMillan
45		George Wallace August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998 (aged 79)	January 18, 1983[lower-alpha 34] – January 19, 1987 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1982		Bill Baxley
49		H. Guy Hunt June 17, 1933 – January 30, 2009 (aged 75)	January 20, 1987[lower-alpha 34] – April 22, 1993 (resigned)[lower-alpha 40]	Republican	1986		Jim Folsom Jr.[lower-alpha 41]
49		H. Guy Hunt June 17, 1933 – January 30, 2009 (aged 75)		Republican	1990		Jim Folsom Jr.[lower-alpha 41]
50		Jim Folsom Jr. (1949-05-14) May 14, 1949	April 22, 1993 – January 16, 1995 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	Vacant
48		Fob James (1934-09-15) September 15, 1934	January 17, 1995[lower-alpha 34] – January 18, 1999 (lost election)[49]	Republican	1994		Don Siegelman[lower-alpha 41]
51		Don Siegelman (1946-02-24) February 24, 1946	January 19, 1999[lower-alpha 34] – January 20, 2003 (lost election)[49]	Democratic	1998		Steve Windom[lower-alpha 42]
52		Bob Riley (1944-10-03) October 3, 1944	January 21, 2003[lower-alpha 34] – January 17, 2011 (term limited)	Republican	2002		Lucy Baxley[lower-alpha 41]
52		Bob Riley (1944-10-03) October 3, 1944		Republican	2006		Jim Folsom Jr.[lower-alpha 41]
53		Robert J. Bentley (1943-02-03) February 3, 1943	January 18, 2011[lower-alpha 34] – April 10, 2017 (resigned)[lower-alpha 43]	Republican	2010		Kay Ivey
53		Robert J. Bentley (1943-02-03) February 3, 1943		Republican	2014		Kay Ivey
54		Kay Ivey (1944-10-15) October 15, 1944	April 10, 2017 – Incumbent[lower-alpha 44]	Republican	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	Vacant
54		Kay Ivey (1944-10-15) October 15, 1944	April 10, 2017 – Incumbent[lower-alpha 44]	Republican	2018		Will Ainsworth

Notes

Records are scarce as to when Bibb was actually appointed. The territory was formed on March 3, 1817, but he was appointed by President James Monroe, who did not take office until the next day. Other resources indicate that other major appointments for the territory were made on March 6, 1817.[3]
Bibb was inaugurated on November 9, even though Alabama did not formally become a state until December 14.[2]
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,[10] abolished in the 1875 Constitution,[11] and recreated in the 1901 Constitution.[12]
Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
Multiple sources state that Thomas Bibb did not succeed William Wyatt Bibb until either July 15[16] 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.[17]
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.[19]
Clay resigned to take office in the United States Senate.[18]
Martin withdrew in the final days of the election.[21] 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.[22]
Chapman lost the Democratic nomination to Henry W. Collier.[23]
Though modern sources say Watts was captured on May 1, contemporary news sources report he was arrested on May 3.[24][25]
Watts was arrested by Union forces soon after the American Civil War ended; he was released a few weeks later.[26][27]
Sources disagree on Watts' party; the Alabama Department of Archives and History says Democratic,[2] but most others say Whig.[26][28][29]
Parsons was appointed and therefore did not run for office under a party; he was a member of the Democratic Party.[30]
Parsons was appointed provisional governor by the Union occupation.[30]
Some sources say Patton left office on July 24, after Smith was sworn in on July 14;[31][2] it is unknown what would cause this discrepancy.
Patton later switched to the Republican Party, but ran as a Whig.[31]
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.[31]
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"[31] and "when the Reconstruction Acts were passed".[32]
In December 1867, President Andrew Johnson ordered the removal of Major General Swayne. He was replaced on January 11, 1868, by Major General Julius Hayden.[33]
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.[34]
All modern sources say Lewis took office on November 17; however, all contemporary news sources say it was on November 25.[35]
All modern sources say Cobb took office on November 28; however, all contemporary news sources say it was on November 27.[38]
Houston instead successfully ran for United States Senate.[37]
Seay instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[39]
Oates instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[40]
Johnston instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[41]
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.[42]
First term under the 1901 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.[6]
Jelks was out of state for medical treatment for nearly a year; as lieutenant governor, Cunningham acted as governor in his absence.[43]
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.[9] 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.[44] 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][45]
Brewer lost the Democratic Party nomination to George Wallace.[46]
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.[47]
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.[48]
Represented the Democratic Party
Represented the Republican Party
Bentley resigned from office as part of a plea deal involving campaign violations.[50]
Ivey's first full term began on January 15, 2019, and will expire on January 17, 2023.

References

General

"Alabama Governors". Alabama Department of Archives & History. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
"Former Alabama Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

Constitutions

"Constitution of the State of Alabama". Alabama Legislature. 1901.
"Constitution of the State of Alabama". Alabama Legislature. 1875.
"Constitution of the State of Alabama". Alabama Legislature. 1868.
"Constitution of the State of Alabama". Alabama Legislature. 1865.
"Constitution of the State of Alabama". Alabama Legislature. 1861.
"Constitution of the State of Alabama". Alabama Legislature. 1819.

Specific

"Governor of Alabama". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
"Alabama Governors". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
Shearer, Benjamin (2004). The Uniting States – The Story of Statehood for the Fifty United States, Volume 1: Alabama to Kentucky. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 41. ISBN 9780313331053. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
1819 Const. art. IV, § 4
1868 Const. art. V, § 2
AL Const. art. V, § 114
AL Const. art. V, § 116
AL Const. amendment 282
Oberhaus v. State ex rel. McNamara, pp. 483–499
1868 Const. art. V, § 1
1875 Const. art. V, § 1
AL Const. art. V, § 112
AL Const. art. V, § 127
1819 Const. art. IV, § 18; 1861 Const. art. IV, § 18; 1865 Const. art V, § 19; 1868 Const. art. V, § 15; 1875 Const. art. V § 15
"Died". Hillsborough Recorder. Hillsborough, North Carolina. August 16, 1820. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. 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 Bibb". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"Gabriel Moore". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"Clement Comer Clay". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
United States Congress. "CLAY, Clement Comer (id: C000481)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
"Inauguration". Voice of Sumter. Livingston, Alabama. November 28, 1837. Retrieved December 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
"No title". Washington Telegraph. Washington, Arkansas. August 4, 1847. Retrieved July 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
"Joshua Lanier Martin". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"Reuben Chapman". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"The Latest by Telegraph". Leavenworth Times. Leavenworth, Kansas. May 25, 1865. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
"Gov. Watts Arrested". The Daily Progress. Raleigh, North Carolina. May 30, 1865. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
"Thomas Hill Watts". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"Thomas Hill Watts". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
Thornton, J. Mills (2014). Politics and Power in a Slave Society: Alabama, 1800–1860. LSU Press. pp. 440–441. ISBN 9780807159156. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
Alexander, Thomas (August 1961). "Persistent Whiggery in the Confederate South, 1860-1877". The Journal of Southern History. 27 (3): 305–329. doi:10.2307/2205211. JSTOR 2205211.
"Lewis Eliphalet Parsons". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"Robert Miller Patton". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"Robert Miller Patton". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
"Wager T. Swayne". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
White, James Terry (1900). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. James T. White & Company. p. 435. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
"Politics in Alabama". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore. November 26, 1872. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
"David Peter Lewis". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"George Smith Houston". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
"Governor Cobb". Huntsville Independent. Huntsville, Alabama. November 28, 1878. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
Sobel p. 22
Sobel p. 24
"Joseph Forney Johnston". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
"William Dorsey Jelks". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
"Russell Cunningham". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
White, David (January 17, 2011). "Robert Bentley ready to take office as next Alabama governor". The Birmingham News. 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 (1979). Alabama Official and Statistical Register. Alabama Department of Archives & History. p. 17. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
Sobel p. 39
"Forrest Hood James". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
Nossiter, Adam (12 June 1997). "Ex-Gov. Hunt of Alabama Cleared by Pardon Board". The New York Times. p. 18. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
"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. Retrieved April 10, 2017.

External links

Office of the Governor of Alabama

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[date-1817-4] Records are scarce as to when Bibb was actually appointed. The territory was formed on March 3, 1817, but he was appointed by President James Monroe, who did not take office until the next day. Other resources indicate that other major appointments for the territory were made on March 6, 1817.[3]

[date-1819-5] Bibb was inaugurated on November 9, even though Alabama did not formally become a state until December 14.[2]

[17] Data is sourced from the Alabama Department of Archives and History, unless supplemental references are required.

[18] Repeat governors are officially numbered only once;[2] subsequent terms are marked with their original number italicized.

[19] The office of Lieutenant Governor was created in the 1868 constitution,[10] abolished in the 1875 Constitution,[11] and recreated in the 1901 Constitution.[12]

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

[23] Multiple sources state that Thomas Bibb did not succeed William Wyatt Bibb until either July 15[16] 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.

[25] Moore resigned to take office in the United States Senate.[17]

[date-1837-07-26] 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.[19]

[28] Clay resigned to take office in the United States Senate.[18]

[32] Martin withdrew in the final days of the election.[21] It is unknown if his name still appeared on the ballot, but no sources list any votes recorded for him.

[34] Martin was a Democrat who opposed party leaders and ran as an independent.[22]

[36] Chapman lost the Democratic nomination to Henry W. Collier.[23]

[date-1865-05-39] Though modern sources say Watts was captured on May 1, contemporary news sources report he was arrested on May 3.[24][25]

[42] Watts was arrested by Union forces soon after the American Civil War ended; he was released a few weeks later.[26][27]

[45] Sources disagree on Watts' party; the Alabama Department of Archives and History says Democratic,[2] but most others say Whig.[26][28][29]

[47] Parsons was appointed and therefore did not run for office under a party; he was a member of the Democratic Party.[30]

[48] Parsons was appointed provisional governor by the Union occupation.[30]

[date-1865-50] Some sources say Patton left office on July 24, after Smith was sworn in on July 14;[31][2] it is unknown what would cause this discrepancy.

[51] Patton later switched to the Republican Party, but ran as a Whig.[31]

[swayne-52] 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.[31]

[54] 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"[31] and "when the Reconstruction Acts were passed".[32]

[56] In December 1867, President Andrew Johnson ordered the removal of Major General Swayne. He was replaced on January 11, 1868, by Major General Julius Hayden.[33]

[elect-1870-57] 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.[34]

[date-1872-58] All modern sources say Lewis took office on November 17; however, all contemporary news sources say it was on November 25.[35]

[date-1878-62] All modern sources say Cobb took office on November 28; however, all contemporary news sources say it was on November 27.[38]

[64] Houston instead successfully ran for United States Senate.[37]

[67] Seay instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[39]

[69] Oates instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[40]

[71] Johnston instead unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate.[41]

[73] 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.[42]

[74] First term under the 1901 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.[6]

[76] Jelks was out of state for medical treatment for nearly a year; as lieutenant governor, Cunningham acted as governor in his absence.[43]

[midnight-77] 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.[9] 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.[44] 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.

[79] 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]

[81] 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][45]

[83] Brewer lost the Democratic Party nomination to George Wallace.[46]

[84] 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]

[86] James lost the Democratic nomination to George Wallace.[47]

[88] 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.[48]

[ltgov-dem-89] Represented the Democratic Party

[ltgov-rep-91] Represented the Republican Party

[93] Bentley resigned from office as part of a plea deal involving campaign violations.[50]

[94] Ivey's first full term began on January 15, 2019, and will expire on January 17, 2023.

[1] "Governor of Alabama". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 2, 2022.

[adah-2] "Alabama Governors". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved April 10, 2012.

[3] Shearer, Benjamin (2004). The Uniting States – The Story of Statehood for the Fifty United States, Volume 1: Alabama to Kentucky. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 41. ISBN 9780313331053. Retrieved August 2, 2010.

[6] 1819 Const. art. IV, § 4

[7] 1868 Const. art. V, § 2

[const-art5sec114-8] AL Const. art. V, § 114

[const-art5sec116-9] AL Const. art. V, § 116

[10] AL Const. amendment 282

[oberhaus-11] Oberhaus v. State ex rel. McNamara, pp. 483–499

[1868const-art5sec1-12] 1868 Const. art. V, § 1

[1875const-art5sec1-13] 1875 Const. art. V, § 1

[const-art5sec112-14] AL Const. art. V, § 112

[15] AL Const. art. V, § 127

[16] 1819 Const. art. IV, § 18; 1861 Const. art. IV, § 18; 1865 Const. art V, § 19; 1868 Const. art. V, § 15; 1875 Const. art. V § 15

[21] "Died". Hillsborough Recorder. Hillsborough, North Carolina. August 16, 1820. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. 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

[nga-bibbt-22] "Thomas Bibb". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[nga-mooreg-24] "Gabriel Moore". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[nga-clay-27] "Clement Comer Clay". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[29] United States Congress. "CLAY, Clement Comer (id: C000481)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

[date-1837-11-30] "Inauguration". Voice of Sumter. Livingston, Alabama. November 28, 1837. Retrieved December 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

[31] "No title". Washington Telegraph. Washington, Arkansas. August 4, 1847. Retrieved July 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[nga-martin-33] "Joshua Lanier Martin". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[nga-chapman-35] "Reuben Chapman". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[37] "The Latest by Telegraph". Leavenworth Times. Leavenworth, Kansas. May 25, 1865. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[38] "Gov. Watts Arrested". The Daily Progress. Raleigh, North Carolina. May 30, 1865. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[nga-watts-40] "Thomas Hill Watts". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[adah-watts-41] "Thomas Hill Watts". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

[43] Thornton, J. Mills (2014). Politics and Power in a Slave Society: Alabama, 1800–1860. LSU Press. pp. 440–441. ISBN 9780807159156. Retrieved December 8, 2018.

[44] Alexander, Thomas (August 1961). "Persistent Whiggery in the Confederate South, 1860-1877". The Journal of Southern History. 27 (3): 305–329. doi:10.2307/2205211. JSTOR 2205211.

[nga-parsons-46] "Lewis Eliphalet Parsons". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[nga-patton-49] "Robert Miller Patton". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[adah-patton-53] "Robert Miller Patton". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved October 13, 2008.

[eoa-swayne-55] "Wager T. Swayne". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved September 21, 2015.

[59] White, James Terry (1900). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. James T. White & Company. p. 435. Retrieved January 18, 2008.

[60] "Politics in Alabama". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore. November 26, 1872. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[nga-lewis-61] "David Peter Lewis". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[nga-houston-63] "George Smith Houston". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[65] "Governor Cobb". Huntsville Independent. Huntsville, Alabama. November 28, 1878. Retrieved July 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[66] Sobel p. 22

[68] Sobel p. 24

[adah-johnston-70] "Joseph Forney Johnston". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved November 18, 2019.

[adah-jelks-72] "William Dorsey Jelks". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

[adah-cunningham-75] "Russell Cunningham". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved October 13, 2008.

[78] White, David (January 17, 2011). "Robert Bentley ready to take office as next Alabama governor". The Birmingham News. Retrieved December 10, 2018. Bentley under state law won't officially be governor until just after the stroke of midnight Tuesday morning.

[80] Owen, Thomas McAdory (1979). Alabama Official and Statistical Register. Alabama Department of Archives & History. p. 17. Retrieved September 28, 2008.

[82] Sobel p. 39

[nga-james-85] "Forrest Hood James". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[87] Nossiter, Adam (12 June 1997). "Ex-Gov. Hunt of Alabama Cleared by Pardon Board". The New York Times. p. 18. Retrieved September 28, 2008.

[eoa-siegelman-90] "Don Siegelman (1999-2003)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved December 8, 2018.

[92] Blinder, Alan (10 April 2017). "Robert Bentley, Alabama Governor, Resigns Amid Scandal". The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2017.

Governors and lieutenant governors of Alabama
Governors	W. Bibb T. Bibb Pickens Murphy G. Moore S. Moore Gayle Clay McVay Bagby Fitzpatrick Martin Chapman Collier Winston A. Moore Shorter Watts Parsons Patton Swayne Smith Lindsay Lewis Houston Cobb E. A. O'Neal Seay T. Jones Oates Johnston Samford Jelks Comer E. O'Neal Henderson Kilby Brandon Graves Miller Graves Dixon Sparks Folsom Sr. Persons Folsom Sr. Patterson G. Wallace L. Wallace Brewer G. Wallace James G. Wallace Hunt Folsom Jr. James Siegelman Riley Bentley Ivey
Lieutenant governors	Applegate Moren McKinstry Ligon Cunningham Gray Seed Kilby Miller McDowell Davis Merrill Knight Carmichael Ellis Inzer Allen Hardwick Boutwell Allen Brewer Beasley McMillan B. Baxley Folsom Jr. Siegelman Windom L. Baxley Folsom Jr. Ivey Ainsworth

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