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Governor of Hong Kong

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The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong

Government of Hong Kong

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...

during British rule

British Hong Kong

British Hong Kong refers to Hong Kong as a Crown colony and later, a British dependent territory under British administration from 1841 to 1997.- Colonial establishment :...

from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent

Hong Kong Letters Patent

The Hong Kong Letters Patent was one of the two principal constitutional instruments of Hong Kong during the period of its administration as a colony under British administration...

and Royal Instructions

Hong Kong Royal Instructions

The Hong Kong Royal Instructions was one of the two principal constitutional instruments of Hong Kong during the period of its administration as a colony under British administration. ....

. Upon the end of British rule and the transfer of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

in 1997, most of the civil functions of this office went to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong

Chief Executive of Hong Kong

The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...

, and military functions went to the commander of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison

People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison

The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is a garrison of the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China responsible for defence duties of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was returned to the PRC in 1997...

The Governor

The Governor's powers and duties were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent

Hong Kong Letters Patent

The Hong Kong Letters Patent was one of the two principal constitutional instruments of Hong Kong during the period of its administration as a colony under British administration...

and Royal Instructions

Hong Kong Royal Instructions

The Hong Kong Royal Instructions was one of the two principal constitutional instruments of Hong Kong during the period of its administration as a colony under British administration. ....

in 1843. The Governor, appointed by the British monarch

British monarchy

The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...

(on the advice of the Prime Minister

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...

), maintained executive power in Hong Kong throughout British rule and, with the exception of a brief experiment after World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, no serious attempt was made to introduce representative government, until the final years of British rule.

The Governor appointed most, if not all, of the members of the colony's legislature, the Legislative Council

Legislative Council of Hong Kong

The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...

(known colloquially as LegCo), which was largely an advisory body before election was introduced until the first indirect elections of LegCo in 1985, and all members of the Executive Council

Executive Council of Hong Kong

The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...

(ExCo), effectively the cabinet

Cabinet (government)

A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...

of the colonial government. Initially both Councils were dominated by British expatriates, although this gave way to more local Hong Kong Chinese appointees in later years. Most recent Governors of Hong Kong were professional diplomat

Diplomat

A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...

s, save the last Governor, Chris Patten

Chris Patten

Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC , is the last Governor of British Hong Kong, a former British Conservative politician, and the current chairman of the BBC Trust....

, who was a career politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

. The Governor was the President of the Executive Council, and until 1993, the Legislative Council.

At December 1996, The Governor's salary was HK$3,036,000 per annum, tax-free. It was fixed at 125% of the Chief Secretary's

Chief Secretary for Administration

The Chief Secretary for Administration , commonly known as Chief Secretary and abbreviated as CS, is the second highest position of the Hong Kong Government...

salary.

In the absence of the Governor, the Chief Secretary was the acting Governor of the colony. Most were from the Colonial Office

Colonial Office

Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...

or British Army

British Army

The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...

officers. One Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

Vice Admiral has served as administrator after World War II

World War II

. Four Japanese

Empire of Japan

The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...

military officers (3 army officers and 1 naval vice admiral) served as administrator during World War II.

Transport

The Governor of Hong Kong used a Daimler DS420

Daimler DS420

The Daimler DS420, popularly known as the Daimler Limousine, is a large limousine produced by Daimler Motor Company between 1968 and 1992. The vehicles are used extensively as official state cars in several countries, including by the British and Danish Royal Families...

for day to day transport and a Rolls-Royce Phantom V

Rolls-Royce Phantom V

The Phantom V was a large, ultra-exclusive four-door saloon made by Rolls-Royce from 1959 to 1968.Based on the Silver Cloud II, it shared a V8 engine and General Motors Hydramatic automatic gearbox with its smaller sibling. Rolls-Royce assembled the cars' chassis and drivetrains with bodies made to...

landaulette for ceremonial occasions. Both vehicles were removed by the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

immediately following the handover to China on 1 July 1997.

Residences

The first governor, Sir Henry Pottinger, resided in the Former French Mission Building
Former French Mission Building
The Former French Mission Building is a declared monument of Hong Kong. It is located at 1, Battery Path, Central. It currently houses the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong.-Features:...

from 1843 to 1846. The building now houses the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. His successor, John Francis Davis
John Francis Davis
Sir John Francis Davis, 1st Baronet KCB was a British diplomat, Sinologist, and the 2nd Governor of Hong Kong. He was the son of Samuel Davis and nephew to William Thomas Mercer .-Early career:John Davis was appointed writer in East India Company's factory at Canton in 1813...

, also lived there before moving to Caine Road.
Since the 4th governor, Sir John Bowring, the governors resided at Government House
Government House, Hong Kong
Government House , located on Government Hill in the Central District of Hong Kong Island, is the official residence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong...

.

List

Term	Term start	Term end	Governor	Administrator
	January 1841	August 1841		Sir Charles Elliot Charles Elliot Sir Charles Elliot, KCB , was a British naval officer, diplomat, and colonial administrator. He became the first administrator of Hong Kong in 1841 while serving as both Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China...
	June 1841	December 1841		Alexander Robert Johnston Alexander Robert Johnston Alexander Robert Campbell-Johnston was a British colonial official who served twice as acting administrator of the former British colony of Hong Kong from 1841 to 1842... (acting)
	August 1841	June 1843		Sir Henry Pottinger
	June 1842	December 1842		Alexander Robert Johnston Alexander Robert Johnston Alexander Robert Campbell-Johnston was a British colonial official who served twice as acting administrator of the former British colony of Hong Kong from 1841 to 1842... (acting)
1	June 1843	May 1844	Sir Henry Pottinger
2	May 1844	March 1848	Sir John Francis Davis John Francis Davis Sir John Francis Davis, 1st Baronet KCB was a British diplomat, Sinologist, and the 2nd Governor of Hong Kong. He was the son of Samuel Davis and nephew to William Thomas Mercer .-Early career:John Davis was appointed writer in East India Company's factory at Canton in 1813...
	March 1848	March 1848		William Staveley William Staveley Lieutenant-General William Staveley was Commander and Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong.-Military career:...
3	March 1848	April 1854	Sir George Bonham
4	April 1854	May 1859	Sir John Bowring John Bowring Sir John Bowring, KCB was an English political economist, traveller, miscellaneous writer, polyglot, and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong.- Early life :...
	May 1859	September 1859		William Caine
5	September 1859	March 1865	Sir Hercules Robinson Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead Hercules George Robert Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead, GCMG, PC was a British colonial administrator who became the 5th Governor of Hong Kong...
	March 1865	March 1866		William Thomas Mercer William Thomas Mercer William Thomas Mercer was a British colonial administrator who served as the Colonial Treasurer , Auditor General , Colonial Secretary , and Administrator, between 15 March 1865 to 11 March 1866...
6	March 1866	April 1872	Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell Richard Graves MacDonnell Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell KCMG CB was an Anglo-Irish lawyer, judge and colonial governor...
	April 1872	April 1872		Henry Wase Whitfield Henry Wase Whitfield Lieutenant General Henry Wase Whitfield was the Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong and Commander of British Troops in China, Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements.-Military career:...
7	April 1872	March 1876	Sir Arthur Kennedy
	March 1876	April 1877		John Gardiner Austin
8	April 1877	March 1882	Sir John Pope Hennessy John Pope Hennessy Sir John Pope Hennessy, KCMG , was an Irish and British politician and colonial administrator who served as the eighth Governor of Hong Kong.-Early life:...
	March 1882	March 1882		Malcolm Struan Tonnochy Malcolm Struan Tonnochy Malcolm Struan Tonnochy was a major official in Hong Kong. He has been an acting Governor of Hong Kong in March 1882.Tonnochy was born in Bengal, India in December 1841 and was of Scottish and Indian extraction...
	March 1882	March 1883		Sir William Henry Marsh William Henry Marsh William Henry Marsh was a British colonial administrator, who governed Hong Kong as a colonial administrator twice. The first tenure started in March, 1882, and ended in March 1883, when Sir George Ferguson Bowen succeeded him as the 9th Governor of Hong Kong...
9	March 1883	December 1885	Sir George Bowen
	December 1885	April 1887		Sir William Henry Marsh William Henry Marsh William Henry Marsh was a British colonial administrator, who governed Hong Kong as a colonial administrator twice. The first tenure started in March, 1882, and ended in March 1883, when Sir George Ferguson Bowen succeeded him as the 9th Governor of Hong Kong...
	April 1887	October 1887		William Gordon Cameron William Gordon Cameron General Sir William Gordon Cameron GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
10	October 1887	May 1891	Sir William Des Vœux William Des Vœux Sir George William Des Vœux, GCMG was a British colonial governor who served as Governor of Fiji , Newfoundland , and Hong Kong .-Early life:...
	May 1891	December 1891		Sir George Digby Barker George Digby Barker General Sir George Digby Barker GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
11	December 1891	January 1898	Sir William Robinson
	February 1898	November 1898		Sir Wilsone Black Wilsone Black Major-General Sir Wilsone Black KCB was a British military officer and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
12	November 1898	July 1903	Sir Henry Arthur Blake Henry Arthur Blake Sir Henry Arthur Blake GCMG, DL was a British colonial administrator, Governor of Hong Kong from 1898 to 1903.-Early life and career:...
	November 1903	July 1904		Sir Francis Henry May Francis Henry May Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.-Early life and education:...
13	July 1904	April 1907	Sir Matthew Nathan Matthew Nathan Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan GCMG, PC was a British soldier and civil servant, who variously served as the Governor of Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Hong Kong, Natal and Queensland...
	April 1907	July 1907		Sir Francis Henry May Francis Henry May Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.-Early life and education:...
14	July 1907	March 1912	Sir Frederick Lugard
	March 1912	July 1912		Claud Severn Claud Severn Claude Severn was a British colonial administrator. He was the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1911–1925 and he governed Hong Kong on various occasions as an acting administrator....
15	July 1912	September 1918	Sir Francis Henry May Francis Henry May Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.-Early life and education:...
	September 1918	September 1919		Claud Severn Claud Severn Claude Severn was a British colonial administrator. He was the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1911–1925 and he governed Hong Kong on various occasions as an acting administrator....
16	September 1919	October 1925	Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs Reginald Edward Stubbs Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs, GCMG was a British colonial governor, who was once the Governor of Hong Kong...
	March 1925	November 1925		Claud Severn Claud Severn Claude Severn was a British colonial administrator. He was the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1911–1925 and he governed Hong Kong on various occasions as an acting administrator....
17	November 1925	February 1930	Sir Cecil Clementi Cecil Clementi -Early life and education:Born in Cawnpore, India, Clementi was the son of Colonel Montagu Clementi, Judge Advocate General in India, and his wife, Isabel Collard. He attended St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied Sanskrit and the classics. In 1895, he won the Hertford...
	February 1930	March 1930		Wilfrid Southorn Wilfrid Thomas Southorn Wilfrid Thomas Southorn , known as Tom, was a British colonial administrator, spending the large part of career in Ceylon . He was the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1925–1936 and he became Acting Administrator of Hong Kong on various occasions...
18	May 1930	May 1935	Sir William Peel
	May 1935	September 1935		Wilfrid Southorn Wilfrid Thomas Southorn Wilfrid Thomas Southorn , known as Tom, was a British colonial administrator, spending the large part of career in Ceylon . He was the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1925–1936 and he became Acting Administrator of Hong Kong on various occasions...
	September 1935	November 1935		Norman Lockhart Smith Norman Lockhart Smith Norman Lockhart Smith was a British colonial administrator who became Acting Administrator of Hong Kong on various occasions....
	November 1935	December 1935		Wilfrid Southorn Wilfrid Thomas Southorn Wilfrid Thomas Southorn , known as Tom, was a British colonial administrator, spending the large part of career in Ceylon . He was the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1925–1936 and he became Acting Administrator of Hong Kong on various occasions...
19	December 1935	April 1937	Sir Andrew Caldecott Andrew Caldecott Sir Andrew Caldecott, GCMG, KBE was a British colonial administrator.-Early Life, Education:Sir Andrew Caldecott was born on 26 October 1884 in Kent, England. His father was a cleric...
	April 1937	October 1937		Norman Lockhart Smith Norman Lockhart Smith Norman Lockhart Smith was a British colonial administrator who became Acting Administrator of Hong Kong on various occasions....
20	November 1937	September 1941	Sir Geoffry Northcote
	6 September 1941	10 September 1941		Norman Lockhart Smith Norman Lockhart Smith Norman Lockhart Smith was a British colonial administrator who became Acting Administrator of Hong Kong on various occasions....
21	September 1941	December 1941	Sir Mark Aitchison Young Mark Aitchison Young Sir Mark Aitchison Young, GCMG was a British administrator who became the Governor of Hong Kong during the years immediately before and after the Japanese occupation of the territory.-Early life, service in war:...
Under Japanese occupation of Hong Kong Japanese occupation of Hong Kong The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
	December 1941	February 1942		Takashi Sakai Takashi Sakai -Notes:... and Masaichi Niimi Masaichi Niimi was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the World War II.-Biography:Niimi was born in what is now Asakita Ward, Hiroshima city. Hiroshima prefecture, as the second son to a farming and soy sauce producing family. He was a graduate of the 36th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy...
	February 1942	December 1944	Rensuke Isogai Rensuke Isogai -External links:...
	February 1945	August 1945	Hisakazu Tanaka
Restoration of British rule
	August 1945	September 1945		Sir Franklin Charles Gimson Franklin Charles Gimson Sir Franklin Charles Gimson, KCMG, KStJ, was a British colonial administrator, who served in Ceylon from 1914 to 1941, and later, the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong and the Governor of Singapore.... (provisional government)
	September 1945	April 1946		Sir Cecil Harcourt (military government)
21	May 1946	May 1947	Sir Mark Aitchison Young Mark Aitchison Young Sir Mark Aitchison Young, GCMG was a British administrator who became the Governor of Hong Kong during the years immediately before and after the Japanese occupation of the territory.-Early life, service in war:...
22	July 1947	December 1957	Sir Alexander Grantham Alexander Grantham Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham, GCMG was a British colonial administrator who governed Hong Kong and Fiji.-Early life, colonial administration career:...
	December 1957	January 1958		Edgeworth Beresford David Edgeworth Beresford David Edgeworth Beresford David was the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1955 - 1957. David became Administrator after Black was named Governor in late 1957....
23	January 1958	March 1964	Sir Robert Brown Black Robert Brown Black Sir Robert Brown Black GCMG, OBE was a British colonial administrator. He would spend three decades overseas and return to Britain in the 1960s: he was Governor of Hong Kong from 23 January 1958 to 1 April 1964, having been Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1952 – 1955...
	March 1964	April 1964		Edmund Brinsley Teesdale
24	April 1964	October 1971	Sir David Clive Crosbie Trench David Clive Crosbie Trench Sir David Clive Crosbie Trench, GCMG, MC, DL 2 June 1915 – 4 December 1988 was a British soldier and colonial governor.-Early life:Trench was educated at Tonbridge School, Tonbridge, Kent and graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge with the degree of Master of Arts .-War service:In 1938, Trench...
	October 1971	November 1971		Sir Hugh Norman-Walker Hugh Norman-Walker Sir Hugh Selby Norman-Walker, KCMG, KStJ, OBE was a British colonial official. He served in India from 1938 to 1948...
25	November 1971	April 1982	Sir Murray MacLehose
	April 1982	May 1982		Sir Charles Philip Haddon-Cave Charles Philip Haddon-Cave Sir Charles Philip Haddon-Cave , KBE, CMG was Financial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1971 to 1981. During the period when he was in charge of the economic policy of the Hong Kong government, he adopted "positive non-interventionism" as its chief principle...
26	May 1982	December 1986	Sir Edward Youde Edward Youde Sir Edward Youde GCMG, GCVO, MBE was a British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. He served as Governor of Hong Kong between 20 May 1982 and 5 December 1986.-Early years:...
	December 1986	April 1987	Sir David Akers-Jones David Akers-Jones Sir David Akers-Jones, KBE, CMG, GBM, JP was the Chief Secretary of Hong Kong from 1985 to 1987, and was briefly Acting Governor of Hong Kong.-Biography:... (acting)
27	April 1987	July 1992	Sir David Wilson David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn David Clive Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn, is a retired British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. Lord Wilson of Tillyorn was the penultimate Commander-in-Chief and 27th Governor of Hong Kong...
	July 1992	July 1992		Sir David Robert Ford David Robert Ford Sir David Robert Ford KBE, LVO , was the fifth and the last non-Chinese Chief Secretary of Hong Kong. He initiated the planning for Hong Kong's new international airport at Chek Lap Kok in 1989....
28	July 1992	June 1997	Chris Patten

Firsts

Charles Elliot
Charles Elliot
Sir Charles Elliot, KCB , was a British naval officer, diplomat, and colonial administrator. He became the first administrator of Hong Kong in 1841 while serving as both Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China...

, first administrator
Henry Pottinger, first governor
John Francis Davis
John Francis Davis
Sir John Francis Davis, 1st Baronet KCB was a British diplomat, Sinologist, and the 2nd Governor of Hong Kong. He was the son of Samuel Davis and nephew to William Thomas Mercer .-Early career:John Davis was appointed writer in East India Company's factory at Canton in 1813...

, first Sinologist to serve as governor
John Bowring
John Bowring
Sir John Bowring, KCB was an English political economist, traveller, miscellaneous writer, polyglot, and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong.- Early life :...

, first Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...

to serve as governor
John Pope Hennessy
John Pope Hennessy
Sir John Pope Hennessy, KCMG , was an Irish and British politician and colonial administrator who served as the eighth Governor of Hong Kong.-Early life:...

, first Irishman to serve as governor
Matthew Nathan
Matthew Nathan
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan GCMG, PC was a British soldier and civil servant, who variously served as the Governor of Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Hong Kong, Natal and Queensland...

, first Jew to serve as governor
Cecil Clementi
Cecil Clementi
-Early life and education:Born in Cawnpore, India, Clementi was the son of Colonel Montagu Clementi, Judge Advocate General in India, and his wife, Isabel Collard. He attended St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied Sanskrit and the classics. In 1895, he won the Hertford...

, first Indian-born and Cantonese-speaking governor
Mark Aitchison Young
Mark Aitchison Young
Sir Mark Aitchison Young, GCMG was a British administrator who became the Governor of Hong Kong during the years immediately before and after the Japanese occupation of the territory.-Early life, service in war:...

, first prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...

to serve as governor
Takashi Sakai
Takashi Sakai
-Notes:...

, first Japanese administrator to serve as governor
Murray MacLehose, first non-colonial officer to serve as governor; he was a diplomat, a foreign service officer
Edward Youde
Edward Youde
Sir Edward Youde GCMG, GCVO, MBE was a British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. He served as Governor of Hong Kong between 20 May 1982 and 5 December 1986.-Early years:...

, first governor fluent in Mandarin; first and only governor to die in office
Christopher Patten, first politician to serve as governor; only governor not to don the formal dress as Governor; only governor never to have held any title of nobility during tenure