List of Governors of Pennsylvania

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the head of the executive branch of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

's government and the commander-in-chief

Commander-in-Chief

A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...

 of the state's

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 military

Military

A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...

 forces.

The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to approve or veto

Veto

A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...

 bills

Bill (proposed law)

A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....

 passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature. and to convene the legislature. The governor may grant pardons except in cases of impeachment

Impeachment

Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....

, but only when recommended by the Board of Pardons.

There have been seven presidents and 46 governors of Pennsylvania, with two governors serving non-consecutive terms, totaling 55 terms in both offices. The longest term was that of the first governor, Thomas Mifflin

Thomas Mifflin

Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental...

, who served three full terms as governor in addition to two years as president. The shortest term belonged to John Bell

John C. Bell, Jr.

John Cromwell Bell, Jr. was a Pennsylvania politician and judge.He served as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, 1943–47, and the 33rd Governor briefly in 1947, succeeding Edward Martin, who had resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate...

, who served only 19 days as acting governor after his predecessor resigned. The current governor is Tom Corbett

Tom Corbett

Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...

, whose term began on January 18, 2011.

Governors

Pennsylvania was one of the original thirteen colonies

Thirteen Colonies

The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...

, and was admitted as a state on December 12, 1787. Prior to declaring its independence, Pennsylvania was a colony

Province of Pennsylvania

The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was founded in British America by William Penn on March 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by King Charles II...

 of the Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain

The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...

; see the list of colonial governors for the pre-statehood period.

Presidents of the Supreme Executive Council

The first constitution in 1776 created the Supreme Executive Council as the executive branch, with the President as its head. The president was chosen annually by the council, though with no specific term dates.

The original 1776 constitution created the position of "vice-president", though no provision was made if the office of president became vacant, which occurred four times. Contemporary sources continue to label the chief executive in such times as the vice president, without any notion of succeeding to the presidency. One acting president, George Bryan

George Bryan

George Bryan was a Pennsylvania businessman, statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first Vice-President of Pennsylvania and its second President following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain...

, has since been recognized as a full-fledged governor, due to his acting as president for over six months.

#	President	Took office	Left office	Vice President
1	Thomas Wharton Jr. Thomas Wharton Jr. Thomas Wharton Jr. was a Pennsylvania merchant and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first President of Pennsylvania following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain....	March 5, 1777	May 23, 1778 Died in office.	George Bryan George Bryan George Bryan was a Pennsylvania businessman, statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first Vice-President of Pennsylvania and its second President following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain...
2	George Bryan George Bryan George Bryan was a Pennsylvania businessman, statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first Vice-President of Pennsylvania and its second President following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain...	May 23, 1778	December 1, 1778	acting as president As Vice President of the Supreme Executive Council, acted as president. Four vice presidents acted as president at various times; however, Bryan's lengthy term has caused his term to since be recognized as being equivalent to president. Contemporary sources listed him only as vice president, acting out the duties of president.
3	Joseph Reed Joseph Reed (jurist) Joseph Reed was a Pennsylvania lawyer, military officer, and statesman of the Revolutionary Era. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and, while in Congress, signed the Articles of Confederation...	December 1, 1778	November 15, 1781	George Bryan George Bryan George Bryan was a Pennsylvania businessman, statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first Vice-President of Pennsylvania and its second President following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain... Resigned; no reason was recorded by the Supreme Executive Council.
				Matthew Smith Matthew Smith (Pennsylvania statesman) Matthew Smith —the dates of his birth and death apparently unknown—was a Pennsylvania politician. He served briefly as Vice-President of Pennsylvania following the resignation of George Bryan on 11 October 1779...
				William Moore William Moore (statesman) William Moore was a Pennsylvania statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania from 1779 to 1781, and then as President from 1781 to 1782....
4	William Moore William Moore (statesman) William Moore was a Pennsylvania statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania from 1779 to 1781, and then as President from 1781 to 1782....	November 15, 1781	November 7, 1782	James Potter James Potter James Potter was a soldier, farmer and politician from Colonial- and Revolutionary-era Pennsylvania. He rose to the rank of brigadier general of Pennsylvania militia during the Revolutionary War, and served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania, 1781-1782.-Family and early life:James Potter was of...
5	John Dickinson John Dickinson (delegate) John Dickinson was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of...	November 7, 1782	October 18, 1785	James Ewing James Ewing (Pennsylvania statesman) James Ewing was a Pennsylvania soldier, statesman, and politician of the Colonial, Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary eras. He served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and also as Vice-President of Pennsylvania, a position comparable to that of Lieutenant Governor.-Early life and family:James...
				James Irvine James Irvine (Pennsylvania statesman) James Irvine was a Pennsylvania soldier and politician of the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Post-Revolutionary periods...
				Charles Biddle Charles Biddle Charles Biddle was a Pennsylvania statesman.His father was William Biddle, 3rd , and mother was Mary Scull ....
6	Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...	October 18, 1785	November 5, 1788	Charles Biddle Charles Biddle Charles Biddle was a Pennsylvania statesman.His father was William Biddle, 3rd , and mother was Mary Scull ....
				Peter Muhlenberg Peter Muhlenberg John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly-independent United States...
				David Redick David Redick David Redick was a Pennsylvania surveyor, lawyer, and politician. He was born in Ireland, and after coming to America made his home for several years in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married the niece of business associate David Hoge. He accompanied Mr. Hoge to survey the latter's land...
7	Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental...	November 5, 1788	December 21, 1790	George Ross George Ross (Pennsylvania statesman) George Ross was a Pennsylvania politician of the late 18th century. He was elected Vice-President of Pennsylvania on 5 November 1788. He was reelected unanimously on 11 November 1789 and served until 21 December 1790...

Governors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

The 1790 constitution abolished the council and replaced the president with a governor, and established a three-year term for governor commencing on the third Tuesday of the December following the election, with governors not allowed to serve more than nine out of any twelve years. The 1838 constitution moved the start of the term to the third Tuesday of the January following the election, and allowed governors to only serve six out of any nine years. The 1874 constitution lengthened the term to four years, and prohibited governors from succeeding themselves. The current constitution of 1968 changed this to allow governors to serve two consecutive terms. There are no limits on the number of terms a governor may serve in total as long as there is a four year break after a second term.

If the office of governor becomes vacant through death, resignation, or conviction on impeachment, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term; if the office is only temporarily vacant due to disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor only acts out the duties of governor. Should both offices be vacant, the president pro tempore

President pro tempore

A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...

 of the state senate becomes governor. The position of lieutenant governor was created in the 1874 constitution; prior to then, the speaker of the senate would act as governor in cases of vacancy. Originally, the lieutenant governor could only act as governor; it was not until the 1968 constitution that the lieutenant governor could actually become governor in that fashion. The office of governor has been vacant for an extended period once, a 17-day gap in 1848 between the death of the previous governor and the swearing in of his acting successor. Governors and lieutenant governors are elected on the same ticket

Ticket (election)

A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...

.

#	Governor		Took office	Left office	Party	Lt. Governor Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor... The office of lieutenant governor was not created until the 1873 Constitution, first being filled in 1875.		Terms The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
1		Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental...	December 21, 1790	December 17, 1799	None The Federalist Party Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...  nominated Mifflin, but he himself carried no party label.	None		3 Mifflin was elected governor three times under the 1790 Constitution, having previously been elected once as President of the Supreme Executive Council.
2		Thomas McKean Thomas McKean Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...	December 17, 1799	December 20, 1808	Democratic- Republican			3
3		Simon Snyder Simon Snyder Simon Snyder was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1808 to 1817. A Jeffersonian Democrat, he served three terms as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before becoming governor...	December 20, 1808	December 16, 1817	Democratic- Republican			3
4		William Findlay	December 16, 1817	December 19, 1820	Democratic- Republican			1
5		Joseph Hiester Joseph Hiester Joseph Hiester was the fifth Governor of Pennsylvania from 1820 to 1823. He was a member of the Hiester family political dynasty.-Biography:...	December 19, 1820	December 16, 1823	Democratic- Republican			1
6		John Andrew Shulze John Andrew Shulze John Andrew Shulze was a Pennsylvania political leader and the sixth Governor of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Muhlenberg family political dynasty....	December 16, 1823	December 15, 1829	Democratic- Republican			2
7		George Wolf George Wolf George Wolf was the seventh Governor of Pennsylvania from 1829 to 1835.Wolf was born in Allen Township, Pennsylvania. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1799 and commenced practice in Easton, Pennsylvania. He served as postmaster of Easton in 1802 and 1803...	December 15, 1829	December 15, 1835	Democratic- Republican			2
8		Joseph Ritner Joseph Ritner Joseph Ritner was the eighth Governor of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, elected as a member of the Anti-Masonic Party. He was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in the Pennsylvania Gubernatorial election, 1835, and served from 1835 to 1839. Controversy surrounding his 1838 electoral defeat led...	December 15, 1835	January 15, 1839	Anti-Masonic Anti-Masonic Party The Anti-Masonic Party was the first "third party" in the United States. It strongly opposed Freemasonry and was founded as a single-issue party aspiring to become a major party....			1 Ritner was the last to serve before the 1838 constitution limited governors to serving six years out of any nine years; that constitution also changed the term to commence the next January from the election, extending Ritner's term by a month.
9		David R. Porter David R. Porter David Rittenhouse Porter was the ninth Governor of Pennsylvania. He served from 1839 to 1845.-Life:Porter, the first governor under the State Constitution of 1838 was born October 31, 1788, near Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania spending his boyhood at Selma Mansion, a home built by his...	January 15, 1839	January 21, 1845	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...			2 First governor to serve under the 1838 constitution.
10		Francis R. Shunk Francis R. Shunk Francis Rawn Shunk was the tenth Governor of Pennsylvania from 1845 to 1848. Born into a poor family, Shunk served in the Pennsylvania militia during the War of 1812...	January 21, 1845	July 9, 1848	Democratic			Resigned due to illness; he died of tuberculosis Tuberculosis Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...  only 11 days later.
—		Office vacant	July 9, 1848	July 26, 1848	—			— Following Francis R. Shunk Francis R. Shunk Francis Rawn Shunk was the tenth Governor of Pennsylvania from 1845 to 1848. Born into a poor family, Shunk served in the Pennsylvania militia during the War of 1812... 's resignation, an interregnum Interregnum An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...  of 17 days occurred before the speaker of the state senate, William F. Johnston William F. Johnston William Freame Johnston was the 11th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1848 to 1852. A lawyer by training, Johnston became district attorney of Westmoreland County at the age of 21 in 1829... , was sworn in.
11		William F. Johnston William F. Johnston William Freame Johnston was the 11th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1848 to 1852. A lawyer by training, Johnston became district attorney of Westmoreland County at the age of 21 in 1829...	July 26, 1848	January 20, 1852	Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...			As speaker of the state senate, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected governor in his own right.
12		William Bigler William Bigler William Bigler was the 12th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855, and later a U.S. Senator for the Democratic Party....	January 20, 1852	January 16, 1855	Democratic			1
13		James Pollock James Pollock James Pollock was the 13th Governor of the State of Pennsylvania from 1855 to 1858.- Political career :James Pollock graduated from the College of New Jersey at Princeton before setting up a law practice in his home community, in Milton, Pennsylvania...	January 16, 1855	January 19, 1858	Whig			1
14		William F. Packer William F. Packer William Fisher Packer was the 14th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1858 to 1861. His father was James Packer from Chester County, Pennsylvania and his mother was Charity Packer. His ancestry was primarily Quakers from Philadelphia...	January 19, 1858	January 15, 1861	Democratic			1
15		Andrew Gregg Curtin Andrew Gregg Curtin Andrew Gregg Curtin was a U.S. lawyer and politician. He served as the Governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War.-Biography:...	January 15, 1861	January 15, 1867	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...			2
16		John W. Geary John W. Geary John White Geary was an American lawyer, politician, Freemason, and a Union general in the American Civil War...	January 15, 1867	January 21, 1873	Republican			2
17		John F. Hartranft John F. Hartranft John Frederick Hartranft was the 17th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1873 to 1879 and a Union Major General who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...	January 21, 1873	January 21, 1879	Republican		None	2 First governor under the 1874 constitution, which prevented governors from succeeding themselves and lengthened terms to four years. Since Hartranft was originally elected under the previous constitution, he was allowed to succeed himself. Hartranft's first term was shortened from three to two years to fit the electoral schedule of the new constitution.
							John Latta John Latta (Lieutenant Governor) John Latta was the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1875 to 1879. He was born in Unity Township, Pennsylvania.He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.-External links:*...
18		Henry M. Hoyt Henry M. Hoyt Henry Martyn Hoyt, Sr. was the 18th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1879 to 1883, as well as a general in the Union army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...	January 21, 1879	January 16, 1883	Republican		Charles Warren Stone Charles Warren Stone Charles Warren Stone was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania....	1
19		Robert E. Pattison Robert E. Pattison Robert Emory Pattison was the 19th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1883 to 1887 and 1891 to 1895. Born at Quantico in Somerset County, Maryland, Pattison's family moved to Philadelphia when he was five. He practiced law from 1872 to 1877 and was elected Controller of the city of Philadelphia in 1880...	January 16, 1883	January 18, 1887	Democratic		Chauncey Forward Black Chauncey Forward Black Chauncey Forward Black was the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1883 to 1887. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1886....	1
20		James A. Beaver James A. Beaver James Addams Beaver was an American politician who served as the 20th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1887 to 1891...	January 18, 1887	January 20, 1891	Republican		William T. Davies William T. Davies William T. Davies was the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1887 to 1891.He was born in Glamorganshire, Wales. He was also a lawyer and a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1877 to 1884....	1
19		Robert E. Pattison Robert E. Pattison Robert Emory Pattison was the 19th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1883 to 1887 and 1891 to 1895. Born at Quantico in Somerset County, Maryland, Pattison's family moved to Philadelphia when he was five. He practiced law from 1872 to 1877 and was elected Controller of the city of Philadelphia in 1880...	January 20, 1891	January 15, 1895	Democratic		Louis Arthur Watres Louis Arthur Watres Louis Arthur Watres was the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1891 to 1895.-External links:*...	1
21		Daniel H. Hastings Daniel H. Hastings Daniel Hartman Hastings was the 21st Governor of Pennsylvania from 1895 to 1899. Although he was only 12 years old at the outbreak of the American Civil War, the young Hastings made three successive attempts to run away from home and enlist in the Union army, each time stopped by his father...	January 15, 1895	January 17, 1899	Republican		Walter Lyon Walter Lyon (Pennsylvania) Walter Lyon was the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1895 to 1899.He was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He also served as the United States District Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania and a member of Pennsylvania State Senate from...	1
22		William A. Stone William A. Stone William Alexis Stone was the 22nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1899 to 1903.-Early life:Stone was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. In 1864, Stone enlisted in the Union Army as a private during the American Civil War, and became a second lieutenant in 1865. He continued his military service after...	January 17, 1899	January 20, 1903	Republican		John P. S. Gobin John P. S. Gobin John Peter Shindel Gobin was an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War, and the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1899 to 1903.-Biography:...	1
23		Samuel W. Pennypacker Samuel W. Pennypacker Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker was the 23rd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1903 to 1907.-Biography:Gov. Pennypacker was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1843; son of Dr. Isaac A. Pennypacker and Anna Maria Whitaker; grandson of Matthias and Sarah Anderson , and of Joseph and Grace Whitaker...	January 20, 1903	January 15, 1907	Republican		William M. Brown William M. Brown William M. Brown was a Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania and an electee to the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania....	1
24		Edwin Sydney Stuart Edwin Sydney Stuart Edwin Sydney Stuart was a Republican American politician who served as the Mayor of Philadelphia from 1891 to 1895 and as the 24th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1907 to 1911....	January 15, 1907	January 17, 1911	Republican		Robert S. Murphy Robert S. Murphy Robert S. Murphy was the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1907 to 1911. He was from Johnstown, Pennsylvania.-External links:*...	1
25		John K. Tener John K. Tener John Kinley Tener was a Major League baseball player and executive and, from 1911 to 1915, served as the 25th Governor of Pennsylvania.-Biography:...	January 17, 1911	January 19, 1915	Republican		John Merriman Reynolds John Merriman Reynolds John Merriman Reynolds was a U.S. Representative from the state of Pennsylvania.-Early life:Reynolds was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, near Quarryville, about twelve miles south of the city of Lancaster, to parents Patrick Hewitt and Ann Reynolds...	1
26		Martin Grove Brumbaugh Martin Grove Brumbaugh Martin Grove Brumbaugh, A.M., Ph.D. was Pennsylvania's 26th Governor, a Republican. He is frequently referred to as M.G. Brumbaugh, as is common in the Brumbaugh family.-Biography:...	January 19, 1915	January 21, 1919	Republican		Frank B. McClain Frank B. McClain Frank B. McClain was the Lieutenant Governor of the state of Pennsylvania from 1915 to 1919.McClain was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was a Member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1895 to 1910, and served as Speaker from 1907 to 1909. He served as 24th mayor of Lancaster from...	1
27		William Cameron Sproul William Cameron Sproul William Cameron Sproul was the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. He was born near Octoraro and Andrew's Bridge, Colerain Township, Lancaster County. He was born in a structure currently known as the John Douglass HouseHe served as a member of Pennsylvania State Senate from 1897 to...	January 21, 1919	January 16, 1923	Republican		Edward E. Beidleman Edward E. Beidleman Edward Ensinger Beidleman was the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923.Beidleman was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was a member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1905 to 1906, and a member of Pennsylvania State Senate from 1913 to 1919...	1
28		Gifford Pinchot Gifford Pinchot Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania...	January 16, 1923	January 18, 1927	Republican		David J. Davis David J. Davis David J. Davis was the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1923 to 1927....	1
29		John Stuchell Fisher John Stuchell Fisher John Stuchell Fisher was Pennsylvania's 29th Governor, a Republican.Fisher was born in South Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania, in 1867...	January 18, 1927	January 20, 1931	Republican		Arthur James Arthur James (politician) Arthur Horace James was an American politician. He served as the 31st Governor of Pennsylvania from 1939 until 1943.He was elected governor as a Republican when the Democratic machine Arthur Horace James (July 14, 1883April 27, 1973) was an American politician. He served as the 31st Governor of...	1
28		Gifford Pinchot Gifford Pinchot Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania...	January 20, 1931	January 15, 1935	Republican		Edward C. Shannon Edward C. Shannon Edward C. Shannon was the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1931 to 1935.-External links:*...	1
30		George Howard Earle III George Howard Earle III George Howard Earle III was an American politician. He was great-grandson of noted abolitionist and philanthropist Thomas Earle, grandson of Philadelphia lawyer George H. Earle, Sr., and son of Philadelphia lawyer and "financial diplomat," George H. Earle, Jr. Earle served as the U.S...	January 15, 1935	January 17, 1939	Democratic		Thomas Kennedy Thomas Kennedy (unionist) Thomas Kennedy was a miner and president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1960 to 1963....	1
31		Arthur James Arthur James (politician) Arthur Horace James was an American politician. He served as the 31st Governor of Pennsylvania from 1939 until 1943.He was elected governor as a Republican when the Democratic machine Arthur Horace James (July 14, 1883April 27, 1973) was an American politician. He served as the 31st Governor of...	January 17, 1939	January 19, 1943	Republican		Samuel S. Lewis Samuel S. Lewis Samuel S. Lewis was the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1939 to 1943.Lewis was born in York, Pennsylvania. He also served as Pennsylvania State Auditor General and Pennsylvania State Treasurer....	1
32		Edward Martin	January 19, 1943	January 2, 1947	Republican		John C. Bell, Jr. John C. Bell, Jr. John Cromwell Bell, Jr. was a Pennsylvania politician and judge.He served as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, 1943–47, and the 33rd Governor briefly in 1947, succeeding Edward Martin, who had resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate...
33		John C. Bell, Jr. John C. Bell, Jr. John Cromwell Bell, Jr. was a Pennsylvania politician and judge.He served as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, 1943–47, and the 33rd Governor briefly in 1947, succeeding Edward Martin, who had resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate...	January 2, 1947	January 21, 1947	Republican		vacant	As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term.
34		James H. Duff James H. Duff James Henderson Duff was an American lawyer and politician in the mid-20th century. He served as the 34th Governor of Pennsylvania and U.S...	January 21, 1947	January 16, 1951	Republican		Daniel B. Strickler Daniel B. Strickler Daniel Bursk Strickler was the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1947 to 1951, under Governor James Duff....	1
35		John S. Fine John S. Fine John Sydney Fine was the 35th Governor of Pennsylvania from January 16, 1951 until January 18, 1955. He was born in Alden, Pennsylvania near Nanticoke and quickly rose in Luzerne County politics, serving as Republican County Chairman and as a Court Judge...	January 16, 1951	January 18, 1955	Republican		Lloyd H. Wood Lloyd H. Wood Lloyd H. Wood was the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1951 to 1955. He previously served as a State Senator from the Montgomery County-based 12th district from 1947-50.-External links:*...	1
36		George M. Leader George M. Leader George Michael Leader served as the 36th Governor of Pennsylvania from January 18, 1955 until January 20, 1959. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and a native of York County, Pennsylvania. Currently he is the only person from that county ever to be elected governor of the state.-Early...	January 18, 1955	January 20, 1959	Democratic		Roy E. Furman Roy E. Furman Roy E. Furman was the Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1955 to 1959, and the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House, 1936-1938....	1
37		David L. Lawrence David L. Lawrence David Leo Lawrence was an American politician who served as the 37th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1959 to 1963. He is to date the only mayor of Pittsburgh to be elected Governor of Pennsylvania. Previously, he had been the mayor of Pittsburgh from 1946 through 1959...	January 20, 1959	January 15, 1963	Democratic		John Morgan Davis John Morgan Davis John Morgan Davis was the Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1959 to 1963.-Early life:Davis was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania...	1
38		William Scranton William Scranton William Warren Scranton is a former U.S. Republican Party politician. Scranton served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967. From 1976 to 1977, he served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.-Early life:...	January 15, 1963	January 17, 1967	Republican		Raymond P. Shafer Raymond P. Shafer Raymond Philip Shafer served as the 39th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967...	1
39		Raymond P. Shafer Raymond P. Shafer Raymond Philip Shafer served as the 39th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967...	January 17, 1967	January 19, 1971	Republican		Raymond J. Broderick Raymond J. Broderick Raymond Joseph Broderick was a United States federal judge, and the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971.-Biography:...	1
40		Milton Shapp Milton Shapp Milton Jerrold Shapp was the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979 and was the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania.- Early life :...	January 19, 1971	January 16, 1979	Democratic		Ernest P. Kline Ernest P. Kline Ernest P. "Ernie" Kline was a Democrat member of the Pennsylvania State Senate and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania....	2 First governor under the 1968 constitution, and thus eligible to succeed himself.
41		Dick Thornburgh Dick Thornburgh Richard Lewis "Dick" Thornburgh is an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 41st Governor of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1987, and then as the U.S...	January 16, 1979	January 20, 1987	Republican		William Scranton, III William Scranton, III William Worthington Scranton, III served as the Republican lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1987 in the administration of Governor Richard Thornburgh...	2
42		Robert P. Casey Robert P. Casey Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...	January 20, 1987	January 17, 1995	Democratic		Mark Singel Mark Singel Mark Stephen Singel served as the Democratic lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995 under Bob Casey He was acting governor from June 14, 1993, to December 13, 1993, during Casey's lengthy battle with amyloidosis and subsequent multiple organ transplant.A graduate of Pennsylvania...	2 On June 14, 1993, Casey transferred executive authority to Lieutenant Governor Singel, and later that day underwent a heart-liver transplant operation. Singel acted as governor until Casey resumed the powers and duties of the office six months later on December 13, 1993. Because Casey never officially resigned, Singel was only an acting governor.
43		Tom Ridge Tom Ridge Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...	January 17, 1995	October 5, 2001	Republican		Mark S. Schweiker Mark S. Schweiker Mark Stephen Schweiker is a businessman and politician who served as the 44th Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2003. Schweiker, a Republican, became Governor of Pennsylvania on October 5, 2001, when his predecessor, Tom Ridge, resigned as Governor of Pennsylvania to assume...	Resigned to be Director of the Office of Homeland Security.
44		Mark S. Schweiker Mark S. Schweiker Mark Stephen Schweiker is a businessman and politician who served as the 44th Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2003. Schweiker, a Republican, became Governor of Pennsylvania on October 5, 2001, when his predecessor, Tom Ridge, resigned as Governor of Pennsylvania to assume...	October 5, 2001	January 21, 2003	Republican		Robert Jubelirer Robert Jubelirer Robert C. Jubelirer is a Republican Pennsylvania political leader. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1975 to 2006, and simultaneously served as the President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania between 2001 and...	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
45		Ed Rendell Ed Rendell Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...	January 21, 2003	January 18, 2011	Democratic		Catherine Baker Knoll Catherine Baker Knoll Catherine Baker Knoll was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. She was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, serving under Governor Ed Rendell from 2003 to 2008.-Background:...	2
							Joe Scarnati Joe Scarnati Joseph B. Scarnati is an American politician from the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Republican Party and is currently the President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate...
46		Tom Corbett Tom Corbett Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...	January 18, 2011	Incumbent	Republican		Jim Cawley Jim Cawley James "Jim" Cawley is the 32nd and current Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.-Political career:He was appointed to the Bucks County Board of Commissioners following the resignation of Mike Fitzpatrick and was elected to a full term in 2007, when he became chairman of the board...	1 Governor Corbett's first term expires on January 20, 2015; he is not yet term limit Term limit A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for... ed.

Other high offices held

This is a table of other governorships, congressional and other federal offices, and ranking diplomatic positions in foreign countries held by Pennsylvania governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Pennsylvania except where noted.

Name	Gubernatorial term	U.S. Congress United States Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....		Other offices held	Source
		House United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...	Senate United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Joseph Reed Joseph Reed (jurist) Joseph Reed was a Pennsylvania lawyer, military officer, and statesman of the Revolutionary Era. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and, while in Congress, signed the Articles of Confederation...	1778–1781			Delegate to the Continental Congress Continental Congress The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution.... ; elected to the U.S. House but declined his seat.
John Dickinson John Dickinson (delegate) John Dickinson was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of...	1782–1785			President of Delaware, Delegate to the Continental Congress from Delaware, Delegate to the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania
Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...	1785–1788			Minister to France United States Ambassador to France This article is about the United States Ambassador to France. There has been a United States Ambassador to France since the American Revolution. The United States sent its first envoys to France in 1776, towards the end of the four-centuries-old Bourbon dynasty... , Minister to Sweden United States Ambassador to Sweden The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental...	1790–1799			President of the Continental Congress President of the Continental Congress The President of the Continental Congress was the presiding officer of the Continental Congress, the convention of delegates that emerged as the first national government of the United States during the American Revolution...
Thomas McKean Thomas McKean Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...	1799–1808			President of Delaware, President of the Continental Congress
Simon Snyder Simon Snyder Simon Snyder was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1808 to 1817. A Jeffersonian Democrat, he served three terms as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before becoming governor...	1808–1817			Some records say he was elected to the U.S. Senate, but some only say state senate. The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Biographical Directory of the United States Congress The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress is a biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress as well as its predecessor, the Continental Congress...  has no record of a U.S. Senate term.
William Findlay	1817–1820		S
Joseph Hiester Joseph Hiester Joseph Hiester was the fifth Governor of Pennsylvania from 1820 to 1823. He was a member of the Hiester family political dynasty.-Biography:...	1820–1823	H†
George Wolf George Wolf George Wolf was the seventh Governor of Pennsylvania from 1829 to 1835.Wolf was born in Allen Township, Pennsylvania. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1799 and commenced practice in Easton, Pennsylvania. He served as postmaster of Easton in 1802 and 1803...	1829–1835	H†
William Bigler William Bigler William Bigler was the 12th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855, and later a U.S. Senator for the Democratic Party....	1852–1855		S
James Pollock James Pollock James Pollock was the 13th Governor of the State of Pennsylvania from 1855 to 1858.- Political career :James Pollock graduated from the College of New Jersey at Princeton before setting up a law practice in his home community, in Milton, Pennsylvania...	1855–1858	H
Andrew Gregg Curtin Andrew Gregg Curtin Andrew Gregg Curtin was a U.S. lawyer and politician. He served as the Governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War.-Biography:...	1861–1867	H		Ambassador to Russia
John W. Geary John W. Geary John White Geary was an American lawyer, politician, Freemason, and a Union general in the American Civil War...	1867–1876			Governor of Kansas Territory
William A. Stone William A. Stone William Alexis Stone was the 22nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1899 to 1903.-Early life:Stone was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. In 1864, Stone enlisted in the Union Army as a private during the American Civil War, and became a second lieutenant in 1865. He continued his military service after...	1899–1903	H†
John K. Tener John K. Tener John Kinley Tener was a Major League baseball player and executive and, from 1911 to 1915, served as the 25th Governor of Pennsylvania.-Biography:...	1911–1915	H†
George Howard Earle III George Howard Earle III George Howard Earle III was an American politician. He was great-grandson of noted abolitionist and philanthropist Thomas Earle, grandson of Philadelphia lawyer George H. Earle, Sr., and son of Philadelphia lawyer and "financial diplomat," George H. Earle, Jr. Earle served as the U.S...	1935–1939			Ambassador to Austria United States Ambassador to Austria This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Austria.The United States first established diplomatic relations with Austria in 1838 during the time of the Austrian Empire. Relations between the United States have been continuous since that time except for two interruptions during World War... †
Edward Martin	1943–1947		S
James H. Duff James H. Duff James Henderson Duff was an American lawyer and politician in the mid-20th century. He served as the 34th Governor of Pennsylvania and U.S...	1947–1951		S
William Scranton William Scranton William Warren Scranton is a former U.S. Republican Party politician. Scranton served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967. From 1976 to 1977, he served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.-Early life:...	1963–1967		H	Ambassador to the United Nations United States Ambassador to the United Nations The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador...
Dick Thornburgh Dick Thornburgh Richard Lewis "Dick" Thornburgh is an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 41st Governor of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1987, and then as the U.S...	1979–1987			U.S. Attorney General United States Attorney General The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Tom Ridge Tom Ridge Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...	1995–2001		H	U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security United States Secretary of Homeland Security The United States Secretary of Homeland Security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the body concerned with protecting the American homeland and the safety of American citizens. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. The position was created by the...

Living former governors

, six former governors are alive. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Raymond P. Shafer

Raymond P. Shafer

Raymond Philip Shafer served as the 39th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967...

 (1967–1971), on December 12, 2006.

Name	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
George M. Leader George M. Leader George Michael Leader served as the 36th Governor of Pennsylvania from January 18, 1955 until January 20, 1959. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and a native of York County, Pennsylvania. Currently he is the only person from that county ever to be elected governor of the state.-Early...	1955–1959	January 17, 1918 (age 94)
William Scranton William Scranton William Warren Scranton is a former U.S. Republican Party politician. Scranton served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967. From 1976 to 1977, he served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.-Early life:...	1963–1967	July 19, 1917 (age 94)
Dick Thornburgh Dick Thornburgh Richard Lewis "Dick" Thornburgh is an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 41st Governor of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1987, and then as the U.S...	1979–1987	July 16, 1932 (age 79)
Tom Ridge Tom Ridge Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...	1995–2001	August 26, 1945 (age 66)
Mark Schweiker Mark S. Schweiker Mark Stephen Schweiker is a businessman and politician who served as the 44th Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2003. Schweiker, a Republican, became Governor of Pennsylvania on October 5, 2001, when his predecessor, Tom Ridge, resigned as Governor of Pennsylvania to assume...	2001–2003	January 31, 1953 (age 59)
Ed Rendell Ed Rendell Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...	2003–2011	January 05, 1944 (age 68)

External links

• Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania