Party affiliation

Number of Governors of Rhode Island by party affiliation

Party	Governors
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...	32
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...	21
Democratic-Republican	4
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...	4
Country Country Party (Rhode Island) The Country Party, Rhode Island's anti-federalist political party, controlled the Rhode Island General Assembly from 1786 and 1790 and opposed the Federalist Party, which supported the U.S. Constitution. The Federalists were largely from the "town," Providence, Rhode Island, while the Country...	3
No Affiliation	3
Law and Order Law and Order Party of Rhode Island The Law and Order Party of Rhode Island was a short-lived political party in the U.S. state of Rhode Island in the 1840s, brought into existence as a consequence of the Dorr Rebellion.-Elected office-holders:* Governor James Fenner...	2
Dorr Rebellion Dorr Rebellion The Dorr Rebellion was a short-lived armed insurrection in the U.S. state of Rhode Island led by Thomas Wilson Dorr, who was agitating for changes to the state's electoral system.- Precursors :...	1
Federalist 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...	1
Know Nothing Know Nothing The Know Nothing was a movement by the nativist American political faction of the 1840s and 1850s. It was empowered by popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were often regarded as hostile to Anglo-Saxon Protestant values and controlled by...	1
Rhode Island Party	1
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...	1

List of Rhode Island

Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...

 Governors 1775-present

#	Name	Picture	Party	Took office	Left office	Notes
1	Nicholas Cooke Nicholas Cooke Nicholas Cooke was a governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations during the American Revolutionary War, and after Rhode Island became a state, he continued in this position to become the first Governor of the State of Rhode Island. Born in the maritime town of Providence, he...		None	November 7, 1775	May 4, 1778
2	William Greene William Greene (Rhode Island governor) William Greene was the second Governor of Rhode Island after it became a state. His father, William Greene, had served as governor when Rhode Island was still a British colony....		None	May 4, 1778	May 3, 1786
3	John Collins John Collins (delegate) John Collins , was the third Governor of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, born in Newport, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Collins.He stood forth as a staunch advocate of the independence of the Thirteen Colonies...		None	May 3, 1786	May 5, 1790
4	Arthur Fenner Arthur Fenner Arthur Fenner served as the fourth Governor of Rhode Island from 1790 until his death in 1805 and was a prominent Country Party leader...		Country Party Country Party (Rhode Island) The Country Party, Rhode Island's anti-federalist political party, controlled the Rhode Island General Assembly from 1786 and 1790 and opposed the Federalist Party, which supported the U.S. Constitution. The Federalists were largely from the "town," Providence, Rhode Island, while the Country...	May 5, 1790	October 15, 1805
5	Henry Smith Henry Smith (Rhode Island) Henry Smith was the fifth Governor of Rhode Island from October 15, 1805 to May 7, 1806. Elected to the state senate in 1803, he succeeded to the governorship on the death of Arthur Fenner as Lieutenant Governor Paul Mumford had predeceased Fenner.- References :Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds...		Country	October 15, 1805	May 7, 1806
6	Isaac Wilbour Isaac Wilbour Isaac Wilbour was an American politician from Rhode Island holding several offices, including the sixth Governor of the state....		Country	May 7, 1806	May 6, 1807
7	James Fenner James Fenner James Fenner was an American politician who served as an United States Senator as well as the seventh, 11th and 17th Governor of Rhode Island . He was the son of Arthur Fenner, the fourth governor of Rhode Island.Fenner was born in Providence, Rhode Island...		Democratic-Republican	May 6, 1807	May 1, 1811
8	William Jones William Jones (governor) William Jones was the eighth Governor of Rhode Island from 1811 to 1817. He was a Federalist.-Early life:Jones was born in Newport, Rhode Island, into a family of Welsh origin...		Federalist	May 1, 1811	May 7, 1817
9	Nehemiah R. Knight Nehemiah R. Knight Nehemiah Rice Knight was a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Born in Cranston, he attended the common schools. In 1802 he was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives; he moved to Providence and was clerk of the Court of Common Pleas from 1805 to 1811 and clerk of the circuit...		Democratic-Republican	May 7, 1817	May 2, 1821
10	William C. Gibbs William C. Gibbs William Channing Gibbs was the tenth Governor of Rhode Island from 1821 to 1824.-Early life:Gibbs was born in Newport, Rhode Island, the son of George Gibbs and Mary Channing. He served in the state militia, rising to the rank of Major general.He was married to Mary Kane, with whom he had ten...		Democratic-Republican	May 2, 1821	May 5, 1824
11	James Fenner James Fenner James Fenner was an American politician who served as an United States Senator as well as the seventh, 11th and 17th Governor of Rhode Island . He was the son of Arthur Fenner, the fourth governor of Rhode Island.Fenner was born in Providence, Rhode Island...		Democratic-Republican	May 5, 1824	May 4, 1831
12	Lemuel H. Arnold Lemuel H. Arnold Lemuel Hastings Arnold was the 12th Governor of the State of Rhode Island, as well as a U.S. Congressman.He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to Dr. Jonathan & Cynthia Arnold....		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...	May 4, 1831	May 1, 1833
13	John B. Francis John Brown Francis John Brown Francis was a United States Senator from Rhode Island.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he attended the common schools of Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Brown University in 1808. He engaged in mercantile pursuits, attended the Litchfield Law School, and was...		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...	May 1, 1833	May 2, 1838
14	William Sprague III		Democratic	May 2, 1838	May 2, 1839
15	Samuel Ward King Samuel Ward King Samuel Ward King was the 15th Governor of Rhode Island from 1839 to 1843.King was born in Johnston, Providence County, Rhode Island to William Borden King and Welthian Walton....		Rhode Island Party	May 2, 1839	May 2, 1843
16	Thomas Dorr		extralegal, Dorr Rebellion Dorr Rebellion The Dorr Rebellion was a short-lived armed insurrection in the U.S. state of Rhode Island led by Thomas Wilson Dorr, who was agitating for changes to the state's electoral system.- Precursors :...	May 19, 1842	January 23, 1843
17	James Fenner James Fenner James Fenner was an American politician who served as an United States Senator as well as the seventh, 11th and 17th Governor of Rhode Island . He was the son of Arthur Fenner, the fourth governor of Rhode Island.Fenner was born in Providence, Rhode Island...		Law and Order Law and Order Party of Rhode Island The Law and Order Party of Rhode Island was a short-lived political party in the U.S. state of Rhode Island in the 1840s, brought into existence as a consequence of the Dorr Rebellion.-Elected office-holders:* Governor James Fenner...	May 2, 1843	May 6, 1845
18	Charles Jackson Charles Jackson (Rhode Island) Charles Jackson was the 18th Governor of Rhode Island from 1845-46.Jackson was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated from Brown University, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1820...		Know Nothing	May 6, 1845	May 6, 1846
19	Byron Diman Byron Diman Byron Diman was an American politician, 19th Governor of Rhode IslandDiman was born in Bristol, Rhode Island on August 5, 1795. He worked in a counting-house for over two decades. He was then engaged in the whaling and mill businesses. He served in the Rhode Island Militia and later became...		Law and Order	May 6, 1846	May 4, 1847
20	Elisha Harris Elisha Harris Elisha Harris of Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island, was Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, 1846–47 and the 20th Governor of Rhode Island 1847–49....		Whig	May 4, 1847	May 1, 1849
21	Henry B. Anthony Henry B. Anthony Henry Bowen Anthony was a United States newspaperman and political figure. He served as the editor and later part owner of the Providence Journal and later was the 21st Governor of Rhode Island between 1849 and 1851, as a member of the Whig Party.The son of William Anthony and Mary Kennicut...		Whig	May 1, 1849	May 6, 1851
22	Philip Allen		Democratic	May 6, 1851	July 20, 1853
23	Francis M. Dimond Francis M. Dimond Francis M. Dimond was an American politician and the 23rd Governor of Rhode Island.He was born in Bristol, Rhode Island on June 6, 1796. During his youth, he traveled to the Caribbean and served for several years as the United States consul at Port-au-Prince.Later, Dimond became a United States...		Democratic	July 20, 1853	May 2, 1854
24	William W. Hoppin William W. Hoppin William Warner Hoppin was the 24th Governor of Rhode Island from 1854 to 1857.-Early life:Hoppin was a native of Providence, Rhode Island...		Whig	May 2, 1854	May 26, 1857
25	Elisha Dyer Elisha Dyer Elisha Dyer was an American politician and the 25th Governor of Rhode Island.-Early life:Dyer was born in Providence, Rhode Island on July 20, 1811. He graduated from Brown University. After completing his studies, he worked in his father’s mercantile business.-Political career:He was a Republican...		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...	May 26, 1857	May 31, 1859
26	Thomas G. Turner Thomas G. Turner Thomas Goodwin Turner was an American politician and businessman who was the 26th Governor of Rhode Island 1859-1860.-Early life:Turner was born in Warren, Bristol County, Rhode Island October 24, 1810...		Republican	May 31, 1859	May 29, 1860
27	William Sprague IV		Republican	May 29, 1860	March 3, 1863
28	William C. Cozzens William C. Cozzens William Cole Cozzens was an American politician and the 28th Governor of Rhode Island.-Early life:Cozzens was born in Newport, Rhode Island on August 26, 1811....		Democratic	March 3, 1863	May 26, 1863
29	James Y. Smith James Y. Smith James Youngs Smith was an American politician and the 29th Governor of Rhode Island .-Early life:...		Republican	May 26, 1863	May 29, 1866
30	Ambrose Everett Burnside		Republican	May 29, 1866	May 25, 1869
31	Seth Padelford Seth Padelford Seth Padelford was the 31st Governor of Rhode Island from 1869 to 1873.Padelford was born in Taunton, Massachusetts...		Republican	May 25, 1869	May 27, 1873
32	Henry Howard Henry Howard (Rhode Island) Henry Howard was the 32nd Governor of Rhode Island from 1873 to 1875.- Education and family life :Henry Howard was born in Cranston, Rhode Island to Jesse and Mary Howard. In 1848, he studied law in the office of future Rhode Island Governor William W. Hoppin...		Republican	May 27, 1873	May 25, 1875
33	Henry Lippitt Henry Lippitt Henry Lippitt was the 33rd Governor of Rhode Island from 1875 to 1877.-Family:Lippitt was the son of Warren Lippitt and Eliza Lippitt, married to Mary Ann Balch. He was the father of Charles Warren Lippitt, another Rhode Island Governor, and the father of Henry F. Lippitt, a U.S...		Republican	May 25, 1875	May 29, 1877
34	Charles C. Van Zandt Charles C. Van Zandt Charles Collins Van Zandt was the 34th Governor of Rhode Island.-Early life:He was born in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, then studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1853...		Republican	May 29, 1877	May 25, 1880
35	Alfred H. Littlefield Alfred H. Littlefield Alfred H. Littlefield was an American politician and the 35th Governor of Rhode Island.-Early life:Littlefield was born in Scituate, Providence County, Rhode Island on April 12, 1829. He later became a successful businessman.-Political career:Littlefield was a member of the Rhode Island House of...		Republican	May 25, 1880	May 29, 1883
36	Augustus O. Bourn Augustus O. Bourn Augustus Osborn Bourn was an American politician and the 36th Governor of Rhode Island.-Early life:Bourn was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 1, 1834. He was the son of George O. Bourn and Huldah B. Bourn and married Elizabeth R. Morrill February 24, 1863. He and his wife had five...		Republican	May 29, 1883	May 26, 1885
37	George P. Wetmore George P. Wetmore George Peabody Wetmore was the 37th Governor and a United States Senator from Rhode Island.-Early life:George Peabody Wetmore was born in London, England, during a visit of his parents abroad. His father was William Shepard Wetmore, a wealthy Yankee trader. George Wetmore received his early...		Republican	May 26, 1885	May 29, 1887
38	John W. Davis John W. Davis (governor) John William Davis was a United States Democratic politician, who served as the 38th and 41st Governor of Rhode Island .-Early life:...		Democratic	May 29, 1887	May 29, 1888
39	Royal C. Taft Royal C. Taft Royal Chapin Taft was a US politician and businessman, whose most distinguished post was that as the 39th Governor of Rhode Island, an office he held from 1888–1889...		Republican	May 29, 1888	May 28, 1889
40	Herbert W. Ladd Herbert W. Ladd Herbert Warren Ladd was the 40th and 42nd Governor of Rhode Island for two terms: 1889-90 and 1891-92.He was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts on October 15, 1843. In 1891 he donated an astronomical observatory to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The Ladd Observatory...		Republican	May 28, 1889	May 27, 1890
41	John W. Davis John W. Davis (governor) John William Davis was a United States Democratic politician, who served as the 38th and 41st Governor of Rhode Island .-Early life:...		Democratic	May 27, 1890	May 26, 1891
42	Herbert W. Ladd Herbert W. Ladd Herbert Warren Ladd was the 40th and 42nd Governor of Rhode Island for two terms: 1889-90 and 1891-92.He was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts on October 15, 1843. In 1891 he donated an astronomical observatory to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The Ladd Observatory...		Republican	May 26, 1891	May 31, 1892
43	D. Russell Brown		Republican	May 31, 1892	May 29, 1895
44	Charles W. Lippitt Charles W. Lippitt Charles Warren Lippitt was an American politician and the 44th Governor of Rhode Island.-Early Life and Family:...		Republican	May 29, 1895	May 25, 1897
45	Elisha Dyer, Jr. Elisha Dyer, Jr. Elisha Dyer, Jr. was a Rhode Island politician who was 45th Governor of Rhode Island from 1897 to 1900. He was the son of Elisha Dyer, Governor of Rhode Island from 1857 to 1859....		Republican	May 25, 1897	May 29, 1900
46	William Gregory William Gregory (Rhode Island) William Gregory was an American politician, the 46th Governor of Rhode Island.Gregory was born in Astoria, Long Island, New York on August 3, 1849...		Republican	May 29, 1900	December 16, 1901
47	Charles D. Kimball Charles D. Kimball Charles Dean Kimball was an American politician and the 47th Governor of Rhode Island.-Early life:Kimball was born in Providence, Rhode Island on September 13, 1859 as the son of Emery S. Kimball and Mary C. Kimball. He married Gertrude C. Greenalgh November 24, 1885...		Republican	December 16, 1901	January 3, 1903
48	Lucius F. C. Garvin Lucius F. C. Garvin Lucius Fayette Clark Garvin was the 48th Governor of Rhode Island from 1903-1905.- Origins and family :...		Democratic	January 3, 1903	January 3, 1905
49	George H. Utter George H. Utter George Herbert Utter was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island and the 49th Governor of Rhode Island.Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Utter moved with his parents to Westerly, Rhode Island in 1861. He attended the public schools of Westerly and Alfred Academy. He graduated from Amherst...		Republican	January 3, 1905	January 1, 1907
50	James H. Higgins James H. Higgins James Henry Higgins was an American politician and the 50th Governor of Rhode Island from 1907 to 1909.- Origins and education :...		Democratic	January 1, 1907	January 5, 1909
51	Aram J. Pothier Aram J. Pothier Aram Jules Pothier was an American politician of French Canadian origin, the 51st and 55th Governor of Rhode Island from 1909 to 1915 and from 1925 until his death in 1928.-Early life:...		Republican	January 5, 1909	January 5, 1915
52	R. Livingston Beeckman		Republican	January 5, 1915	January 4, 1921
53	Emery J. San Souci Emery J. San Souci Emery John San Souci was the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1915 to 1921 and 53rd Governor of the state from 1921 to 1923. Based in Providence, Rhode Island as a politician, San Souci was born in Saco, Maine and ultimately buried in Hartford, Connecticut at Mount Saint Benedict's Cemetery...		Republican	January 4, 1921	January 2, 1923
54	William S. Flynn William S. Flynn William Smith Flynn of Providence, Rhode Island was the 54th Governor of Rhode Island from 1923 to 1925. He was a Democrat....		Democratic	January 2, 1923	January 6, 1925
55	Aram J. Pothier Aram J. Pothier Aram Jules Pothier was an American politician of French Canadian origin, the 51st and 55th Governor of Rhode Island from 1909 to 1915 and from 1925 until his death in 1928.-Early life:...		Republican	January 6, 1925	February 4, 1928
56	Norman S. Case Norman S. Case Norman Stanley Case was the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1927 to 1928 and the 56th Governor of Rhode Island from 1928 to 1933. In addition, he also served in the Army during World War I, and was the U.S. District Attorney for Rhode Island from 1921 to 1926.-Family:Case was married on...		Republican	February 4, 1928	January 3, 1933
57	Theodore Francis Green		Democratic	January 3, 1933	January 5, 1937
58	Robert E. Quinn Robert E. Quinn Robert Emmet Quinn was an American politician and the 58th Governor of Rhode Island.Quinn was born on April 2, 1894 in Phenix, Rhode Island. He graduated from Brown University in 1915. He then completed his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1918.He became the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode...		Democratic	January 5, 1937	January 3, 1939
59	William Henry Vanderbilt III William Henry Vanderbilt III William Henry Vanderbilt III was an American Republican politician and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...		Republican	January 3, 1939	January 7, 1941
60	J. Howard McGrath J. Howard McGrath James Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Rhode Island.McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming Governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S...		Democratic	January 7, 1941	October 6, 1945
61	John Orlando Pastore		Democratic	October 6, 1945	December 19, 1950
62	John S. McKiernan John S. McKiernan John Sammon McKiernan was the United States Democratic politician, who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1947–1950 and 1951–1956 and briefly the 62nd Governor of Rhode Island ....		Democratic	December 19, 1950	January 2, 1951
63	Dennis J. Roberts Dennis J. Roberts Dennis Joseph Roberts was an American politician, member of the Democratic Party, who served as 63rd Governor of Rhode Island....		Democratic	January 2, 1951	January 6, 1959
64	Christopher Del Sesto Christopher Del Sesto Christopher Del Sesto was a United States politician and a member of the Republican Party, who served as 64th Governor of Rhode Island...		Republican	January 6, 1959	January 3, 1961
65	John A. Notte, Jr. John A. Notte, Jr. John Anthony Notte, Jr. was an American politician, a Democrat, best known for serving as the 65th Governor of Rhode Island....		Democratic	January 3, 1961	January 1, 1963
66	John Hubbard Chafee John Chafee John Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...		Republican	January 1, 1963	January 7, 1969
67	Frank Licht Frank Licht Frank R. Licht was 67th Governor of Rhode Island from 1969 to 1973.Licht was born in Providence, Rhode Island to Jacob Licht and Rose Kassed Licht. He graduated from Brown University in 1938 and Harvard Law School in 1941...		Democratic	January 7, 1969	January 2, 1973
68	Philip W. Noel Philip W. Noel Philip William Noel was the 68th Governor of Rhode Island from 1973 to 1977.-Biography:Philip Noel was born to Joe Noel, an auto mechanic and Emma Crudeli Noel, a jewelry worker in Warwick, Rhode Island. He attended Brown University where he played football, and then went to law school at...		Democratic	January 2, 1973	January 4, 1977
69	J. Joseph Garrahy		Democratic	January 4, 1977	January 1, 1985
70	Edward D. DiPrete Edward D. DiPrete Edward Daniel DiPrete is an American Republican Party politician from Rhode Island.DiPrete served as the 70th Governor of Rhode Island from 1985 to 1991, and was defeated for reelection in a landslide by former federal attorney and millionaire businessman Bruce Sundlun in 1990, who had twice lost...		Republican	January 1, 1985	January 1, 1991
71	Bruce Sundlun Bruce Sundlun Bruce Sundlun was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as 71st Governor of Rhode Island from 1991 to 1995. He was Rhode Island's second Jewish governor, and the only Jewish governor in the United States during his two terms...		Democratic	January 1, 1991	January 3, 1995
72	Lincoln C. Almond		Republican	January 3, 1995	January 7, 2003
73	Donald Carcieri Donald Carcieri Donald L. "Don" Carcieri was the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Carcieri has had a varied vocational background, having worked as a manufacturing company executive, aid relief worker, bank executive and teacher.-Personal background:...		Republican	January 7, 2003	January 4, 2011
74	Lincoln Chafee Lincoln Chafee Lincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...		Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...	January 4, 2011	Incumbent

Other high offices held

This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Rhode Island except where noted. * denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.

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
		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...
Isaac Wilbour Isaac Wilbour Isaac Wilbour was an American politician from Rhode Island holding several offices, including the sixth Governor of the state....	1806–1807	H
James Fenner James Fenner James Fenner was an American politician who served as an United States Senator as well as the seventh, 11th and 17th Governor of Rhode Island . He was the son of Arthur Fenner, the fourth governor of Rhode Island.Fenner was born in Providence, Rhode Island...	1807–1811; 1824–1831; 1843–1845		S
Nehemiah R. Knight Nehemiah R. Knight Nehemiah Rice Knight was a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Born in Cranston, he attended the common schools. In 1802 he was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives; he moved to Providence and was clerk of the Court of Common Pleas from 1805 to 1811 and clerk of the circuit...	1817–1821		S
Lemuel H. Arnold Lemuel H. Arnold Lemuel Hastings Arnold was the 12th Governor of the State of Rhode Island, as well as a U.S. Congressman.He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to Dr. Jonathan & Cynthia Arnold....	1831–1833	H
John Brown Francis John Brown Francis John Brown Francis was a United States Senator from Rhode Island.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he attended the common schools of Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Brown University in 1808. He engaged in mercantile pursuits, attended the Litchfield Law School, and was...	1833–1838		S
William Sprague III	1838–1839	H	S
Henry B. Anthony Henry B. Anthony Henry Bowen Anthony was a United States newspaperman and political figure. He served as the editor and later part owner of the Providence Journal and later was the 21st Governor of Rhode Island between 1849 and 1851, as a member of the Whig Party.The son of William Anthony and Mary Kennicut...	1849–1851		S
Philip Allen	1851–1853		S*
William Sprague IV	1860–1863		S
Ambrose Burnside Ambrose Burnside Ambrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...	1866–1869		S
George P. Wetmore George P. Wetmore George Peabody Wetmore was the 37th Governor and a United States Senator from Rhode Island.-Early life:George Peabody Wetmore was born in London, England, during a visit of his parents abroad. His father was William Shepard Wetmore, a wealthy Yankee trader. George Wetmore received his early...	1885–1887		S
George H. Utter George H. Utter George Herbert Utter was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island and the 49th Governor of Rhode Island.Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Utter moved with his parents to Westerly, Rhode Island in 1861. He attended the public schools of Westerly and Alfred Academy. He graduated from Amherst...	1905–1907	H
Theodore F. Green Theodore F. Green Theodore Francis Green was an American politician from the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A Democrat, Green served as the 57th Governor of Rhode Island and in the United States Senate . He was the grandnephew of Samuel G...	1933–1937		S
J. Howard McGrath J. Howard McGrath James Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Rhode Island.McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming Governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S...	1941–1945		S	United States Solicitor General United States Solicitor General The United States Solicitor General is the person appointed to represent the federal government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. The current Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 6, 2011 and sworn in on June... *; United States 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...
John O. Pastore John O. Pastore John Orlando Pastore was a Rhode Island Democratic Party politician who was a United States Senator from Rhode Island and the 61st Governor of Rhode Island , and was the first Italian American to hold either position.-Early life and career:Born in Providence on March 17, 1907, he attended...	1945–1950		S*
John Chafee John Chafee John Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...	1963–1969		S	United States Secretary of the Navy United States Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
Lincoln Chafee Lincoln Chafee Lincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...	2011–present		S

Living former governors

, five former governors were alive, the oldest being J. Joseph Garrahy (1977-1985, born 1930). The most recent governor to die was Bruce Sundlun

Bruce Sundlun

Bruce Sundlun was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as 71st Governor of Rhode Island from 1991 to 1995. He was Rhode Island's second Jewish governor, and the only Jewish governor in the United States during his two terms...

 (1991-1995), on July 21, 2011.

Name	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
Philip W. Noel Philip W. Noel Philip William Noel was the 68th Governor of Rhode Island from 1973 to 1977.-Biography:Philip Noel was born to Joe Noel, an auto mechanic and Emma Crudeli Noel, a jewelry worker in Warwick, Rhode Island. He attended Brown University where he played football, and then went to law school at...	1973–1977	June 05, 1931 (age 80)
J. Joseph Garrahy	1977–1985	November 26, 1930 (age 81)
Edward D. DiPrete Edward D. DiPrete Edward Daniel DiPrete is an American Republican Party politician from Rhode Island.DiPrete served as the 70th Governor of Rhode Island from 1985 to 1991, and was defeated for reelection in a landslide by former federal attorney and millionaire businessman Bruce Sundlun in 1990, who had twice lost...	1985–1991	July 08, 1934 (age 77)
Lincoln C. Almond	1995–2003	June 16, 1936 (age 75)
Donald Carcieri Donald Carcieri Donald L. "Don" Carcieri was the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Carcieri has had a varied vocational background, having worked as a manufacturing company executive, aid relief worker, bank executive and teacher.-Personal background:...	2003–2011	December 16, 1942 (age 69)