List of Governors of Virginia

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

List of Governors of Virginia

The following is a list of the Governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The governor

Governor of Virginia

The Governor#United States of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by U.S....
is the head of the executive branch of Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is an United States U.S. state on the East Coast of the United States of the Southern United States. The state is known as the "Old Dominion" and sometimes as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of Lists of United States Presidents by place of birth#By state....
'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....
of the state's

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
military forces

Virginia National Guard

The Virginia National Guard consists of the:*Virginia Army National Guard*Virginia Air National Guard...
. The governor has the duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto

Veto

A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is used to denote that a certain party has the right to stop unilaterally a piece of legislation. In practice, the veto can be absolute or limited ...
bill

Bill (proposed law)

A bill is a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not been ratification, adopted, or received royal assent. Once a bill has become law, it is thereafter an Statute; but in popular usage the two terms are often treated interchangeably....
passed by the Virginia General Assembly

Virginia General Assembly

The Virginia General Assembly is the State legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The General Assembly is a bicameralism body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members, and an upper house, the Senate of Virginia, with 40 members....
, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardon

Pardon

A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it. It is granted by a head of state, such as a monarch or president, or by a competent Roman Catholic Church authority....
s, except in cases of impeachment

Impeachment

Discussion

Ask a question about 'List of Governors of Virginia'

Start a new discussion about 'List of Governors of Virginia'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

The following is a list of the Governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The governor

Governor of Virginia

Virginia

Commander-in-Chief

U.S. state

Virginia National Guard

The Virginia National Guard consists of the:*Virginia Army National Guard*Virginia Air National Guard...
. The governor has the duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto

Veto

A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is used to denote that a certain party has the right to stop unilaterally a piece of legislation. In practice, the veto can be absolute or limited ...
bill

Bill (proposed law)

Virginia General Assembly

Pardon

Impeachment

Impeachment is the first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to consider whether or not to forcibly remove a government official from office....
.

The first constitution of 1776 created the office of governor, to be elected annually by the state legislature. The governor could serve up to three years at a time, and once out of office, could not serve again for four years. The 1830 constitution increased the term length to three years, and set the start date at the first day in January following an election. This constitution also prevented governors from succeeding themselves, a prohibition that exists to the present day. The 1851 constitution increased terms to four years and made the office elected by the people, rather than the legislature. The commencement of the governor's term was moved to the first day in February by the 1902 constitution, and then to the Saturday after the second Wednesday in January by the 1971 and current constitution.

If the office of governor is vacant due to disqualification, death, or resignation, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1851 Prior to then, a Council of State existed, which chose a president among its members who would be "Lieutenant-Governor", who would act as governor in a time of absence in the office.

There have officially been 70 governors of Virginia; the acting governors are not counted.

Colonial Governors

President of the Committee for Public Safety

Edmund Pendleton
Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton was a Virginia politician, lawyer and judge, active in the American Revolutionary War....
(16 August 1775 - 5 July 1776)

List of Governors

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
1	Patrick Henry Patrick Henry Patrick Henry was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered for his "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" speech. Along with Samuel Adams and Thomas Paine, he is remembered as one of the most influential advocates of the American Revolution and Republicanism in the United States, especially in his denunciations of c...	July 5, 1776	June 1, 1779	No party
2	Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States , the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence , and one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States for his promotion of the ideals of republicanism in the United States....	June 1, 1779	June 3, 1781	No party
—	William Fleming William Fleming (governor) Colonel William Fleming was a physician, soldier, statesman, and planter who briefly served as acting Governor of Virginia during the American Revolutionary War....	June 3, 1781	June 12, 1781	No party
3	Thomas Nelson, Jr. Thomas Nelson, Jr. Thomas Nelson, Jr. , was an United States planter, soldier, and statesman from Yorktown, Virginia. He represented Virginia in the Continental Congress and was its Governor in 1781....	June 12, 1781	November 22, 1781	No party
—	David Jameson	November 22, 1781	December 1, 1781	No party
4	Benjamin Harrison V Benjamin Harrison V Benjamin Harrison V was an United States planter and American Revolution leader from Charles City County, Virginia. He was educated at the College of William and Mary and was, perhaps, the first figure in the Harrison family to gain national attention....	December 1, 1781	December 1, 1784	No party
5	Patrick Henry Patrick Henry Patrick Henry was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered for his "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" speech. Along with Samuel Adams and Thomas Paine, he is remembered as one of the most influential advocates of the American Revolution and Republicanism in the United States, especially in his denunciations of c...	December 1, 1784	December 1, 1786	No party
6	Edmund Randolph Edmund Randolph Edmund Jenings Randolph was an United States lawyer, Governor of Virginia, United States Secretary of State, and the first United States Attorney General....	December 1, 1786	December 1, 1788	No party
7	Beverley Randolph Beverley Randolph Beverley Randolph was an United States politician from Virginia. He served as governor of Virginia from 1788 to 1791.Beverley was born to Peter and Lucy Randolph at Turkey Island in Henrico County, Virginia and educated at College of William and Mary....	December 1, 1788	December 1, 1791	No party
8	Henry Lee III	December 1, 1791	December 1, 1794	Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was an American political party in the period 1792 to 1816, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801....
9	Robert Brooke Robert Brooke (Virginia) Robert Brooke was a Virginia politician who served as governor of Virginia from 1794 to 1796 and as attorney general of Virginia from 1796 to 1800....	December 1, 1794	December 1, 1796	Democratic-Republican
10	James Wood	December 1, 1796	December 1, 1799	Democratic-Republican
—	Hardin Burnley	December 7, 1799?	December 11, 1799?
—	John Pendleton John Pendleton John Strother Pendleton nicknamed "The Lone Star" was a nineteenth century congressman, diplomat, lawyer and farmer from Virginia.Born near Culpeper, Virginia, Pendleton pursued in preparatory studies as a child....	December 11, 1799?	December 19, 1799?
11	James Monroe James Monroe James Monroe was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States . His administration was marked by the acquisition of Florida ; the Missouri Compromise , in which Missouri was declared a slave state; the admission of Maine in 1820 as a free state; and the profession of the Monroe Doctrine , declaring U.S....	December 1, 1799?	December 1, 1802	Democratic-Republican
12	John Page	December 1, 1802	December 7, 1805?	Democratic-Republican
13	William H. Cabell William H. Cabell William Henry Cabell a Virginia politician and Democratic-Republican. Cabell was born at ?Boston Hill? in what is now Cumberland County, Virginia on December 16, 1772....	December 7, 1805?	December 1, 1808	Democratic-Republican
14	John Tyler, Sr. John Tyler, Sr. John Tyler III was a Virginia planter, judge, Governor of Virginia and the father of the 10th President of the United States, John TylerHe was born in Charles City County....	December 1, 1808	January 15, 1811	Democratic-Republican
—	George William Smith George William Smith (politician) George William Smith was a two time acting Governor of Virginia, the first time was briefly between the terms of John Tyler, Sr. and James Monroe in January 1811 and again from April to December of the same year when Monroe resigned to become United States Secretary of State....	January 15, 1811	January 19, 1811	Democratic-Republican
15	James Monroe James Monroe James Monroe was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States . His administration was marked by the acquisition of Florida ; the Missouri Compromise , in which Missouri was declared a slave state; the admission of Maine in 1820 as a free state; and the profession of the Monroe Doctrine , declaring U.S....	January 19, 1811	April 3, 1811	Democratic-Republican
16	George William Smith George William Smith (politician) George William Smith was a two time acting Governor of Virginia, the first time was briefly between the terms of John Tyler, Sr. and James Monroe in January 1811 and again from April to December of the same year when Monroe resigned to become United States Secretary of State....	April 3, 1811	December 26, 1811	Democratic-Republican
N/A	Peyton Randolph Peyton Randolph (governor) Peyton Randolph was a politician from Virginia. Following the death of Governor George William Smith , Randolph served as acting Governor of Virginia, from 1811 until 1812....	December 27, 1811	January 3, 1812	Democratic-Republican
17	James Barbour James Barbour James Barbour was an United States of America lawyer, amember and speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, the 19th Governor of Virginia, the first Governor to reside in the current Virginia Governor's Mansion, a U.S....	January 3, 1812	December 1, 1814	Democratic-Republican
18	Wilson Cary Nicholas Wilson Cary Nicholas Wilson Cary Nicholas , was an United States politician who served in the United States Senate from 1799 to 1804 and was the List of Governors of Virginia from 1814 to 1816....	December 1, 1814	December 1, 1816	Democratic-Republican
19	James Patton Preston James Patton Preston James Patton Preston was a United States of America political figure. He served as the governor of Virginia between 1816 and 1819. He was the brother-in-law of John Floyd and uncle of James McDowell and John Buchanan Floyd....	December 1, 1816	December 1, 1819	Democratic-Republican
20	Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr.	December 1, 1819	December 1, 1822	Democratic-Republican
21	James Pleasants James Pleasants James Pleasants, Jr. was an United States politician who served in the United States Senate from 1819 to 1822 and was the Governor of Virginia from 1822 to 1825....	December 1, 1822	December 10, 1825	Democratic-Republican
22	John Tyler John Tyler John Tyler, Jr. was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the first ever to obtain that office via presidential succession....	December 10, 1825	March 4, 1827	Democratic-Republican
23	William Branch Giles William Branch Giles William Branch Giles was an United States statesman, long-term United States Senate from Virginia, and List of Governors of Virginia. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1790 to 1798, and again from 1801 to 1803; in between, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and was an Electoral College for Jefferso...	March 4, 1827	March 4, 1830	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major party contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party . It is the oldest political party in continuous operation in the United States and it is one of the oldest parties in the world....
24	John Floyd John Floyd (Virginia politician) John Floyd was a Virginia politician and soldier. He represented Virginia in the United States House of Representatives and later served as Governor of Virginia....	March 4, 1830	March 31, 1834	Democratic
25	Littleton Waller Tazewell Littleton Waller Tazewell Littleton Waller Tazewell was a U.S. Representative, United States Senate from and List of Governors of Virginia of Virginia.Tazewell, son of Henry Tazewell, was born in Williamsburg, Virginia....	March 31, 1834	April 30, 1836	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 1833 to 1856, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President of the United States Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party ....
—	Wyndham Robertson Wyndham Robertson Wyndham Robertson was Governor of Virginia of the U.S. state of Virginia from 1836 to 1837. He also served twice in the Virginia House of Delegates, the second time during the American Civil War....	April 30, 1836	March 31, 1837	Whig
26	David Campbell David Campbell (Virginia) David Campbell was Governor of Virginia from 1837 to 1840.Campbell was born in Washington County, Virginia. He was a successful merchant in Abingdon, Virginia, and served in the U.S....	March 31, 1837	March 31, 1840	Democratic
27	Thomas Walker Gilmer Thomas Walker Gilmer Thomas Walker Gilmer was an United States statesman....	March 31, 1840	March 20, 1841	Whig
—	John M. Patton John M. Patton John Mercer Patton was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia.Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Patton attended Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey and graduated from the medical department at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1818....	March 20, 1841	March 31, 1841	Whig
—	John Rutherford	March 31, 1841	March 31, 1842	Whig
—	John Munford Gregory John Munford Gregory John Munford Gregory was a United States of America political figure and List of Governors of Virginia of Virginia from 1842 to 1843.Gregory was born in Virginia on July 8, 1804 and was a member of the Virginia state House of Delegates from 1831 to 1840....	March 31, 1842	January 1, 1843	Whig
28	James McDowell James McDowell James McDowell was a United States Congressman and Governor of Virginia from 1843 to 1846.McDowell was born at "Cherry Grove," near Rockbridge County, Virginia, on October 13 1795....	January 1, 1843	January 1, 1846	Democratic
29	William Smith	January 1, 1846	January 1, 1849	Democratic
30	John B. Floyd John B. Floyd John Buchanan Floyd , was a Virginia politician , U.S. Secretary of War, and the Confederate States Army general in the American Civil War who lost the crucial Battle of Fort Donelson....	January 1, 1849	January 16, 1852	Democratic
31	Joseph Johnson Joseph Johnson (Virginia politician) Joseph Johnson was a United States Representative and was Governor of Virginia from 1852 to 1855. Born in Orange County, New York, he moved with his mother to Belvidere, New Jersey in 1791 and thence to Bridgeport, West Virginia in 1801....	January 16, 1852	January 1, 1856	Democratic
32	Henry A. Wise Henry A. Wise Henry Alexander Wise was an United States statesman from Virginia....	January 1, 1856	January 1, 1860	Democratic
33	John Letcher John Letcher John Letcher was an American lawyer, journalist, and politician. He served as a Representative in the United States Congress, was Governor of Virginia during the American Civil War, and later served in the Virginia General Assembly....	January 1, 1860	January 1, 1864	Democratic
34	William Smith	January 1, 1864	May 9, 1865	Democratic
—	Francis Harrison Pierpont Francis Harrison Pierpont Francis Harrison Pierpont , called the "Father of West Virginia", was an United States lawyer, politician, and governor of the union controlled parts of Virginia during the American Civil War....	May 9, 1865	April 4, 1868	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major party contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party . It is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP....
—	Henry H. Wells Henry H. Wells Henry Horatio Wells served as a provisional Governor of Virginia from 1868 to 1869 during Reconstruction era of the United States following the American Civil War....	April 4, 1868	September 21, 1869	Republican
36	Gilbert Carlton Walker Gilbert Carlton Walker Gilbert Carlton Walker was a United States of America political figure. He served as the provisional Governor of Virginia, first as a Republican Party provisional governor between 1869 and 1870, and again as a Democratic Party elected governor from 1870 to 1874....	September 21, 1869	January 1, 1874	Republican
37	James L. Kemper James L. Kemper James Lawson Kemper was a lawyer, a Confederate States Army general in the American Civil War, and a governor of Virginia. He was the youngest of the brigade commanders, and the only non-professional military officer, in the division that led Pickett's Charge, in which he was wounded and captured but rescued....	January 1, 1874	January 1, 1878	Democratic
38	Frederick W. M. Holliday Frederick W. M. Holliday Frederick William Mackey Holliday was a member of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War and the Governor of Virginia from 1878 to 1882....	January 1, 1878	January 1, 1882	Democratic
39	William E. Cameron William E. Cameron William Evelyn Cameron was a soldier, lawyer, journalist, and politician. He served as Governor of Virginia from 1882-1886. He was the candidate of the Readjuster Party headed by William Mahone....	January 1, 1882	January 1, 1886	Re-adjuster Readjuster Party The Readjuster Party was a political coalition formed in Virginia in the late 1870s during the turbulent period following the American Civil War....
40	Fitzhugh Lee Fitzhugh Lee Fitzhugh Lee , nephew of Robert E. Lee, was a Confederate States Army cavalry General officer in the American Civil War, Governor of Virginia, diplomat, and United States Army general in the Spanish-American War....	January 1, 1886	January 1, 1890	Democratic
41	Philip W. McKinney Philip W. McKinney Philip Watkins McKinney United States politician who served as a Democratic Party Governor of Virginia from 1890 to 1894. Born in New Store, Virginia, in Buckingham County, Virginia, he attended Hampden-Sydney College, graduating in the class of 1851....	January 1, 1890	January 1, 1894	Democratic
42	Charles Triplett O'Ferrall Charles Triplett O'Ferrall Charles Triplett "Trip" O'Ferrall was an United States politician from Virginia who served as a United States House of Representatives from 1883 to 1894 and Governor of Virginia from 1894 to 1898....	January 1, 1894	January 1, 1898	Democratic
43	James Hoge Tyler James Hoge Tyler James Hoge Tyler was a United States of America political figure. He was Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1890 to 1894, and Governor of Virginia from 1898 to 1902....	January 1, 1898	January 1, 1902	Democratic
44	Andrew Jackson Montague Andrew Jackson Montague Andrew Jackson Montague was a United States of America politician from Virginia. He served as the Governor of Virginia, from 1902 to 1906, and a U.S....	January 1, 1902	February 1, 1906	Democratic
45	Claude A. Swanson Claude A. Swanson Claude Augustus Swanson was an United States lawyer and Democratic Party politician from Virginia.He served seven terms in the United States House of Representatives, from 1893 until 1906, was the Governor of Virginia from 1906 until 1910, and represented Virginia as a United States Senate from 1910 until 1933....	February 1, 1906	February 10, 1910	Democratic
46	William Hodges Mann William Hodges Mann William Hodges Mann was a United States political figure. Mann was Governor of Virginia from 1910 to 1914. Mann was the last Confederate soldier to serve as Governor of Virginia....	February 10, 1910	February 1, 1914	Democratic
47	Henry Carter Stuart Henry Carter Stuart Henry Carter Stuart was a businessman and United States of America political figure from Virginia. He served as the Governor of Virginia between 1914 and 1918, which encompassed the time period of World War I....	February 1, 1914	February 1, 1918	Democratic
48	Westmoreland Davis Westmoreland Davis Westmoreland "Morley" Davis a lawyer, farmer, and Governor of Virginia from February 1, 1918 to February 1, 1922.Davis was born to a wealthy and prominent family on August 21, 1859....	February 1, 1918	February 1, 1922	Democratic
49	Elbert Lee Trinkle Elbert Lee Trinkle Elbert Lee Trinkle or E. Lee Trinkle an United States politician who served as Governor of Virginia from 1922 to 1926.On March 12, 1876, Trinkle was born in Wytheville, Virginia, Wythe County, Virginia, as the youngest son of the prominent Trinkle family....	February 1, 1922	February 1, 1926	Democratic
50	Harry F. Byrd Harry F. Byrd Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. of Berryville, Virginia in Clarke County, Virginia was an United States publisher, farmer and politician. He was a descendant of one of the First Families of Virginia....	February 1, 1926	January 15, 1930	Democratic
51	John Garland Pollard John Garland Pollard John Garland Pollard was an United States politician who served as the governor of Virginia from 1930 to 1934....	January 15, 1930	January 17, 1934	Democratic
52	George C. Peery George C. Peery George C. Peery , was an United States Democratic politician, and was Governor of Virginia from 1934-1938.Governor Peery was the first governor to be selected, at least partially, by the soon to be very powerful "Byrd Machine," led by Senator Harry F....	January 17, 1934	January 15, 1938	Democratic
53	James H. Price James H. Price James Hubert Price was an United States of America politician. Price was a Richmond, Virginia lawyer and businessman. In the 1937 general election, he defeated Republican Party candidate John Powell Royall, a former Senate of Virginia ....	January 15, 1938	January 21, 1942	Democratic
54	Colgate Darden Colgate Darden Colgate Whitehead Darden, Jr. was a United States Democratic Party Congressman from Virginia , Governor of Virginia , Chancellor of the College of William and Mary and the third President of the University of Virginia ....	January 21, 1942	January 16, 1946	Democratic
55	William M. Tuck William M. Tuck William Munford Tuck served as Governor of Virginia from 1946 to 1950 as a U.S. Democratic Party.He was the youngest son of Halifax County, Virginia tobacco warehouseman Robert James Tuck and Virginia Susan Fritts....	January 16, 1946	January 18, 1950	Democratic
56	John S. Battle John S. Battle John Stewart Battle was an United States politician and Democratic Governor of Virginia of Virginia from 1950-1954.Battle was born in 1890 in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina....	January 18, 1950	January 20, 1954	Democratic
57	Thomas Bahnson Stanley Thomas Bahnson Stanley Thomas Bahnson Stanley was an United States politician, manufacturer and Holstein cattle breeder.He was born to Crockett Stanley and Susan Matilda Walker on a farm near Spencer, Virginia, youngest of seven children....	January 20, 1954	January 11, 1958	Democratic
58	James Lindsay Almond, Jr. James Lindsay Almond, Jr. James Lindsay Almond, Jr. was a United States federal judge and Governor of Virginia from 1958 until 1962.Almond was born in Charlottesville, Virginia and raised in Orange County, Virginia....	January 11, 1958	January 13, 1962	Democratic
59	Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.	January 13, 1962	January 15, 1966	Democratic
60	Mills E. Godwin, Jr.	January 15, 1966	January 17, 1970	Democratic
61	A. Linwood Holton, Jr.	January 17, 1970	January 12, 1974	Republican
62	Mills E. Godwin, Jr.	January 12, 1974	January 14, 1978	Republican
63	John N. Dalton John N. Dalton John Nichols Dalton was a Republican Party List of Governors of Virginia of the U.S. state of Virginia from 1978 to 1982. Born in Emporia, Virginia, Dalton also served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia....	January 14, 1978	January 16, 1982	Republican
64	Chuck Robb Chuck Robb Charles Spittal "Chuck" Robb is an United States politician. He served as governor of Virginia from 1982 to 1986, and as a United States Senate from 1989 until 2001....	January 16, 1982	January 18, 1986	Democratic
65	Gerald L. Baliles Gerald L. Baliles Gerald L. Baliles was a Governor of Virginia and is the director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. Founded in 1975, the Miller Center is a leading public policy institution that serves as a national meeting place where engaged citizens, scholars, students, media representatives and government officials g...	January 18, 1986	January 14, 1990	Democratic
66	Douglas Wilder Douglas Wilder Lawrence Douglas Wilder is an American politician, the List of firsts#Leaders African American to be elected as governor of a U.S. state, and the second to serve as governor....	January 14, 1990	January 15, 1994	Democratic
67	George Allen George Allen (U.S. politician) George Felix Allen is a former Republican Party United States Senate from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former National Football League head coach George Allen ....	January 15, 1994	January 17, 1998	Republican
68	Jim Gilmore Jim Gilmore James Stuart "Jim" Gilmore III is an United States Politics of the United States from the Commonwealth of Virginia and a member of the Republican Party ....	January 17, 1998	January 12, 2002	Republican
69	Mark Warner Mark Warner Mark Robert Warner is an United States Politics of the United States, businessman, and the Junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party ....	January 12, 2002	January 14, 2006	Democratic
70	Tim Kaine Tim Kaine Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is an Politics of the United States, the current governor of Virginia and as of January 21, 2009, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee....	January 14, 2006	Incumbent	Democratic

Living former governors

As of December 2008, seven former governors were alive, the oldest being A. Linwood Holton, Jr. (1970–1974, born 1923). The most recent governor to die was Mills E. Godwin, Jr. (1966–1970, 1974–1978), on January 30, 1999. The most recently-serving governor to die was John N. Dalton

John N. Dalton

John Nichols Dalton was a Republican Party List of Governors of Virginia of the U.S. state of Virginia from 1978 to 1982. Born in Emporia, Virginia, Dalton also served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia....
(1978–1982), on July 30, 1986.

Name	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
A. Linwood Holton, Jr.	1970–1974	September 21, 1923
Chuck Robb Chuck Robb Charles Spittal "Chuck" Robb is an United States politician. He served as governor of Virginia from 1982 to 1986, and as a United States Senate from 1989 until 2001....	1982–1986	June 26, 1939
Gerald L. Baliles Gerald L. Baliles Gerald L. Baliles was a Governor of Virginia and is the director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. Founded in 1975, the Miller Center is a leading public policy institution that serves as a national meeting place where engaged citizens, scholars, students, media representatives and government officials g...	1986–1990	July 8, 1948
Douglas Wilder Douglas Wilder Lawrence Douglas Wilder is an American politician, the List of firsts#Leaders African American to be elected as governor of a U.S. state, and the second to serve as governor....	1990–1994	January 17, 1931
George Allen George Allen (U.S. politician) George Felix Allen is a former Republican Party United States Senate from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former National Football League head coach George Allen ....	1994–1998	March 8, 1952
Jim Gilmore Jim Gilmore James Stuart "Jim" Gilmore III is an United States Politics of the United States from the Commonwealth of Virginia and a member of the Republican Party ....	1998–2002	October 6, 1949
Mark Warner Mark Warner Mark Robert Warner is an United States Politics of the United States, businessman, and the Junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party ....	2002–2006	December 15, 1954