Chronological Listing of Kentucky’s Governors: 1824-1851
Term: 1824-1828
Party: Jeffersonian Republican
Resident KY County: Mason
Election Returns:
Joseph Desha
38,463 (59.5%)
Christopher Tompkins
22,300 (34.5%)
William Russell
3,899 (6.0%)
Born: 12/9/1768
Died: 10/12/1842
State/County of Birth: Pennsylvania
Former Occupation(s): Farmer, Soldier
Accomplishments as Governor
- Established the “New Court”
- Forced University President Horace Holley out of office from Transylvania University for “liberal” ideas
Term: 1828-1832
Party: National Republican (Whig)
Resident KY County: Nicholas
Election Returns:
Thomas Metcalfe
38,940 (50.5%)
William T. Barry 38,231 (49.5%)
Born: 3/10/1780
Died: 8/18/1855
State/County of Birth: Virginia
Former Occupation(s): Stonemason
Accomplishments as Governor
- Built the canal at the Fall of the Ohio
- Established the Lexington & Ohio Railroad and the Green River Navigation Company
- Created the Shelbyville-Louisville Road
Notes
- The first candidate for governor nominated by a political party convention
- For whom Metcalfe County is named. (1860)
Term: 1832-1834
Party: Jacksonian Democrat
Resident KY County: Logan
Election Returns:
John
Breathitt
40,780 (50.9%)
Richard Buckner 39,269 (49.1%)
Born: 9/9/1786
Died: 2/21/1834
State/County of Birth: Virginia
Former Occupation(s): Surveyor, Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Chartered the Louisville Bank of Kentucky
Notes
- Kentucky’s first and only Democratic governor between 1828 and 1850
Died while in office
For whom Breathitt County was named. (1839)
Governor James Turner Morehead
Term: 1834-1836
Party: Whig
Resident KY County: Warren
Election Returns: Succeeded Gov. John Breathitt, who died while holding office (1834)
Born: 5/24/1797
Died: 12/28/1854
State/County of Birth: Bullitt Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Established the Kentucky Association of Professional Teachers
- Encouraged the formation of the Kentucky Common School Society
Notes
- First native Kentuckian elected as governor.
Term: 1836-1839
Party: Whig
Resident KY County: Clark
Election Returns:
James Clark
38,591 55.8%
Matthew Flournoy 30,576 44.2%
Born: 1/16/1779
Died: 8/27/1839
State/County of Birth: Virginia
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer, Judge
Accomplishments as Governor
- Created the State Bourd of Education, and the office of Superintendent of Public Education
- Established a public school system in every county
- Enacted laws to make slave escape more difficult
Notes
- Died while in office
Governor Charles Anderson Wickliffe
Term: 1839-1840
Party: Whig
Resident KY County: Nelson
Election Returns: Succeeded Gov. James Clark, who died while holding office (1839)
Born: 6/8/1788
Died: 10/31/1869
State/County of Birth: Nelson Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Soldier, Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Called for higher property taxes to maintain the state’s credit rating during the Panic of 1837
Term: 1840-1844
Party: Whig
Resident KY County: Garrard
Election Returns:
Robert P.
Letcher 54,892 (58.4%)
Richard French 39,160 (41.6%)
Born: 2/10/1788
Died: 1/24/1864
State/County of Birth: Virginia
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Curbed state spending, resulting in the state’s first budget surplus
Notes
- For whom Letcher County was named. (1842)
Term: 1844-1848
Party: Whig
Resident KY County: Lincoln
Election Returns:
William
Owsley 59,792 (52.1%)
William O. Butler 55,089 (48.0%)
Born: 3/24/1782
Died: 12/9/1862
State/County of Birth: Virginia
Former Occupation(s): Teacher, Deputy Surveyor, Deputy Sheriff, Lawyer, Judge
Accomplishments as Governor
- Increased funding for public instruction
Notes
- For whom Owsley County is named. (1843)
Term: 1848-1850
Party: Whig
Resident KY County: Logan
Election Returns:
John J. Crittenden
64,982 53.4%
Lazarus Powell 56.675 46.6%
Born: 9/10/1786
Died: 7/26/1863
State/County of Birth: Woodford Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Strong supporter of education
- Produced the third Kentucky constitution
- Rebuilt the State Penitentiary
- Initiated a comprehensive state geological survey
Notes
- Resigned while in office to accept a seat as U.S. Attorney General
- For whom Crittenden County was named. (1842)
Term: 1850-1851
Party: Whig
Resident KY County: Hardin
Election Returns: Succeeded Gov. John J. Crittenden, who resigned (1850)
Born: 7/4/1802
Died: 9/8/1867
State/County of Birth: Hardin Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Worked toward election reform
Notes
- Elected to another term - 1867