Chronological Listing of Kentucky’s Governors: 1851-1879
Term: 1851-1855
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Henderson
Election Returns:
Lazarus
Powell
54.821 (48.8%)
Archibald Dixon 54,023 (48.1%)
Born: 10/6/1812
Died: 7/3/1867
State/County of Birth: Henderson Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Increased the school tax to fund education
Notes
- For whom Powell County is named. (1852)
Governor Charles Slaughter Morehead
Term: 1855-1859
Party: American (“Know-Nothing”)
Resident KY County: Franklin
Election Returns:
Charles Morehead
69,870 (51.6%)
Beverley Clark
65,570 (48.4%)
Born: 7/7/1802
Died: 12/21/1868
State/County of Birth: Nelson Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Reorganized Transylvania University to include a teacher’s college
- Chartered the Kentucky State Agricultural Society
- Funded the first annual Kentucky State Fair
- Enlarged and improved the state penitentiary
Notes
- Imprisoned for four months shortly after his term as governor for anti-administration sympathies
Term: 1859-1862
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Mercer
Election Returns:
Beriah
Magoffin
76,631 (53.2%)
Joshua Bell 67,504 (46.8%)
Born: 4/18/1815
Died: 2/28/1885
State/County of Birth: Mercer Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Denounced the Confederate Provisional Government in Kentucky, instead favoring state neutrality
Notes
- Resigned from office due to disagreements with the legislature over Kentucky’s role in the Civil War
- Allowed to pick his successor to the governorship.
- For whom Magoffin County is named. (1860)
Term: 1862-1863
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Scott
Election Returns: Succeeded Gov. Beriah Magoffin, who resigned (1862)
Born: 10/4/1800
Died: 10/31/1882
State/County of Birth: Scott Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Farmer, Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Attempted to establish the state as a supporter of the Union, although the Federal government saw it as Confederate territory
Term: 1863-1867
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Jefferson
Election Returns:
Thomas Bramlette
68,422 (79.6%)
Charles Wickliffe
17,503 (20.4%)
Born: 1/3/1817
Died: 1/12/1875
State/County of Birth: Cumberland Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer, Soldier, Judge
Accomplishments as Governor
- Issued a general pardon to most ex-Confederate soldiers
- Conferred some civil rights laws on ex-slaves
- Reduced the state’s debt and crime
- Established an agricultural and mechanical college, which later would be known as the University of Kentucky
- Suppressed post-war Confederate violence
Notes
- Was serving as a General in the Union Army when nominated for governor
Term: 1867
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Hardin
Election Returns:
John Helm
90,216 (65.7%)
Sidney Barnes
33,939 (24.7%)
William Kinkead
13,167 (9.6%)
Born: 7/4/1802
Died: 9/8/1867
State/County of Birth: Hardin Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Opposed postscription against ex-Confederates
- Enacted election reforms
Notes
- Died after five days in office
Term: 1867-1871
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Kenton
Election Returns: Succeeded Gov. John Helm, who died while in office (1867)
Born: 5/4/1812
Died: 8/10/1886
State/County of Birth: Virginia
Former Occupation(s): Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Improved public schools, including the creation of a Bureau of Education
- Initiated improvements to the state’s prisons and asylums
Notes
- Resigned from office to accept a U.S. Senate seat
Term: 1871-1875
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Barren
Election Returns:
Succeeded Gov. John Stevenson, who resigned (1871), then elected to office in 1871 election.
Preston Leslie 126,455 (58.6%)
John Harlan 89,083 (41.4%)
Born: 3/8/1819
Died: 2/7/1907
State/County of Birth: Wayne Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Deputy Clerk, Farmer, Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Regulated the sale of liquor
- Enacted legislation to provide for the education of blacks
- Amended court policy/procedure by mandating the acceptance of the testimony of blacks in court
Notes
- Kentucky’s first governor to be elected by both whites and blacks
- For whom Leslie County was named. (1878)
Term: 1875-1879
Party: Democrat
Resident KY County: Madison
Election Returns:
James McCreary
126,976 (58.3%)
John Harlan 90,795 (41.7%)
Born: 7/8/1838
Died: 10/8/1918
State/County of Birth: Madison Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Soldier, Lawyer
Accomplishments as Governor
- Reduced the property tax
- Established the State Board of Health
Notes
- Elected to another term: 1911-1915
- For whom McCreary County was named. (1912)