# List of governors of South Carolina

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History of South Carolina :
Timeline :
| Colonial period | 1562–1774 |
| American Revolution | 1775–1788 |
| Antebellum period | 1812–1860 |
| Civil War era | 1861–1865 |
| Reconstruction era | 1865–1877 |
| Civil Rights Movement | 1954–1968 |
| Economy of South Carolina | 1651–2021 |
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The governor of South Carolina is the head of government of South Carolina and serves as commander-in-chief of the U.S. state's military forces. The current governor is Henry McMaster.

## Governors

South Carolina was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on May 23, 1788. Before it declared its independence, South Carolina was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. It seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860, and was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861. Following the end of the American Civil War, South Carolina during Reconstruction was part of the Second Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. South Carolina was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868.
Under the first constitution of South Carolina, a president of the state was elected for a term of two years, who then could not run again until four years had passed. The 1865 constitution briefly increased terms to four years, but that was changed in the 1868 constitution back to two years, with no term limit. An amendment in 1926 increased term lengths to four years, but limited governors to not being able to succeed themselves; an amendment in 1981 allowed governors to succeed themselves once. The 1776 constitution created the office of vice-president, renamed to lieutenant governor in 1778, to succeed to the governorship should it become vacant.
Governors of the State of South Carolina :
| No. | Governor | Governor | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 31 | | | John Rutledge (1739–1800) | March 26, 1776 – March 6, 1778 (resigned) | None | 1776 | | Henry Laurens |
| 32 | | | Rawlins Lowndes (1721–1800) | March 6, 1778 – January 9, 1779 (did not run) | None | 1778 | | James Parsons |
| 31 | | | John Rutledge (1739–1800) | January 9, 1779 – January 31, 1782 (term-limited) | None | 1779 | | Thomas Bee |
| 31 | | | John Rutledge (1739–1800) | January 9, 1779 – January 31, 1782 (term-limited) | None | 1779 | | Christopher Gadsden |
| 33 | | | John Mathews (1744–1802) | January 31, 1782 – February 5, 1783 (did not run) | None | 1782 | | Richard Hutson |
| 34 | | | Benjamin Guerard (1740–1788) | February 5, 1783 – February 10, 1785 (term-limited) | None | 1783 | | Richard Beresford |
| Vacant ||
| 34 | | | Benjamin Guerard (1740–1788) | February 5, 1783 – February 10, 1785 (term-limited) | None | 1783 | | William Moultrie |
| 35 | | | William Moultrie (1730–1805) | February 10, 1785 – February 21, 1787 (term-limited) | None | 1785 | | Charles Drayton |
| 36 | | | Thomas Pinckney (1750–1828) | February 21, 1787 – January 26, 1789 (term-limited) | None | 1787 | | Thomas Gadsden |
| 37 | | | Charles Pinckney (1757–1824) | January 26, 1789 – December 5, 1792 (term-limited) | None | 1789 | | Alexander Gillon |
| 37 | | | Charles Pinckney (1757–1824) | January 26, 1789 – December 5, 1792 (term-limited) | None | 1791 | | Alexander Gillon |
| 35 | | | William Moultrie (1730–1805) | December 5, 1792 – December 17, 1794 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1792 | | James Ladson |
| 38 | | | Arnoldus Vanderhorst (1748–1815) | December 17, 1794 – December 8, 1796 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1794 | | Lewis Morris |
| 37 | | | Charles Pinckney (1757–1824) | December 8, 1796 – December 19, 1798 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1796 | | Robert Anderson |
| 39 | | | Edward Rutledge (1749–1800) | December 19, 1798 – January 23, 1800 (died in office) | Federalist | 1798 | | John Drayton |
| 40 | | | John Drayton (1766–1822) | January 23, 1800 – December 8, 1802 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 40 | | | John Drayton (1766–1822) | January 23, 1800 – December 8, 1802 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1800 | | Richard Winn |
| 41 | | | James Burchill Richardson (1770–1836) | December 8, 1802 – December 7, 1804 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1802 | | Ezekiel Pickens |
| 42 | | | Paul Hamilton (1762–1816) | December 7, 1804 – December 9, 1806 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1804 | | Thomas Sumter Jr. |
| 37 | | | Charles Pinckney (1757–1824) | December 9, 1806 – December 10, 1808 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1806 | | John Hopkins |
| 40 | | | John Drayton (1766–1822) | December 10, 1808 – December 10, 1810 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1808 | | Frederick Nance |
| 43 | | | Henry Middleton (1770–1846) | December 10, 1810 – December 10, 1812 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1810 | | Samuel Farrow |
| 44 | | | Joseph Alston (1779–1816) | December 10, 1812 – December 10, 1814 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1812 | | Eldred Simkins |
| 45 | | | David Rogerson Williams (1776–1830) | December 10, 1814 – December 5, 1816 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1814 | | Robert Creswell |
| 46 | | | Andrew Pickens (1779–1838) | December 5, 1816 – December 8, 1818 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1816 | | John A. Cuthbert |
| 47 | | | John Geddes (1777–1828) | December 8, 1818 – December 7, 1820 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1818 | | William Youngblood |
| 48 | | | Thomas Bennett Jr. (1781–1865) | December 7, 1820 – December 9, 1822 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | | William Pinckney |
| 49 | | | John Lyde Wilson (1784–1849) | December 9, 1822 – December 3, 1824 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1822 | | Henry Bradley |
| 50 | | | Richard Irvine Manning I (1789–1836) | December 3, 1824 – December 11, 1826 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1824 | | William A. Bull |
| 51 | | | John Taylor (1770–1832) | December 11, 1826 – December 10, 1828 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1826 | | James Witherspoon |
| 52 | | | Stephen Decatur Miller (1787–1838) | December 10, 1828 – December 9, 1830 (term-limited) | Nullifier | 1828 | | Thomas Williams |
| 53 | | | James Hamilton Jr. (1786–1857) | December 9, 1830 – December 11, 1832 (term-limited) | Nullifier | 1830 | | Patrick Noble |
| 54 | | | Robert Y. Hayne (1791–1839) | December 11, 1832 – December 11, 1834 (term-limited) | Nullifier | 1832 | | Charles Cotesworth Pinckney II |
| 55 | | | George McDuffie (1790–1851) | December 11, 1834 – December 10, 1836 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1834 | | Whitemarsh Benjamin Seabrook |
| 56 | | | Pierce Mason Butler (1798–1847) | December 10, 1836 – December 10, 1838 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1836 | | William DuBose |
| 57 | | | Patrick Noble (1787–1840) | December 10, 1838 – April 7, 1840 (died in office) | Democratic | 1838 | | Barnabas Kelet Henagan |
| 58 | | | Barnabas Kelet Henagan (1798–1855) | April 7, 1840 – December 10, 1840 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 59 | | | John Peter Richardson II (1801–1864) | December 10, 1840 – December 10, 1842 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1840 | | William K. Clowney |
| 60 | | | James H. Hammond (1807–1864) | December 10, 1842 – December 10, 1844 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1842 | | Isaac D. Witherspoon |
| 61 | | | William Aiken Jr. (1806–1887) | December 10, 1844 – December 10, 1846 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1844 | | J. F. Ervin |
| 62 | | | David Johnson (1782–1855) | December 10, 1846 – December 14, 1848 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1846 | | William Cain |
| 63 | | | Whitemarsh Benjamin Seabrook (1793–1855) | December 14, 1848 – December 16, 1850 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1848 | | William Henry Gist |
| 64 | | | John Hugh Means (1812–1862) | December 16, 1850 – December 13, 1852 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1850 | | Joshua John Ward |
| 65 | | | John Lawrence Manning (1816–1889) | December 13, 1852 – December 13, 1854 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1852 | | James Irby |
| 66 | | | James Hopkins Adams (1812–1861) | December 13, 1854 – December 11, 1856 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1854 | | Richard de Treville |
| 67 | | | Robert Francis Withers Allston (1801–1864) | December 11, 1856 – December 13, 1858 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1856 | | Gabriel Cannon |
| 68 | | | William Henry Gist (1807–1874) | December 13, 1858 – December 17, 1860 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1858 | | M. E. Carn |
| 69 | | | Francis Wilkinson Pickens (d. 1869) | December 17, 1860 – December 18, 1862 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1860 | | W. W. Harllee |
| 70 | | | Milledge Luke Bonham (1813–1890) | December 18, 1862 – December 19, 1864 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1862 | | Plowden Weston (died) |
| Vacant ||
| 71 | | | Andrew Gordon Magrath (1813–1893) | December 19, 1864 – May 28, 1865 (arrested and removed) | Democratic | 1864 | | Robert McCaw |
| — | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | May 28, 1865 – June 30, 1865 | Office vacated after civil war | Office vacated after civil war | Vacant | Vacant |
| 72 | | | Benjamin Franklin Perry (1805–1886) | June 30, 1865 – November 29, 1865 (did not run) | Provisional governor appointed by President | Provisional governor appointed by President | | Vacant | Vacant |
| 73 | | | James Lawrence Orr (1822–1873) | November 29, 1865 – July 9, 1868 (did not run) | Democratic | 1865 | | William Dennison Porter |
| 74 | | | Robert Kingston Scott (1826–1900) | July 9, 1868 – December 3, 1872 (did not run) | Republican | 1868 | | Lemuel Boozer |
| 74 | | | Robert Kingston Scott (1826–1900) | July 9, 1868 – December 3, 1872 (did not run) | Republican | 1870 | | Alonzo J. Ransier |
| 75 | | | Franklin J. Moses Jr. (1838–1906) | December 3, 1872 – December 1, 1874 (lost nomination) | Republican | 1872 | | Richard Howell Gleaves |
| 76 | | | Daniel Henry Chamberlain (1835–1907) | December 1, 1874 – April 11, 1877 (lost election) | Republican | 1874 | | Richard Howell Gleaves |
| 76 | | | Daniel Henry Chamberlain (1835–1907) | December 1, 1874 – April 11, 1877 (lost election) | Republican | 1876 | | Richard Howell Gleaves |
| 77 | | | Wade Hampton III (1818–1902) | December 14, 1876 – February 26, 1879 (resigned) | Democratic | 1876 | | William Dunlap Simpson |
| 77 | | | Wade Hampton III (1818–1902) | December 14, 1876 – February 26, 1879 (resigned) | Democratic | 1878 | | William Dunlap Simpson |
| 78 | | | William Dunlap Simpson (1823–1890) | February 26, 1879 – September 1, 1880 (resigned) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 79 | | | Thomas Bothwell Jeter (1827–1883) | September 1, 1880 – November 30, 1880 (successor took office) | Democratic | Succeeded from president pro tempore of the Senate | Vacant | Vacant |
| 80 | | | Johnson Hagood (1829–1898) | November 30, 1880 – December 5, 1882 (did not run) | Democratic | 1880 | | John Doby Kennedy |
| 81 | | | Hugh Smith Thompson (1836–1904) | December 5, 1882 – July 10, 1886 (resigned) | Democratic | 1882 | | John Calhoun Sheppard |
| 81 | | | Hugh Smith Thompson (1836–1904) | December 5, 1882 – July 10, 1886 (resigned) | Democratic | 1884 | | John Calhoun Sheppard |
| 82 | | | John Calhoun Sheppard (1850–1931) | July 10, 1886 – November 30, 1886 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 83 | | | John Peter Richardson III (1831–1899) | November 30, 1886 – December 4, 1890 (did not run) | Democratic | 1886 | | William L. Mauldin |
| 83 | | | John Peter Richardson III (1831–1899) | November 30, 1886 – December 4, 1890 (did not run) | Democratic | 1888 | | William L. Mauldin |
| 84 | | | Benjamin Tillman (1847–1918) | December 4, 1890 – December 4, 1894 (did not run) | Democratic | 1890 | | Eugene Gary |
| 84 | | | Benjamin Tillman (1847–1918) | December 4, 1890 – December 4, 1894 (did not run) | Democratic | 1892 | | Washington Hodges Timmerman |
| 85 | | | John Gary Evans (1863–1942) | December 4, 1894 – January 18, 1897 (did not run) | Democratic | 1894 | | Washington Hodges Timmerman |
| 86 | | | William Haselden Ellerbe (1862–1899) | January 18, 1897 – June 2, 1899 (died in office) | Democratic | 1896 | | Miles Benjamin McSweeney |
| 86 | | | William Haselden Ellerbe (1862–1899) | January 18, 1897 – June 2, 1899 (died in office) | Democratic | 1898 | | Miles Benjamin McSweeney |
| 87 | | | Miles Benjamin McSweeney (1855–1909) | June 2, 1899 – January 21, 1903 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Robert B. Scarborough |
| 87 | | | Miles Benjamin McSweeney (1855–1909) | June 2, 1899 – January 21, 1903 (did not run) | Democratic | 1900 | | Robert B. Scarborough |
| 88 | | | Duncan Clinch Heyward (1864–1943) | January 21, 1903 – January 15, 1907 (did not run) | Democratic | 1902 | | James H. Tillman |
| 88 | | | Duncan Clinch Heyward (1864–1943) | January 21, 1903 – January 15, 1907 (did not run) | Democratic | 1904 | | John Sloan |
| 89 | | | Martin Frederick Ansel (1850–1945) | January 15, 1907 – January 17, 1911 (did not run) | Democratic | 1906 | | Thomas Gordon McLeod |
| 89 | | | Martin Frederick Ansel (1850–1945) | January 15, 1907 – January 17, 1911 (did not run) | Democratic | 1908 | | Thomas Gordon McLeod |
| 90 | | | Cole L. Blease (1868–1942) | January 17, 1911 – January 14, 1915 (resigned) | Democratic | 1910 | | Charles Aurelius Smith |
| 90 | | | Cole L. Blease (1868–1942) | January 17, 1911 – January 14, 1915 (resigned) | Democratic | 1912 | | Charles Aurelius Smith |
| 91 | | | Charles Aurelius Smith (1861–1916) | January 14, 1915 – January 19, 1915 (successor took office) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 92 | | | Richard Irvine Manning III (1859–1931) | January 19, 1915 – January 21, 1919 (did not run) | Democratic | 1914 | | Andrew Bethea |
| 92 | | | Richard Irvine Manning III (1859–1931) | January 19, 1915 – January 21, 1919 (did not run) | Democratic | 1916 | | Andrew Bethea |
| 93 | | | Robert Archer Cooper (1874–1953) | January 21, 1919 – May 20, 1922 (resigned) | Democratic | 1918 | | J. T. Lyles |
| 93 | | | Robert Archer Cooper (1874–1953) | January 21, 1919 – May 20, 1922 (resigned) | Democratic | 1920 | | Wilson Godfrey Harvey |
| 94 | | | Wilson Godfrey Harvey (1866–1932) | May 20, 1922 – January 16, 1923 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 95 | | | Thomas Gordon McLeod (1868–1932) | January 16, 1923 – January 18, 1927 (did not run) | Democratic | 1922 | | E. B. Jackson |
| 95 | | | Thomas Gordon McLeod (1868–1932) | January 16, 1923 – January 18, 1927 (did not run) | Democratic | 1924 | | E. B. Jackson |
| 96 | | | John Gardiner Richards Jr. (1864–1941) | January 18, 1927 – January 20, 1931 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1926 | | Thomas Bothwell Butler (died) |
| Vacant ||
| 97 | | | Ibra Charles Blackwood (1878–1936) | January 20, 1931 – January 15, 1935 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1930 | | James O. Sheppard |
| 98 | | | Olin D. Johnston (1896–1965) | January 15, 1935 – January 17, 1939 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1934 | | Joseph Emile Harley |
| 99 | | | Burnet R. Maybank (1899–1954) | January 17, 1939 – November 4, 1941 (resigned) | Democratic | 1938 | | Joseph Emile Harley |
| 100 | | | Joseph Emile Harley (1880–1942) | November 4, 1941 – February 27, 1942 (died in office) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| — | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | February 27, 1942 – March 2, 1942 | — | Office vacant after death | Vacant | Vacant |
| 101 | | | Richard Manning Jefferies (1889–1964) | March 2, 1942 – January 19, 1943 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from president pro tempore of the Senate | Vacant | Vacant |
| 98 | | | Olin D. Johnston (1896–1965) | January 19, 1943 – January 2, 1945 (resigned) | Democratic | 1942 | | Ransome Judson Williams |
| 102 | | | Ransome Judson Williams (1892–1970) | January 2, 1945 – January 21, 1947 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 103 | | | Strom Thurmond (1902–2003) | January 21, 1947 – January 16, 1951 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1946 | | George Bell Timmerman Jr. |
| 104 | | | James F. Byrnes (1882–1972) | January 16, 1951 – January 18, 1955 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1950 | | George Bell Timmerman Jr. |
| 105 | | | George Bell Timmerman Jr. (1912–1994) | January 18, 1955 – January 20, 1959 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1954 | | Fritz Hollings |
| 106 | | | Fritz Hollings (1922–2019) | January 20, 1959 – January 15, 1963 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1958 | | Burnet R. Maybank Jr. |
| 107 | | | Donald S. Russell (1906–1998) | January 15, 1963 – April 22, 1965 (resigned) | Democratic | 1962 | | Robert Evander McNair |
| 108 | | | Robert Evander McNair (1923–2007) | April 22, 1965 – January 19, 1971 (term-limited) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 108 | | | Robert Evander McNair (1923–2007) | April 22, 1965 – January 19, 1971 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1966 | | John C. West |
| 109 | | | John C. West (1922–2004) | January 19, 1971 – January 15, 1975 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1970 | | Earle Morris Jr. |
| 110 | | | James B. Edwards (1927–2014) | January 15, 1975 – January 10, 1979 (term-limited) | Republican | 1974 | | W. Brantley Harvey Jr. |
| 111 | | | Richard Riley (b. 1933) | January 10, 1979 – January 14, 1987 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1978 | | Nancy Stevenson |
| 111 | | | Richard Riley (b. 1933) | January 10, 1979 – January 14, 1987 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1982 | | Michael R. Daniel |
| 112 | | | Carroll A. Campbell Jr. (1940–2005) | January 14, 1987 – January 11, 1995 (term-limited) | Republican | 1986 | | Nick Theodore |
| 112 | | | Carroll A. Campbell Jr. (1940–2005) | January 14, 1987 – January 11, 1995 (term-limited) | Republican | 1990 | | Nick Theodore |
| 113 | | | David Beasley (b. 1957) | January 11, 1995 – January 13, 1999 (lost election) | Republican | 1994 | | Bob Peeler |
| 114 | | | Jim Hodges (b. 1956) | January 13, 1999 – January 15, 2003 (lost election) | Democratic | 1998 | | Bob Peeler |
| 115 | | | Mark Sanford (b. 1960) | January 15, 2003 – January 12, 2011 (term-limited) | Republican | 2002 | | André Bauer |
| 115 | | | Mark Sanford (b. 1960) | January 15, 2003 – January 12, 2011 (term-limited) | Republican | 2006 | | André Bauer |
| 116 | | | Nikki Haley (b. 1972) | January 12, 2011 – January 24, 2017 (resigned) | Republican | 2010 | | Ken Ard |
| 116 | | | Nikki Haley (b. 1972) | January 12, 2011 – January 24, 2017 (resigned) | Republican | 2010 | | Glenn F. McConnell |
| 116 | | | Nikki Haley (b. 1972) | January 12, 2011 – January 24, 2017 (resigned) | Republican | 2010 | | Yancey McGill |
| 116 | | | Nikki Haley (b. 1972) | January 12, 2011 – January 24, 2017 (resigned) | Republican | 2014 | | Henry McMaster |
| 117 | | | Henry McMaster (b. 1947) | January 24, 2017 – Incumbent | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Kevin L. Bryant |
| 117 | | | Henry McMaster (b. 1947) | January 24, 2017 – Incumbent | Republican | 2018 | | Pamela Evette |
| 117 | | | Henry McMaster (b. 1947) | January 24, 2017 – Incumbent | Republican | 2022 | | Pamela Evette |