List of governors of South Carolina

The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the state of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. 

The governor is the ex officio commander-in-chief of the National Guard when not called into federal use. The governor's responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to the South Carolina General Assembly, submitting an executive budget and ensuring that state laws are enforced.

Henry McMaster is the Governor of South Carolina since January 2017.

The only female governor in South Carolina is Nikki Haley.

This is a list of South Carolina governors.

 Colonial period (1670–1775)

 Statehood period (1776–present) 

Governors under the Articles of Confederation
The General Assembly chose the Governor for a term of two years.

Parties

#GovernorTook OfficeLeft OfficeLt. GovernorPartyNotes1John RutledgeMarch 26, 1776March 5, 1778Henry LaurensNo party1st time, Resigned2100pxRawlins LowndesMarch 6, 1778January 9, 1779James ParsonsNo partyBritish prisonerduring Revolutionary War

Governors under the Articles of Confederation
The General Assembly chose the Governor for a term of two years.

 Parties

#GovernorTook OfficeLeft OfficeLt. GovernorPartyNotes3John RutledgeJanuary 9, 1779January 31, 1782Thomas BeeChristopher GadsdenNo party2nd time4100pxJohn MathewsJanuary 31, 1782February 4, 1783Richard HutsonNo party5100pxBenjamin GuerardFebruary 4, 1783February 11, 1785Richard BeresfordWilliam MoultrieWilliam MoultrieNo party6100pxWilliam MoultrieFebruary 11, 1785February 20, 1787Charles DraytonNo party1st time7100pxThomas PinckneyFebruary 20, 1787January 26, 1789Thomas GadsdenFederalist8100pxCharles PinckneyJanuary 26, 1789December 5, 1792Alexander GillonFederalist1st time

Governors under the Constitution of 1790
The General Assembly chose the Governor for a term of two years.

 Parties

#GovernorTook OfficeLeft OfficeLt. GovernorPartyNotes9100pxWilliam MoultrieDecember 5, 1792December 17, 1794James LadsonFederalist2nd time10100pxArnoldus VanderhorstDecember 17, 1794December 8, 1796Lewis MorrisFederalist11100pxCharles PinckneyDecember 8, 1796December 18, 1798Robert AndersonDemocratic-Republican2nd time12100pxEdward RutledgeDecember 18, 1798January 23, 1800John DraytonFederalistDied in office13100pxJohn DraytonJanuary 23, 1800December 8, 1802Richard WinnDemocratic-Republican1st time14100pxJames Burchill RichardsonDecember 8, 1802December 7, 1804Ezekiel PickensDemocratic-Republican15100pxPaul HamiltonDecember 7, 1804December 9, 1806Thomas Sumter, Jr.Democratic-Republican16100pxCharles PinckneyDecember 9, 1806December 10, 1808John HopkinsDemocratic-Republican3rd time17100pxJohn DraytonDecember 10, 1808December 8, 1810Frederick NanceDemocratic-Republican2nd time18100pxHenry MiddletonDecember 8, 1810December 10, 1812Samuel FarrowDemocratic-Republican19100pxJoseph AlstonDecember 10, 1812December 10, 1814Eldred SimkinsDemocratic-Republican20100pxDavid Rogerson WilliamsDecember 10, 1814December 5, 1816Robert CreswellDemocratic-Republican21100pxAndrew PickensDecember 5, 1816December 8, 1818John A. CuthbertDemocratic-Republican22100pxJohn GeddesDecember 8, 1818December 7, 1820William YoungbloodDemocratic-Republican23100pxThomas Bennett, Jr.December 7, 1820December 7, 1822William PinckneyDemocratic-Republican24100pxJohn Lyde WilsonDecember 7, 1822December 3, 1824Henry BradleyDemocratic-Republican25100pxRichard Irvine Manning IDecember 3, 1824December 9, 1826William BullDemocratic-Republican26100pxJohn TaylorDecember 9, 1826December 10, 1828James WitherspoonDemocratic-Republican27100pxStephen Decatur MillerDecember 10, 1828December 9, 1830Thomas WilliamsDemocratic (Nullifier)28100pxJames Hamilton, Jr.December 9, 1830December 10, 1832Patrick NobleDemocratic (Nullifier)29100pxRobert Young HayneDecember 10, 1832December 9, 1834Charles Cotesworth PinckneyDemocratic (Nullifier)30100pxGeorge McDuffieDecember 9, 1834December 10, 1836Whitemarsh B. SeabrookDemocratic31100pxPierce Mason ButlerDecember 10, 1836December 7, 1838William DuBoseDemocratic32100pxPatrick NobleDecember 7, 1838April 7, 1840Barnabas Kelet HenaganDemocraticDied in office33100pxBarnabas Kelet HenaganApril 7, 1840December 9, 1840vacantDemocraticNot elected34100pxJohn Peter Richardson IIDecember 9, 1840December 8, 1842William K. ClowneyDemocratic35100pxJames Henry HammondDecember 8, 1842December 7, 1844Isaac D. WitherspoonDemocratic36100pxWilliam Aiken, Jr.December 7, 1844December 8, 1846J.F. ErvinDemocratic37100pxDavid JohnsonDecember 8, 1846December 12, 1848William CainDemocratic38100pxWhitemarsh B. SeabrookDecember 12, 1848December 13, 1850William Henry GistDemocratic39100pxJohn Hugh MeansDecember 13, 1850December 9, 1852Joshua John WardDemocratic40100pxJohn Lawrence ManningDecember 9, 1852December 11, 1854James IrbyDemocratic41100pxJames Hopkins AdamsDecember 11, 1854December 9, 1856Richard de TrevilleDemocratic42100pxRobert F.W. AllstonDecember 9, 1856December 10, 1858Gabriel CannonDemocratic43100pxWilliam Henry GistDecember 10, 1858December 14, 1860M. E. CarnDemocratic44100pxFrancis Wilkinson PickensDecember 14, 1860December 17, 1862W.W. HarlleeDemocratic45100pxMilledge Luke BonhamDecember 17, 1862December 18, 1864Plowden WestonDemocratic46100pxAndrew Gordon MagrathDecember 18, 1864May 25, 1865Robert McCawDemocraticDeposed by the Union Army47100pxBenjamin Franklin PerryJune 30, 1865November 29, 1865vacantUnionist DemocratAppointed by President Andrew Johnson

Governors under the Constitution of 1865
First Constitution of South Carolina to provide for the direct election of the Governor.

 Parties

#GovernorTook OfficeLeft OfficeLt. GovernorPartyNotes49100pxJames Lawrence OrrNovember 29, 1865July 6, 1868W.D. PorterNo party (Democratic)1st popularly elected Governor

Governors under the Constitution of 1868

 Parties

#GovernorTook OfficeLeft OfficeLt. GovernorPartyNotes50100pxRobert Kingston ScottJuly 6, 1868December 7, 1872Lemuel BoozerAlonzo J. RansierRepublican51100pxFranklin J. Moses, Jr.December 7, 1872December 1, 1874Richard Howell GleavesRepublican52100pxDaniel Henry ChamberlainDecember 1, 1874December 14, 1876Richard Howell GleavesRepublicanClaimed Governorshipafter 1876 election53100pxWade Hampton IIIDecember 14, 1876February 26, 1879William Dunlap SimpsonDemocraticResigned54100pxWilliam Dunlap SimpsonFebruary 26, 1879September 1, 1880John D. KennedyDemocraticNot elected55100pxThomas Bothwell JeterSeptember 1, 1880November 30, 1880vacantDemocratic56100pxJohnson HagoodNovember 30, 1880December 1, 1882John D. KennedyDemocratic57100pxHugh Smith ThompsonDecember 1, 1882July 10, 1886John Calhoun SheppardDemocraticResigned58100pxJohn Calhoun SheppardJuly 10, 1886November 30, 1886vacantDemocraticNot elected59100pxJohn Peter Richardson IIINovember 30, 1886December 4, 1890William MauldinDemocratic60100pxBenjamin Ryan TillmanDecember 4, 1890December 4, 1894Eugene GaryW.H. TimmermanDemocratic61100pxJohn Gary EvansDecember 4, 1894January 18, 1897W.H. TimmermanDemocratic

Governors under the Constitution of 1895

 Parties

#GovernorTook OfficeLeft OfficeLt. GovernorPartyNotes62100pxWilliam Haselden EllerbeJanuary 18, 1897June 2, 1899Miles Benjamin McSweeneyDemocraticDied in office63100pxMiles Benjamin McSweeneyJune 2, 1899January 20, 1903Robert B. ScarboroughDemocratic64100pxDuncan Clinch HeywardJanuary 20, 1903January 15, 1907James TillmanJohn SloanDemocratic65100pxMartin Frederick AnselJanuary 15, 1907January 17, 1911Thomas Gordon McLeodDemocratic66100pxColeman Livingston BleaseJanuary 17, 1911January 14, 1915Charles Aurelius SmithDemocraticResigned67100pxCharles Aurelius SmithJanuary 14, 1915January 19, 1915vacantDemocraticNot elected68100pxRichard Irvine Manning IIIJanuary 19, 1915January 21, 1919Andrew BetheaDemocratic69100pxRobert Archer CooperJanuary 21, 1919May 20, 1922J.T. LilesWilson Godfrey HarveyDemocraticResigned70100pxWilson Godfrey HarveyMay 20, 1922January 16, 1923vacantDemocraticNot elected71100pxThomas Gordon McLeodJanuary 16, 1923January 18, 1927E.B. JacksonDemocratic72100pxJohn Gardiner Richards, Jr.January 18, 1927January 20, 1931Thomas Bothwell ButlerDemocratic1st to be elected to a four-year term73100pxIbra Charles BlackwoodJanuary 20, 1931January 15, 1935James SheppardDemocratic74100pxOlin D. JohnstonJanuary 15, 1935January 17, 1939Joseph Emile HarleyDemocratic1st time75100pxBurnet R. MaybankJanuary 17, 1939November 4, 1941Joseph Emile HarleyDemocraticResigned76100pxJoseph Emile HarleyNovember 4, 1941February 27, 1942vacantDemocraticNot elected, Died in office77100pxRichard Manning JefferiesFebruary 27, 1942January 19, 1943vacantDemocraticNot elected78100pxOlin D. JohnstonJanuary 19, 1943January 2, 1945Ransome Judson WilliamsDemocratic2nd time, Resigned79100pxRansome Judson WilliamsJanuary 2, 1945January 21, 1947vacantDemocraticNot elected80100pxStrom ThurmondJanuary 21, 1947January 16, 1951George Bell Timmerman, Jr.Democratic81100pxJames Francis ByrnesJanuary 16, 1951January 18, 1955George Bell Timmerman, Jr.Democratic82100pxGeorge Bell Timmerman, Jr.January 18, 1955January 20, 1959Ernest HollingsDemocratic83100pxErnest HollingsJanuary 20, 1959January 15, 1963Burnet R. Maybank Jr.Democratic84100pxDonald Stuart RussellJanuary 15, 1963April 22, 1965Robert Evander McNairDemocraticResigned85100pxRobert Evander McNairApril 22, 1965January 19, 1971vacantJohn C. WestDemocratic86100pxJohn C. WestJanuary 19, 1971January 21, 1975Earle Morris, Jr.Democratic87100pxJames B. EdwardsJanuary 21, 1975January 10, 1979W. Brantley Harvey, Jr.Republican88100pxRichard RileyJanuary 10, 1979January 14, 1987Nancy StevensonMichael R. DanielDemocratic1st elected to two consecutive four-year terms89100pxCarroll A. Campbell, Jr.January 14, 1987January 11, 1995Nick Theodore (Democratic)Republican90100pxDavid BeasleyJanuary 11, 1995January 13, 1999Bob Peeler Republican91100pxJim HodgesJanuary 13, 1999January 15, 2003Bob Peeler Democratic92100pxMark SanfordJanuary 15, 2003January 12, 2011André Bauer Republican93100pxNikki HaleyJanuary 12, 2011January 24, 2017Ken ArdGlenn F. McConnellJ. Yancey McGill (Democratic)Henry McMasterRepublicanResigned to become UN Ambassador94100pxHenry McMasterJanuary 24, 2017 IncumbentKevin L. BryantRepublican

 Number of Governors by PartyColonial Governors30No party6 Federalist4 Democratic-Republican13  Democratic55  Republican9 

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

GovernorGubernatorial termU.S. CongressOther offices heldHouseSenateJohn Rutledge1776–17781779–1782Delegate to Philadelphia Convention and signer of the United States Constitution; Associate and Chief Justice of the United States Supreme CourtThomas Pinckney1787–1789HUnited States Minister to Great BritainCharles Pinckney1789–17921796–17981806–1808HSDelegate to Philadelphia Convention and signer of the United States Constitution; United States Minister to SpainPaul Hamilton1804–1806United States Secretary of the NavyHenry Middleton1810–1812HUnited States Minister to RussiaDavid Rogerson Williams1814–1816HRichard Irvine Manning I1824–1826HJohn Taylor1826–1828HSStephen Decatur Miller1828–1830HSJames Hamilton, Jr.1830–1832HRobert Y. Hayne1832–1834SGeorge McDuffie1834–1836HSJohn Peter Richardson II1840–1842HJames Henry Hammond1842–1844HSWilliam Aiken, Jr.1844–1846HFrancis Wilkinson Pickens1860–1862HUnited States Minister to RussiaMilledge Luke Bonham1862–1864HConfederate RepresentativeJames Lawrence Orr1865–1868HConfederate Senator; United States Minister to Russia; Speaker of the United States House of RepresentativesWade Hampton III1877–1879S*United States Railroad CommissionerWilliam Dunlap Simpson1879–1880Confederate RepresentativeHugh Smith Thompson1882–1886United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury*; United States Civil Service CommissionerBenjamin Tillman1890–1894SColeman Livingston Blease1911–1915SOlin D. Johnston1935–19391943–1945S*Burnet R. Maybank1939–1941S*Strom Thurmond1947–1951SJames F. Byrnes1951–1955HSAssociate Justice of the United States Supreme Court; United States Secretary of StateErnest Hollings1959–1963SUnited States Senate  1966-2005Donald S. Russell1963–1965S*John C. West1971–1975United States Ambassador to Saudi ArabiaJames B. Edwards1975–1979United States Secretary of EnergyRichard Riley1979–1987United States Secretary of EducationCarroll A. Campbell, Jr.1987–1995HDavid Beasley 1995-1999 Executive Director of the World Food Programme Mark Sanford2003–2011HNikki Haley2011–2017United States Ambassador to the United Nations*

Living former U.S. governors of South Carolina
, there are six former U.S. governors of South Carolina who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of South Carolina being Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (served 1959–1963, born 1922). The most recent U.S. governor of South Carolina to die was James Burrows Edwards (served 1975–1979, born 1927), on December 26, 2014. The most recently serving governor to die was Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. (served 1987–1995, born 1940) on December 7, 2005.

Governor PartyGubernatorial termBirthErnest "Fritz" Hollings Democratic1959–1963Richard Riley Democratic1979–1987David Beasley Republican1995–1999Jim Hodges Democratic1999–2003Mark Sanford Republican2003–2011Nikki Haley Republican2011–2017

Related pages
 Governor of South Carolina
 List of lieutenant governors of South Carolina

References

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