List of Governors of Oregon

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This article lists the individuals who have served as Governor of Oregon from the establishment of the Provisional Government between 1841 and 1843 to the present day.

Governor of Oregon head of state and of government of the U.S. state of Oregon

The Governor of Oregon is the head of the executive branch of Oregon's state government and serves as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments.

Contents

Governors

Champoeg Meetings

The Champoeg Meetings, including a constitutional committee, held from February 1841 until May 1843, served as a de facto government before the government was officially established. While early attempts at establishing a government had been unsuccessful because of discontent between English American and French Canadian settlers over the question, whom they should choose as Governor, several other officers were elected at these meetings, including the position of Supreme Judge as the highest position at the second meeting. For lack of a government the Supreme Judge also received executive and legislative duties and was mostly chosen as the chairman of the following meetings. [1] [2]

Champoeg Meetings constituent assemblies of European settlers in the southern Oregon Country

The Champoeg Meetings were the first attempts at formal governance by European-American and French Canadian pioneers in the Oregon Country on the Pacific Northwest coast of North America. Between 1841 and 1843, a series of public councils was held at Champoeg, a settlement on the French Prairie of the Willamette River valley in present-day Marion County, Oregon, and at surrounding settlements. The meetings were organized by newly arrived settlers as well as Protestant missionaries from the Methodist Mission and Catholic Jesuit priests from Canada.

ExecutiveTerm startTerm end
– Jason Lee missionary.png Chairman Jason Lee [3] February 17, 1841
– David Leslie.png Chairman David Leslie [4] February 18, 1841
1 Supreme Judge Ira Babcock February 18, 1841May 2, 1843
–Vacant [5] May 2, 1843July 5, 1843

Provisional Government

The meetings at Champoeg led up to the first constitution of the Oregon Country and several petitions for U.S. territorial status. The resulting acts also created this body as a provisional government for the region. The first executives of this government were a three-person, elected committee known as the Executive Committee. In 1845, elections for a chief executive were held. The first person in Oregon to hold the title of governor was George Abernethy, a prominent businessman.

Oregon Country Early 19th century US fur trade district in North America

The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from the Columbia River frequented by ships from all nations engaged in the maritime fur trade, most of these from the 1790s through 1810s being Boston-based. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 ended disputed joint occupancy pursuant to the Treaty of 1818 and established the British-American boundary at the 49th parallel.

Provisional Government of Oregon

The Provisional Government of Oregon was a popularly elected settler government created in the Oregon Country, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Its formation had been advanced at the Champoeg Meetings since February 17, 1841 and it existed from May 2, 1843 until March 3, 1849, and provided a legal system and a common defense amongst the mostly American pioneers settling an area then inhabited only by the many Indigenous Nations. Much of the region's geography and many of the Natives were not known by people of European descent until several exploratory tours were authorized at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Organic Laws of Oregon were adopted in 1843 with its preamble stating that settlers only agreed to the laws "until such time as the United States of America extend their jurisdiction over us." According to a message from the government in 1844, the rising settler population was beginning to flourish among the "savages", who were "the chief obstruction to the entrance of civilization" in a land of "ignorance and idolatry."

George Abernethy American merchant and politician

George Abernethy was an American politician, pioneer, notable entrepreneur, and first governor of Oregon under the provisional government based in the Willamette Valley, an area later a part of the American state of Oregon. He traveled to Oregon Country as a secular member of the Methodist mission, where he became involved in politics and helped found the first American newspaper west of the Rocky Mountains.

ExecutiveTerm startTerm endBorn DateDied Date
1 Oregon Provisional Government Seal.png First Executive Committee
David Hill • Alanson Beers • Joseph Gale 		July 5, 1843May 14, 1844
2 Oregon Provisional Government Seal.png Second Executive Committee
Peter G. Stewart • Osborne Russell • William J. Bailey 		May 14, 1844June 3, 1845
3 George Abernethy.jpg George Abernethy June 3, 1845March 3, 1849 [6] October 7, 1807March 2, 1877
4 Oregon Provisional Government Seal.png Thompson Mckenziee March 3, 1849June 3, 1849December 25, 1807March 2, 1894

Governors of the Territory of Oregon

Oregon became a U.S. Territory in 1848. Like most other U.S. territorial governments, Oregon's territorial governor was appointed by the President of the United States. As transportation and communications were not as reliable or as fast as 21st-century methods, there were times when a departing governor left office and a new governor could not yet take over. This resulted in several local individuals acting as territorial governor until the new executive was appointed and arrived to take office.

President of the United States Head of state and of government of the United States

The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.

President Polk initially appointed Brigadier General James Shields to be Oregon's first territorial governor and Shields was confirmed by the Senate, but he declined the position and Joseph Lane was appointed in his place.

Brigadier general (United States) one-star general officer in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps

In the United States Armed Forces, brigadier general is a one-star general officer with the pay grade of O-7 in the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. The rank of brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed services. The NATO equivalent is OF-6.

United States Senate Upper house of the United States Congress

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, which along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol, in Washington, D.C.

   Democratic (3)      Whig (1)

GovernorTook officeLeft officeAppointed byParty
1  Joseph Lane (2).jpg Joseph Lane March 3, 1849June 18, 1850 James Polk Democratic
–  No image.svg Kintzing Prichette June 18, 1850August 18, 1850Acting GovernorDemocratic
2  John P Gaines.png John P. Gaines August 18, 1850May 16, 1853 Zachary Taylor Whig
–  Joseph Lane (2).jpg Joseph Lane May 16, 1853May 19, 1853Acting GovernorDemocratic
–  George Law Curry 1853.jpg George Law Curry May 19, 1853December 2, 1853Acting GovernorDemocratic
3  John Wesley Davis.jpg John W. Davis December 2, 1853August 1, 1854 Franklin Pierce Democratic
4  George Law Curry 1853.jpg George Law Curry August 1, 1854March 3, 1859 Franklin Pierce Democratic

Governors of the State of Oregon

   Democratic (16)      Republican (19)      Independent (1)

GovernorTook officeLeft officePartyTerms
[note 1]
1  Gov John Whiteaker.jpg John Whiteaker March 3, 1859September 10, 1862 Democratic 1
2  Oregon Governor AC Gibbs.jpg A. C. Gibbs September 10, 1862September 12, 1866 Republican 1
3 George Lemuel Woods portrait.jpg George L. Woods September 12, 1866September 14, 1870Republican1
4 La Fayette Grover - Brady-Handy.jpg La Fayette Grover September 14, 1870February 1, 1877Democratic​1 1⁄2
[note 2]
5 Oregon Governor Stephen Chadwick.jpg Stephen F. Chadwick February 1, 1877September 11, 1878Democratic​1⁄2
6 Oregon Governor William Wallace Thayer.jpg W. W. Thayer September 11, 1878September 13, 1882Democratic1
7 Zenas Ferry Moody (1903).jpg Z. F. Moody September 13, 1882January 12, 1887Republican1
8 Governor Sylvester Pennoyer.jpg Sylvester Pennoyer January 12, 1887January 14, 1895Democratic2
9 OrGovWPLord.jpg William Paine Lord January 14, 1895January 9, 1899Republican1
10 Oregon Governor TT Geer.jpg T. T. Geer January 9, 1899January 15, 1903Republican1
11 George E Chamberlain.jpg George Chamberlain January 15, 1903March 1, 1909Democratic​1 1⁄3
[note 2]
12 Frank W. Benson 1910.JPG Frank W. Benson March 1, 1909June 17, 1910Republican​1⁄3
[note 3]
13 Oregon Governor Jay Bowerman.jpg Jay Bowerman June 17, 1910January 11, 1911Republican​1⁄3
14 Oswald West.jpg Oswald West January 11, 1911January 12, 1915Democratic1
15 Withycombe.jpg James Withycombe January 12, 1915March 3, 1919Republican​1 1⁄2
[note 4]
16 Ben W Olcott.jpg Ben W. Olcott March 3, 1919January 8, 1923Republican​1⁄2
17 Walter M. Pierce Oregon.jpg Walter M. Pierce January 8, 1923January 10, 1927Democratic1
18 Isaac L. Patterson.jpg I. L. Patterson January 10, 1927December 21, 1929Republican​1⁄2
[note 4]
19 A. W. Norblad as circuit judge.jpg A. W. Norblad December 21, 1929January 12, 1931Republican​1⁄2
20 Julius L. Meier 1911.png Julius L. Meier January 12, 1931January 14, 1935Independent1
21 Charles H Martin.jpg Charles H. Martin January 14, 1935January 9, 1939Democratic1
22 Charles A. Sprague.jpg Charles A. Sprague January 9, 1939January 11, 1943Republican1
23 Earl Snell.jpg Earl Snell January 11, 1943October 30, 1947Republican​1 1⁄3
[note 4]
24 John Hubert Hall.jpg John H. Hall October 30, 1947January 10, 1949Republican​1⁄3
25 Douglas McKay.png Douglas McKay January 10, 1949December 27, 1952Republican​1⁄3 + ​1⁄2
[note 5]
26 Paul Patterson.jpg Paul L. Patterson December 27, 1952February 1, 1956Republican​1⁄2 + ​1⁄3
[note 4]
27 Elmo Smith.jpg Elmo Smith February 1, 1956January 14, 1957Republican​1⁄3
28 Robert D. Holmes.jpg Robert D. Holmes January 14, 1957January 12, 1959Democratic​1⁄3
29 Mark Hatfield - 1967.jpg Mark Hatfield January 12, 1959January 9, 1967Republican2
30 Tom McCall 2.jpg Tom McCall January 9, 1967January 13, 1975Republican2
31 Bob Straub.jpg Robert W. Straub January 13, 1975January 8, 1979Democratic1
32 Victor Atiyeh in 1986.jpg Victor Atiyeh January 8, 1979January 12, 1987Republican2
33 Neil Goldschmidt.jpg Neil Goldschmidt January 12, 1987January 14, 1991Democratic1
34 Governor Barbara Roberts.jpg Barbara Roberts January 14, 1991January 9, 1995Democratic1
35 Governor Kitzhaber.jpg John Kitzhaber January 9, 1995January 13, 2003Democratic2
36 Ted kulongoski.jpg Ted Kulongoski January 13, 2003January 10, 2011Democratic2
37 Governor Kitzhaber.jpg John Kitzhaber January 10, 2011February 18, 2015Democratic​1 1⁄2
[note 6]
[note 7]
38 Kate Brown in 2017.jpg Kate Brown February 18, 2015IncumbentDemocratic​1 1⁄2

Other high offices held

This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Oregon except where noted.

* Denotes those offices that the governor resigned to take.
GovernorGubernatorial term U.S. Congress Other offices heldSource
House Senate
Joseph Lane 1848–1850
1853–1853		S Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon Territory [7]
John P. Gaines 1850–1853U.S. Representative from Kentucky [8]
John W. Davis 1853–1854U.S. Representative from Indiana; United States Commissioner to China [9]
John Whiteaker 1859–1862H [10]
George L. Woods 1911–1915 Governor of Utah Territory [11]
La Fayette Grover 1866–1877HS* [12]
William Paine Lord 1895–1899 United States Minister to Argentina [13]
George Chamberlain 1903–1909S* [14]
Walter M. Pierce 1923–1927H [15]
Charles H. Martin 1935–1939H [16]
Douglas McKay 1949–1952 United States Secretary of the Interior* [17]
Mark Hatfield 1959–1967S [18]
Neil Goldschmidt 1987–1991 United States Secretary of Transportation [19]

Living former governors of Oregon

As of December 2018, there are four former governors of Oregon who are currently living at this time, the oldest governor of Oregon being Barbara Roberts (served 1991–1995, born 1936). The most recent death of a former governor of Oregon and also the death of a former governor of Oregon who served most recently was of Victor Atiyeh, (served 1979–1987) on July 20, 2014. [20]

Barbara Roberts American politician

Barbara Kay Roberts is an American politician from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, she served as the 34th Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995. She was the first woman to serve as Oregon governor, and the only woman elected to that office until 2016. A Democrat, Roberts was also the first woman to serve as majority leader in the Oregon House of Representatives. She also won two terms as Oregon Secretary of State, and served in local and county government in Portland. Roberts was married to Oregon state Sen. Frank L. Roberts from 1974 until his death in 1993. From February 2011 until January 2013, she served on the council of Metro, the regional government in the Portland metropolitan area.

Victor Atiyeh American politician

Victor George "Vic" Atiyeh was an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as the 32nd Governor of Oregon from 1979 to 1987. He was also the first elected governor of Syrian descent in the United States.

GovernorGubernatorial termDate of birth (and age)
Neil Goldschmidt 1987–1991June 16, 1940 (age 78)
Barbara Roberts 1991–1995December 21, 1936 (age 82)
John Kitzhaber 1995–2003
2011–2015		March 5, 1947 (age 72)
Ted Kulongoski 2003–2011November 5, 1940 (age 78)

Notes

  1. ↑ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
  2. 1 2 Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate
  3. ↑ Resigned due to ill health
  4. 1 2 3 4 Died while in office
  5. ↑ Resigned to take the position as United States Secretary of the Interior
  6. ↑ Also served two consecutive terms from 1995 to 2003.
  7. ↑ Resigned due to an ethics scandal.

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References

General

Constitution

Specific

  1. ↑ DR. IRA L. BABCOCK, biography from Oregon Government, retrieved 15 May 2017
  2. ↑ A History of Oregon, 1792-1849, retrieved 15 May 2017
  3. ↑ Chaired the first Champoeg Meeting.
  4. ↑ Chaired the second Champoeg Meeting, during which Babcock was elected Supreme Judge.
  5. ↑ Albert E. Wilson was elected Supreme Judge, but declined to serve.
  6. ↑ While Abernethy's term officially ended August 14, 1848, he continued to act as Governor until Lane arrived in 1849.
  7. ↑ "Lane, Joseph". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Gaines, John Pollard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Davis, John Wesley". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Whiteaker, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  11. ↑ "George Lemuel Woods". Utah History to Go. State of Utah. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Grover, La Fayette". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Former U.S. Ambassadors to Argentina". Embassy of the United States, Argentina. U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Chamberlain, George Earle". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Pierce, Walter Marcus". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Martin, Charles Henry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Past Secretaries of the Department of the Interior". U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Hatfield, Mark". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Biographical Sketches of the Secretaries of Transportation". U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  20. ↑ Mapes, Jeff (July 20, 2014). "Republican Vic Atiyeh, who guided Oregon through economic upheaval, dies at 91". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2014-07-20.
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