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List of oldest living United States governors

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

The following are lists of the politicians who were or are the longest living and oldest still-living governors of each U.S. state. The current oldest living U.S. state governor is Jimmy Carter (born October 1, 1924), aged 99 years, 213 days, Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. The second oldest living U.S. state governor is Daniel J. Evans (born October 16, 1925), aged 98 years, 198 days, Governor of Washington from 1965 to 1977. Albert Rosellini (1910–2011), the Governor of Washington from 1957 to 1965, lived the longest lifespan of any governor, having died at the age of 101 years, 262 days.

Territorial governors are included in italics.

Longest living U.S. governors[edit]

Start date End date Governor State Birth date Gubernatorial term(s) Party
December 7, 1787 December 12, 1787 Thomas Collins[1] Delaware 1732 1786–1789 No party
December 12, 1787 April 17, 1790 Benjamin Franklin[2] Pennsylvania January 17, 1706 1785–1788 No party
April 17, 1790 July 25, 1790 William Livingston New Jersey November 30, 1723 1776–1790 Federalist
July 25, 1790 October 8, 1793 Josiah Bartlett New Hampshire November 21, 1729 1790–1794 Democratic-Republican
October 8, 1793 October 2, 1803 Samuel Adams[3] Massachusetts September 27, 1722 1794–1797 Democratic-Republican
October 2, 1803 February 13, 1813 Samuel Ashe North Carolina March 24, 1725 1795–1798 Democratic-Republican
February 13, 1813 August 17, 1816 Samuel Johnston North Carolina December 15, 1733 1787–1789 Federalist
August 17, 1816 June 24, 1817 Thomas McKean Pennsylvania March 19, 1734 1799–1808 Democratic-Republican
June 24, 1817 September 18, 1819 John Langdon New Hampshire June 26, 1741 1785–1786, 1788–1789, 1805–1809, 1810–1812, Democratic-Republican
September 18, 1819 March 19, 1829 John Tayler New York July 4, 1742 1817 Democratic-Republican
March 19, 1829 May 17, 1829 John Jay New York December 12, 1745 1795–1801 Federalist
May 17, 1829 June 10, 1832 Joseph Hiester Pennsylvania November 18, 1752 1820–1823 Democratic-Republican
June 10, 1832 September 24, 1834 Jonas Galusha Vermont February 11, 1753 1809–1813, 1815–1820 Democratic-Republican
September 24, 1834 December 11, 1838 Isaac Tichenor Vermont February 8, 1754 1797–1807, 1808–1809 Federalist
December 11, 1838 April 7, 1844 Morgan Lewis New York October 16, 1754 1804–1807 Democratic-Republican
April 7, 1844 December 22, 1850 William Plumer New Hampshire June 25, 1759 1812–1813, 1816–1819 Democratic-Republican
December 22, 1850 December 25, 1862 Joshua Hall Maine October 22, 1768 1830 Democratic
December 25, 1862 October 16, 1869 Joseph Ritner Pennsylvania March 25, 1780 1835–1839 Anti-Masonic
October 16, 1869 February 3, 1870 Allen Trimble Ohio November 24, 1783 1822, 1826–1830 National Republican
February 3, 1870 October 10, 1870 Mordecai Bartley Ohio December 16, 1783 1844–1846 Whig
October 10, 1870 November 1, 1874 Enos T. Throop New York August 21, 1784 1829–1832 Democratic
November 1, 1874 February 27, 1877 Joseph Johnson Virginia December 19, 1785 1852–1856 Democratic
February 27, 1877 December 18, 1885 Hiland Hall Vermont July 20, 1795 1858–1860 Republican
December 18, 1885 April 27, 1894 Nathaniel S. Berry New Hampshire September 1, 1796 1861–1863 Republican
April 27, 1894 June 13, 1896 Alpheus Felch Michigan September 28, 1804 1846–1847 Democratic
June 13, 1896 August 23, 1898 Moody Currier New Hampshire April 22, 1806 1885–1887 Republican
August 23, 1898 February 28, 1899 James Madison Wells Louisiana January 8, 1808 1865–1867 Republican
February 28, 1899 July 9, 1902 William Marvin Florida April 14, 1808 1865 Democratic
July 9, 1902 April 27, 1909 Frederick Holbrook Vermont February 15, 1813 1861–1863 Republican
April 27, 1909 February 3, 1912 Frederick Robie Maine August 12, 1822 1885–1887 Republican
February 3, 1912 June 4, 1912 Royal C. Taft Rhode Island February 14, 1823 1888–1889 Republican
June 4, 1912 January 8, 1914 Simon Bolivar Buckner Kentucky April 1, 1823 1887–1891 Democratic
January 8, 1914 May 16, 1920 Levi P. Morton New York May 16, 1824 1895–1896 Republican
May 16, 1920 April 4, 1923 Horace Boies Iowa December 7, 1827 1890–1894 Democratic
April 4, 1923 April 3, 1924 Ebenezer J. Ormsbee Vermont June 8, 1834 1886–1888 Republican
April 3, 1924 January 28, 1925 Augustus O. Bourn Rhode Island October 1, 1834 1883–1885 Republican
January 28, 1925 April 12, 1933 Adelbert Ames Mississippi October 31, 1835 1868–1870, 1874–1876 Republican
April 12, 1933 October 30, 1939 Roswell K. Colcord Nevada April 25, 1839 1891–1895 Republican
October 30, 1939 August 23, 1945 Martin Frederick Ansel South Carolina December 12, 1850 1907–1911 Democratic
August 23, 1945 September 6, 1946 John I. Cox Tennessee November 23, 1855 1905–1907 Democratic
September 6, 1946 April 11, 1949 Chase Osborn Michigan January 22, 1860 1911–1913 Republican
April 11, 1949 May 9, 1958 Fenimore Chatterton Wyoming July 21, 1860 1903–1905 Republican
May 9, 1958 August 12, 1958 Augustus Owsley Stanley Kentucky May 21, 1867 1915–1919 Democratic
August 12, 1958 May 19, 1966 Theodore F. Green Rhode Island October 2, 1867 1933–1937 Democratic
May 19, 1966 June 12, 1969 Percival Proctor Baxter Maine November 22, 1876 1921–1925 Republican
June 12, 1969 December 19, 1977 Nellie Tayloe Ross Wyoming November 29, 1876 1925–1927 Democratic
December 19, 1977 March 3, 1980 Forrest C. Donnell Missouri August 20, 1884 1941–1945 Republican
March 3, 1980 October 12, 1987 Alf Landon Kansas September 9, 1887 1933–1937 Republican
October 12, 1987 April 21, 1990 Frank Lausche Ohio November 14, 1895 1945–1947, 1949–1957 Democratic
April 21, 1990 June 10, 1993 Milward Simpson Wyoming November 12, 1897 1955–1959 Republican
June 10, 1993 October 20, 1996 J. Bracken Lee Utah January 7, 1899 1949–1957 Republican
October 20, 1996 November 5, 2000 Jimmie Davis Louisiana September 11, 1899 1944–1948, 1960–1964 Democratic
November 5, 2000 June 26, 2003 Strom Thurmond South Carolina December 5, 1902 1947–1951 Democratic
June 26, 2003 April 19, 2004 Frank B. Morrison Nebraska May 20, 1905 1961–1967 Democratic
April 19, 2004 November 15, 2004 Elmer L. Andersen Minnesota June 17, 1909 1961–1963 Republican
November 15, 2004 October 10, 2011 Albert Rosellini Washington January 21, 1910 1957–1965 Democratic
October 10, 2011 April 10, 2015 Raúl Héctor Castro Arizona June 12, 1916 1975–1977 Democratic
April 10, 2015 February 4, 2016 Edgar Whitcomb Indiana November 6, 1917 1969–1973 Republican
February 4, 2016 January 17, 2017 David P. Buckson Delaware July 25, 1920 1960–1961 Republican
January 17, 2017 June 4, 2021 John M. Patterson Alabama September 27, 1921 1959–1963 Democratic
June 4, 2021 August 18, 2023 Al Quie Minnesota September 18, 1923 1979–1983 Republican
August 18, 2023 present Jimmy Carter Georgia October 1, 1924 1971–1975 Democratic
  1. First governor following ratification of the Constitution.
  2. Became oldest living governor upon Pennsylvania's ratification of the Constitution.
  3. Became oldest living governor upon taking office.

Oldest living U.S. governors[edit]

These are the 100 oldest living United States governors, current or former. The longevity in this table is calculated as of May 1, 2024. Territorial governors are included but not ranked.

Key
dagger Incumbent
Rank
Governor
Date of birth
Gubernatorial term(s)
State
Party
Lifespan
1 Jimmy Carter (1924-10-01)October 1, 1924 1971–1975 Georgia Democratic 99 years, 213 days
2 Daniel J. Evans (1925-10-16)October 16, 1925 1965–1977 Washington Republican 98 years, 198 days
3 George Ariyoshi (1926-03-12)March 12, 1926 1974–1986 Hawaii Democratic 98 years, 50 days
4 George Nigh (1927-06-09)June 9, 1927 1963
1979–1987
Oklahoma Democratic 96 years, 327 days
5 Winfield Dunn (1927-07-01)July 1, 1927 1971–1975 Tennessee Republican 96 years, 305 days
6 Roy Romer (1928-10-31)October 31, 1928 1987–1999 Colorado Democratic 95 years, 183 days
7 Douglas Wilder (1931-01-17)January 17, 1931 1990–1994 Virginia Democratic 93 years, 105 days
8 Kenneth M. Curtis (1931-02-08)February 8, 1931 1967–1975 Maine Democratic 93 years, 83 days
9 Philip Noel (1931-06-06)June 6, 1931 1973–1977 Rhode Island Democratic 92 years, 330 days
10 Thomas P. Salmon (1932-08-19)August 19, 1932 1973–1977 Vermont Democratic 91 years, 256 days
11 Richard Riley (1933-01-02)January 2, 1933 1979–1987 South Carolina Democratic 91 years, 120 days
12 Buddy MacKay (1933-03-22)March 22, 1933 1998–1999 Florida Democratic 91 years, 40 days
13 Frank Murkowski (1933-03-28)March 28, 1933 2002–2006 Alaska Republican 91 years, 34 days
14 Pete Wilson (1933-08-23)August 23, 1933 1991–1999 California Republican 90 years, 252 days
15 Madeleine Kunin (1933-09-28)September 28, 1933 1985–1991 Vermont Democratic 90 years, 216 days
16 Michael Dukakis (1933-11-03)November 3, 1933 1975–1979
1983–1991
Massachusetts Democratic 90 years, 180 days
17 George Ryan (1934-02-24)February 24, 1934 1999–2003 Illinois Republican 90 years, 67 days
18 Edward D. DiPrete (1934-07-08)July 8, 1934 1985–1991 Rhode Island Republican 89 years, 298 days
N/A Paul McDonald Calvo (1934-07-25)July 25, 1934 1979–1983 Guam Republican 89 years, 281 days
19 Fob James (1934-09-15)September 15, 1934 1979–1983
1995–1999
Alabama Democratic/
Republican
89 years, 229 days
20 Arne Carlson (1934-09-24)September 24, 1934 1991–1999 Minnesota Republican 89 years, 220 days
21 Bob Martinez (1934-12-25)December 25, 1934 1987–1991 Florida Republican 89 years, 128 days
22 Thomas Kean (1935-04-21)April 21, 1935 1982–1990 New Jersey Republican 89 years, 10 days
23 James G. Martin (1935-12-11)December 11, 1935 1985–1993 North Carolina Republican 88 years, 142 days
24 Joe Frank Harris (1936-02-16)February 16, 1936 1983–1991 Georgia Democratic 88 years, 75 days
25 Robert List (1936-09-01)September 1, 1936 1979–1983 Nevada Republican 87 years, 243 days
26 Martha Layne Collins (1936-12-07)December 7, 1936 1983–1987 Kentucky Democratic 87 years, 146 days
27 Barbara Roberts (1936-12-21)December 21, 1936 1991–1995 Oregon Democratic 87 years, 132 days
N/A Carlos S. Camacho (1937-02-27)February 27, 1937 1978–1982 Northern Mariana Islands Democratic 87 years, 64 days
28 Jim Hunt (1937-05-16)May 16, 1937 1977–1985
1993–2001
North Carolina Democratic 86 years, 351 days
29 Paul E. Patton (1937-05-26)May 26, 1937 1995–2003 Kentucky Democratic 86 years, 341 days
30 Jay Rockefeller (1937-06-18)June 18, 1937 1977–1985 West Virginia Democratic 86 years, 318 days
31 Richard Bryan (1937-07-16)July 16, 1937 1983–1989 Nevada Democratic 86 years, 290 days
32 Dick Celeste (1937-11-11)November 11, 1937 1983–1991 Ohio Democratic 86 years, 172 days
33 Jerry Brown (1938-04-07)April 7, 1938 1975–1983
2011–2019
California Democratic 86 years, 24 days
34 Neil Abercrombie (1938-06-26)June 26, 1938 2010–2014 Hawaii Democratic 85 years, 310 days
35 Bruce Babbitt (1938-06-27)June 27, 1938 1978–1987 Arizona Democratic 85 years, 309 days
36 Steve Cowper (1938-08-21)August 21, 1938 1986–1990 Alaska Democratic 85 years, 254 days
37 Allen I. Olson (1938-11-05)November 5, 1938 1981–1985 North Dakota Republican 85 years, 178 days
38 Kay A. Orr (1939-01-02)January 2, 1939 1987–1991 Nebraska Republican 85 years, 120 days
39 Kit Bond (1939-03-06)March 6, 1939 1973–1977
1981–1985
Missouri Republican 85 years, 56 days
40 Martin J. Schreiber (1939-04-08)April 8, 1939 1977–1979 Wisconsin Democratic 85 years, 23 days
41 Chuck Robb (1939-06-26)June 26, 1939 1982–1986 Virginia Democratic 84 years, 310 days
42 Mike Castle (1939-07-02)July 2, 1939 1985–1992 Delaware Republican 84 years, 304 days
43 John H. Sununu (1939-07-02)July 2, 1939 1983–1989 New Hampshire Republican 84 years, 304 days
44 Garrey Carruthers (1939-08-29)August 29, 1939 1987–1991 New Mexico Republican 84 years, 246 days
45 Mike Sullivan (1939-09-22)September 22, 1939 1987–1995 Wyoming Democratic 84 years, 222 days
46 Ben Cayetano (1939-11-14)November 14, 1939 1994–2002 Hawaii Democratic 84 years, 169 days
47 Gaston Caperton (1940-02-21)February 21, 1940 1989–1997 West Virginia Democratic 84 years, 70 days
48 Neil Goldschmidt (1940-06-16)June 16, 1940 1987–1991 Oregon Democratic 83 years, 320 days
49 Lamar Alexander (1940-07-03)July 3, 1940 1979–1987 Tennessee Republican 83 years, 303 days
50 John W. Carlin (1940-08-03)August 3, 1940 1979–1987 Kansas Democratic 83 years, 272 days
51 Ted Kulongoski (1940-11-05)November 5, 1940 2003–2011 Oregon Democratic 83 years, 178 days
52 David Boren (1941-04-21)April 21, 1941 1975–1979 Oklahoma Democratic 83 years, 10 days
53 Toney Anaya (1941-04-29)April 29, 1941 1983–1987 New Mexico Democratic 83 years, 2 days
54 Ben Nelson (1941-05-17)May 17, 1941 1991–1999 Nebraska Democratic 82 years, 350 days
55 Ted Strickland (1941-08-04)August 4, 1941 2007–2011 Ohio Democratic 82 years, 271 days
N/A Carl Gutierrez (1941-10-15)October 15, 1941 1995–2003 Guam Democratic 82 years, 199 days
56 Tommy Thompson (1941-11-19)November 19, 1941 1987–2001 Wisconsin Republican 82 years, 164 days
57 Bob Taft (1942-01-09)January 9, 1942 1999–2007 Ohio Republican 82 years, 113 days
58 Butch Otter (1942-05-03)May 3, 1942 2007–2019 Idaho Republican 81 years, 364 days
59 John Ashcroft (1942-05-09)May 9, 1942 1985–1993 Missouri Republican 81 years, 358 days
60 Parris Glendening (1942-06-11)June 11, 1942 1995–2003 Maryland Democratic 81 years, 325 days
61 James J. Blanchard (1942-08-08)August 8, 1942 1983–1991 Michigan Democratic 81 years, 267 days
62 Nathan Deal (1942-08-25)August 25, 1942 2011–2019 Georgia Republican 81 years, 250 days
N/A Sila María Calderón (1942-09-23)September 23, 1942 2001–2005 Puerto Rico Popular Democratic 81 years, 221 days
63 Donald Carcieri (1942-12-16)December 16, 1942 2003–2011 Rhode Island Republican 81 years, 137 days
64 Gray Davis (1942-12-26)December 26, 1942 1999–2003 California Democratic 81 years, 127 days
65 Tony Knowles (1943-01-01)January 1, 1943 1994–2002 Alaska Democratic 81 years, 121 days
66 Robert J. Bentley (1943-02-03)February 3, 1943 2011–2017 Alabama Republican 81 years, 88 days
67 Jim Risch (1943-05-03)May 3, 1943 2006–2007 Idaho Republican 80 years, 364 days
68 Jim Guy Tucker (1943-06-13)June 13, 1943 1992–1996 Arkansas Democratic 80 years, 323 days
69 Bob Kerrey (1943-08-27)August 27, 1943 1983–1987 Nebraska Democratic 80 years, 248 days
70 Phil Bredesen (1943-11-21)November 21, 1943 2003–2011 Tennessee Democratic 80 years, 162 days
N/A Joseph Franklin Ada (1943-12-03)December 3, 1943 1987–1995 Guam Republican 80 years, 150 days
71 Ed Rendell (1944-01-05)January 5, 1944 2003–2011 Pennsylvania Democratic 80 years, 117 days
72 Frank Keating (1944-02-10)February 10, 1944 1995–2003 Oklahoma Republican 80 years, 81 days
73 Mike Hayden (1944-03-16)March 16, 1944 1987–1991 Kansas Republican 80 years, 46 days
74 Angus King (1944-03-31)March 31, 1944 1995–2003 Maine Independent 80 years, 31 days
N/A Pedro Rosselló (1944-04-05)April 5, 1944 1993–2001 Puerto Rico New Progressive 80 years, 26 days
75 Jim Geringer (1944-04-24)April 24, 1944 1995–2003 Wyoming Republican 80 years, 7 days
76 Steve Beshear (1944-09-21)September 21, 1944 2007–2015 Kentucky Democratic 79 years, 223 days
77 Jan Brewer (1944-09-26)September 26, 1944 2009–2015 Arizona Republican 79 years, 218 days
78 Bob Riley (1944-10-03)October 3, 1944 2003–2011 Alabama Republican 79 years, 211 days
79 Kay Ivey dagger (1944-10-15)October 15, 1944 2017–present Alabama Republican 79 years, 199 days
80 Donald DiFrancesco (1944-11-20)November 20, 1944 2001–2002 New Jersey Republican 79 years, 163 days
81 Jim Gibbons (1944-12-16)December 16, 1944 2007–2011 Nevada Republican 79 years, 137 days
82 Bob Miller (1945-03-30)March 30, 1945 1989–1999 Nevada Democratic 79 years, 32 days
83 George Pataki (1945-06-24)June 24, 1945 1995–2006 New York Republican 78 years, 312 days
84 Bill Weld (1945-07-31)July 31, 1945 1991–1997 Massachusetts Republican 78 years, 275 days
85 Fife Symington (1945-08-12)August 12, 1945 1991–1997 Arizona Republican 78 years, 263 days
86 Tom Ridge (1945-08-26)August 26, 1945 1995–2001 Pennsylvania Republican 78 years, 249 days
87 Jim Doyle (1945-11-23)November 23, 1945 2003–2011 Wisconsin Democratic 78 years, 160 days
N/A Benigno Fitial (1945-11-27)November 27, 1945 2006–2013 Northern Mariana Islands Republican/Covenant 78 years, 156 days
88 Don Siegelman (1946-02-24)February 24, 1946 1999–2003 Alabama Democratic 78 years, 67 days
89 John D. Waiheʻe III (1946-05-19)May 19, 1946 1986–1994 Hawaii Democratic 77 years, 348 days
90 Jodi Rell (1946-06-16)June 16, 1946 2004–2011 Connecticut Republican 77 years, 320 days
91 George W. Bush (1946-07-06)July 6, 1946 1995–2000 Texas Republican 77 years, 300 days
92 Jim Edgar (1946-07-22)July 22, 1946 1991–1999 Illinois Republican 77 years, 284 days
93 Ed Schafer (1946-08-08)August 8, 1946 1992–2000 North Dakota Republican 77 years, 267 days
94 Bill Clinton (1946-08-19)August 19, 1946 1979–1981
1983–1992
Arkansas Democratic 77 years, 256 days
95 Christine Todd Whitman (1946-09-26)September 26, 1946 1994–2001 New Jersey Republican 77 years, 218 days
96 Terry Branstad (1946-11-17)November 17, 1946 1983–1999
2011–2017
Iowa Republican 77 years, 166 days
97 Richard Codey (1946-11-27)November 27, 1946 2002
2004–2006
New Jersey Democratic 77 years, 156 days
98 Sonny Purdue (1946-12-20)December 20, 1946 2003–2011 Georgia Republican 77 years, 133 days
99 Mike Beebe (1946-12-28)December 28, 1946 2007–2015 Arkansas Democratic 77 years, 125 days
100 Jon Corzine (1947-01-01)January 1, 1947 2006–2010 New Jersey Democratic 77 years, 121 days

See also[edit]