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