List of governors of South Carolina

Governor of South Carolina
Incumbent
Henry McMaster
since January 24, 2017
StyleHis Excellency
Term lengthFour years, renewable once consecutively
Websitegovernor.sc.gov

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 Term in office Party Election 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
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
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
1791
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
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
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 May 28, 1865

June 30, 1865
Office vacated
after civil war
Vacant
72 Benjamin Franklin Perry
(1805–1886)
June 30, 1865

November 29, 1865
(did not run)
Provisional governor
appointed by President
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
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
1876
77 Wade Hampton III
(1818–1902)
December 14, 1876

February 26, 1879
(resigned)
Democratic William Dunlap Simpson
1878
78 William Dunlap Simpson
(1823–1890)
February 26, 1879

September 1, 1880
(resigned)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
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
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
1884
82 John Calhoun Sheppard
(1850–1931)
July 10, 1886

November 30, 1886
(lost nomination)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
83 John Peter Richardson III
(1831–1899)
November 30, 1886

December 4, 1890
(did not run)
Democratic 1886 William Mauldin
1888
84 Benjamin Tillman
(1847–1918)
December 4, 1890

December 4, 1894
(did not run)
Democratic 1890 Eugene Gary
1892 Washington Hodges Timmerman
85 John Gary Evans
(1863–1942)
December 4, 1894

January 18, 1897
(did not run)
Democratic 1894
86 William Haselden Ellerbe
(1862–1899)
January 18, 1897

June 2, 1899
(died in office)
Democratic 1896 Miles Benjamin McSweeney
1898
87 Miles Benjamin McSweeney
(1855–1909)
June 2, 1899

January 21, 1903
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Robert B. Scarborough
1900
88 Duncan Clinch Heyward
(1864–1943)
January 21, 1903

January 15, 1907
(did not run)
Democratic 1902 James H. Tillman
1904 John Sloan
89 Martin Frederick Ansel
(1850–1945)
January 15, 1907

January 17, 1911
(did not run)
Democratic 1906 Thomas Gordon McLeod
1908
90 Cole L. Blease
(1868–1942)
January 17, 1911

January 14, 1915
(resigned)
Democratic 1910 Charles Aurelius Smith
1912
91 Charles Aurelius Smith
(1861–1916)
January 14, 1915

January 19, 1915
(successor took office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
92 Richard Irvine Manning III
(1859–1931)
January 19, 1915

January 21, 1919
(did not run)
Democratic 1914 Andrew Bethea
1916
93 Robert Archer Cooper
(1874–1953)
January 21, 1919

May 20, 1922
(resigned)
Democratic 1918 J. T. Lyles
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
95 Thomas Gordon McLeod
(1868–1932)
January 16, 1923

January 18, 1927
(did not run)
Democratic 1922 E. B. Jackson
1924
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 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
100 Joseph Emile Harley
(1880–1942)
November 4, 1941

February 27, 1942
(died in office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
Vacant February 27, 1942

March 2, 1942
Office vacant
after death
101 Richard Manning Jefferies
(1889–1964)
March 2, 1942

January 19, 1943
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
president
pro tempore
of the Senate
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
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
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
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
1982 Michael R. Daniel
112 Carroll A. Campbell Jr.
(1940–2005)
January 14, 1987

January 11, 1995
(term-limited)
Republican 1986 Nick Theodore
1990
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
115 Mark Sanford
(b. 1960)
January 15, 2003

January 12, 2011
(term-limited)
Republican 2002 André Bauer
2006
116 Nikki Haley
(b. 1972)
January 12, 2011

January 24, 2017
(resigned)
Republican 2010 Ken Ard
Glenn F. McConnell
Yancey McGill
2014 Henry McMaster
117 Henry McMaster
(b. 1947)
January 24, 2017

Incumbent
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Kevin L. Bryant
2018 Pamela Evette
2022

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