List of governors of American Samoa
Encyclopedia
This is a list of governors, etc. of the part of the Samoa islands (now comprising American Samoa
) under United States
administration since 1900.
From 1904 to 1980 they were appointed by the United States government. Since that time they have been elected for 4-year terms by the people of American Samoa.
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
) under United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
administration since 1900.
From 1904 to 1980 they were appointed by the United States government. Since that time they have been elected for 4-year terms by the people of American Samoa.
| Term | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 17 February 1900 to 27 November 1901 | Benjamin Franklin Tilley Benjamin Franklin Tilley Benjamin Franklin Tilley , often known as B. F. Tilley, was a career officer in the United States Navy who served from the end of the American Civil War through the Spanish–American War... , Commandant |
17 April 1900: Tutuila ceded to United States |
| 27 November 1901 to 16 December 1902 | Uriel Sebree Uriel Sebree Uriel Sebree was a career officer in the United States Navy. He entered the Naval Academy during the Civil War and served until 1910, retiring as a rear admiral. He is best remembered for his two expeditions into the Arctic and for serving as acting governor of American Samoa... , Commandant |
|
| 16 December 1902 to 5 May 1903 | Henry Minett Henry Minett Henry Minett was a career officer of the United States Navy who served during the Spanish-American War. Prior to retirement in 1905, he achieved the rank of captain. He is best remembered as one of the first acting-Governor of American Samoa... , acting Commandant |
|
| 5 May 1903 to 30 January 1905 | Edmund Beardsley Underwood Edmund Beardsley Underwood Edmund Beardsley Underwood was a Captain in the United States Navy. Born in California, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1873. He was Commandant of American Samoa from May 5, 1903 to January 30, 1905. He retired in 1910.... , Commandant/Governor |
16 July 1904: Manu'a ceded to United States |
| 30 January 1905 to 21 May 1908 | Charles Brainard Taylor Moore Charles Brainard Taylor Moore Charles Brainard Taylor Moore was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and Naval Governor of American Samoa from 1905 to 1908.Taylor was born in Decatur, Illinois. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1873.... , Governor |
|
| 21 May 1908 to 10 November 1910 | John Frederick Parker (Navy) John Frederick Parker (Navy) John Fredrick Parker was a Captain in the United States Navy and one-time Governor of American Samoa from 1908 to 1910. John F. Parker was born in Ohio in 1853. He graduated from Annapolis in 1874 and married Elizabeth Scott Lord, niece of President Benjamin Harrison. He served as governor of... , Governor |
|
| 10 November 1910 to 14 March 1913 | William Michael Crose William Michael Crose William Michael Crose was a United States Navy Commander and the seventh Naval Governor of American Samoa, from November 10, 1910 to March 14, 1913. He was the first person designated "Governor of American Samoa", rather than the previous "Governor of Tutuila".-Early life:Crose was born in... , Governor |
17 July 1911: U.S. Naval Station Tutuila renamed American Samoa |
| 14 March 1913 to 14 July 1913 | Nathan Woodworth Post, acting Governor | 1st Term |
| 14 July 1913 to 2 October 1914 | Clark Daniel Stearns Clark Daniel Stearns Clark Daniel Stearns was the ninth Naval Governor of American Samoa. Stearns commanded various vessels, on which he set up organized committees for the crew to give suggestions to the officers. He hoped to alleviate tensions between the enlisted men and officers... , Governor |
|
| 2 October 1914 to 6 December 1914 | Nathan Woodworth Post, acting Governor | 2nd Term |
| 6 December 1914 to 1 March 1915 | Charles Armijo Woodruff Charles Armijo Woodruff Charles Armijo Woodruff was a United States Navy officer and the 11th Governor of American Samoa from December 6, 1914 to March 1, 1915. He captained multiple ships in both the Navy and the United States Merchant Marines. He served only briefly as governor, for a few months before ceding the... , acting Governor |
|
| 1 March 1915 to 10 June 1919 | John Martin Poyer John Martin Poyer John Martin Poyer was the twelfth Naval Governor of American Samoa, from March 1, 1915 to June 10, 1919. He held the longest term of any American Samoan Governor. A Naval Academy graduate, Poyer served in numerous positions and retired in 1906 on account of failing health; however, the Navy called... , Governor |
|
| 10 June 1919 to 3 November 1920 | Warren Jay Terhune, Governor | |
| 11 November 1920 to 1 March 1922 | Waldo A. Evans Waldo A. Evans Waldo A. Evans was a Captain of the United States Navy and military Governor of both the United States Virgin Islands and American Samoa. He was the last military governor of the U. S. Virgin Islands.-Biography:... , Governor |
|
| 1 March 1922 to 4 September 1923 | Edwin Taylor Pollock Edwin Taylor Pollock Edwin Taylor Pollock was a career officer in the United States Navy, serving in both the Spanish-American War and World War I. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain. Like many naval officers, his name was often abbreviated using initials: Pollock.As a young ensign, Pollock served... , Governor |
|
| 4 September 1923 to 17 March 1925 | Edward Stanley Kellogg Edward Stanley Kellogg Edward Stanley Kellogg was a United States Navy Captain who served as the 16th Governor of American Samoa. Kellogg graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1892, and joined the Naval Engineer Corps. He served as an assistant engineer on numerous ships, and participated in the... , Governor |
|
| 17 March 1925 to 9 September 1927 | Henry Francis Bryan Henry Francis Bryan Henry Francis Bryan was a United States Navy Rear Admiral and the 17th Governor of American Samoa. He served as governor from March 17, 1925 to September 9, 1927. Bryan was one of only three naval governors of the territory who had retired from naval service before serving as governor, the other... , Governor |
|
| 9 September 1927 to 2 August 1929 | Stephen Victor Graham Stephen Victor Graham Stephen Victor Graham was an United States Naval Rear Admiral and the 18th Governor of American Samoa from September 9, 1927 to August 2, 1929. Graham attended the United States Naval Academy and served on numerous ships before being posted to the governorship. As governor, he established the... , Governor |
20 February 1929: U.S. Congress recognition of the cession of Tutuila and Manu'a by their chiefs, with retrospective to 16 July 1904 |
| 2 August 1929 to 24 March 1931 | Gatewood Sanders Lincoln, Governor | 1st Term |
| 24 March 1931 to 22 April 1931 | James Sutherland Spore James Sutherland Spore James Sutherland Spore was a commander in the United States Navy. He served as acting governor of Guam from February 27, 1921 to February 7, 1922 and as acting governor of American Samoa from March 24, 1931 to April 22, 1931.... acting Governor |
|
| 22 April 1931 to 17 July 1931 | Arthur Tenney Emerson, acting Governor | |
| 17 July 1931 to 12 May 1932 | Gatewood Sanders Lincoln, Governor | 2nd Term |
| 12 May 1932 to 10 April 1934 | George Bertram Landenberger, Governor | |
| 10 April 1934 to 17 April 1934 | Thomas Calloway Latimore, acting Governor | |
| 17 April 1934 to 15 January 1936 | Otto Carl Dowling, Governor | |
| 15 January 1936 to 20 January 1936 | Thomas Benjamin Fitzpatrick Thomas Benjamin Fitzpatrick Thomas Benjamin Fitzpatrick was a United States Navy Commander and the 26th Governor of American Samoa for a brief time from January 15, 1936 to January 20, 1936. During World War II, Fitzpatrick commanded the USS Zeilin, which landed troops and sustained damage during the Battle of... , acting Governor |
|
| 20 January 1936 to 3 June 1938 | MacGillivray Milne MacGillivray Milne MacGillivray Milne was a United States Navy Captain, and the 27th Governor of American Samoa from January 20, 1936, to June 3, 1938. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, Milne served many posts in the Navy, including heading the Department of Modern Languages at the Naval Academy... , Governor |
|
| 26 June 1938 to 30 July 1940 | Edward William Hanson, Governor | |
| 30 July 1940 to 8 August 1940 | Jesse Rink Wallace, acting Governor | |
| 8 August 1940 to 5 June 1942 | Laurence Wild Laurence Wild Laurence Wild was a United States Navy Captain, college basketball player and coach, and the 30th Governor of American Samoa from August 8, 1940 to June 5, 1942. Wild was born in Wilber, Nebraska, and lived in the 4th Congressional District of Nebraska for much of his adult life... , Governor |
|
| 17 January 1942 to 25 April 1942 | Henry Louis Larsen Henry Louis Larsen Henry Louis Larsen was a United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General, the second Military Governor of Guam following its recapture from the Empire of Japan, and the first post-World War II Governor of Guam. He also served as the Military Governor of American Samoa alongside civilian Governor of... , Military Governor |
|
| 5 June 1942 to 8 February 1944 | John Gould Moyer John Gould Moyer John Gould Moyer was an United States Navy Rear admiral, and the 31st Governor of American Samoa from June 5, 1942 to February 8, 1944. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, but lived in both Indiana and Hawaii for much of his life. Moyer was admitted to the United States Naval Academy on June 16,... , Governor |
|
| 8 February 1944 to 27 January 1945 | Allen Hobbs Allen Hobbs Allen Hobbs was the 32nd Governor of American Samoa from February 8, 1944 to January 27, 1945. Hobbs was born on July 30, 1899 in Lowell, Massachusetts. His mother was a sculptor named Louise Allen Atkins, and his grandfather Charles Herbert Allen, the first American Governor of Puerto Rico... , Governor |
|
| 27 January 1945 to 3 September 1945 | Ralph Waldo Hungerford, Governor | |
| 3 September 1945 to 10 September 1945 | Samuel Wakefield Canan, acting Governor | |
| 10 September 1945 to 22 April 1947 | Harold Alexander Houser, Governor | |
| 22 April 1947 to 15 June 1949 | Vernon Huber Vernon Huber Vernon Huber was a United States Navy Rear admiral, and the 36th Governor of American Samoa from April 22, 1947 to June 15, 1949. He was born in Philadelphia, Illinois, and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from that state. He served as the first commanding officer of the USS... , Governor |
|
| 7 July 1949 to 23 February 1951 | Thomas Francis Darden, Jr., Governor | |
| 23 February 1951 to 20 June 1952 | Phelps Phelps Phelps Phelps Phelps Phelps , born Phelps von Rottenburg, was an American politician who held a number of offices in New York before becoming the 38th Governor of American Samoa and the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Phelps' parents divorced in 1899 and he later took his mother's maiden name... , Governor |
|
| 16 July 1952 to 23 November 1952 | John C. Elliott John C. Elliott John C. Elliott was an American politician appointed as the 39th Governor of American Samoa. Elliott was born on January 30, 1919 in Los Angeles, California. He died on August 13, 2001 in San Marino, California. He is buried at the San Gabriel Cemetery in San Gabriel, California... , Governor |
|
| 28 November 1952 to 4 March 1953 | James Arthur Ewing James Arthur Ewing James Arthur Ewing was the 40th Governor of American Samoa. He took the office on November 28, 1952 and resigned on March 4, 1953. He was appointed by President Harry Truman. Prior to his appointment, Ewing was an executive with an Ohio steel company. He was from Youngstown, Ohio.... , Governor |
|
| 4 March 1953 to 5 August 1953 | Lawrence M. Judd Lawrence M. Judd Lawrence McCully Judd was a politician of the Territory of Hawaii, serving as the seventh Territorial Governor. He was devoted to the Hansen's Disease-afflicted residents of Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai.-Life:... , Governor |
|
| 1 October 1953 to 15 October 1956 | Richard Barrett Lowe Richard Barrett Lowe Richard Barrett Lowe was the 42nd Governor of American Samoa and the eighth American Governor of Guam... , Governor |
|
| 15 October 1956 to 24 May 1961 | Peter Tali Coleman Peter Tali Coleman Peter Tali Coleman was the first person of Samoan descent to be appointed governor of American Samoa and later became the territory's first popularly elected governor. A member of the Republican Party, he is the only U.S... , Governor |
1st Term |
| 24 May 1961 to 31 July 1967 | Hyrum Rex Lee Hyrum Rex Lee Hyrum Rex Lee , usually called H. Rex Lee, was the Governor of American Samoa from May 24, 1961 to July 31, 1967 and from May 28, 1977 until January 3, 1978. He was the seventh appointed civilian Governor of American Samoa... , Governor |
1st Term |
| 1 August 1967 to 31 July 1969 | Owen Stuart Aspinall, Governor | |
| 1 August 1969 to 14 October 1974 | John Morse Haydon John Morse Haydon John Morse Haydon was the governor of the American Samoa from 1969 to 1974. Haydon attended the University of Washington. He served as First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force during World War II and flew 35 combat missions over Germany... , Governor |
|
| 15 October 1974 to 6 February 1975 | Frank C. Mockler, acting Governor | |
| 6 February 1975 to 30 September 1976 | Earl B. Ruth Earl B. Ruth Earl Baker Ruth was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina.Born in Spencer, North Carolina, Ruth graduated from Central High School, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1934. A.B., University of North Carolina, [Chapel Hill, North Carolina]], 1938... , Governor |
|
| 1 October 1976 to 27 May 1977 | Frank Barnett Frank Barnett Frank Barnett was the 49th Governor of American Samoa from October 1, 1976 to May 27, 1977. Before becoming governor, he was a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and a Tennessee attorney. He served as Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa for two years prior to his governorship... , Governor |
|
| 28 May 1977 to 3 January 1978 | Hyrum Rex Lee Hyrum Rex Lee Hyrum Rex Lee , usually called H. Rex Lee, was the Governor of American Samoa from May 24, 1961 to July 31, 1967 and from May 28, 1977 until January 3, 1978. He was the seventh appointed civilian Governor of American Samoa... , Governor |
2nd Term |
| 3 January 1978 to 3 January 1985 | Peter Tali Coleman Peter Tali Coleman Peter Tali Coleman was the first person of Samoan descent to be appointed governor of American Samoa and later became the territory's first popularly elected governor. A member of the Republican Party, he is the only U.S... , Governor |
2nd and 3rd Terms; Republican |
| 3 January 1985 to 2 January 1989 | A.P. Lutali, Governor | 1st Term; Democrat |
| 2 January 1989 to 3 January 1993 | Peter Tali Coleman Peter Tali Coleman Peter Tali Coleman was the first person of Samoan descent to be appointed governor of American Samoa and later became the territory's first popularly elected governor. A member of the Republican Party, he is the only U.S... , Governor |
4th Term; Republican |
| 3 January 1993 to 3 January 1997 | A.P. Lutali, Governor | 2nd Term; Democrat |
| 3 January 1997 to 26 March 2003 | Tauese P. Sunia, Governor | Democrat |
| 26 March 2003 to 7 April 2003 | Togiola Tulafono Togiola Tulafono Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor, taking this position on January 3, 1997.... , acting Governor |
Democrat |
| 7 April 2003 to present | Togiola Tulafono Togiola Tulafono Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor, taking this position on January 3, 1997.... , Governor |
Democrat |
Latest election
| American Samoa gubernatorial election, 2008 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Running mate | Political Party | First round | Second round | ||
| Votes | Percentage | Votes | Percentage | |||
| Togiola Tulafono Togiola Tulafono Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor, taking this position on January 3, 1997.... (incumbent Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... ) |
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Ipulasi Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa since April 11, 2003.-Early life :... (inc.) |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
5,117 | 41.24% | 6,590 | 56.45% |
| Utu Abe Malae Utu Abe Malae Utu Abe Malae is an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. Malae was a candidate for Governor of American Samoa in the 2008 gubernatorial elections, finishing second in the runoff to incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono.... |
Nua Mailo Saoluaga Nua Mailo Saoluaga Nua Mailo Saoluaga is an American Samoan politician. He served as the Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 1997 until 2002.... |
Libertarian Libertarian Party (United States) The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration... |
3,881 | 31.28% | 5,084 | 43.55% |
| Afoa Moega Lutu Afoa Moega Lutu Afoafouvale Leulumoegafou Su’esu’e Lutu is an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Lutu has served as the former American Samoan Attorney General.Lutu was defeated in the 2004 gubernatorial election by Togiola Tulafono... |
Velega Savali Velega Savali Velega Savali Savali Jr. is an American Samoan politician. Savali is currently a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the American Samoan gubernatorial election in 2008. He served as the American Samoa Treasurer from 2005 until 2008.-Personal life:Savali is married to Leleiga... |
Samoa Reunification Party | 3,347 | 26.97% | ||
| Tuika Tuika Tuika Tuika Tuika Tuika Jr. is an American Samoan accountant and politician. He has worked for various American Samoan government offices for many years.... |
Tee Masaniai Tee Masaniai Te’e Masaniai Jr. is an American Samoan politician and United States military retiree, Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient.... |
Socialist Workers | 63 | 0.51% | ||
| Invalid or blank votes | ||||||
| Totals | 12,408 | 100.00% | 11,674 | 100.00% | ||
| Voter turnout | ||||||