Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (also known as The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania and, where state affiliation was understood, The Supreme Executive Council, The Executive Council, or simply Council or The Council) comprised the executive branch of the Pennsylvania State government between 1777 and 1790. It was headed by a President and a Vice-President (analogous to a Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively). The best known member of the Council was Benjamin Franklin
, who also served as its sixth President.
of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania
was framed by a constitutional convention
called at the urging of the Continental Congress
. The convention began work in Philadelphia
on 15 July 1776—less than two weeks following adoption of the Declaration of Independence
. The Constitution was adopted 28 September of the same year. The document included both A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth and a Plan or Frame of Government. The latter includes forty seven sections, several of which deal with the formation and function of the Supreme Executive Council.
Section 3: "The supreme executive
power shall be vested in a president
and council
."
Section 19: "For the present the supreme executive council of this state shall consist of twelve persons chosen in the following manner..."
The city of Philadelphia
and the eleven counties existing at that time each elected a representative to sit on the Council. These eleven counties were Philadelphia
(at that time a governmental entity distinct from the City of Philadelphia), Chester
, Bucks
, Lancaster
, York
, Cumberland
, Berks
, Northampton
, Bedford
, Northumberland
, and Westmoreland
. Seats were added for Washington
, Fayette
, Franklin
, Montgomery
, Dauphin
, Luzerne
, Huntingdon
, and Allegheny
as those counties were established. (It should be noted that many of these counties occupied considerably different—and often much larger—territories in the late 18th century than they do today.)
Counsellors were elected to three-year terms; the terms were staggered so that one third would be contested each year. (Counsellors is the spelling used in the Constitution itself, although the word is also rendered councillors, councellors, and councilors in other documents.) The President and Vice-President of the Council were chosen from those twelve Counsellors, elected to one-year terms by an annual joint ballot of the Council and the General Assembly
(the state legislature), usually held in November.
Section 20: The Council and its President were given power to
Additionally:
) and no specific date for the start of term of Counsellors or Council officers.
The Supreme Executive Council formally convened 4 March 1777. The first President and Vice-President were elected the following day. The Council sat in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall. It met in what had been the Governor's Council Chamber during British rule. The Executive Council, along with the General Assembly, moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania
ahead of the British occupation of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777—the last meeting in Philadelphia took place on 23 September and the first in Lancaster on 1 October. The Council returned to Philadelphia 26 June 1778.
The Council was replaced by a single Governor on 21 December 1790.
end of his term, suggesting that the aging Franklin was not actively involved in affairs of state toward the end of his presidency. (This is certainly not a consensus view, as other sources report that all actions of the Council during his term had Franklin's approval, even if that meant convening the Council at Franklin's home.) The shortest term was that of George Bryan, who served as Acting President for just over six months. Although these men may be referred to properly as Presidents of Pennsylvania their office is analogous to the modern office of Governor, and they are often included in lists of those who have held the latter title. Presidents and Vice-Presidents were styled
His Excellency
.
contains a series of east-west streets named in honor of Pennsylvania's Presidents and early Governors. Moving south on South 25th Street are Wharton, Reed and Dickinson Streets. (Bryan, never officially elected to the office, is omitted.) Moore Street, out of sequence, follows after two intervening streets (Tasker and Morris). There is no Franklin Street in the immediate neighborhood, probably because there already was a North Franklin Street on the west side of Franklin Square
, these being two of the numerous memorials to Franklin already in Philadelphia. Moore is followed by Mifflin Street, McKean
Street, and Snyder
Street (the latter being Pennsylvania's second and third Governors under the 1790 Constitution). Wharton Street borders Wharton Square Park, although it is not clear if the park is named after Thomas Wharton or another member of his prominent family. Dickinson College
and the Dickinson School of Law
, both in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
, were named after John Dickinson. Dickinson was portrayed, perhaps unflatteringly, as an impediment to Independence in the musical drama 1776
, alongside a much more jovial Benjamin Franklin.
. Of the ten men who held the office, two succeeded to the Presidency (the first—Bryan—de facto, the second—Moore—de jure). The longest Vice-Presidential term was that of George Bryan; he served over two and a half years, although he also served as de facto Acting President for six months concurrent with his Vice-Presidential term. The shortest term was that of Matthew Smith, who served for twelve days in October 1779.
With the exception of Bryan, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes no such distinction, and its listing of the state's early Governors includes neither Potter, Biddle, nor Redick. (Presidents of Pennsylvania are sometimes included in the listing of former Governors.) None of these men (including Bryan) was given the title of Acting President during his time in office—each continued to be addressed as Vice-President and was titled Acting President only after the fact. (And, regarding all but Bryan, the honor is strictly unofficial.)
During George Bryan's "term" as Acting President the office of President was, in fact, vacant—Thomas Wharton died 23 May 1778 and an election to chose his successor was not held until 1 December—due perhaps to the Council's evacuation to Lancaster during that time. At over seven months, Bryan's tenure was such that today he is considered a full-fledged Governor by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The situations of the three other "Acting Presidents" is less clear, although there are some similarities. In each instance the President was replaced—or due to be replaced—as his county's Counsellor before the completion of his term as President. For example, Redick's supposed acting presidency spanned the final three weeks of Dr. Franklin's presidential term. Franklin's three-year term as Counsellor from the City of Philadelphia was to expire on or around 17 October 1788—two weeks before the conclusion of his final one-year Presidential term on 31 October. The 1776 Constitution is not specific on the matter, but as the President and Vice-President were chosen from among the members of the Council it appears that most Presidents chose to leave that office, or were replaced, prior to the expiration of their term as Counsellor, rather than have an executive preside over a body of which he was no longer a member. Thus, these "acting presidencies" may have spanned the period between the de facto end of one Presidency (due to term limits) and the formal election of a successor. Franklin, for instance, was succeeded as Counsellor for the City of Philadelphia by Samuel Miles on 20 October, but his Presidency officially did not end until 5 November. If Franklin did indeed continue to exercise the office during those final weeks not only would he have been presiding beyond the end of his term as Counsellor but also beyond the three-year term limit established by the 1776 Constitution. The official minutes of the Council contain no indication that the President in any of these situations (Moore, Dickinson and Franklin, respectively) had formally left, relinquished or been removed from office; nonetheless during these periods the President was absent from Council meetings, which were thus overseen by the Vice-President. This suggests that any "interim administration" was established quietly and "off the record
".
It must be noted that a similar situation occurred at the end of Joseph Reed's presidency. Reed was succeeded as Counsellor from Philadelphia County by John Bayard on 16 October 1781 but ostensibly remained President until William Moore took office on 15 November. Yet no claims of an "acting presidency" have been made for Moore, who held the Vice-Presidency during this interim period, immediately prior to his election as President.
Similarly, Charles Biddle appears to have retained the Vice-Presidency—at least officially—even after leaving his seat on the Council. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reports that Biddle's Vice-Presidential term extended to 31 October 1787, at which time Peter Muhlenberg succeeded him in that office. However, Biddle's term as Counsellor from Berks County ended eighteen days earlier, on 13 October, when he was succeeded in that office by James Read. Furthermore, Biddle was elected Secretary of the Council on 23 October, a clerical position that likely would not have been assumed by one who was also an officer of the Council and a high State official.
until the day following his election. Section 40 of the 1776 Constitution stipulates: “Every officer, whether judicial, executive or military, in authority under this commonwealth, shall take the following…oath of office before he enters on the execution of his office,” meaning that an individual could not assume the duties of his office before taking the necessary oath. Cross referencing the election dates above with the preceding listings of terms in office will thus reveal several slight discrepancies, all resulting from a delayed administration of the oath:
No reasons for the delays are noted in the minutes of the Council. Neither set of dates involved a conflict with the sabbath. There were other instances that involved reelections of men who had already been sworn into office at the start of their previous term and which thus caused no delay. These are not noted here.
.
City of Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
Chester County
Bucks County
Lancaster County
York County
Cumberland County
Berks County
Northampton County
Bedford County
Northumberland County
Westmoreland County
Washington County (erected 1781)
Fayette County (erected 1783)
Franklin County (erected 1784)
Montgomery County (erected 1784)
Dauphin County (erected 1785)
Luzerne County (erected 1786)
Huntingdon County (erected 1787)
Allegheny County (erected 1788)
or the Proprietor
, rather than to an elected official.) The executive branch of the state government has been headed by a governor since that time. The 1790 Constitution made no provision for a Lieutenant Governor. Upon the death or resignation of the Governor the office would be assumed by the Speaker of the State Senate
. (This position no longer exists.) The office of Lieutenant Governor was created by the 1873 State Constitution and first occupied (by John Latta
) in 1875.
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, who also served as its sixth President.
1776 Constitution
The 1776 ConstitutionPennsylvania Constitution of 1776
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following the Declaration of Independence, and has been described as the most democratic in America. It was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr. Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin...
of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth (United States)
Four of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia....
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
was framed by a constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
called at the urging of the Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met briefly during 1774,...
. The convention began work in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
on 15 July 1776—less than two weeks following adoption of the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
. The Constitution was adopted 28 September of the same year. The document included both A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth and a Plan or Frame of Government. The latter includes forty seven sections, several of which deal with the formation and function of the Supreme Executive Council.
Section 3: "The supreme executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
power shall be vested in a president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and council
Wiktionary
Wiktionary is a multilingual, web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in 158 languages...
."
Section 19: "For the present the supreme executive council of this state shall consist of twelve persons chosen in the following manner..."
The city of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and the eleven counties existing at that time each elected a representative to sit on the Council. These eleven counties were Philadelphia
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
-History:Tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area which became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but permanently lost control to England in 1674...
(at that time a governmental entity distinct from the City of Philadelphia), Chester
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, Bucks
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, Lancaster
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, York
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
, Cumberland
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
, Berks
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, Northampton
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
, Bedford
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Northumberland
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...
, and Westmoreland
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
. Seats were added for Washington
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, Fayette
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Franklin
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
, Montgomery
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
, Dauphin
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
, Luzerne
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
, Huntingdon
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, and Allegheny
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
as those counties were established. (It should be noted that many of these counties occupied considerably different—and often much larger—territories in the late 18th century than they do today.)
Counsellors were elected to three-year terms; the terms were staggered so that one third would be contested each year. (Counsellors is the spelling used in the Constitution itself, although the word is also rendered councillors, councellors, and councilors in other documents.) The President and Vice-President of the Council were chosen from those twelve Counsellors, elected to one-year terms by an annual joint ballot of the Council and the General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
(the state legislature), usually held in November.
Section 20: The Council and its President were given power to
- appoint judgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s, attorneys generalAttorney GeneralIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
, naval officers, and other officers - fill offices vacant due to death, resignation, removal, or disqualification
- correspond with other states
- prepare business to present to the General Assembly
- serve as judges on cases of impeachmentImpeachmentImpeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
- grant pardons and remit fines (except in cases of impeachment)
- grant reprieves in cases of treasonTreasonIn law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
and murderMurderMurder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide... - ensure that the laws and other acts of the General Assembly were carried out
- lay embargoEmbargoAn embargo is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country, in order to isolate it. Embargoes are considered strong diplomatic measures imposed in an effort, by the imposing country, to elicit a given national-interest result from the country on which it is...
es and prohibit the export of any commodity (in certain circumstances)
Additionally:
- the President of Council was to serve as commander in chief of the militaryMilitaryA military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
forces of the state - the Council was ordered to keep an accurate record of its proceedings
Meeting place and time
The 1776 Constitution stipulated that the Council meet at the same time and location as the General Assembly. In practice, the Council sat year-round: there was no formal cycle of sessions (e.g. 110th United States Congress110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
) and no specific date for the start of term of Counsellors or Council officers.
The Supreme Executive Council formally convened 4 March 1777. The first President and Vice-President were elected the following day. The Council sat in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall. It met in what had been the Governor's Council Chamber during British rule. The Executive Council, along with the General Assembly, moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
ahead of the British occupation of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777—the last meeting in Philadelphia took place on 23 September and the first in Lancaster on 1 October. The Council returned to Philadelphia 26 June 1778.
The Council was replaced by a single Governor on 21 December 1790.
Presidents of Council
Seven men served as President of the Supreme Executive Council. (One, George Bryan, was never elected to the position, but today is considered by the Commonwealth to have been a full-fledged governor of Pennsylvania, perhaps due to the length of his term as Acting President.) Several figure prominently in the history of Pennsylvania, but none more so than Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His presidency was one of his last acts of public service, and he died less than two years after leaving office. Franklin was also the longest serving President, having held the office for slightly over three years. There is some question about the de factoDe facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
end of his term, suggesting that the aging Franklin was not actively involved in affairs of state toward the end of his presidency. (This is certainly not a consensus view, as other sources report that all actions of the Council during his term had Franklin's approval, even if that meant convening the Council at Franklin's home.) The shortest term was that of George Bryan, who served as Acting President for just over six months. Although these men may be referred to properly as Presidents of Pennsylvania their office is analogous to the modern office of Governor, and they are often included in lists of those who have held the latter title. Presidents and Vice-Presidents were styled
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
His Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
.
| President | Start of Term | End of Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Wharton Jr. Thomas Wharton Jr. Thomas Wharton Jr. was a Pennsylvania merchant and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first President of Pennsylvania following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.... |
5 March 1777 | 23 May 1778 | died in office |
| George Bryan George Bryan George Bryan was a Pennsylvania businessman, statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first Vice-President of Pennsylvania and its second President following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain... |
23 May 1778 | 1 December 1778 | Acting President upon death of Wharton |
| Joseph Reed Joseph Reed (jurist) Joseph Reed was a Pennsylvania lawyer, military officer, and statesman of the Revolutionary Era. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and, while in Congress, signed the Articles of Confederation... |
1 December 1778 | 15 November 1781 | |
| William Moore William Moore (statesman) William Moore was a Pennsylvania statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania from 1779 to 1781, and then as President from 1781 to 1782.... |
15 November 1781 | 7 November 1782 | |
| John Dickinson John Dickinson (delegate) John Dickinson was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of... |
7 November 1782 | 18 October 1785 | previously President of Delaware Delaware Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania... ; he did not formally relinquish that title until 12 January 1783 |
| Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat... |
18 October 1785 | 5 November 1788 | |
| Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental... |
5 November 1788 | 21 December 1790 | became first Governor of Pennsylvania under 1790 Constitution |
Legacy
The neighborhood of South PhiladelphiaSouth Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
contains a series of east-west streets named in honor of Pennsylvania's Presidents and early Governors. Moving south on South 25th Street are Wharton, Reed and Dickinson Streets. (Bryan, never officially elected to the office, is omitted.) Moore Street, out of sequence, follows after two intervening streets (Tasker and Morris). There is no Franklin Street in the immediate neighborhood, probably because there already was a North Franklin Street on the west side of Franklin Square
Franklin Square (Philadelphia)
Franklin Square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn during the late 17th century in central Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.- History :...
, these being two of the numerous memorials to Franklin already in Philadelphia. Moore is followed by Mifflin Street, McKean
Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...
Street, and Snyder
Simon Snyder
Simon Snyder was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1808 to 1817. A Jeffersonian Democrat, he served three terms as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before becoming governor...
Street (the latter being Pennsylvania's second and third Governors under the 1790 Constitution). Wharton Street borders Wharton Square Park, although it is not clear if the park is named after Thomas Wharton or another member of his prominent family. Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
and the Dickinson School of Law
Dickinson School of Law
Penn State University Dickinson School of Law is the law school of The Pennsylvania State University...
, both in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
, were named after John Dickinson. Dickinson was portrayed, perhaps unflatteringly, as an impediment to Independence in the musical drama 1776
1776 (musical)
1776 is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The story is based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence...
, alongside a much more jovial Benjamin Franklin.
Vice-Presidents of Council
Similarly, the office of Vice-President of Pennsylvania is analogous to the modern office of Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor...
. Of the ten men who held the office, two succeeded to the Presidency (the first—Bryan—de facto, the second—Moore—de jure). The longest Vice-Presidential term was that of George Bryan; he served over two and a half years, although he also served as de facto Acting President for six months concurrent with his Vice-Presidential term. The shortest term was that of Matthew Smith, who served for twelve days in October 1779.
| Vice-President | Start of Term | End of Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Bryan George Bryan George Bryan was a Pennsylvania businessman, statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first Vice-President of Pennsylvania and its second President following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain... |
6 March 1777 | 11 October 1779 | resigned |
| Matthew Smith Matthew Smith (Pennsylvania statesman) Matthew Smith —the dates of his birth and death apparently unknown—was a Pennsylvania politician. He served briefly as Vice-President of Pennsylvania following the resignation of George Bryan on 11 October 1779... |
11 October 1779 | 23 October 1779 | resigned |
| William Moore William Moore (statesman) William Moore was a Pennsylvania statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania from 1779 to 1781, and then as President from 1781 to 1782.... |
11 November 1779 | 14 November 1781 | became President of Council following his term as VP |
| James Potter James Potter James Potter was a soldier, farmer and politician from Colonial- and Revolutionary-era Pennsylvania. He rose to the rank of brigadier general of Pennsylvania militia during the Revolutionary War, and served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania, 1781-1782.-Family and early life:James Potter was of... |
15 November 1781 | 7 November 1782 | |
| James Ewing James Ewing (Pennsylvania statesman) James Ewing was a Pennsylvania soldier, statesman, and politician of the Colonial, Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary eras. He served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and also as Vice-President of Pennsylvania, a position comparable to that of Lieutenant Governor.-Early life and family:James... |
7 November 1782 | 6 November 1784 | |
| James Irvine James Irvine (Pennsylvania statesman) James Irvine was a Pennsylvania soldier and politician of the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Post-Revolutionary periods... |
6 November 1784 | 10 October 1785 | resigned |
| Charles Biddle | 10 October 1785 | 31 October 1787 | |
| Peter Muhlenberg Peter Muhlenberg John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly-independent United States... |
31 October 1787 | 14 October 1788 | resigned |
| David Redick David Redick David Redick was a Pennsylvania surveyor, lawyer, and politician. He was born in Ireland, and after coming to America made his home for several years in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married the niece of business associate David Hoge. He accompanied Mr. Hoge to survey the latter's land... |
14 October 1788 | 5 November 1788 | |
| George Ross George Ross (Pennsylvania statesman) George Ross was a Pennsylvania politician of the late 18th century. He was elected Vice-President of Pennsylvania on 5 November 1788. He was reelected unanimously on 11 November 1789 and served until 21 December 1790... |
5 November 1788 | 21 December 1790 |
"Acting" Presidents
At least one source credits four Vice-Presidents with having served as Acting Presidents:- George Bryan (Acting President 23 May 1778-1 December 1778)
- James Potter (Acting President 8 October-7 November 1782)
- Charles Biddle (Acting President 10–18 October 1785)
- David Redick (Acting President 14 October-5 November 1788)
With the exception of Bryan, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes no such distinction, and its listing of the state's early Governors includes neither Potter, Biddle, nor Redick. (Presidents of Pennsylvania are sometimes included in the listing of former Governors.) None of these men (including Bryan) was given the title of Acting President during his time in office—each continued to be addressed as Vice-President and was titled Acting President only after the fact. (And, regarding all but Bryan, the honor is strictly unofficial.)
During George Bryan's "term" as Acting President the office of President was, in fact, vacant—Thomas Wharton died 23 May 1778 and an election to chose his successor was not held until 1 December—due perhaps to the Council's evacuation to Lancaster during that time. At over seven months, Bryan's tenure was such that today he is considered a full-fledged Governor by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The situations of the three other "Acting Presidents" is less clear, although there are some similarities. In each instance the President was replaced—or due to be replaced—as his county's Counsellor before the completion of his term as President. For example, Redick's supposed acting presidency spanned the final three weeks of Dr. Franklin's presidential term. Franklin's three-year term as Counsellor from the City of Philadelphia was to expire on or around 17 October 1788—two weeks before the conclusion of his final one-year Presidential term on 31 October. The 1776 Constitution is not specific on the matter, but as the President and Vice-President were chosen from among the members of the Council it appears that most Presidents chose to leave that office, or were replaced, prior to the expiration of their term as Counsellor, rather than have an executive preside over a body of which he was no longer a member. Thus, these "acting presidencies" may have spanned the period between the de facto end of one Presidency (due to term limits) and the formal election of a successor. Franklin, for instance, was succeeded as Counsellor for the City of Philadelphia by Samuel Miles on 20 October, but his Presidency officially did not end until 5 November. If Franklin did indeed continue to exercise the office during those final weeks not only would he have been presiding beyond the end of his term as Counsellor but also beyond the three-year term limit established by the 1776 Constitution. The official minutes of the Council contain no indication that the President in any of these situations (Moore, Dickinson and Franklin, respectively) had formally left, relinquished or been removed from office; nonetheless during these periods the President was absent from Council meetings, which were thus overseen by the Vice-President. This suggests that any "interim administration" was established quietly and "off the record
Off the Record
"Off the record" is a term related to journalism sourcing; see Journalism sourcing#Using confidential information.Off the record may also refer to:- Music :* Off the Record , a 1977 album by Sweet...
".
It must be noted that a similar situation occurred at the end of Joseph Reed's presidency. Reed was succeeded as Counsellor from Philadelphia County by John Bayard on 16 October 1781 but ostensibly remained President until William Moore took office on 15 November. Yet no claims of an "acting presidency" have been made for Moore, who held the Vice-Presidency during this interim period, immediately prior to his election as President.
Similarly, Charles Biddle appears to have retained the Vice-Presidency—at least officially—even after leaving his seat on the Council. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reports that Biddle's Vice-Presidential term extended to 31 October 1787, at which time Peter Muhlenberg succeeded him in that office. However, Biddle's term as Counsellor from Berks County ended eighteen days earlier, on 13 October, when he was succeeded in that office by James Read. Furthermore, Biddle was elected Secretary of the Council on 23 October, a clerical position that likely would not have been assumed by one who was also an officer of the Council and a high State official.
Leadership elections
The first election of a President and Vice-President of Pennsylvania took place 5 March 1777, the day after the Council first convened. Thereafter, leadership elections took place in the fall, generally in November, following the popular election (held the second Tuesday in October) in which Counsellors and Assemblymen were elected by eligible citizens. Routine elections involved a joint ballot of the Council and the General Assembly. Several other elections were held to fill vacancies resulting from resignation; these involved only a vote by the Council rather than a joint ballot with the Assembly. More often than not, records do not list contenders (other than the winners) or vote tallies, saying simply that a particular gentleman was duly elected President and another Vice-President. Presidents and Vice-Presidents were elected to one-year terms. They could be reelected, but their term as President or Vice-President could not (in theory) extend beyond the end of their three-year term as Counsellor.| date | President | Vice-President | purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 March 1777 | Thomas Wharton | George Bryan | initial election |
| 21 November 1777 | Thomas Wharton | George Bryan | annual election (note: only election held in Lancaster) |
| 1 December 1778 | Joseph Reed (61)George Bryan (1)James Read (1) | George Bryan (62)Joseph Hart (1) | annual election |
| 11 October 1779 | ------------------ | Matthew Smith | to fill vacancy following Bryan's resignation |
| 11 November 1779 | Joseph ReedWilliam Moore | William MooreJames Read | annual election |
| 14 November 1780 | Joseph Reed (59)William Moore (1) | William Moore (53)James Potter (6)General Lacey (1) | annual election |
| 14 November 1781 | William Moore(64) James Ewing (1)James Potter (1)John Lacey (1) | James Potter(38) James Ewing (28) | annual election |
| 7 November 1782 | John Dickinson (41)James Potter (32) | James Ewing (39)James Potter (34) | annual election |
| 6 November 1783 | John Dickinson(unanimous) | James Ewing(unanimous) | annual election |
| 6 November 1784 | John DickinsonJohn Neville | James IrvineJohn Neville | annual election |
| 10 October 1785 | ------------------ | Charles Biddle | to fill vacancy following Irvine’s resignation |
| 18 October 1785 | Benjamin Franklin(unanimous) | ------------------ | it is not clear why a replacement for Dickinson was needed.Dickinson's name does not appear in Council minutes after the10 October 1785 meeting that elected Biddle to the Vice-Presidency. |
| 29 October 1785 | Benjamin Franklin | Charles Biddle | annual election |
| 4 November 1786 | Benjamin Franklin | Charles Biddle | |
| 31 October 1787 | Benjamin Franklin | Peter Muhlenberg | annual election |
| 14 October 1788 | ------------------ | David Redick | to fill vacancy following Muhlenberg’s resignation |
| 5 November 1788 | Thomas Mifflin | George Ross | annual election |
| 11 November 1789 | Thomas Mifflin(unanimous) | George Ross(unanimous) | annual election |
Discrepant dates and the oath of office
Throughout the history of the Council it was standard practice for newly-elected Presidents and Vice-Presidents to take office immediately upon election. However, there were a few instances in which an individual did not take the oath of officeOath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
until the day following his election. Section 40 of the 1776 Constitution stipulates: “Every officer, whether judicial, executive or military, in authority under this commonwealth, shall take the following…oath of office before he enters on the execution of his office,” meaning that an individual could not assume the duties of his office before taking the necessary oath. Cross referencing the election dates above with the preceding listings of terms in office will thus reveal several slight discrepancies, all resulting from a delayed administration of the oath:
- George Bryan, elected Vice-President 5 March 1777, took office 6 March.
- William Moore, elected President 14 November 1781, took office 15 November.
- James Potter, elected Vice-President 14 November 1781, took office 15 November.
No reasons for the delays are noted in the minutes of the Council. Neither set of dates involved a conflict with the sabbath. There were other instances that involved reelections of men who had already been sworn into office at the start of their previous term and which thus caused no delay. These are not noted here.
Counsellors
Counsellors were elected to represent each county in Pennsylvania as well as the city of Philadelphia. They were elected to three-year terms. Many served less than a full three, while others appear to have served slightly more. The Council sat year-round and there was no specific date set for the start of a session or of any Counsellor's term. Rather, new Counsellors appear to have begun their terms whenever they were able to reach Philadelphia following their elections. The general election at that time was held on the second Tuesday in October and most Counsellors took office in late October or in November. In most instances it is easy to fix the date on which a particular Counsellor’s term began, as the Minutes of the Council will note that on a particular date a particular gentleman was administered the oath and admitted to his seat. Many Counsellors had sporadic attendance, and several were absent for a year or more at a time. This was particularly true of representatives from the distant western counties, although the phenomenon was certainly not limited to those gentlemen. Some Counsellors simply sat out the last several months of their terms, their names disappearing from the Minutes by late summer or early autumn. Thus, the following list of Counsellors generally notes only the day on which each began his term; unless indicated otherwise it is assumed that each term extended to the beginning of the next, regardless of the incumbent’s actual attendance. Counsellors were accorded the title of EsquireEsquire
Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
.
Term limits
With the Council set to be dissolved in December 1790, a provision of the new State Constitution allowed Counsellors and Council officers whose terms whould have expired that Autumn to remain in office until 21 December, rather than hold elections for new Counsellors who would sit for only one or two months. Also, a review of the dates on which a particular county's Counsellors began their terms will reveal several instances in which more than three years elapsed between the start of successive terms. It is uncertain whether the seat technically became vacant after exactly three years or if the incumbent's term extended to the start of his successor's, even if this meant exceeding the three-year term limit imposed by the 1776 Constitution.List of Counsellors
- The home counties of two early Counsellors, John Evans and John Lowdan, has not yet been determined. Both were sitting when the Council first convened on 4 March 1777. It appears that one likely represented Chester County and the other York.
City of Philadelphia
- George BryanGeorge BryanGeorge Bryan was a Pennsylvania businessman, statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first Vice-President of Pennsylvania and its second President following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain...
(4 March 1777) - William MooreWilliam Moore (statesman)William Moore was a Pennsylvania statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania from 1779 to 1781, and then as President from 1781 to 1782....
(18 October 1779) - James IrvineJames Irvine (Pennsylvania statesman)James Irvine was a Pennsylvania soldier and politician of the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Post-Revolutionary periods...
(14 October 1782) - Benjamin FranklinBenjamin FranklinDr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
(17 October 1785) - Samuel MilesSamuel MilesSamuel Miles was an American military officer and politician, active in Pennsylvania before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War....
(20 October 1788-21 December 1790)
Philadelphia County
- Joseph WhartonThomas Wharton Jr.Thomas Wharton Jr. was a Pennsylvania merchant and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as the first President of Pennsylvania following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain....
(4 March 1777; died in office 23 May 1778) - Joseph ReedJoseph Reed (jurist)Joseph Reed was a Pennsylvania lawyer, military officer, and statesman of the Revolutionary Era. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and, while in Congress, signed the Articles of Confederation...
(24 November 1778) - John BayardJohn BayardJohn Bubenheim Bayard was a merchant, soldier, and statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1785 and 1786, and later mayor of New Brunswick, New Jersey....
(16 October 1781) - John DickinsonJohn Dickinson (delegate)John Dickinson was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of...
(4 November 1782) - Henry Hill (17 October 1785)
- Thomas MifflinThomas MifflinThomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental...
(20 October 1788-21 December 1790)
Chester County
- John Mackey (McKay, MacKay, Macky) (21 November 1777)
- Dr. Joseph GardnerJoseph GardnerJoseph Gardner was an American physician who was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1784 and 1785.Joseph was born in Honey Brook Township of Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1752. He studied medicine and practiced in Philadelphia.In 1776 Gardner raised and commanded the...
(23 October 1779) - John McDowell (2 November 1782)
- Evan Evans (28 October 1785)
- Richard Willing (16 October 1788-21 December 1790)
Bucks County
- Joseph Hart (23 July 1777)
- Gen. John Lacey Jr.John LaceyJohn Lacey was an American military officer during the American Revolutionary War. He was appointed a brigadier general in the Pennsylvania militia by the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council in January 1778....
(28 October 1779) - George Wall Jr. (29 October 1782)
- Samuel Dean (1 November 1785)
- Amos Gregg (21 October 1788-21 December 1790)
Lancaster County
- John Hubley (10 March 1777)
- John Bailey (2 June 1777)
- Col. Matthew SmithMatthew Smith (Pennsylvania statesman)Matthew Smith —the dates of his birth and death apparently unknown—was a Pennsylvania politician. He served briefly as Vice-President of Pennsylvania following the resignation of George Bryan on 11 October 1779...
(28 May 1778) - James Cunningham (5 January 1781)
- Samuel John AtleeSamuel John AtleeSamuel John Atlee was an American soldier and statesman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress for Pennsylvania from 1778 to 1782.-Early life:...
(21 October 1783) - John WhitehillJohn WhitehillJohn Whitehill was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.John Whitehill was born in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Lancaster County...
(22 December 1784) - George RossGeorge Ross (Pennsylvania statesman)George Ross was a Pennsylvania politician of the late 18th century. He was elected Vice-President of Pennsylvania on 5 November 1788. He was reelected unanimously on 11 November 1789 and served until 21 December 1790...
(16 October 1787-21 December 1790)
York County
- Jason Edgar (4 November 1777)
- James EwingJames Ewing (Pennsylvania statesman)James Ewing was a Pennsylvania soldier, statesman, and politician of the Colonial, Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary eras. He served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and also as Vice-President of Pennsylvania, a position comparable to that of Lieutenant Governor.-Early life and family:James...
(9 February 1779; withdrew a few days later due to questions regarding his election) - Mr. Thompson (8 March 1779)
- James Ewing (26 October 1781)
- Richard McCallister (McAlister) (26 October 1784)
- Andrew Bellmeyer (Billmeyer) (19 January 1787)
- Samuel Edie (25 October 1787-21 December 1790)
Cumberland County
- Jonathan Hoge ( 4 March 1777)
- James McLene (McClean, M’Lean, McLean) (9 November 1778)
- Robert WhitehillRobert Whitehill (Pennsylvania)Robert Whitehill was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Robert Whitehill was born in Pequea, Pennsylvania. He settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania...
(28 December 1779) - John Buyers (Byers) (20 November 1781)
- Jonathan Hoge (3 November 1784)
- Frederick Watt (26 October 1787-21 December 1790)
Berks County
- Jacob Morgan (3 September 1777)
- James Read (1 July 1778)
- Sebastian Levan (31 October 1781)
- Charles BiddleCharles BiddleCharles Biddle was a Pennsylvania statesman.His father was William Biddle, 3rd , and mother was Mary Scull ....
(30 October 1784) - James Read (13 October 1787-21 December 1790)
Northampton County
- George TaylorGeorge Taylor (delegate)George Taylor was a Colonial ironmaster and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Pennsylvania...
(4 March 1777) - Jacob Arndt (Orndt) (8 November 1777)
- John VanCampen (4 November 1780)
- Stephen Balliot (3 November 1783)
- Robert Trail (23 October 1786)
- Jonas Hartzell (20 October 1789-21 December 1790)
Bedford County
- Thomas Urie (14 November 1777)
- John Piper (17 November 1780)
- Isaac Meason (Mason) (12 November 1783)
- seat vacant approximately one year due to election irregularities
- George Woods (1 November 1787)
- James Martin (12 November 1789-21 December 1790)
Northumberland County
- Capt. John Hambright (Hambidght) (4 November 1777)
- Brig. Gen. James PotterJames PotterJames Potter was a soldier, farmer and politician from Colonial- and Revolutionary-era Pennsylvania. He rose to the rank of brigadier general of Pennsylvania militia during the Revolutionary War, and served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania, 1781-1782.-Family and early life:James Potter was of...
(16 November 1780) - John Boyd (25 November 1783)
- William McClay (23 October 1786)
- William Wilson (23 October 1789-21 December 1790)
Westmoreland County
- John Proctor (4 March 1777)
- Thomas ScottThomas Scott (politician)Thomas Scott was an American lawyer and politician who was born in Chester County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.As he grew up and matured, he opted law as his subject of study which led to his role in the fledgling United States...
(29 November 1777) - Christopher Hayes (17 February 1781)
- Bernard Dougherty (11 November 1783)
- John Baird (Beard) (17 November 1786)
- William FindleyWilliam FindleyWilliam Findley was an Irish-born farmer and politician from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He served in both houses of the state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House from 1791 until 1799 and from 1803 to 1817.-Early years:William Findley was born in Ulster, Ireland and...
(25 November 1789-21 December 1790)
Washington County (erected 1781)
- Dorsey (Dorset) Pentecost (19 November 1781)
- Gen. John NevilleGeneral John NevilleJohn Neville was an American military officer, land speculator, and state official who served in the American Revolutionary War and, as a tax collector, was a central figure in the Whiskey Rebellion...
(11 November 1783) - David RedickDavid RedickDavid Redick was a Pennsylvania surveyor, lawyer, and politician. He was born in Ireland, and after coming to America made his home for several years in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married the niece of business associate David Hoge. He accompanied Mr. Hoge to survey the latter's land...
(20 November 1786) - Henry Taylor (3 December 1789-21 December 1790)
Fayette County (erected 1783)
- John WoodsJohn Woods (Pennsylvania)John Woods was a United States Representative from Pennsylvania....
(6 November 1784) - John SmilieJohn SmilieJohn Smilie was an American politician from Fayette, Pennsylvania.He served in both houses of the state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House from 1793 until 1795 and from 1799 to 1812. Smilie was a prominent Jeffersonian, and was identified with the "'Quid" branch of the party...
(2 November 1786) - Nathaniel Breading (19 November 1789-21 December 1790)
Franklin County (erected 1784)
- James McLeneJames McLeneJames McLene was an American farmer and political leader from Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1779 and 1780...
(2 February 1785) - Abraham Smith (24 October 1787-21 December 1790)
Montgomery County (erected 1784)
- Daniel HiesterDaniel HiesterDaniel Hiester was an American political and military leader from the Revolutionary War period to the early 19th Century. Born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, he was a member of the Hiester Family political dynasty. He was the brother of John Hiester and Gabriel Hiester, cousin of Joseph Hiester,...
(15 October 1784) - Peter MuhlenbergPeter MuhlenbergJohn Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly-independent United States...
(24 October 1785) - Zebulon Potts (16 October 1788-21 December 1790)
Dauphin County (erected 1785)
- William Brown (14 November 1785)
- Christopher Kucher (1 November 1787-21 December 1790)
Luzerne County (erected 1786)
- Nathan Dennison (Dennisen) (2 March 1787)
- Lord Butler (30 October 1789-21 December 1790)
Huntingdon County (erected 1787)
- John Cannon (21 November 1787)
- Benjamin Elliott (30 December 1789-21 December 1790)
Allegheny County (erected 1788)
- Dr. John Wilkins Jr. (20 November 1789-21 December 1790)
1790 Constitution
A constitutional convention was called in 1789 and a new state constitution was adopted the following year. The 1790 Constitution did away with the Supreme Executive Council and vested supreme executive power in the office of Governor. On 21 December 1790 Thomas Mifflin, the last President of Pennsylvania, took office as the State's first Governor. (The title of Governor had been used during the Colonial era, although it referred to the appointed representative of the monarchMonarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
or the Proprietor
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
, rather than to an elected official.) The executive branch of the state government has been headed by a governor since that time. The 1790 Constitution made no provision for a Lieutenant Governor. Upon the death or resignation of the Governor the office would be assumed by the Speaker of the State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
. (This position no longer exists.) The office of Lieutenant Governor was created by the 1873 State Constitution and first occupied (by John Latta
John Latta (Lieutenant Governor)
John Latta was the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1875 to 1879. He was born in Unity Township, Pennsylvania.He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.-External links:*...
) in 1875.