Search

List of governors of Puerto Rico

The first person to officially occupy the position was Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León in 1509.[1]At the time, the Spanish monarchy was responsible for appointing the functionary who would perform this office. The first native Puerto Rican to perform the function was Juan Ponce de León II, as interim governor in 1579. During this administration, all of those appointed to take the position had served another function within the empire's government or the Roman Catholic Church. In 1898, the United States invaded Puerto Rico and the Spanish government ceded control of the island to the United States. During the first two years, the entire government in Puerto Rico was appointed by the president of the United States. In 1900, the American government approved the establishment of the Foraker Act as a federal law, this act established a civilian government in the island. In 1947, the federal Elective Governor Act was enacted, which created a new system where, since 1948, the governor is elected through a democratic process every four years. The governor is in charge of Puerto Rico's executive branch and is responsible for appointing executive branch agency heads, including the Secretary of State, who fulfills the role of lieutenant governor, the legislative branch's ombudsman and comptroller and all judges in the judicial branch.

La Fortaleza in Old San Juan is the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540.
This list of governors of Puerto Rico includes all persons who have held that post, either under Spanish or American rule. The governor of Puerto Rico is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The position was first established by the Spanish Empire during the 16th century following the archipelago's colonization.

Duties and succession

The standard (flag) and seal of the governor of Puerto Rico
Juan Ponce de León II, 28th governor of Puerto Rico, grandson of the first governor, and the first born in the island to become governor.

In the governor's absence, or if the governor dies or is unable to perform the executive duties, the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico takes control of the executive position, as acting governor during a temporary absence or inability, and as governor in case of death, resignation or impeachment and conviction.[2] The elected governor must designate a number of secretaries and other agency heads that will control the individual administrative agencies during his time in office, the selected secretaries are in charge of the island's health, natural resources, economy, correctional and judicial agencies and the department of consumer concerns, among others. The Governor's four-year term begins on January 2, the day after the New Year's Day holiday.

On July 24, 2019, Ricardo Rosselló became the first governor to resign his office. This happened after more than a week of protests due to a chain of corruption arrests and a leaked Telegram chat which contained offensive remarks made by the governor.

List of governors of Puerto Rico

Century
16th – 17th – 18th – 19th – 20th – 21st

Governors under Spanish Crown

No.PortraitGovernor
(Birth–Death)		Took officeLeft officeRef(s)
1 Captain General Don

Juan Ponce de León (1st time)
1474 – July 1521
(aged c. 47)

June 15, 1508October 28, 1509[3][4]
2Juan CerónOctober 28, 1509March 2, 1510[5]
3 Captain General Don

Juan Ponce de León (2nd time)

March 2, 1510November 28, 1511[3]
4Juan CerónNovember 28, 1511June 2, 1512[5][4]
5Rodrigo MoscosoJune 2, 15121513[6]
6Captain General

Cristóbal de Mendoza

15131515[7][4]
7 Captain General Don

Juan Ponce de León (3rd time)

July 15, 1515September 12, 1519[6]
8Sánchez Velázquez15141519[7][4]
9Antonio de la Gama15191521[7][4]
10Pedro Moreno15211523[7][4]
11Bishop

Alonso Manso

15231524[7]
12Pedro Moreno15241528[7][4]
13Antonio de la Gama15281530[7][4]
14Lieutenant General

Francisco Manuel de Landó

15301536[7][4]
15Vasco de Tiedra15361537[7][4]
16Vasco de Tiedra15371544[7]
17Jerónimo Lebrón de Quiñones15441544[7][4]
18Lcdo.

Iñigo López Cervantes y Loayza

15441546[7]
19Lcdo.

Diego de Caraza

15461548[7]
20Diego de Caraza15481550[7]
21Luis de Vallejo15501555[7][4]
22Lcdo.

Alonso Esteves

15551555[7]
23Lcdo.

Diego de Caraza

15551561[7]
24Antonio de la Llama Vallejo15611564[7]
25

Francisco Bahamonde De Lugo

15641568[7]
26Francisco de Solís Osorio15681574[7]
27Francisco de Obando y Mexia15751579[7]
28 Juan Ponce de León II15791579[8]
29Jerónimo de Agüero Campuzano15801580[7]
30Captain General

Juan de Céspedes

15801581[7][4]
31Captain General

Juan López Melgarejo

15811582[7][9]
32Captain General

Diego Menéndez de Valdés

June 12, 1582May 11, 1593[7][4][10]
33Colonel

Pedro Suárez de Coronel (1st time)

May 11, 1593December 18, 1597[7][4]
34Captain General

Antonio de Mosquera

December 18, 1597August 13, 1598[7]
35Colonel

Pedro Suárez de Coronel (2nd time)

November 23, 1598March 22, 1599[7]
36Captain General

Alonso de Mercado

March 22, 1599July 15, 1601[7][4]
37Captain General

Sancho Ochoa de Castro

July 15, 1601July 22, 1608[7][4]
38Gabriel de Rojas PáranoJuly 22, 1608September 14, 1614[7]
39Captain General Felipe de Beaumont y Navarra[4]September 14, 1614June 1, 1619[7]
40Juan de VargasJune 1, 1619August 29, 1625[7][4]
41Captain General Juan de Haro y SanvítoresAugust 29, 1625January 24, 1631[7][4]
42Captain General Enrique Enriquez de SotomayorJanuary 24, 1631February 23, 1635[7]
43Captain General Iñigo de la Mota SarmientoFebruary 23, 1635May 16, 1640[7][4]
44Captain General Agustín de Silva y FigueroaMay 16, 1640December 2, 1641[7]
45Captain General Juan de BolañosDecember 2, 1641July 9, 1643[7]
46Fernando de la Riva Agüero y SetienJuly 9, 1643May 24, 1649[7][4]
47Diego de Aguilera y GamboaMay 24, 16491655[7]
48José Novoa y Moscoso Pérez y Buitron1655August 15, 1660[7]
49Captain General Juan Pérez de Guzmán y ChagoyenAugust 15, 1660November 23, 1664[7][4]
50Jerónimo de VelascoNovember 23, 1664June 23, 1670[7][4]
51Gaspar de Arteaga y AunoavidaoJune 23, 1670March 17, 1674[11][4]
52Diego RoblandilloMarch 17, 1674August 20, 1674[11][4]
53Captain General Baltazar Figueroa y CastillaAugust 20, 1674April 6, 1675[11][4]
54Alonso de Campos y EspinosaApril 6, 1675August 22, 1678[11][4]
55Juan de Robles LorenzanaAugust 22, 1678July 18, 1683[11][4]
56Captain General Gaspar Martínez de AndinoJuly 18, 16831685[11][4]
57Juan Francisco Medina16851690[11]
58Gaspar de Arredondo y Valle16901695[11][4]
59Juan Francisco Medina16951697[11]
60Tomás Franco16971698[11][4]
61Antonio de Robles Silva16981699[11][4]
62Gabriel Suárez de RiberaOctober 17, 1699July 23, 1703[11]
63Diego Jiménez de Villarán17031703[11][4]
64Francisco Sánchez Calderón17031703[11][4]
65Pedro Arroyo y Guerrero17041705[11][4]
66Juan Francisco López de Morla17061706[11][4]
67Francisco Danío Granados17061708[11][4]
68Colonel Juan de RiberaJuly 18, 1711February 12, 1715[11][4]
69José Francisco CarreñoFebruary 12, 1715May 3, 1716[11][4]
70Alfonso BortodanoMay 3, 1716April 7, 1720[11]
71Francisco Danio GranadosArpril 7, 1720August 22, 1724[11][4]
72Captain General José Antonio de Mendizabal y AzcueAugust 22, 1724October 11, 1730[11][4]
73Lieutenant Colonel Matías de AbadíaOctober 11, 1731June 28, 1743[11][4]
74Domingo Pérez de MandaresJune 28, 1743October 29, 1744[11]
75Colonel Juan José ColomoOctober 29, 1744August 11, 1750[11][4]
76Colonel Agustín de ParejasAugust 11, 1750July 8, 1751[11][4]
77Lieutenant Colonel Esteban Bravo de RiveroJuly 8, 1751May 1, 1753[11][4]
78Captain General Felipe Ramírez de EstenosMay 1, 1753August 30, 1757[11][4]
79Esteban Bravo de RiveroAugust 30, 1757June 3, 1759[11]
80Mateo de Guaso CalderónJune 3, 1759March 7, 1760[11][4]
81Esteban Bravo de RiveroMarch 7, 1760April 20, 1761[11]
82 Lieutenant Colonel Ambrosio de BenavidesApril 20, 1761March 12, 1766[11]
83Colonel Marcos de VergaraMarch 12, 1766October 28, 1766[11][4]
84Lieutenant Colonel José TrentorOctober 28, 1766July 31, 1770[11][4]
85Colonel Miguel de MuesasJuly 31, 1770June 2, 1776[11][12][4]
86 Colonel José DufresneJune 2, 1776April 6, 1783[11][4]
87 Field Marshal Don Juan Andrés Daban y BusterinoApril 6, 1783March 27, 1789[11][4]
88Coronel Francisco Torralbo y RoblesMarch 27, 1789July 8, 1789[11]
89 Brigadier General Miguel Antonio de UstárizJuly 8, 1789May 19, 1792[6][4]
90Coronel Francisco Torralbo y RoblesMay 19, 1792March 10, 1793[11][4]
91Brigadier General Enrique GrimarestMarch 10, 1793March 21, 1795[6]
92 Field Marshal Don Ramón de Castro y GutiérrezMarch 21, 1795November 12, 1804[11][4]
93 Toribio MontesNovember 12, 1804June 3, 1809[11]
94Salvador Meléndez BrunaJune 30, 1809March 22, 1820[11][13][4]
95Brigadier General Juan Vasco y PascualMarch 24, 1820August 7, 1820[11][4]
96Brigadier General Gonzalo Arostegui y HerreraAugust 7, 1820February 12, 1822[11][4]
97Coronel José de NavarroFebruary 12, 1822May 30, 1822[11][4]
98Francisco González de LinaresMay 30, 1822December 4, 1823[11]
99 Lieutenant General Miguel Luciano de La Torre y PandoDecember 4, 1823January 14, 1837[11][4]
100Francisco Javier de Moreda y PrietoJanuary 14, 1837December 15, 1837[11]
101 Field Marshal Miguel López de BañosDecember 15, 1837October 2, 1840[11][4]
102 Lieutenant General Santiago Méndez de VigoOctober 2, 1840March 11, 1844[11][4]
103Lieutenant General Rafael de Aristegui y VélezMarch 11, 1844December 15, 1847[11]
104 Field Marshal Don Juan Prim de Prats y GonzalezDecember 15, 1847September 12, 1848[14]
105 Lieutenant General Juan de la Pezuela y CevallosSeptember 12, 1848April 23, 1851[15][16]
106Enrique de España y TabernerApril 23, 1851August 23, 1852[6]
107 Lieutenant General Fernándo Norzagaray y EscuderoAugust 23, 1852January 31, 1855[6]
108 Lieutenant General Andrés García CambaJanuary 31, 1855August 23, 1855[6]
109 Lieutenant General José Lemery Ibrarrola Ney y GonzalezAugust 23, 1855January 28, 1857[6]
110 Lieutenant General Fernando Cotoner y ChaconJanuary 28, 1857July 31, 1860[6]
111Sabino Gamir MaladenJuly 31, 1860August 19, 1860[6]
112 Lieutenant General Rafael Echague y BerminghamAugust 19, 1860February 17, 1862[6]
113 Brigadier General Rafael Izquierdo y GutierrezFebruary 17, 1862April 29, 1862[6]
114 Lieutenant General Félix María de Messina IglesiasApril 29, 1862November 18, 1865[6]
115 Lieutenant General José María Marchessi y OleagaNovember 18, 1865November 17, 1867[6]
116General Julián Juan Pavia LacyNovember 17, 1867December 30, 1868[6]
117 General José Laureano Sanz y PosseDecember 30, 1868May 21, 1870[6][17]
118 Lieutenant General Gabriel BaldrichApril 4, 1870September 13, 1871[6]
119 General Ramón Gómez PulidoSeptember 13, 1871July 30, 1872[6]
120 General Simón de la Torre OrmazaJuly 30, 1872November 5, 1872[6]
121Brigadier General Joaquín Eurile HernanNovember 5, 1872February 14, 1873[6]
122Lieutenant General Juan Martínez PlowesFebruary 14, 1873March 25, 1873[6]
123General Rafael Primo de Rivera y SobremonteMarch 25, 1873February 2, 1874[6]
124 General José Laureano Sanz y PosseFebruary 2, 1874December 16, 1875[6][17]
125General Segundo de la Portilla GutierrezDecember 16, 1875January 24, 1877[6]
126 General Manuel de la Serna Hernandez y PinzónJanuary 24, 1877April 26, 1878[6]
127 General José Gamir MaladenApril 26, 1878June 24, 1878[6]
128 General Eulogio Despujols y DussayJune 24, 1878July 7, 1881[6]
129General Segundo de la Portilla GutierrezJuly 7, 1881November 23, 1883[6]
130 General Miguel de la Vega Inclán y PalmaNovember 23, 1883July 31, 1884[6]
131General Don Carlos Suances CamposJuly 31, 1884September 19, 1884[6]
132 General Ramón Fajardo IzquierdoSeptember 19, 1884November 25, 1884[6]
133 General Luis Daban y Ramírez de ArellanóNovember 25, 1884March 23, 1887[6]
134 General Romualdo Palacios GonzalezMarch 23, 1887November 9, 1887[6]
135 General Juan Contreras MartinezNovember 9, 1887February 25, 1888[6]
136General Pedro Ruiz DanaFebruary 25, 1888April 18, 1890[6]
137Brigadier General José Pascual Bonanza18901890[6]
138General José Lasso y Pérez18901893[6]
139 General Antonio Daban y Ramírez de ArrellanóJanuary 10, 1893June 22, 1895[6]
140 General José Gamir MaladenJune 22, 1895January 17, 1896[6]
141 General Emilio MarchJanuary 17, 1896February 15, 1896[6]
142 General Sabas Marín GonzálezFebruary 15, 1896January 4, 1898[18]
143 General Ricardo de Ortega y DiezJanuary 4, 1898January 11, 1898[19]
144 General Andrés González MuñozJanuary 11, 1898January 11, 1898[20][21]
145 General Ricardo de Ortega y DiezJanuary 11, 1898February 2, 1898[19]
146 General Manuel Macías CasadoFebruary 2, 1898October 14, 1898[22]
147 General Ricardo de Ortega y DiezOctober 14, 1898October 16, 1898[19]
148 Captain Ángel Rivero MéndezOctober 16, 1898October 18, 1898[23]

Governors under U.S. colonial administration

Military government

No.ImageNameTook officeLeft officeReference
149 Commanding General Nelson A. MilesJuly 25, 1898October 18, 1898
150 Major General John R. BrookeOctober 18, 1898December 6, 1898[24]
151 Major General Guy Vernor HenryDecember 6, 1898May 9, 1899
152 Major General George Whitefield DavisMay 9, 1899May 1, 1900[6]

Post-Foraker Act of 1900

No.ImageNameTook officeLeft officeNotesReference
153 Charles Herbert AllenMay 1, 1900September 15, 1901First U.S. civil governor appointed by President William McKinley[25]
154 William Henry HuntSeptember 15, 1901July 4, 1904[26]
155 Beekman WinthropJuly 4, 1904April 17, 1907[7]
156 Regis Henri PostApril 17, 1907November 6, 1909[7]
157 George Radcliffe ColtonNovember 6, 1909November 15, 1913[7]
158 Arthur YagerNovember 15, 1913May 15, 1921Classmate of President Woodrow Wilson. With his support, the United States Congress adopted the Jones-Shafroth Act[27]
159José E. BenedictoMay 15, 1921July 30, 1921Interim governor[7]
160 Emmet Montgomery ReilyJuly 30, 1921February 16, 1923[28]
161 Juan Bernardo HuykeFebruary 16, 1923April 1, 1923Interim governor[7]
162 Horace Mann TownerApril 1, 1923September 29, 1929[29]
163James R. BeverleySeptember 29, 1929September 9, 1929The only non-Puerto Rican appointee of 15 from 1900 to 1952 who could speak Spanish before going there.[7]
164 Theodore Roosevelt Jr.September 9, 1929January 30, 1932[30]
165James R. Beverley 2nd TermJanuary 30, 1932July 3, 1933[7]
166Robert Hayes GoreJuly 3, 1933January 11, 1934[31]
167Benjamin Jason HortonJanuary 11, 1934February 5, 1934[7]
168 Blanton C. WinshipFebruary 5, 1934June 25, 1939Summarily removed by President Roosevelt on May 12, 1939.[32][33][34]
169José E. ColónJune 25, 1939September 11, 1939Interim governor[6]
170 William D. LeahySeptember 11, 1939November 28, 1940[35]
171 José Miguel GallardoNovember 28, 1940February 3, 1941Interim governor[6]
172Guy J. SwopeFebruary 3, 1941July 24, 1941[36]
173 José Miguel GallardoJuly 24, 1941September 19, 1941Interim governor[6]
174 Rexford TugwellSeptember 19, 1941September 2, 1946[37]
175 Jesús T. PiñeroSeptember 2, 1946January 2, 1949Only native Puerto Rican governor appointed under US colonial administration[38]

Governors under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

  New Progressive Party (7)
  Popular Democratic Party (7)

US party affiliation

  Democratic Party (10)
  Republican Party (3)
  Independent (1)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		TermDurationPartyElectionNational Paty
Affiliation
176 Luis Muñoz Marín
(1898–1980)[39]		January 2, 1949

–

January 2, 1965

16 yearsPopular Democratic1948Independent[a]
1952
1956
1960
177 Roberto Sánchez Vilella
(1913–1997)[41]		January 2, 1965

–

January 2, 1969

4 yearsPopular Democratic1964Democratic[b]
178 Luis A. Ferré
(1904–2003)[43]		January 2, 1969

–

January 2, 1973

4 yearsNew Progressive1968Republican[c]
179 Rafael Hernández Colón
(1936–2019)[45][46]		January 2, 1973

–

January 2, 1977

4 yearsPopular Democratic1972Democratic[d]
180 Carlos Romero Barceló
(1932–2021)[48][49]		January 2, 1977

–

January 2, 1985

8 yearsNew Progressive1976Democratic[d]
1980
181 Rafael Hernández Colón
(1936–2019)[45][46]		January 2, 1985

–

January 2, 1993

8 yearsPopular Democratic1984Democratic[d]
1988
182
Pedro Rosselló
(b. 1944)[50]		January 2, 1993

–

January 2, 2001

8 yearsNew Progressive1992Democratic[51]
1996
183 Sila María Calderón
(b. 1942)[52]		January 2, 2001

–

January 2, 2005

4 yearsPopular Democratic2000Democratic[e]
184 Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
(b. 1962)[54]		January 2, 2005

–

January 2, 2009

4 yearsPopular Democratic2004Democratic[f]
185 Luis Fortuño
(b. 1960)		January 2, 2009

–

January 2, 2013

4 yearsNew Progressive2008Republican[56]
186 Alejandro García Padilla
(b. 1971)		January 2, 2013

–

January 2, 2017

4 yearsPopular Democratic2012Democratic[g]
187 Ricardo Rosselló
(b. 1979)		January 2, 2017

–

August 2, 2019

2 years, 212 daysNew Progressive2016Democratic[58]
– Pedro Pierluisi
(b. 1959)
De facto		August 2, 2019

–

August 7, 2019

5 daysNew ProgressiveNone[h]Democratic[58]
188 Wanda Vázquez Garced
(b. 1960)
Constitutional appointment		August 7, 2019

–

January 2, 2021

1 year, 148 daysNew ProgressiveNone[i]Republican[60]
189 Pedro Pierluisi
(b. 1959)		January 2, 2021

–

present

3 years, 118 daysNew Progressive2020Democratic[58]

See also

Notes

References

External links

Retrieved from "https:https://www.search.com.vn/wiki/index.php?lang=en&q=List_of_governors_of_Puerto_Rico&oldid=1212191398"
🔥 Top keywords: Main PageSpecial:SearchIndian Premier LeagueWikipedia:Featured picturesPornhubUEFA Champions League2024 Indian Premier LeagueFallout (American TV series)Jontay PorterXXXTentacionAmar Singh ChamkilaFallout (series)Cloud seedingReal Madrid CFCleopatraRama NavamiRichard GaddDeaths in 2024Civil War (film)Shōgun (2024 miniseries)2024 Indian general electionJennifer PanO. J. SimpsonElla PurnellBaby ReindeerCaitlin ClarkLaverne CoxXXX (film series)Facebook2023–24 UEFA Champions LeagueYouTubeCandidates Tournament 2024InstagramList of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finalsJude BellinghamMichael Porter Jr.Andriy LuninCarlo AncelottiBade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024 film)