List of Governors of Puerto Rico
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List_of_Governors_of_Puerto_Rico".

Juan Ponce de León II, 31st governor of Puerto Rico, grandson of the first governor, and the first native Puerto Rican to become governor
Juan Ponce de León II, 31st governor of Puerto Rico, grandson of the first governor, and the first native Puerto Rican to become governor

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 island's colonisation.

The first person to officially occupy the position was Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León on 1508. 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 1597. 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 1952, the Constitution of Puerto Rico was established, which created a new system where 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 selecting a number of secretaries that administrate the government's branches.

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History

When the Spanish Empire colonized Puerto Rico during the 16th century, the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León established himself as the island's first governor replacing Vicente Yáñez Pinzón, who was appointed to take the position of Captain General of the City of Puerto Rico prior to the island's colonization but never performed this function.[1] During this time period, the Spanish monarchy was in charge of appointing the governor of Puerto Rico, the person selected was in charge of the island's development and wealth and was responsible for reporting the colony's status to the Spanish Empire. After 1580 the Captaincy General of Puerto Rico was established, and the office of captain general was added to the governor.

Front entrance of La Fortaleza, the official residence of the governor
Front entrance of La Fortaleza, the official residence of the governor

On July 25, 1898, at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States when, following a brief armed conflict, the United States Army landed at Guánica. Following the conclusion of the war, Spain was forced to cede Puerto Rico, along with Cuba, the Philippines and Guam, to the United States under the 1898 Treaty of Paris.[2] Puerto Rico began the twentieth century under the military rule of the United States with officials, including the governor, who were appointed by the President of the United States. In 1900, William McKinley approved the establishment of the Foraker Act as a United States federal law, this established civilian (limited popular) government on Puerto Rico.[3] The new government had a governor and an executive council appointed by the President, a House of Representatives with 35 elected members, a judicial system with a Supreme Court, and a non-voting Resident Commissioner in Congress.[3] The first civil governor of the island under the Foraker Act was Charles Herbert Allen. This system was still used after the approval of the Jones-Shafroth Act, which altered the structure of government in Puerto Rico, and was in use until 1948.

Following the institution of the Constitution of Puerto Rico in 1952, the governor has been elected through a democratic process that is performed every four years.[4] Under this system, the governor is in charge of the island's executive branch.[4] In these elections, every person must vote for one of several candidates, each one of which represents a political party (currently consisting of New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican Independence Party, Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party) following the elective process the votes are counted and the candidate who gathers the majority of votes is named interim governor until he officializes his public position in an official oath ceremony.

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. [4] The elected governor must designate a number of secretaries 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. The mandatory time in office is four years, with the interim governor's time in office beginning following the official oath ceremony which is traditionally held on January 2 after the national holiday granted because of the celebration of New Year's Eve.

List of Governors of Puerto Rico

Governors under Spanish Crown

Picture Name Took office Left office Reference
Captain General
Don Juan Ponce de León		 1508 1511 [5]
Juan Ceron 1511 1513 [6]
Rodrigo Moscoso 1513 1514 [7]
Captain General Cristóbal de Mendoza 1514 1515 [8]
Captain General
Don Juan Ponce de León		 1515 1519 [7]
Sánchez Velázquez 1519 1519 [8]
Antonio de la Gama 1519 1521 [8]
Pedro Moreno 1521 1523 [8]
Bishop Alonso Manso 1523 1524 [8]
Pedro Moreno 1524 1529 [8]
Antonio de la Gama 1529 1530 [8]
Lieutenant General Francisco Manuel de Landó 1530 1536 [8]
Vasco de Tiedra 1536 1537 [8]
Vasco de Tiedra 1537 1544 [8]
Jerónimo Lebron de Quinones 1544 1544 [8]
Lcdo.Iñigo López Cervantes de Loaisa 1544 1546 [8]
Lcdo.Diego de Caraza 1546 1548 [8]
Diego de Caraza 1548 1550 [8]
Luis de Vallejo 1550 1555 [8]
Lcdo. Alonso Esteves 1555 1555 [8]
Lcdo. Diego de Caraza 1555 1561 [8]
Antonio de la Llama Vallejo 1561 1564 [8]
Francisco Bahamonde de Lugo 1564 1568 [8]
Francisco Solís 1568 1574 [8]
Francisco de Obando y Mexia 1575 1579 [8]
Juan Ponce de León II 1579 1579 [9]
Jerónimo de Agüero Campuzano 1580 1580 [8]
Captain General Juan de Céspedes 1580 1581 [8]
Captain General Juan López Melgarejo 1581 1582 [8]
Captain General Gen Diego Menéndez de Valdés 1582 1593 [8]
Colonel Pedro Suárez 1593 1597 [8]
Captain General Antonio de Mosquero 1597 1598 [8]
Captain General Alonso de Mercado 1599 1602 [8]
Captain General Sancho Ochoa de Castro 1602 1608 [8]
Gabriel de Rojas Párano 1608 1614 [8]
Captain General Felipe de Beaumont y Navarra 1614 1620 [8]
Juan de Vargas 1620 1625 [8]
Captain General Juan de Haro y Sanvitores 1625 1630 [8]
Captain General Enrique Enriquez de Sotomayor 1631 1635 [8]
Captain General Iñigo de la Mota Sarmiento 1635 1641 [8]
Captain General Agustín de Silva y Figueroa 1641 1641 [8]
Captain General Juan de Bolaños 1642 1643 [8]
Fernando de la Riva Agüero y Setien 1643 1648 [8]
Diego de Aguilera y Gamboa 1649 1655 [8]
José Novoa y Moscoso Pérez y Buitron 1655 1660 [8]
Captain General Juan Pérez de Guzmán y Chagoyen 1660 1664 [8]
Jerónimo de Velasco 1664 1670 [8]
Gaspar de Arteaga y Aunoavidao 1670 1674 [10]
Diego Roblandillo 1674 1674 [10]
Captain General Baltazar Figueroa y Castilla 1674 1674 [10]
Alonso de Campos y Espinosa 1675 1678 [10]
Juan de Robles Lorenzana 1678 1683 [10]
Captain General Gaspar Martinez de Andino 1683 1685 [10]
Juan Francisco Medina 1685 1690 [10]
Gaspar de Arredondo y Valle 1690 1695 [10]
Juan Francisco Medina 1695 1697 [10]
Tomas Franco 1697 1698 [10]
Antonio de Robles Silva 1698 1699 [10]
Gabriel Suárez de Ribera 1700 1703 [10]
Diego Jiménez de Villarán 1703 1703 [10]
Francisco Sánchez Calderon 1703 1703 [10]
Pedro Arroyo y Guerrero 1704 1705 [10]
Juan Francisco Morla 1706 1706 [10]
Francisco Granados 1706 1708 [10]
Colonel Juan de Ribera 1709 1715 [10]
José Francisco Carreño 1716 1716 [10]
Alfonso Bortodano 1716 1720 [10]
Francisco Danio Granados 1720 1724 [10]
Captain General José Antonio de Mendizabal y Azcue 1724 1730 [10]
Lieutenant Colonel Matías de Abadía 1731 1743 [10]
Domingo Pérez de Mandares 1743 1744 [10]
Colonel Juan José Colomo 1744 1750 [10]
Colonel Agustín de Parejas 1750 1751 [10]
Lieutenant Colonel Esteban Bravo de Rivero 1751 1753 [10]
Captain General Felipe Ramírez de Estenos 1753 1757 [10]
Esteban Bravo de Rivero 1757 1759 [10]
Mateo de Guaso Calderón 1759 1760 [10]
Esteban Bravo de Rivero 1760 1761 [10]
Lieutenant Colonel Ambrosio de Benavides 1761 1766 [10]
Colonel Marcos de Vergara 1766 1766 [10]
Lieutenant Colonel José Trentor 1766 1770 [10]
Colonel Miguel de Musesas 1770 1776 [10]
Colonel José Dufresne 1776 1783 [10]
Field Marshall Don Juan Andres Daban y Busterino 1783 1789 [10]
Francisco Torralbo 1789 1789 [10]
Brigadier General Miguel Antonio de Ustariz 1789 1792 [7]
Francisco Torralbo 1792 1794 [10]
Brigadier General Enrique Grimarest 1794 1795 [7]
Field Marshall Don Ramón de Castro y Gutiérrez 1795 1804 [10]
Toribo Montes 1804 1809 [10]
Salvador Meléndez y Ruiz 1809 1820 [10]
Brigadier General Juan Vasco y Pascual 1820 1820 [10]
Gonzalo Arostegui y Herrera 1820 1822 [10]
José Navarro 1822 1822 [10]
Francisco González Linares 1822 1822 [10]
Lieutenant General Miguel Luciano de La Torre y Pando 1822 1837 [10]
Francisco Javier de Moreda y Prieto 1837 1838 [10]
Field Marshall Miguel López de Baños 1838 1841 [10]
Lieutenant General Santiago Méndez de Vigo 1841 1844 [10]
Lieutenant General Rafael de Aristegui y Velez 1844 1847 [10]
Field Marshall Don Juan Prim de Prats y Gonzalez 1847 1848 [11]
Lieutenant General Juan de la Pezuela y Cevallos 1848 1851 [7]
Enrique de España y Taberner 1851 1852 [7]
Lieutenant General Fernando de Norzagaray y Escudero 1852 1855 [7]
Lieutenant General Andrés García Gamba 1855 1855 [7]
Lieutenant General José Lemery Ibrarrola Ney y Gonzalez 1855 1857 [7]
Lieutenant General Fernando Cotoner y Chacon 1857 1860 [7]
Sabino Gamir Maladen 1860 1860 [7]
Lieutenant General Rafael Echague y Bermingham 1860 1862 [7]
Brigadier General Rafael Izquierdo y Gutierrez 1862 1863 [7]
Lieutenant General Féliz María de Messina Iglesias 1863 1865 [7]
Lieutenant General José María Marchessi y Oleaga 1865 1867 [7]
General Julián Juan Pavia Lacy 1867 1868 [7]
General José Laureano Sanz y Posse 1868 1870 [7]
Lieutenant General Gabriel Baldrich 1870 1871 [7]
General Ramón Gómez Pulido 1871 1872 [7]
General Simón de la Torre Ormaza 1872 1872 [7]
Brigadier General Joaquín Eurile Hernan 1872 1873 [7]
Lieutenant General Juan Martínez Plowes 1873 1873 [7]
General Rafael Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte 1873 1874 [7]
General José Laureano Sanz y Posse 1875 1875 [7]
General Segundo de la Portilla Gutierrez 1875 1877 [7]
General Manuel de la Serna Hernandez y Pinzón 1877 1878 [7]
General José Gamir Maladen 1878 1878 [7]
General Eulogio Despujols y Dussay 1878 1881 [7]
General Segundo de la Portilla Gutierrez 1881 1883 [7]
General Miguel de la Vega Inclán y Palma 1883 1884 [7]
General Don Carlos Suances Campos 1884 1884 [7]
General Ramón Fajardo Izquierdo 1884 1884 [7]
General Luis Daban y Ramírez de Arellanó 1884 1887 [7]
General Romualdo Palacios Gonzalez 1887 1887 [7]
General Juan Contreras Martinez 1887 1888 [7]
General Pedro Ruiz Dana 1888 1890 [7]
Brigadier General José Pascual Bonanza 1890 1890 [7]
General José Lasso y Pérez 1890 1893 [7]
General Luis Daban y Ramírez de Arrellanó 1893 1895 [7]
General José Gamir 1895 1896 [7]
General Emilio March 1896 1896 [7]
General Sabas Marín González 1896 1898 [12]
General Ricardo de Ortega y Diez 1898 1898 [13]
General Andrés González Muñoz 1898 1898 [14]
General Ricardo de Ortega y Diez 1898 1898 [13]
General Manuel Macías Casado 1898 1898 [15]
General Ricardo de Ortega y Diez 1898 1898 [13]

Governors under U.S. colonial administration

Military government

Name Took Office Left Office Reference

Commanding General Nelson A. Miles		 1898 1898 [16]
Major General John R. Brooke 1898 1898 [17]

Major General Guy Vernon Henry		 1898 1899 [18]

Major General George Whitefield Davis		 1899 1900 [7]

Post-Foraker Act of 1900

Name Took Office Left Office Notes Reference
Charles Herbert Allen 1900 1901 first U.S. civil governor appointed by President William McKinley [19]
William Henry Hunt 1901 1904 [20]
Beekman Winthrop 1904 1907 [8]

Regis Henri Post		 1907 1909 [8]
Colonel George Radcliffe Colton 1909 1913 [8]

Arthur Yager		 1913 1921 [21]
José E. Benedicto 1921 1921 Interim governor [8]
Emmet Montgomery Reily 1921 1923 [22]
Juan Bernardo Huyke 1923 1923 [8]
Horace Mann Towner 1923 1929 [23]
James R. Beverley 1929 1929 [8]

Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr.		 1929 1932 [24]
James R. Beverley 2nd Term 1932 1933 [8]
Robert Hayes Gore 1933 1934 [25]
Benjamin Jason Horton 1934 1934 [8]

General Blanton C. Winship		 1934 1939 [26]
José E. Colón 1939 1939 Interim governor [7]

Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy		 1939 1940 [27]
José Miguel Gallardo 1940 1941 Interim governor [7]
Commander Guy J. Swope 1941 1941 [28]
José Miguel Gallardo 1941 1941 Interim governor [7]

Rexford Guy Tugwell		 1941 1946 [29]

Jesús Toribio Piñero		 1946 1949 first native Puerto Rican governor appointed under U.S colonial administration [30]

Governors under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

      New Progressive Party       Popular Democratic Party

Picture Name Took office Left office Party Reference
Luis Muñoz Marín 1949 1965 Popular Democratic Party [31]
Roberto Sánchez Vilella 1965 1969 Popular Democratic Party [32]
Luis A. Ferré 1969 1973 New Progressive Party [33]
Rafael Hernández Colón 1973 1977 Popular Democratic Party [34]
Carlos Romero Barceló 1977 1985 New Progressive Party [35]
Rafael Hernández Colón 1985 1993 Popular Democratic Party [34]
Pedro Rosselló González 1993 2001 New Progressive Party [36]
Sila M. Calderón 2001 2005 Popular Democratic Party [37]
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá 2005 Incumbent Popular Democratic Party [38]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Puerto Rico at the Dawn of the Modern Age". Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
  2. ^ "Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain". Yale University. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
  3. ^ a b "Foraker Act (Organic Act of 1900)". Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
  4. ^ a b c "Rama Ejecutiva" (in Spanish). Gobierno del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
  5. ^ "Ponce de León, Juan". Infoplease. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  6. ^ "Puerto Rico in the Great Depression". New Deal Network. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as "Governors of Puerto Rico - Under Spanish Rule". El Boricua. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax "Puerto Rico - Chronology". World's Statemen. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  9. ^ Casa Blanca reveals centuries of San Juan history
  10. ^ "Rafael Cordero Molina: Maestro de proceres, Siervo de Dios" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico en breve. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  11. ^ "Presencia del ideario masónico en el proyecto revolucionario antillano de Ramón Emeterio Betances" (in Spanish). Universidad de Puerto Rico. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  12. ^ a b c "Protagonistas de la Guerra Hispano Americana en Puerto Rico Parte VII" (in Spanish). Coqui.net. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
  13. ^ "Teniente general Andrés González Muñoz" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico en breve. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  14. ^ "Protagonistas de la Guerra Hispano Americana en Puerto Rico Parte VI" (in Spanish). Coqui.net. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  15. ^ "Nelson Appleton Miles". Find A Grave. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  16. ^ "John R. Brooke". Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  17. ^ "Guy Vernor Henry". Arlington National Cementery Website. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  18. ^ "Allen, Charles Herbert, (1848 - 1934)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  19. ^ "Hunt, William Henry". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  20. ^ "Arthur Yager 1908-1913". Georgetown College. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  21. ^ "The Architecture of Power". Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  22. ^ "Towner, Horace Mann, (1855 - 1937)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  23. ^ "TR's Family Tree". Theodore Roosevelt Association. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  24. ^ Washington Post (1933), "Warren D. Robbins Minister to Canada; White House Also Chooses Robert H. Gore as Governor of Puerto Rico", Washington Post (no. April 29, 1933): 2
  25. ^ Vito Marcantonio. "Five Years of Tyranny". Cheverote Productions. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  26. ^ "William D. Leahy - Biography". Williamdleahy.com (official web site). Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  27. ^ "Swope, Guy Jacob, (1892 - 1969)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  28. ^ "Rexford G. Tugwell (1891-1979)". The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  29. ^ "Jesus T. Piñero". Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  30. ^ "Luis Muñoz Marín - Biografia". Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  31. ^ Luis R. Negrón. "Roberto Sánchez Vilella" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico en breve. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  32. ^ "Luis A. Ferré". Encyclopedia Britanica. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  33. ^ a b "Rafael Hernández Colón". Encyclopedia Britanica. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  34. ^ "Romero-Barceló, Carlos Antonio, (1932 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  35. ^ "Pedro Rosselló" (in Spanish). Senado de Puerto Rico. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  36. ^ "Sila Maria Calderón". Encyclopedia Britanica. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  37. ^ "Acevedo-Vilá, Aníbal, (1962 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.

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