Governor Luke Blackburn

Term: 1879-1883

Party: Democrat

Resident KY County: Jefferson

Election Returns:

Luke Blackburn 125,399 (55.4%)
Walter Evans 81,881 (36.2%)
C.W. Cook 18,954 (8.4%)

Members of Administration

Born: 7/16/1816

Died: 9/14/1887

State/County of Birth: Woodford Co., Kentucky

Former Occupation(s): Doctor

Accomplishments as Governor

• Improved the penal system
• Granted numerous pardons to prevent prison overcrowding
• Funded the Eddyville penitentiary
• Legalized the hiring out of convicts to work on public projects

Governor James Proctor Knott

Term: 1883-1887

Party: Democrat

Resident KY County: Marion

Election Returns:

James Knott 133,615 60.0%
Thomas Morrow 89,181 40.0%

Members of Administration

Born: 8/29/1830

Died: 6/18/1911

State/County of Birth: Marion Co., Kentucky

Former Occupation(s): Lawyer

Accomplishments as Governor

• Created the state’s Board of Equalization and worked toward tax reform
• Authorized a state teacher’s organization that would establish and regulate uniform job duties across the state

Notes

• For whom Knott County was named. (1884)
  

Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner

Term: 1887-1891

Party: Democrat

Resident KY County: Hart

Election Returns:

Simon Buckner 143,466 (50.7%)
William Bradley 126,754 (44.8%)

Members of Administration

Born: 4/1/1823

Died: 1/8/1914

State/County of Birth: Hart Co., Kentucky
Former Occupation(s): Soldier, Businessman, Newspaperman

Accomplishments as Governor

• Reformed the parole system
• Worked toward tax equalization
• Codified school laws

Governor John Young Brown

Term: 1891-1895

Party: Democrat

Resident KY County: Henderson

Election Returns:

John Young Brown 144,168 (49.9%)
Andrew Wood 116,087 (40.1%)
S.B. Erwin 25,631 (8.9%)

Members of Administration

Born: 6/28/1835

Died: 1/11/1904

State/County of Birth: Hardin Co., Kentucky

Former Occupation(s): Lawyer

Accomplishments as Governor

• Reformed the processes of tax collection and lotteries

Notes

• First governor to operate under a new (Kentucky’s second) constitution

Governor William O. Bradley

Term: 1895-1899

Party: Republican

Resident KY County: Garrard

Election Returns:

William Bradley 172,436 48.3%
Parker Hardin 163,524 45.8%

Members of Administration

Born: 3/18/1847

Died: 5/23/1914

State/County of Birth: Garrard Co., Kentucky

Former Occupation(s): Lawyer

Accomplishments as Governor

• Suppressed violence and feuding in Eastern Kentucky

Notes

• Kentucky’s first Republican governor

Governor William S. Taylor

Term: 1899-1900

Party: Republican

Resident KY County: Butler

Election Returns:

William Taylor 193,727 (48.1%)
William Goebel 191,331 (47.5%)

Members of Administration

Born: 10/10/1853

Died: 8/2/1928

State/County of Birth: Butler Co., Kentucky

Former Occupation(s): Teacher, County Clerk, Lawyer, Farmer

Notes

• The Democratic General Assembly contested his election.

Governor William Goebel

Term: 1900

Party: Democrat

Resident KY County: Kenton

Election Returns: Appointed by the General Assembly after Gov. William Taylor’s election was declared unconstitutional

Members of Administration

Born: 1/4/1856

Died: 2/3/1900

State/County of Birth: Pennsylvania

Former Occupation(s): Lawyer

Accomplishments as Governor

• Ordered the militia dissolved

Notes

• First Kentucky governor assassinated while holding office.

Governor John Crepps Wickliffe (J.C.W.) Beckham

Term: 1900-1907

Party: Democrat

Resident KY County: Nelson

Election Returns: By special election, succeeded Gov. William Goebel, who was assasinated while holding office.

Special Election

John Beckham 233,197 49.9%
John Yerkes 229,468 49.1%

1903 Regular Election

John Beckham 229,014 52.1%
M.B. Belknap 202,862 46.2%

Members of Administration

Born: 8/5/1869

Died: 1/9/1940

State/County of Birth: Nelson Co., Kentucky

Former Occupation(s): Principal of Public Schools, Lawyer

Accomplishments as Governor

• Reduced public debt
• Passed uniform textbook law
• Created two normal schools
• Provided funding for the new state capitol