Historical Essay
Wisconsin Territorial Governors
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Henry Dodge, 1836
Green Bay, Wisconsin. This portrait was painted by James Bowman just after Henry Dodge was appointed first governor of the Territory of Wisconsin in 1836. He served a second term from 1845-1848. View the original source document: WHI 2612
Wisconsin had four territorial governors before becoming a state in 1848. Territorial governors were appointed for three-year terms. They were authorized to veto territorial legislation, appoint lower level officials, and serve as commander-in-chief of the militia.
Wisconsin Territorial Governors
- Henry Dodge
- 1836-1841
Appointed by Andrew Jackson, April 30, 1836 - James Duane Doty
- 1841-1844
Appointed by John Tyler, September 30, 1841 - Nathaniel Talmadge
- 1844-1845
Appointed by John Tyler, June 21, 1844 - Henry Dodge
- 1845-1848
Appointed by James K. Polk, April 8, 1845
[Source: "Cultural Resource Management in Wisconsin," Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1986]