Missouri’s Third Governor is Born: February 26, 1781
Abraham J. Williams, Missouri's third governor, was born on this date in 1781.
Governor Alexander Dockery is Born: February 11, 1845
February 11, 1845, is the birthday of Alexander Dockery, Governor and Congressman from Gallatin and Chillicothe.
February 9, 1844
After breakfast, 47-year-old Missouri Gov. Thomas Reynolds shut himself inside his office in the Governor’s Mansion and shot himself in the head. He won the governor’s office in 1840. Reynolds previously stablished a successful law practice in Fayette and served as Speaker of the House. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Jefferson City.
August 28, 1820
Missouri's first statewide elections were held. Alexander McNair was elected Governor. Missouri was still one year away from officially becoming a state. Read our story about Missouri's first territorial governors here.
January 22, 1827
Missouri was a state of newcomers. On this date Thomas Fletcher was born and he would go on to be our first Missouri-born Governor.
Meet Missouri’s First Governors
It all began with the bargain of the century. A savvy deal negotiated between France and the United States more than two hundred years ago would set the stage for the first major challenge of this young nation in the New World.