| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible sticky-header-multi" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Governors of the Territory of Dakota
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2"|Governor
!scope="col"|Term in office{{efn|The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor's successor was confirmed, unless noted.}}
!scope="col"|Appointing president |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|1
|data-sort-value="Jayne, William"|75px
|William Jayne{{efn|When Jayne absent from the territory, Territorial Secretary John Hutchinson acted as governor.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=77–79}}}}
{{Small|(1826–1916)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=77–79}}[{{Cite web |title=William A. Jayne |url=http://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors1.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|May 27, 1861}}{{efn|Jayne was nominated on March 23, 1861;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 37th Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5i8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA335 335], accessed May 31, 2023.] confirmed by the Senate on March 27;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 37th Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5i8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA353 353], accessed May 31, 2023.] and arrived in the territory around late May 1861.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=77–79}}}}
–
March 1, 1863
{{small|(resigned)}}{{efn|Jayne resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=77–79}}}}
|{{sortname|Abraham|Lincoln}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|2
|data-sort-value="Edmunds, Newton"|75px
|Newton Edmunds
{{Small|(1819–1908)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=79–80}}[{{Cite web |title=Newton Edmunds |url=http://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors2.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|October 6, 1863}}{{efn|John F. Potter was nominated on March 6, 1863,[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 38th Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=lS8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA220 220], accessed May 31, 2023.] and confirmed by the Senate on March 9,[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 38th Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=lS8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA261 261], accessed May 31, 2023.] but declined the post.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=79–80}} Edmunds was appointed on October 6, 1863, during a Senate recess,{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=79–80}}[{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6IVHAQAAMAAJ |title=The Territorial Papers of the United States: Volume I: General |date=1934 |publisher=United States Government Publishing Office |page=7 |language=en}}] and he accepted the appointment on October 17,[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 38th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=lS8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA327 327], accessed May 31, 2023.] and confirmed by the Senate on February 2.[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 38th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=lS8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA389 389], accessed May 31, 2023.]}}
–
August 4, 1866
{{small|(successor appointed)}}
|{{sortname|Abraham|Lincoln}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|3
|data-sort-value="Faulk, Andrew"|75px
|Andrew Jackson Faulk{{efn|While Faulk was not in the territory, Territorial Secretary Solomon L. Spink acted as governor.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=80–82}}}}
{{Small|(1814–1898)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=80–82}}[{{Cite web |title=Andrew Jackson Faulk |url=http://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors3.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|August 4, 1866}}{{efn|Faulk was appointed on August 4, 1866, during a Senate recess;{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=80–82}}[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=nZz0fBylFEcC&pg=PA7 7], accessed May 31, 2023.] and confirmed by the Senate on March 2, 1867.[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=nZz0fBylFEcC&pg=PA327 327], accessed May 31, 2023.] He arrived in the territory on September 4, 1866.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=80–82}}}}
–
May 10, 1869
{{small|(successor appointed)}}
|{{sortname|Andrew|Johnson}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|4
|data-sort-value="Burbank, John"|75px
|John A. Burbank{{efn|While Burbank was not in the territory, Territorial Secretaries George H. Hand, George A. Batchelder, Edwin Stanton McCook, and Oscar A. Whitney acted as governor; McCook was killed while acting as governor.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=82–84}}}}
{{Small|(1827–1905)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=82–84}}[{{Cite web |title=John A. Burbank |url=http://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors4.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|May 10, 1869}}{{efn|Burbank was nominated on April 3, 1869;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=J45NAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA75 75], accessed May 31, 2023.] confirmed by the Senate on April 5;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=J45NAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA89 89], accessed May 31, 2023.] and arrived on the territory on April 29.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=82–84}} He was reconfirmed by the Senate on March 17, 1873.[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 43rd Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=DJ-iAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA74 74], accessed May 31, 2023.]}}
–
January 1, 1874
{{small|(resigned)}}{{efn|Burbank resigned in the face of political pressure.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=82–84}}}}
|{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|5
|data-sort-value="Pennington, John"|75px
|John L. Pennington
{{Small|(1829–1900)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=84–86}}[{{Cite web |title=John L. Pennington |url=https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors5.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|January 1, 1874}}{{efn|Pennington was nominated on December 15, 1873, for a term to begin in January;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 43rd Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=DJ-iAAAAMAA&pg=PA186 186], accessed May 31, 2023.] confirmed by the Senate on December 18, 1873;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 43rd Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=DJ-iAAAAMAA&pg=PA195 195], accessed May 31, 2023.] and arrived in the territory on January 29, 1874.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=84–86}}}}
–
March 12, 1878
{{small|(successor appointed)}}
|{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|6
|data-sort-value="Howard, William"|75px
|William Alanson Howard
{{Small|(1813–1880)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=86–87}}[{{Cite web |title=William A. Howard |url=https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors6.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|March 12, 1878}}{{efn|Howard was nominated on February 18, 1878;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 45th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=RXr7-07rZRgC&pg=PA241 241], accessed May 31, 2023.] confirmed by the Senate on March 12;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 45th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=RXr7-07rZRgC&pg=PA263 263], accessed May 31, 2023.] and arrived in the territory on April 12.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=86–87}}}}
–
April 10, 1880
{{small|(died in office)}}
|{{sortname|Rutherford B.|Hayes}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|7
|data-sort-value="Ordway, Nehemiah"|75px
|Nehemiah G. Ordway
{{Small|(1828–1907)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=87–90}}[{{Cite web |title=Nehemiah G. Ordway |url=https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors7.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|May 22, 1880}}{{efn|Ordway was nominated on May 14, 1880;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 46th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5TctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA332 332], accessed May 31, 2023.] confirmed by the Senate on May 22;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 46th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5TctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA337 337], accessed May 31, 2023.] and arrived in the territory on June 23.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=87–90}}}}
–
July 2, 1884
{{small|(successor appointed)}}
|{{sortname|Rutherford B.|Hayes}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|8
|data-sort-value="Pierce, Gilbert"|75px
|Gilbert A. Pierce
{{Small|(1839–1901)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=90–91}}[{{Cite web |title=Gilbert A. Pierce |url=https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors8.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|July 2, 1884}}{{efn|Pierce was nominated on June 27, 1884,[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Zd-tAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA302 302], accessed May 31, 2023.] and confirmed by the Senate on July 2.[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Zd-tAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA316 316], accessed May 31, 2023.]}}
–
February 3, 1887
{{small|(resigned)}}{{efn|Pierce resigned to avoid political conflict in a letter dated November 15, 1886, and was expected to remain in office until he could turn affairs over to his successor;[{{Cite news |date=1886-12-24 |title=Gov. Pierce Resigns |page=1 |work=The Hope Pioneer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hope-pioneer-gov-pierce-resigns/125640775/ |access-date=2023-05-31}}] however, according to McMullin, since the confirmation process took so long, Territorial Secretary Michael L. McCormack acted as governor until Church arrived on February 17, 1887.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=92–93}}}}
|{{sortname|Chester A.|Arthur}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|9
|data-sort-value="Church, Louis"|75px
|Louis K. Church
{{Small|(1846–1897)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=92–93}}[{{Cite web |title=Louis K. Church |url=https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors9.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|February 3, 1887}}{{efn|Church was nominated on December 14, 1886;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=97kzyydE0yoC&pg=PA609 609], accessed May 31, 2023.] confirmed by the Senate on February 3, 1887;[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=97kzyydE0yoC&pg=PA725 725], accessed May 31, 2023.] and arrived in the territory on February 17, 1887.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=92–93}}}}
–
March 13, 1889
{{small|(resigned)}}{{efn|Church resigned due to a change in the party in power, and submitted his resignation upon President Harrison's taking office,[{{Cite news |date=1889-03-13 |title=Generally Satisfed. [sic] |page=1 |work=Rapid City Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal-generally-satisfed/125642138/ |access-date=2023-05-31}}] though McMullin says it was dated March 9.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=92–93}} It is assumed it took effect when his successor took office, as Church was reportedly still performing his duties on March 13.[{{Cite news |date=1889-03-15 |title=Church Playing Even |page=3 |work=The Mitchell Capital |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mitchell-capital-church-playing-even/125642331/ |access-date=2023-05-31}}]}}
|{{sortname|Grover|Cleveland}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|10
|data-sort-value="Mellette, Arthur"|75px
|Arthur C. Mellette
{{Small|(1842–1896)}}
{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=93–95}}[{{Cite web |title=Arthur C. Mellette |url=https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/tgovernors10.html |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota}}]
|{{dts|March 13, 1889}}{{efn|Mellette was nominated on March 12, 1889,[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=ubzy660-TXoC&pg=PA5 5], accessed May 31, 2023.] and confirmed by the Senate on March 13.[U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=ubzy660-TXoC&pg=PA9 9], accessed May 31, 2023.]}}
–
November 2, 1889
{{small|(elected state governor)}}{{efn|Mellette was elected governor of South Dakota.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=93–95}}}}
|{{sortname|Benjamin|Harrison}} |
