Kentucky. Governor (1867-1871 : Stevenson)

John White Stevenson succeeded to the office of governor in September 1867, upon the death of newly-elected Governor John L. Helm. A Democrat, he served until a few months prior to the end of the term, when he resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate.

Stevenson was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1812. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he studied law and eventually moved to Covington, Kentucky in 1841. He was first elected to public office in 1845, as a Democrat, to the Kentucky House of Representatives. Stevenson served as a delegate to three Democratic national conventions, and in 1857 successfully ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, where he served two terms.

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