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Matthews - National Governors Association</title> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.nga.org/governor/joseph-w-matthews/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Joseph W. Matthews" /> <meta property="og:description" content="JOSEPH W. MATTHEWS, the fifteenth governor of Mississippi, was born near Huntsville, Alabama in 1812. His education was attained in the common schools of his native state. After moving to Mississippi, he worked as a farmer and a surveyor. 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href="https://www.nga.org/about/#contact-section">Contact</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul></div> </nav> </div> </header>  <main class="content page-publication"> <header class="page-publication__header hero-post"> <div class="hero-post__container page-publication__header__container"> <div class="hero-post__container__left"> <a href="/former-governors/mississippi" class="hero-post__back-link" > Back to former Mississippi governors </a> <div class="hero-post__img-container hero-post__img-container--lg"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Joseph-W-Matthews-2.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> </div> <div class="hero-post__container__right hero-post__container__right--lg"> <h5 class="title__label">Mississippi</h5> <h1 class="title title--no-border">Gov. Joseph W. Matthews</h1> <ul class="list--horizontal"> <li class="item"> <label class="label">Terms</label> January 10, 1848 - January 10, 1850 </li> <li class="item"> <label class="label">Party</label> Democratic </li> <li class="item"> <label class="label">Born</label> January 1, 1812 </li> <li class="item"> <label class="label">Passed</label> August 27, 1862 </li> <li class="item"> <label class="label">Birth State</label> Alabama </li> <li class="item"> <label class="label">Family</label> Married Martha Ann Jones Davis; five children </li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <section class="page-publication__container"> <div class="page-publication__section"> <div class="page-publication__article"> <section aria-labelledby="about-governor" class="page-publication__article__section"> <h2 id="about-governor" class="title">About</h2> <p>JOSEPH W. MATTHEWS, the fifteenth governor of Mississippi, was born near Huntsville, Alabama in 1812. His education was attained in the common schools of his native state. After moving to Mississippi, he worked as a farmer and a surveyor. Matthews first entered politics as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, a position he held from 1840 to 1844. He also served as a member of the Mississippi State Senate from 1844 to 1848. Matthews next secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and was elected governor by a popular vote on November 1, 1847. During his tenure, telegraph service was initiated throughout most of the state; an institution for the blind was created; and construction was finalized on the Brandon-Jackson railroad. Also, an insane asylum was established in Jackson; the state statutes were improved; an 1849 cholera epidemic was dealt with; and the University of Mississippi opened in 1848. After completing his term, Matthews left office on January 10, 1850, and retired from public service. Ten years later he returned to politics, serving as a member of the 1860 Democratic National Convention. He also served as a Confederate diplomatic commissioner during the Civil War. Governor Joseph W. Matthews passed away on August 27, 1862, and was buried in a private graveyard in Benton County, Mississippi.</p> <p><i>*Note: exact month and date of birth are not known.</i></p> </section> <section aria-labelledby="additional-information" class="page-publication__article__section"> <h2 class="title">Source</h2> <p>Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.</p> <p><a href="http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/matthews.html">The Political Graveyard</a></p> <p><a href="http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/features/feature47/governors/12_joe_matthews.htm">Mississippi Historical Society</a></p> </section> </div> <aside class="page-publication__sidebar"> <div class="page-publication__sidebar__group"> <h4 class="title">Current Mississippi Governor</h4> <ul> <li class="item"> <i class="fas fa-landmark"></i> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/tate-reeves/">Tate Reeves</a> </li> </ul> </div> </aside> </div> </section> </main> <section class="slider"> <div class="slider__container"> <div class="slider__header"> <h2 class="title">Recent Mississippi Governors</h2> </div> <div class="owl-carousel slider-posts"> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/phil-bryant.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/phil-bryant/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. Phil Bryant</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 10, 2012" itemprop="termStart">January 10, 2012</time> - <time datetime="January 11, 2016" itemprop="termEnd">January 11, 2016</time><br> <time datetime="January 12, 2016" itemprop="termStart">January 12, 2016</time> - <time datetime="January 13, 2020" itemprop="termEnd">January 13, 2020</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/phil-bryant/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MS-HaleyBarbour.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/haley-barbour/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. Haley Barbour</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 12, 2004" itemprop="termStart">January 12, 2004</time> - <time datetime="January 9, 2012" itemprop="termEnd">January 9, 2012</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/haley-barbour/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/RONNIEMUSGROVE.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/david-ronald-ronnie-musgrove/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. David Ronald “Ronnie” Musgrove</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 11, 2000" itemprop="termStart">January 11, 2000</time> - <time datetime="January 13, 2004" itemprop="termEnd">January 13, 2004</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/david-ronald-ronnie-musgrove/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PGFORDICEMS.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/daniel-kirkwood-fordice/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. Daniel Kirkwood Fordice</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 14, 1992" itemprop="termStart">January 14, 1992</time> - <time datetime="January 10, 2000" itemprop="termEnd">January 10, 2000</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/daniel-kirkwood-fordice/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PGMABUSMS.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/raymond-edwin-mabus/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. Raymond Edwin Mabus</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 12, 1988" itemprop="termStart">January 12, 1988</time> - <time datetime="January 14, 1992" itemprop="termEnd">January 14, 1992</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/raymond-edwin-mabus/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PGALLAINMS.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/william-a-allain/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. William A. Allain</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 10, 1984" itemprop="termStart">January 10, 1984</time> - <time datetime="January 12, 1988" itemprop="termEnd">January 12, 1988</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/william-a-allain/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PGWINTERMS.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/william-forrest-winter/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. William Forrest Winter</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 22, 1980" itemprop="termStart">January 22, 1980</time> - <time datetime="January 10, 1984" itemprop="termEnd">January 10, 1984</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/william-forrest-winter/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PGFINCHMS.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/charles-clifton-finch/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. Charles Clifton Finch</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 20, 1976" itemprop="termStart">January 20, 1976</time> - <time datetime="January 22, 1980" itemprop="termEnd">January 22, 1980</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/charles-clifton-finch/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PGWALLERMS.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/william-lowe-waller/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. William Lowe Waller</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 18, 1972" itemprop="termStart">January 18, 1972</time> - <time datetime="January 20, 1976" itemprop="termEnd">January 20, 1976</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/william-lowe-waller/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> <div class="slider__item"> <div class="slider__item__img"> <img src="https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PGWILLIAMSMS.jpg" alt="Joseph W. Matthews" /> </div> <div class="slider__item__content"> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/john-bell-williams/"> <h4 class="title">Gov. John Bell Williams</h4> </a> <p class="caption"> <time datetime="January 16, 1968" itemprop="termStart">January 16, 1968</time> - <time datetime="January 18, 1972" itemprop="termEnd">January 18, 1972</time><br> </p> <a href="https://www.nga.org/governor/john-bell-williams/" class="link">Learn More</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="ad-gov-search"> <div class="ad-gov-search__container"> <div class="row"> <div class="ad-gov-search__content"> <h2 class="title">Search For Former Governors</h2> <p class="description">This searchable database identifies former governors by state and dates of service. 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