History / Offices

Attorney General

101 people have held this office since Sep 26, 1789. Now: Todd Blanche R.

Holders
101
42 R · 35 D · 9 W · 8 DR · 3 F · 3 U · 1 I
Longest tenure
11 years
William Wirt
Current
2 months
Todd Blanche, since Aug 8, 2026
history/office/attorney-generalEvery holder, newest first
+101
180018201840186018801900192019401960198020002020Edmund Randolph · 1789-09-26 – 1794-01-26 · FederalistWilliam Bradford · 1794-01-27 – 1795-08-23 · FederalistCharles Lee · 1795-12-10 – 1801-02-19 · FederalistLevi Lincoln Sr. · 1801-03-05 – 1805-03-02 · Democratic-RepublicanRobert Smith · 1805-03-02 – 1805-08-07 · Democratic-RepublicanJohn Breckinridge · 1805-08-07 – 1806-12-14 · Democratic-RepublicanCaesar Augustus Rodney · 1807-01-20 – 1811-12-05 · Democratic-RepublicanWilliam Pinkney · 1811-12-11 – 1814-02-09 · Democratic-RepublicanRichard Rush · 1814-02-10 – 1817-11-12William Wirt · 1817-11-13 – 1829-03-04 · Democratic-RepublicanJohn M. Berrien · 1829-03-09 – 1831-06-22 · WhigRoger B. Taney · 1831-07-20 – 1833-11-14 · DemocratBenjamin Franklin Butler · 1833-11-15 – 1838-07-04 · DemocratFelix Grundy · 1838-07-05 – 1840-01-10 · Democratic-RepublicanHenry D. Gilpin · 1840-01-11 – 1841-03-04 · DemocratJohn J. Crittenden · 1841-03-05 – 1841-09-12 · WhigHugh S. Legaré · 1841-09-13 – 1843-06-20 · DemocratJohn Nelson · 1843-07-01 – 1845-03-04 · WhigJohn Y. Mason · 1845-03-05 – 1846-10-16 · DemocratNathan Clifford · 1846-10-17 – 1848-03-17 · DemocratIsaac Toucey · 1848-06-21 – 1849-03-03 · DemocratReverdy Johnson · 1849-03-08 – 1850-07-21 · WhigJohn J. Crittenden · 1850-07-22 – 1853-03-04 · WhigCaleb Cushing · 1853-03-07 – 1857-03-04 · WhigJeremiah S. Black · 1857-03-06 – 1860-12-16 · DemocratEdwin M. Stanton · 1860-12-20 – 1861-03-04 · DemocratEdward Bates · 1861-03-05 – 1864-11-24 · Democratic-RepublicanJames Speed · 1864-12-02 – 1866-07-22 · RepublicanHenry Stanbery · 1866-07-23 – 1868-07-16 · RepublicanWilliam M. Evarts · 1868-07-17 – 1869-03-04 · WhigEbenezer R. Hoar · 1869-03-05 – 1870-11-22 · RepublicanAmos T. Akerman · 1870-11-23 – 1871-12-13 · WhigGeorge Henry Williams · 1871-12-14 – 1875-04-25 · DemocratEdwards Pierrepont · 1875-04-26 – 1876-05-21 · RepublicanAlphonso Taft · 1876-05-22 – 1877-03-04 · RepublicanCharles Devens · 1877-03-12 – 1881-03-04 · WhigWayne MacVeagh · 1881-03-05 – 1881-12-15 · DemocratBenjamin H. Brewster · 1881-12-16 – 1885-03-04 · RepublicanAugustus Hill Garland · 1885-03-06 – 1889-03-04 · DemocratWilliam H. H. Miller · 1889-03-07 – 1893-03-04 · RepublicanRichard Olney · 1893-03-06 – 1895-04-07 · DemocratJudson Harmon · 1895-06-11 – 1897-03-04 · DemocratJoseph McKenna · 1897-03-05 – 1898-01-25 · RepublicanJohn W. Griggs · 1898-01-25 – 1901-03-29 · RepublicanPhilander C. Knox · 1901-04-05 – 1904-06-30 · RepublicanWilliam Henry Moody · 1904-07-01 – 1906-12-17 · RepublicanCharles Joseph Bonaparte · 1906-12-17 – 1909-03-04 · RepublicanGeorge Woodward Wickersham · 1909-03-04 – 1913-03-04 · RepublicanJames Clark McReynolds · 1913-03-15 – 1914-08-29 · DemocratThomas Watt Gregory · 1914-08-29 – 1919-03-04 · DemocratAlexander Mitchell Palmer · 1919-03-05 – 1921-03-04 · DemocratHarry Micajah Daugherty · 1921-03-04 – 1924-04-06 · RepublicanHarlan F. Stone · 1924-04-07 – 1925-03-01 · RepublicanJohn G. Sargent · 1925-03-07 – 1929-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam D. Mitchell · 1929-03-04 – 1933-03-04 · RepublicanHomer Stille Cummings · 1933-03-04 – 1939-01-02 · DemocratFrank Murphy · 1939-01-02 – 1940-01-18 · DemocratRobert H. Jackson · 1940-01-18 – 1941-08-25 · DemocratFrancis Biddle · 1941-08-26 – 1945-06-26 · DemocratThomas Campbell Clark · 1945-06-27 – 1949-07-26 · DemocratJ. Howard McGrath · 1949-07-27 – 1952-04-03 · DemocratJames P. McGranery · 1952-04-04 – 1953-01-20 · DemocratHerbert Brownell · 1953-01-21 – 1957-10-23 · RepublicanWilliam P. Rogers · 1957-10-23 – 1961-01-20 · RepublicanRobert F. Kennedy · 1961-01-20 – 1964-09-03 · DemocratNicholas Katzenbach · 1965-01-28 – 1966-11-28 · DemocratRamsey Clark · 1967-03-10 – 1969-01-20 · DemocratJohn N. Mitchell · 1969-01-21 – 1972-03-01 · RepublicanRichard Kleindienst · 1972-06-12 – 1973-04-30 · RepublicanElliot Richardson · 1973-05-25 – 1973-10-20 · RepublicanRobert Bork · 1973-10-20 – 1974-01-04 · RepublicanWilliam B. Saxbe · 1974-01-04 – 1975-02-02 · RepublicanEdward H. Levi · 1975-02-02 – 1977-01-20 · RepublicanGriffin Bell · 1977-01-26 – 1979-08-16 · DemocratBenjamin Civiletti · 1979-08-16 – 1981-01-19 · DemocratWilliam French Smith · 1981-01-23 – 1985-02-25 · RepublicanEdwin Meese · 1985-02-25 – 1988-07-05 · RepublicanDick Thornburgh · 1988-08-15 – 1991-08-15 · RepublicanWilliam Barr · 1991-08-16 – 1993-01-20 · RepublicanStuart M. Gerson · 1993-01-20 – 1993-03-12 · RepublicanJanet Reno · 1993-03-12 – 2001-01-20 · DemocratEric Holder · 2001-01-20 – 2001-02-02 · DemocratJohn Ashcroft · 2001-02-02 – 2005-02-03 · RepublicanAlberto Gonzales · 2005-02-03 – 2007-09-17 · RepublicanPaul Clement · 2007-09-17 – 2007-09-18 · RepublicanPeter Keisler · 2007-09-18 – 2007-11-09 · RepublicanMichael Mukasey · 2007-11-09 – 2009-01-20 · RepublicanMark Filip · 2009-01-20 – 2009-02-03 · RepublicanEric Holder · 2009-02-03 – 2015-04-27 · DemocratLoretta Lynch · 2015-04-27 – 2017-01-20 · DemocratSally Yates · 2017-01-20 – 2017-01-30 · DemocratDana Boente · 2017-01-30 – 2017-02-09Jeff Sessions · 2017-02-09 – 2018-11-07 · RepublicanMatthew Whitaker · 2018-11-07 – 2019-02-14 · RepublicanWilliam Barr · 2019-02-14 – 2020-12-23 · RepublicanJeffrey A. Rosen · 2020-12-24 – 2021-01-20 · RepublicanJohn Demers · 2021-01-20 – 2021-01-20 · RepublicanMonty Wilkinson · 2021-01-20 – 2021-03-10Merrick Garland · 2021-03-11 – 2025-01-20 · IndependentPam Bondi · 2025-02-05 – 2026-04-02 · DemocratTodd Blanche · 2026-08-08 – present · Republican
Todd Blanche R
Aug 8, 2026 – present · 2 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Pam Bondi D
Feb 5, 2025 – Apr 2, 2026 · 14 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Merrick Garland I
Mar 11, 2021 – Jan 20, 2025 · 3.9 years · appointed by Joe Biden
John Demers R (acting)
Jan 20, 2021 – Jan 20, 2021 · the same day
Monty Wilkinson (acting)
Jan 20, 2021 – Mar 10, 2021 · 2 months
Jeffrey A. Rosen R (acting)
Dec 24, 2020 – Jan 20, 2021 · 27 days
William Barr R
Feb 14, 2019 – Dec 23, 2020 · 22 months · appointed by Phil Baker
Matthew Whitaker R (acting)
Nov 7, 2018 – Feb 14, 2019 · 3 months
Jeff Sessions R
Feb 9, 2017 – Nov 7, 2018 · 21 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Dana Boente (acting)
Jan 30, 2017 – Feb 9, 2017 · 10 days
Sally Yates D (acting)
Jan 20, 2017 – Jan 30, 2017 · 10 days · appointed by Barack Obama
Loretta Lynch D
Apr 27, 2015 – Jan 20, 2017 · 21 months · appointed by Barack Obama
Eric Holder D
Feb 3, 2009 – Apr 27, 2015 · 6.2 years · appointed by Barack Obama
Mark Filip R (acting)
Jan 20, 2009 – Feb 3, 2009 · 14 days
Michael Mukasey R
Nov 9, 2007 – Jan 20, 2009 · 14 months · appointed by George W. Bush
Peter Keisler R (acting)
Sep 18, 2007 – Nov 9, 2007 · 2 months
Paul Clement R (acting)
Sep 17, 2007 – Sep 18, 2007 · 1 day
Alberto Gonzales R
Feb 3, 2005 – Sep 17, 2007 · 2.6 years · appointed by George W. Bush
John Ashcroft R
Feb 2, 2001 – Feb 3, 2005 · 4 years · appointed by George W. Bush
Eric Holder D (acting)
Jan 20, 2001 – Feb 2, 2001 · 13 days
Janet Reno D
Mar 12, 1993 – Jan 20, 2001 · 7.9 years · appointed by Bill Clinton
Stuart M. Gerson R (acting)
Jan 20, 1993 – Mar 12, 1993 · 2 months
William Barr R
Aug 16, 1991 – Jan 20, 1993 · 17 months · appointed by George H. W. Bush
Dick Thornburgh R
Aug 15, 1988 – Aug 15, 1991 · 3 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
Edwin Meese R
Feb 25, 1985 – Jul 5, 1988 · 3.4 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
William French Smith R
Jan 23, 1981 – Feb 25, 1985 · 4.1 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
Benjamin Civiletti D
Aug 16, 1979 – Jan 19, 1981 · 17 months · appointed by Jimmy Carter
Griffin Bell D
Jan 26, 1977 – Aug 16, 1979 · 2.6 years · appointed by Jimmy Carter
Edward H. Levi R
Feb 2, 1975 – Jan 20, 1977 · 2 years · appointed by Gerald Ford
William B. Saxbe R
Jan 4, 1974 – Feb 2, 1975 · 13 months · appointed by Richard Nixon
Robert Bork R (acting)
Oct 20, 1973 – Jan 4, 1974 · 2 months
Elliot Richardson R
May 25, 1973 – Oct 20, 1973 · 5 months · appointed by Richard Nixon
Richard Kleindienst R
Jun 12, 1972 – Apr 30, 1973 · 11 months · appointed by Richard Nixon
John N. Mitchell R
Jan 21, 1969 – Mar 1, 1972 · 3.1 years · appointed by Richard Nixon
Ramsey Clark D
Mar 10, 1967 – Jan 20, 1969 · 22 months · appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson
Nicholas Katzenbach D
Jan 28, 1965 – Nov 28, 1966 · 22 months · appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson
Robert F. Kennedy D
Jan 20, 1961 – Sep 3, 1964 · 3.6 years · appointed by John F. Kennedy
William P. Rogers R
Oct 23, 1957 – Jan 20, 1961 · 3.2 years · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Herbert Brownell R
Jan 21, 1953 – Oct 23, 1957 · 4.8 years · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
James P. McGranery D
Apr 4, 1952 – Jan 20, 1953 · 10 months · appointed by Harry S. Truman
J. Howard McGrath D
Jul 27, 1949 – Apr 3, 1952 · 2.7 years · appointed by Harry S. Truman
Thomas Campbell Clark D
Jun 27, 1945 – Jul 26, 1949 · 4.1 years · appointed by Harry S. Truman
Francis Biddle D
Aug 26, 1941 – Jun 26, 1945 · 3.8 years · appointed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Robert H. Jackson D
Jan 18, 1940 – Aug 25, 1941 · 19 months · appointed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Frank Murphy D
Jan 2, 1939 – Jan 18, 1940 · 13 months · appointed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Homer Stille Cummings D
Mar 4, 1933 – Jan 2, 1939 · 5.8 years · appointed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
William D. Mitchell R
Mar 4, 1929 – Mar 4, 1933 · 4 years · appointed by Herbert Hoover
John G. Sargent R
Mar 7, 1925 – Mar 4, 1929 · 4 years · appointed by Calvin Coolidge
Harlan F. Stone R
Apr 7, 1924 – Mar 1, 1925 · 11 months · appointed by Calvin Coolidge
Harry Micajah Daugherty R
Mar 4, 1921 – Apr 6, 1924 · 3.1 years · appointed by Warren G. Harding
Alexander Mitchell Palmer D
Mar 5, 1919 – Mar 4, 1921 · 2 years · appointed by Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Watt Gregory D
Aug 29, 1914 – Mar 4, 1919 · 4.5 years · appointed by Woodrow Wilson
James Clark McReynolds D
Mar 15, 1913 – Aug 29, 1914 · 17 months · appointed by Woodrow Wilson
George Woodward Wickersham R
Mar 4, 1909 – Mar 4, 1913 · 4 years · appointed by William Howard Taft
Charles Joseph Bonaparte R
Dec 17, 1906 – Mar 4, 1909 · 2.2 years · appointed by Theodore Roosevelt
William Henry Moody R
Jul 1, 1904 – Dec 17, 1906 · 2.5 years · appointed by Theodore Roosevelt
Philander C. Knox R
Apr 5, 1901 – Jun 30, 1904 · 3.2 years · appointed by William McKinley
John W. Griggs R
Jan 25, 1898 – Mar 29, 1901 · 3.2 years · appointed by William McKinley
Joseph McKenna R
Mar 5, 1897 – Jan 25, 1898 · 11 months · appointed by William McKinley
Judson Harmon D
Jun 11, 1895 – Mar 4, 1897 · 21 months · appointed by Grover Cleveland
Richard Olney D
Mar 6, 1893 – Apr 7, 1895 · 2.1 years · appointed by Grover Cleveland
William H. H. Miller R
Mar 7, 1889 – Mar 4, 1893 · 4 years · appointed by Benjamin Harrison
Augustus Hill Garland D
Mar 6, 1885 – Mar 4, 1889 · 4 years · appointed by Grover Cleveland
Benjamin H. Brewster R
Dec 16, 1881 – Mar 4, 1885 · 3.2 years · appointed by Chester A. Arthur
Wayne MacVeagh D
Mar 5, 1881 – Dec 15, 1881 · 9 months · appointed by James A. Garfield
Charles Devens W
Mar 12, 1877 – Mar 4, 1881 · 4 years · appointed by Rutherford B. Hayes
Alphonso Taft R
May 22, 1876 – Mar 4, 1877 · 9 months · appointed by Ulysses S. Grant
Edwards Pierrepont R
Apr 26, 1875 – May 21, 1876 · 13 months · appointed by Ulysses S. Grant
George Henry Williams D
Dec 14, 1871 – Apr 25, 1875 · 3.4 years · appointed by Ulysses S. Grant
Amos T. Akerman W
Nov 23, 1870 – Dec 13, 1871 · 13 months · appointed by Ulysses S. Grant
Ebenezer R. Hoar R
Mar 5, 1869 – Nov 22, 1870 · 21 months · appointed by Ulysses S. Grant
William M. Evarts W
Jul 17, 1868 – Mar 4, 1869 · 8 months · appointed by Andrew Johnson
Henry Stanbery R
Jul 23, 1866 – Jul 16, 1868 · 2 years · appointed by Andrew Johnson
James Speed R
Dec 2, 1864 – Jul 22, 1866 · 20 months · appointed by Abraham Lincoln
Edward Bates DR
Mar 5, 1861 – Nov 24, 1864 · 3.7 years · appointed by Abraham Lincoln
Edwin M. Stanton D
Dec 20, 1860 – Mar 4, 1861 · 2 months · appointed by James Buchanan
Jeremiah S. Black D
Mar 6, 1857 – Dec 16, 1860 · 3.8 years · appointed by James Buchanan
Caleb Cushing W
Mar 7, 1853 – Mar 4, 1857 · 4 years · appointed by Franklin Pierce
John J. Crittenden W
Jul 22, 1850 – Mar 4, 1853 · 2.6 years · appointed by Millard Fillmore
Reverdy Johnson W
Mar 8, 1849 – Jul 21, 1850 · 16 months · appointed by Zachary Taylor
Isaac Toucey D
Jun 21, 1848 – Mar 3, 1849 · 8 months · appointed by James K. Polk
Nathan Clifford D
Oct 17, 1846 – Mar 17, 1848 · 17 months · appointed by James K. Polk
John Y. Mason D
Mar 5, 1845 – Oct 16, 1846 · 19 months · appointed by James K. Polk
John Nelson W
Jul 1, 1843 – Mar 4, 1845 · 20 months · appointed by John Tyler
Hugh S. Legaré D
Sep 13, 1841 – Jun 20, 1843 · 21 months · appointed by John Tyler
John J. Crittenden W
Mar 5, 1841 – Sep 12, 1841 · 6 months · appointed by William Henry Harrison
Henry D. Gilpin D
Jan 11, 1840 – Mar 4, 1841 · 14 months · appointed by Martin Van Buren
Felix Grundy DR
Jul 5, 1838 – Jan 10, 1840 · 18 months · appointed by Martin Van Buren
Benjamin Franklin Butler D
Nov 15, 1833 – Jul 4, 1838 · 4.6 years · appointed by Andrew Jackson
Roger B. Taney D
Jul 20, 1831 – Nov 14, 1833 · 2.3 years · appointed by Andrew Jackson
John M. Berrien W
Mar 9, 1829 – Jun 22, 1831 · 2.3 years · appointed by Andrew Jackson
William Wirt DR
Nov 13, 1817 – Mar 4, 1829 · 11 years · appointed by James Monroe
Richard Rush
Feb 10, 1814 – Nov 12, 1817 · 3.8 years · appointed by James Madison
William Pinkney DR
Dec 11, 1811 – Feb 9, 1814 · 2.2 years · appointed by James Madison
Caesar Augustus Rodney DR
Jan 20, 1807 – Dec 5, 1811 · 4.9 years · appointed by Thomas Jefferson
John Breckinridge DR
Aug 7, 1805 – Dec 14, 1806 · 16 months · appointed by Thomas Jefferson
Robert Smith DR (acting)
Mar 2, 1805 – Aug 7, 1805 · 5 months
Levi Lincoln Sr. DR
Mar 5, 1801 – Mar 2, 1805 · 4 years · appointed by Thomas Jefferson
Charles Lee F
Dec 10, 1795 – Feb 19, 1801 · 5.2 years · appointed by George Washington
William Bradford F
Jan 27, 1794 – Aug 23, 1795 · 19 months · appointed by George Washington
Edmund Randolph F
Sep 26, 1789 – Jan 26, 1794 · 4.3 years · appointed by George Washington

Dates are from Wikidata, which has gaps for some historical offices. Consecutive terms of one person are merged.