Provincial Governors of Finland

Updated on Dec 10, 2024

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The Governor, Maaherra, or Landshövding, of a province of Finland headed the activities of the State Provincial Office, Lääninhallitus, or Länsstyrelse until the end of 2009, when the provinces were abolished. The governors were appointed by the President. Many former ministers including but not limited to Kaarlo Hillilä, Martti Miettunen, Hannele Pokka and Anneli Taina served as governors, since the post was regarded as prestigious enough for a retiring minister, but still politically neutral. The title of maaherra was also considered a personal title, such that once appointed, the title maaherra remained for life.

During the Swedish period (1634–1809) and the Russian period (1809–1917) the governor was a royal plenipotentiary, representing the sovereign, but with independence, the function was reversed: the governor represented his territory to the central government.

Province of Turku and Pori 1634–1997

Bror Rålamb 1634–1637

Melkior von Falkenberg 1637–1641

Melkior von Falkenberg 1641–1642 (Province of Åbo)

Knut Lillienhöök 1642–1646 (Province of Åbo)

No governor 1641–1646 (Province of Björneborg)

Knut Lillienhöök 1647–1648

Lorentz Creutz (elder) 1649–1655

Erik von der Linde 1655–1666

Ernst Johan Creutz (elder) 1666

Harald Oxe 1666–1682

Lorenz Creutz (younger) 1682–1698

Jakob Bure 1698–1706

Justus von Palmberg 1706–1714

Johan Stiernstedt 1711–1713 (acting) and 1714–1722

Otto Reinhold Yxkull 1722–1746

Lars Johan Ehrenmalm 1744–1747 (acting) and 1747–1749

Johan Georg Lillienberg 1749–1757

Jeremias Wallén 1757–1768

Kristoffer Johan Rappe 1769–1776

Fredrik Ulrik von Rosen 1776–1781

Nils Fredenskiöld 1780 (acting)

Magnus Wilhelm Armfelt 1782–1790

Joakim von Glan 1790–1791 (acting)

Ernst Gustaf von Willebrand 1790–1806

Olof Wibelius 1801–1802 (acting)

Knut von Troil 1806–1816

Otto Herman Lode 1811–1813 (acting)

Carl Erik Mannerheim 1816–1826

Lars Gabriel von Haartman 1820–1822 (acting)

Eric Wallenius 1822–1826 (acting) and 1826–1828

Adolf Broberg 1828–1831

Lars Gabriel von Haartman 1831–1842

Gabriel Anton Cronstedt 1840–1842 (acting) and 1842–1856

Samuel Werner von Troil 1856 (acting)

Carl Fabian Langenskiöld 1856–1858

Selim Mohamed Ekbom 1857–1858 (acting)

Johan Axel Cedercreutz 1858–1863 (acting) and 1863

Carl Magnus Creutz 1864–1866 (acting) and 1866–1889

Axel Gustaf Samuel von Troil 1889–1891

Wilhelm Theodor von Kraemer 1891–1903

Theodor Hjalmar Lang 1903–1905

Knut Gustaf Nikolai Borgenström 1905–1911

Eliel Ilmari Wuorinen 1911–1917

Albert Alexander von Hellens 1917 (acting)

Kaarlo Collan 1917–1922

Ilmari Helenius 1922–1932

Wilho Kyttä 1932–1949

Erkki Härmä 1949–1957

Esko Kulovaara 1957–1971

Sylvi Siltanen 1972–1977

Paavo Aitio 1977–1985

Pirkko Työläjärvi 1985–1997

Province of Nyland and Tavastehus 1634–1831

Arvid Göransson Horn af Kanckas 1634–1640

Arvid Göransson Horn af Kanckas 1640–1648 (Province of Tavastehus)

Reinhold Mettstake 1640–1642 (Province of Nyland)

Jacob Uggla 1642–1648 (Province of Nyland)

Erik Andersson Oxe 1648–1652

Ernst Johan Greutz 1652–1666

Udde Knutsson Ödell 1666–1668

Axel Eriksson Stålarm 1668–1678

Axel Rosenhane 1678–1685

Jonas Klingstedt 1685–1687

Karl Bonde 1687–1695

Mårten Lindhielm 1695–1696

Abraham Cronhjort 1696–1703

Johan Creutz 1703–1719

Per Stierncrantz 1719–1737

Axel Erik Gyllenstierna af Lundholm 1737–1746

Gustaf Samuel Gylleborg 1746–1756

Anders Johan Nordenskjöld 1756–1761

Hans Erik Boije af Gennäs 1761–1772

Carl Ribbing af Koberg 1773

Anders Henrik Ramsay 1774–1776

Anders de Bruce 1777–1786

Carl Gustaf Armfelt 1787–1788

Johan Henrik Munck 1790–1809

Gustaf Fredrik Stiernwall 1810–1815

Gustaf Hjärne 1816–1828

Carl Klick 1828–1831

Province of Ostrobothnia 1634–1775

Melcher Wernstedt 1635–1642

Hans Kyle 1642–1648 (Province of Vasa)

Erik Soop 1644–1648 (Province of Uleåborg)

Hans Kyle 1648–1650

Ture Svensson Ribbing 1650–1654

Johan Graan 1654–1668

Jacob Duwall 1668–1669

Johan Graan 1669–1674

Didrik Wrangel af Adinal 1674–1685

Gustaf Grass 1685–1694

Johan Nilsson Ehrenskiöldh 1694–1706

Johan Stiernstedt 1706 (acting)

Lorentz Clerk 1706–1720

Reinhold Wilhelm von Essen 1720–1732

Carl Henrik Wrangel af Adinal 1732

Broor Rålamb 1733–1734

Carl Frölich 1734–1739

Gustaf Creutz 1739–1746

Gustaf Abraham Piper 1746–1761

Gustaf von Grooth 1761–1762

Carl Sparre 1763

Fredrik Henrik Sparre 1763

Lorentz Johan Göös 1763–1774

Fredrik Magnus von Numers 1774 (acting)

Province of Viborg and Nyslott 1634–1721

Åke Eriksson Oxenstierna 1634–1637

Erik Gyllenstierna 1637–1641

Karl Mörner 1641–1644 (Province of Viborg)

Johan Rosenhane 1644–1650 (Province of Viborg)

Herman Fleming 1641–1645 (Province of Nyslott)

Mikael von Jordan 1645–1650 (Province of Nyslott)

Johan Rosenhane 1650–1655

Axel Axelsson Stålarm 1655–1656

Anders Koskull 1656–1657

Erik Kruse 1657–1658

Jakob Törnsköld 1658–1667

Conrad Gyllenstierna 1667–1674

Fabian Wrede 1675–1681

Carl Falkenberg 1681–1686

Anders Lindhielm 1689–1704

Georg Lybecker 1705–1712

Province of Kexholm 1634–1721

Henrik Månsson 1634–1636

Magnus Nieroth 1636–1641

Henrik Piper 1641–1642 (acting)

Reinhold Mettstake 1642–1652

Jakob Törnsköld 1652–1656

Karl von Scheiding 1657–1660

Patrick Ogilwie 1660–1674

Berendt Mellin 1674–1690

Province of Kymmenegård and Nyslott 1721–1747

Johan Henrik Friesenheim 1721–1737

Joachim von Dittmer 1738–1741

Carl Johan Stiernstedt 1741–1746

Province of Savolax and Kymmenegård 1747–1775

Henrik Jacob Wrede af Elimä 1747–1753

Anders Johan Nordenskjöld 1753–1756

Otto Wilhelm De Geer 1757–1765

Anders Henrik Ramsay 1765–1774

Province of Vaasa 1775–1997

Bror Cederström 1775–1785

Adolf Tandefeldt 1785–1794

Carl Fridrik Krabbe 1794–1805

Magnus Wanberg 1805–1808

Nils Fredric von Schoultz 1808

Carl Constantin de Carnall 1808–1822

Herman Henrik Wärnhjelm 1822–1830

Gustaf Magnus Armfelt 1830–1832

Carl Gustaf von Mannerheim 1832–1833 (acting) and 1833–1834

Carl Olof Cronstedt 1834–1837 (acting) and 1837–1845

John Ferdinand Bergenheim 1845–1847

Berndt Federley 1847–1854

Alexander von Rechenberg 1854–1858

Otto Leonard von Blom 1858–1861

Carl Gustaf Fabian Wrede 1862–1863 (acting) and 1863–1884

Viktor Napoleon Procopé 1884–1888

August Alexander Järnefelt 1888–1894

Fredrik Waldemar Schauman 1894–1898

Gustaf Axel von Kothen 1898–1900

Fredrik Geronimo Björnberg 1900–1903

Theodor Knipovitsch 1903–1906

Kasten Fredrik Ferdinand de Pont 1906–1910

Bernhard Otto Widnäs 1910–1913

Nikolai Sillman 1913–1916

Leo Aristides Sirelius 1916–1917

Juho Torppa 1917 (acting)

Teodor August Heikel 1917–1920

Bruno Sarlin 1920–1930

Erik Heinrichs 1930

Kaarlo Martonen 1930–1938

Jalo Lahdensuo 1938–1943

Toivo Tarjanne 1943–1944

K. G. R. Ahlbäck 1944–1967

Martti Viitanen 1967–1977

Antti Pohjonen 1977–1978

Mauno Kangasniemi 1978–1991

Tom Westergård 1991–1997

Province of Oulu 1775–2009

Carl Magnus Jägerhorn 1775–1782

Adolf Tandefelt 1782–1785

Johan Fredrik Carpelan 1785–1800

Samuel af Forselles 1800–1802

Adolf Edelsvärd 1802–1804

Jakob Daniel Lange 1805–1808

Carl Henrik Ehrenstolpe 1809–1820

Samuel Fredrik von Born 1820–1826

Johan Abraham Stjernschantz 1826–1834

Robert Wilhelm Lagerborg 1834–1849

Alexander Lavonius 1849–1862

George von Alfthan 1862–1873

Otto Nyberg 1873–1879

Carl Johan Jägerhorn 1878–1883

Carl Adolf Tamelander 1883–1884

Johan Gabriel Masalin 1884–1886

Johan Axel Gripenberg 1886–1889

Anders Johan Malmgrén 1889–1897

Gustaf Esaias Fellman 1897–1901

Edvard Furuhjelm 1901–1903

Otto Savander 1903–1905

Guido Gadolin 1905–1911

Hjalmar Langinkoski 1911–1915

Axel Fabian af Enehjelm 1915–1917

Matts von Nandelstadh 1917–1925

Eero Pehkonen 1925–1948

Kaarle Määttä 1949–1967

Niilo Ryhtä 1967–1973

Erkki Haukipuro 1973–1986

Ahti Pekkala 1986–1991

Eino Siuruainen 1991–2009

Province of Kymmenegård 1775–1831

Gustaf Riddercreutz 1774–1783

Robert Wilhelm de Geer af Tervik 1783–1789

Otto Wilhelm Ramsay 1789–1792

Herman af Låstbom 1793

Otto Wilhelm Ramsay 1793

Johan Herman Lode 1793–1810

Fredrik Adolf Jägerhorn af Spurila 1810–1812

Anders Gustaf Langenskiöld 1812–1827

Adolf Broberg 1827–1828

Erik Wallenius 1828

Abraham Joakim Molander 1828–1831

Province of Savolax and Karelia 1775–1831

Otto Ernst Boije 1775–1781

Georg Henrik von Wrigh 1781–1786

Simon Vilhelm Carpelan 1786–1791

Anders Johan Ramsay 1791–1803

Eric Johan von Fieandt 1803

Olof Wibelius 1803–1809

Simon Vilhelm Carpelan 1809–1810

Gustaf Aminoff 1810–1827

Carl Klick 1828–1829

Lars Sacklen 1829–1831

Province of Viipuri 1812–1945

Carl Johan Stjernvall 1812–1815

Carl Johan Walleen 1816–1820

Otto Wilhelm Klinckowström 1820–1821 (acting) and 1821–1825

Carl August Ramsay 1825–1827 (acting) and 1827–1834

Carl Gustaf von Mannerheim 1834–1839

Fredric Stewen 1839–1844

Casimir von Kothen 1844–1846 (acting) and 1846–1853

Alexander Thesleff 1853–1856

Bernhard Indrenius 1856–1866

Christian Theodor Åker-Blom 1866–1882

Woldemar von Daehn 1882–1885

Sten Carl Tudeer 1885–1888 (acting) and 1888–1889

Johan Axel Gripenberg 1889–1899

Nikolai von Rechenberg 1900–1902

Nikolai Mjasojedov 1902–1905

Konstantin Kazansky 1905 (acting) and 1905

Mikael von Medem 1905–1906 (acting)

Nikolai von Rechenberg 190-1907

Birger Gustaf Samuel von Troil 1907–1910

Frans Carl Fredrik Josef von Pfaler 1910–1917

Antti Hackzell 1918–1920

Lauri Kristian Relander 1920–1925

Arvo Manner 1925–1945

Province of Uusimaa 1831–1997

Johan Ulrik Sebastian Gripenberg 1831

Gustaf Magnus Armfelt 1832–1847

Johan Mauritz Nordenstam 1847–1858

Samuel Henrik Antell 1858–1862

Vladimir Alfons Walleen 1862–1869

Theodor Thilén 1869–1873

Georg von Alfthan 1873–1888

Victor Napoleon Procopé 1888

Hjalmar Georg Palin 1888–1897

Kasten de Pont 1897–1900

Mikhail Nikiforovitsh Kaigorodoff 1901–1905

Anatol Anatolievitsch Rheinbott 1905

Alexander Lvovsky 1905–1906

Max Theodor Alfthan 1906–1910

Eugraf Nyman 1910–1917

Bernhard Otto Widnäs 1913–1917

Bruno Jalander 1917–1932

Ilmari Helenius 1932–1944

Armas-Eino Martola 1944–1946

Väinö Meltti 1946–1964

Reino Lehto 1964–1966

Kaarlo Pitsinki 1966–1982

Jacob Söderman 1982–1989

Eva-Riitta Siitonen 1990–1996

Pekka Silventoinen 1996–1997

Province of Häme 1831–1997

Carl Klick 1831

Jakob Snellman 1831 (acting)

Johan Fredrik Stichaeus 1831–1841

Carl Otto Rehbinder 1841–1863

Samuel Werner von Troil 1863–1865

Clas Herman Molander 1865–1869

Hjalmar (Sebastian) Nordenstreng 1870–1875

Edvard (Reinhold) von Ammondt 1875–1887

Torsten Costiander 1887–1895

Edvard Boehm 1895–1899

Gustaf Axel von Kothen 1900–1901

Isidor Svertschkoff 1901–1904

Alexander Pappkoff 1904–1906

Ivar (Sune) Gordie 1906–1910

Arthur Brofeldt 1910–1911 (acting)

Rafael Knut Harald Spåre 1911–1917

Kustaa Adolf Saarinen 1917–1918 (acting)

Antti Tulenheimo 1918–1919

Albert von Hellens 1919–1930

Sigurd Mattsson 1930–1959

Jorma Tuominen 1959–1972

Valdemar Sandelin 1973–1979

Risto Tainio 1979–1994

Kaarina Suonio 1994–1997

Province of Mikkeli 1831–1997

Abraham Joakim Molander-Nordenheim 1831–1837

Gabriel Anton Cronstedt 1837–1840

Otto Abraham Boije 1840–1847

Alexander Thesleff 1847–1853

Carl Fabian Langenskiöld 1853–1854

Carl Emil Cedercreutz 1854–1856

Bernhard Indrenius 1856

Samuel Werner von Troil 1856–1863

Theodor Sebastian Gustaf Thilén 1863–1869

Carl Gustav Mortimer von Kraemer 1869–1873

Edvard Reinhold von Ammondt 1874–1875

Hjalmar Sebastian Nordenstreng 1876–1883

August Alexander Järnefelt 1883–1884

Gustav Axel Samuel von Troil 1884–1889

Johannes Gripenberg 1889–1891

Knut Robert Carl Walfrid Spåre 1891–1899

Lennart Fritiof Munck 1900–1903

Aleksander Watatzi 1903–1905

Anton Leonard von Knorring 1905–1910

Eliel Ilmari Vuorinen 1910–1911

Leo Aristides Sirelius 1911–1916

Nikolai Sillman 1916–1917

Aleksanteri August Aho 1917

Ernst Edvard Rosenqvist 1918–1927

Albin Pulkkinen 1927–1933

Emil Jatkola 1933–1948

Alpo Lumme 1949–1957

Urho Kiukas 1957–1970

Viljo Virtanen 1970–1979

Uuno Voutilainen 1979–1989

Juhani Kortesalmi 1989–1997

Province of Kuopio 1831–1997

Lars Sackleen 1831–1833

Gustaf Adolf Ramsay 1833–1854

Berndt Federley 1854–1855

Sten Knut Johan Furuhjelm 1855–1862

Samuel Henrik Antell 1862–1866

Johan August von Essen 1866–1873

Carl Gustaf Mortimer von Kraemer 1873–1884

August Alexander Järnefelt 1884–1888

Johan Fredrik Gustaf Aminoff 1888–1899

Henrik Åkerman 1899–1900

Edvard Gabriel Krogius 1900–1903

Martin Alexius Bergh (Martti Vuori) 1903–1905

Emil Wilhelm Stenius 1905–1911

Werner Nikolaus Tavaststjerna 1911–1913

Arthur Spåre 1913–1917

Albert von Hellens 1917–1918

Gustaf Ignatius 1918–1940

Pekka Heikkinen 1940–1950

Lauri Riikonen 1950–1960

Erkki O. Mantere 1960–1966

Risto Hölttä 1966–1978

Kauko Hjerppe 1978–1993

Olavi Martikainen 1993–1997

Province of Åland 1918–2009

Hjalmar von Bonsdorff 1918

William Isaksson 1918–1922

Lars Wilhelm Fagerlund 1922–1937

Torsten Rothberg 1938

Ruben Österberg 1939–1945

Herman Koroleff 1945–1953

Tor Brenning 1954–1972

Martin Isaksson 1972–1982

Henrik Gustavsson 1982–1999

Peter Lindbäck 1999–2009

Province of Petsamo 1921–1921

Ilmari Helenius 1921

Province of Lapland 1938–2009

Kaarlo Hillilä 1938–1947

Uuno Hannula 1947–1958

Martti Miettunen 1958–1973

Asko Oinas 1974–1994

Hannele Pokka 1994–2008

Timo E. Korva 2008–2009

Province of Kymi 1945–1997

Arvo Manner 1945–1955

Artturi Ranta 1955–1964

Esko Peltonen 1965–1975

Erkki Huurtamo 1975–1984

Matti Jaatinen 1984–1993

Mauri Miettinen 1993–1997

Province of Central Finland 1960–1997

Eino Palovesi 1960–1972

Artturi Jämsén 1972–1976

Kauko Sipponen 1976–1985

Kalevi Kivistö 1985–1997

Province of Northern Karelia 1960–1997

Lauri Riikonen 1960–1967

Esa Timonen 1967–1992

Hannu Tenhiälä 1992–1997

Province of Southern Finland 1997–2009

Tuula Linnainmaa 1997–2003

Anneli Taina 2003–2009

Province of Western Finland 1997–2009

Heikki Koski 1997–2003

Rauno Saari 2003–2009

Province of Eastern Finland 1997–2009

Pirjo Ala-Kapee 1997–2009

Governors of Västernorrland County, Västerbotten County, Saint Petersburg Governorate and Vyborg Governorate

Governors of Västernorrland County and Västerbotten County ruled in 1634–1809 also northern part of Finnish Lapland and eastern part of Torne Valley. Governors of Saint Petersburg Governorate and Vyborg Governorate ruled Old Finland (predecessor of Province of Viipuri) in 1721–1812.

Västernorrland County 1634–1638

Stellan Otto von Mörner 1634–1638

Västerbotten County 1638–1809

Stellan Otto von Mörner 1638–1641

Frans Crusebjörn 1641–1653

Johan Graan 1653–1679

Jakob Fleming 1679

Hans Clerck 1680–1683

Hans Abraham Kruuse af Verchou 1683–1688

Reinhold Johan von Fersen 1688

Gotthard Strijk 1688–1692

Arvid Horn 1692

Gustaf Douglas 1692–1705

Otto Wilhelm Löwen 1705–1712

Anders Erik Ramsay 1713–1717

Fredrik Magnus Cronberg 1717–1719

Otto Reinhold Strömfelt 1719

Carl Paulin Lagerflycht 1719

Jacob Grundel 1719–1733

Gabriel Gabrielsson Gyllengrip 1733–1753

Olof Leijonstedt 1755–1759

Johan Funck 1759–1762

Martin Ehrensvan 1762–1765

Olof Malmerfelt 1765–1769

Carl Efraim Carpelan 1769

Magnus Adolf von Kothen 1769–1775

Georg Gustaf Wrangel 1775–1781

Carl Wilhelm Leijonstedt 1781–1782

Fredrik von Stenhagen 1782–1789

Johan Gustaf af Donner 1789–1795

Pehr Adam Stromberg 1795–1809

Saint Petersburg Governorate 1721–1744

Fjodor Apraksin 1721–1723

Pjotr Apraksin, 1724–1725

Aleksandr Menshikov 1725–1727

Jan Kazimierz Sapieha 1727–1728

Burkhard Christoph von Münnich 1728–1734

Vasili Saltykov 1734–1740

Jakov Shahovskoi 1740

Nikolai Golovin 1742

Peter von Lacy 1743

Vasili Repnin 1744

Stepan Ignatiev 1744

Vyborg Governorate 1744–1812

Yury Nikitich Repnin 1744

Afanasey Isakov 1745–1752 (acting)

Johann Christoph von Keyser 1752–1754

Afanasey Isakov 1754–1766

Nikolaus Hendrik von Engelhardt 1766–1778

Yevgeny Petrovich Kashkin 1779–1780

Pyotr Alekseyevich Stupishin 1780–1782

Wilhelm Heinrich von Engelhardt 1782–1785

Alexander Magnus von Peutling 1785–1785

Karl Johann von Günzel 1785–1793

Fyodor Pavlovich Shcherbatov 1793–1797

Karl Magnus von Rüdinger 1797–1799

Pyotr Vasilyevich Zheltuhin 1799–1799

Magnus Orraeus 1799–1804

Nikolay Fyodorovich Emin 1804–1808

Ivan Jakovlevich Bukharin 1808–1811

Johan Winter 1811–1812

References

Provincial Governors of Finland Wikipedia

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