A Guide to Florida Governors and the Florida Cabinet

Comptroller

Cabinet member: 1845 - 2003

The Comptroller was the state’s chief fiscal officer. The office, which was created in the 1838 Constitution and implemented with statehood in 1845, assumed the duties of the Territorial Auditor of Public Accounts.  The Comptroller's Office examined, audited, and settled all accounts, claims, and demands against the state.  It supervised banking institutions, sale of securities, and collection of revenue and taxes.  The Comptroller wrote warrants for payment against the state treasury and compiled annual reports for the Governor and Legislature on state expenditures and trust funds. The duties of the Comptroller's Office were transferred to the Dept. of Banking and Finance in 1969 with the Comptroller serving as the head of the Department.   The office was elected by the Florida Legislature until 1865, when it became a popularly elected office. On January 7, 2003, the office of Comptroller was combined with the office of Treasurer to form a Chief Financial Officer.


 Nathanial P. Bemis (July 23, 1845 - August 26, 1845) and (January 2, 1847 - July 24, 1847)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

 Hugh Archer (August 26, 1845- January 2, 1847) and (July 24, 1847 - December 28, 1847)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

 Simon Towle (December 28, 1847 - January 25, 1851)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

 John Beard
(January 25, 1851 - April 3, 1854)
(January 17, 1866 - August 29, 1868)

[1796 - 1876]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

 Theodore W. Brevard
(April 3, 1854 - November 27, 1854)
(January 24, 1855 - December 14, 1860)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

 James Tillinghast Archer (November 27, 1854 - January 24, 1855)

[1819-1859]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:

 Robert C. Williams (December 14, 1860 - May 26, 1863)

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

 Walter Gwynn (May 26, 1863 - January 17, 1866)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

 Robert H. Gamble (August 29, 1868 - January 15, 1873)

[1813-1906]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

 Clayton Cowgill (January 15, 1873 - January 12, 1877)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Report of Comptroller and the report of Treasurer of the State of Florida, 1874, 1877 (microfilm). State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 Columbus Drew (January 12, 1877 - January 13, 1881)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 William D. Barnes (January 13, 1881 - May 1, 1890)

[1830-

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 William D. Bloxham (May 1, 1890 - January 3, 1897)

[1835-1911]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Carson, Ruby. “William Dunnington Bloxham: Florida’s Two-Term Governor." MA Thesis, University of Florida, 1945.
  • Johnson, Kenneth. “The Administration of William Dunning Bloxham, 1881-1885” MA Thesis, Florida State University, 1959.
Related Links:

 William H. Reynolds (January 3, 1897 - July 29, 1901)

[1825-]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 A. C. Croom (July 29, 1901 - February 17, 1912)

[? -1912]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 William V. Knott (February 17, 1912 - January 2, 1917)

[1863-1965]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 Ernest Amos (January 2, 1917 - January 3, 1933)

[1867-1943]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 J. M. (James Martin) Lee (January 3, 1933 - October 9, 1946)

[1881-1946]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 Clarence M. Gay (October 9, 1946 - April 11, 1955)

[1903-1972]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 Ray E. Green (April 11, 1955 - September 1, 1965)

[1899-1992]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 Fred Otis Dickinson (September 1, 1965 - January 7, 1975)

[1922-1998]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 Gerald Lewis (January 7, 1975 - January 3, 1995)

[1934- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Money Matters newsletters, 1981-1983. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
  • Annual Report of the Comptroller, 1874, 1877-1878, 1881, 1883, 1885-1901, 1908-1994. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 Robert Milligan (January 3, 1995 - January 7, 2003)

[1932 - ]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Comptroller's Florida Newsletters, 1996-1998. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

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