SECRETARIES OF STATE, Terms of Service Name Term of Service Age when took office Thomas Chandler 1778-1778 38 Joseph Fay 1778-1781 26 Micah Townshend 1781-1788 32 Roswell Hopkins 1788-1802 31 David Wing, Jr. 1802-1806 36 Thomas Leverett 1806-1813 41 Josiah Dunham 1813-1815 48 William Slade, Jr. 1815-1823 29 Norman Williams 1823-1831 32 Timothy Merrill 1831-1836 50 Chauncey L. Knapp 1836-1841 27 Alvah Sabin 1841-1842 48 James McM. Shafter 1842-1849 26 Farrand F. Merrill 1849-1853 35 Daniel P. Thompson 1853-1855 57 Chas. W. Willard 1855-1857 28 Benjamin W. Dean 1857-1861 30 George W. Bailey, Jr. 1861-1865 28 George Nichols 1865-1884 38 Charles W. Porter 1884-1890 35 Chauncey W. Brownell 1890-1898 43 Fred A. Howland 1898-1902 34 Frederick G. Fleetwood 1902-1908 33 Guy W. Bailey 1908-1917 34 Frederick G. Fleetwood 1917-1919 48 Harry A. Black 1919-1923 40 Aaron H. Grout 1923-1927 44 Rawson C. Myrick 1927-1947 45 Helen E. Burbank 1947-1949 49 Howard E. Armstrong 1949-1965 46 Harry H. Cooley 1965-1969 72 Richard C. Thomas 1969-1977 32 James A. Guest 1977-1981 37 James H. Douglas 1981-1993 30 Donald M. Hooper 1993-present 48