Henry McMaster

Henry Dargan McMaster (born May 27, 1947) is an American politician. He is the 117th and current Governor of South Carolina since January 24, 2017. He became governor when Nikki Haley resigned to become the Ambassador to the United Nations.

Henry McMaster
117th Governor of South Carolina
Incumbent
Assumed office January 24, 2017
Lieutenant	Kevin L. Bryant Pamela Evette
Preceded by	Nikki Haley
91st Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
In office January 14, 2015 – January 24, 2017
Governor	Nikki Haley
Preceded by	Yancey McGill
Succeeded by	Kevin L. Bryant
Attorney General of South Carolina
In office January 15, 2003 – January 12, 2011
Governor	Mark Sanford
Preceded by	Charlie Condon
Succeeded by	Alan Wilson
Chair of the South Carolina Republican Party
In office May 1994 – May 2001
Preceded by	Barry Wynn
Succeeded by	Katon Dawson
Personal details
Born	Henry Dargan McMaster (1947-05-27) May 27, 1947 (age 78) Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence	Governor's Mansion
Education	University of South Carolina, Columbia (BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1969–1975
Unit	United States Army Reserve
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

McMaster was born into a wealthy South Carolina family who owned many slaves before the American Civil War.^[1] His father John was also a politician.^[2]

He last served as the 91st Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 2015 to 2017, as well as Attorney General of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011. From 1981 to 1985, McMaster served as United States Attorney, where he was known for Operation Jackpot. McMaster served on the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and chaired the South Carolina Republican Party from 1993 to 2002.