| Joseph Caldwell | 1804-1812 and 1817-1835 |
| Robert H. Chapman | 1812-1816 |
| David L. Swain | 1835-1868 |
| Solomon S. Pool | 1868-1870 |
| Kemp P. Battle | 1876-1891 |
| George T. Winston | 1891-1896 |
| Edwin A. Alderman | 1896-1900 |
| Francis P. Venable | 1900-1914 |
| Edward K. Graham | 1914-1918 |
| Harry W. Chase | 1919-1930 |
| Frank P. Graham | 1930-1949 |
| Gordon Gray | 1950-1955 |
| William C. Friday | 1956-1986 |
| C. D. Spangler, Jr | 1986-1997 |
| Molly Corbett Broad | 1997-2005 |
| Erskine B. Bowles | 2006-present |