Gustaf Ignatius, governor of Kuopio province The Governor (Finnish : Maaherra , or Swedish : Landshövding ) of a province of Finland headed the activities of the State Provincial Office (Finnish: Lääninhallitus , or Swedish: Länsstyrelse ) until the end of 2009, when the provinces were abolished.[ 1] 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.
List of Provincial Governors [ edit ] 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 1985–1997Arvid 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 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) 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 1705–1712Henrik 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 Johan Henrik Friesenheim 1721–1737
Joachim von Dittmer 1738–1741
Carl Johan Stiernstedt 1741–1746 Henrik Jacob Wrede af Elimä 1747–1753
Anders Johan Nordenskjöld 1753–1756
Otto Wilhelm De Geer 1757–1765
Anders Henrik Ramsay 1765–1774 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 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 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 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 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 1906-1907
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 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 1994–1997Abraham 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 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 1993–1997Arvo Manner 1945–1955
Artturi Ranta 1955–1964
Esko Peltonen 1965–1975
Erkki Huurtamo 1975–1984
Matti Jaatinen 1984–1993
Mauri Miettinen 1993–1997 Heikki Koski 1997–2003
Rauno Saari 2003–2009 Governors of Västernorrland County, Västerbotten County, Saint Petersburg Governorate and Vyborg Governorate[ edit ] 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.
Stellan Otto von Mörner 1634–1638 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 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