[3] Beginning with the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629, the role of the governor has changed throughout its history in terms of powers and selection.

The governor served as the executive of the colony, originally elected annually, they were joined by a Council of Assistants.

This council was a group of magistrates who performed judicial functions, acted as an upper house of the General Court, and provided advice and consent to the governor.

The early governors of Massachusetts Bay were staunchly Puritan colonists who wished to form a state that coincided with religious law.

Instead there existed a royally appointed governor who resided in Boston and served at the King's pleasure.

The reason for the creation of such a post was there existed tremendous hostility between the Kingdom of England and the colonists of Massachusetts Bay.

In order to ease tensions with royal authorities and the colonists the General Court was reestablished and given significant powers.

The governor could veto any decision made by the assembly and had control over the militia, however the General Court had authority of the treasury and provincial finances.

[12] From 1765 on the unraveling of the Province into a full political crisis only increased the tensions between the governor and the people of Massachusetts Bay.

Following the passage of the Stamp Act Governor Thomas Hutchinson had his home broken into and ransacked.

The early stages of the American Revolution saw political turmoil in Massachusetts Bay.

With the passage of the Intolerable Acts the then Royal Governor Thomas Gage dissolved the General Court and began to govern the province by decree.

The executive role during this time was filled by the Governor's Council, the Committee of Safety, and the president of the Congress when in session.

The title "His Excellency" is a holdover from the royally appointed governors of the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

However, the framers of the state constitution revived it because they found it fitting to dignify the governor with this title.

Acting Governor Gill never received a lieutenant and died on May 20, 1800, between that year's election and the inauguration of Governor-elect Caleb Strong.

Article LV of the Constitution, enacted in 1918, created a new line of succession: The governor has a 10-person cabinet, each of whom oversees a portion of the government under direct administration (as opposed to independent executive agencies).

The governor then crosses the street into Boston Common, thereby symbolically rejoining the commonwealth as a private citizen.

[18] A 19-gun salute is offered during the walk, and frequently the steps are lined by the outgoing governor's friends and supporters.

[21] After Volpe resigned to become United States Secretary of Transportation in the Nixon administration, the plan was aborted by his successor in consideration of budgetary constraints and because the location was considered too far from the seat of power, the State House in Boston.

Prior to their respective demolitions in 1922 and 1863, the Province House and the Hancock Manor[21] were also proposed as official residences.