Before the establishment of the Republic, the position had been occupied by appointed Spanish military commanders that also serve the role of Governor since the transfer of the capital to
Bacolod in 1849. Previously, the local chief executive post was vested on the "
Corregidor," or the commander of the military outpost, in the two previous capitals of
Ilog, Negros Occidental and
Himamaylan. When the island was divided into two provinces, the Military Governor designated
Dumaguete as the provincial capital. After the
Negros Revolution, all provincial authority divested on the
Office of the President and
Vice President, representing Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. Americans occupied the fledgling republic and requested the provisional government to conduct an island-wide election for the gubernatorial post. Melecio Severino of Silay emerged as the first elected governor for the whole island. But upon the dissolution of the republic,
Demetrio Larena, the former Vice-President of the
Republic of Negros was appointed Governor. ==Duties and related offices==