Gowron, son of M'Rel, was a Klingon born on Qo'noS. After the death of Chancellor K'mpec in 2367, Gowron and Duras became the two leading candidates for leadership of the council. Once Duras was killed, Gowron became Chancellor.

This was challenged by Duras' sisters, Lursa and B'Etor, and the empire went into civil war. Once it was discovered that the Duras sisters had accepted Romulan aid, the war ended and Gowron remained Chancellor.

He ruled during the Klingon-Cardassian War, and Dominion War. In 2375, feeling threatened by Martok's growing political influence, Gowron began to undermine Martok's military strategies which would have cost them the war, forcing Worf to challenge him to one-on-one combat and killing him.