John Archdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Archdale
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|---|---|
| 12th Governor of South Carolina | |
| In office August 1695 – 29 October 1696 |
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| Monarch | William III |
| Preceded by | Joseph Blake |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Blake |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1642 England |
| Died | 1717 (aged 74–75) England |
| Occupation | Colonial administrator |
| Signature |  |
John Archdale (born March 5, 1642 – died July 4, 1717) was an important British leader in early America. He served as the governor of both North Carolina and South Carolina in the years 1695 and 1696. The powerful group known as the Lords Proprietors of Carolina chose him for this important role.
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John Archdale's Early Life and Travels
John Archdale first traveled from England to North America in 1664. He was working as an agent for his brother-in-law, Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Later, in 1683, John Archdale went to North Carolina. His job there was to collect "quitrents," which were payments made by settlers for their land.
Becoming Governor of Carolina
In August 1694, the Lords Proprietors decided to make John Archdale the governor of Carolina. He then chose Thomas Harvey to be the deputy governor for North Carolina. Archdale himself headed to Charles Towne, which is now Charleston, South Carolina.
John Archdale took over as governor from Joseph Blake in August 1695. He worked hard to improve the colony. When he sailed back to England in October 1696, he named Joseph Blake as his deputy governor once again. Governor Archdale never returned to Carolina after that. He passed away in England in 1717.
What John Archdale Achieved
John Archdale was known for being smart, careful, and fair. Under his leadership, the Carolina colony made great progress. He helped improve many things within the area.
One of his most famous achievements was bringing rice farming to Carolina. He shared a bag of rice seeds, which a ship captain brought from Madagascar, with some of his friends. This started the important rice industry in the colony.
Places Named After John Archdale
The city of Archdale, North Carolina, is named after him. This city began as a settlement for Quakers, and John Archdale was also a Quaker. There was also a place called Archdale Precinct in colonial Bath County, North Carolina, from 1705 to 1712.
Archdale and Parliament
In 1698, Archdale was chosen to be a member of the Parliament for the area of Wycombe. However, he never took his seat. This was because he refused to take a special oath that was required at the time.
