List of colonial governors of Georgia facts for kids

This article is about the leaders, called governors, who were in charge of the Province of Georgia from 1732 until 1782. This also includes the time when British supporters, known as Loyalists, briefly took control again during the American Revolutionary War.

What Was the Province of Georgia?

The Province of Georgia was one of the original thirteen American colonies that later became the United States. It was founded in 1732 by James Oglethorpe. Georgia was the last of the British colonies to be established in North America. It was set up as a place for poor people from Britain to start new lives. It also served as a protective barrier for the other colonies against attacks from the Spanish in Florida.

Who Were the Governors?

A governor was the main leader of a colony. They were like the president or prime minister of a small country. Their job was to make sure the colony followed the rules set by the king or queen in Britain. They also managed daily life, laws, and defense in the colony. Georgia had different types of governors over the years.

Early Leaders: The Trustees

When Georgia was first founded, it was managed by a group called the Trustees. These were people who looked after the colony for the King. They set many rules for the colonists.

• General James Oglethorpe was the first leader, though he wasn't officially called a governor. He was a Resident Trustee from 1732 to 1743. He helped found the colony and was very important in its early days.

After Oglethorpe, the Trustees appointed presidents to lead the colony.

• William Stephens was the first official President, serving from 1743 to 1751.
• Henry Parker took over as President from 1751 to 1752.
• Patrick Graham was the last President under the Trustees, from 1752 to 1754.

Royal Governors Take Charge

In 1754, Georgia became a "royal colony." This meant the King of Britain directly appointed the governors. These royal governors had more power than the earlier Trustee leaders.

• Admiral John Reynolds was Georgia's first royal governor. He served from 1754 to 1756, though he was officially removed in 1758.
• Henry Ellis became governor in 1758 and served until 1760. He was known for being a good leader and helping the colony grow.
• James Wright was a very important royal governor. He started in 1760 and was governor for a long time, until 1776. He was popular at first, but things changed when the American Revolution began.

Governors During the American Revolution

The American Revolution was a war where the American colonies fought for their independence from Britain. During this time, leadership in Georgia changed a lot. From 1776 to 1778, the colony was mostly controlled by American revolutionaries.

However, the British tried to regain control.

• General Sir Archibald Campbell was a military leader who served as governor from 1778 to 1779. He led the British efforts to take back Georgia.
• Jacques Prevost was a provisional (temporary) governor for a short time in 1779.
• Lieutenant Colonel James Wright returned as governor in September 1779. He was the same James Wright who had been governor before the war. He tried to restore British rule, but the war was ending. He remained governor until July 1782, when the British finally left Georgia.

After 1782, Georgia became an independent state in the new United States of America.

Images for kids

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  General James Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia.

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  Admiral John Reynolds, Georgia's first royal governor.

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  Governor James Wright.

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  General Sir Archibald Campbell.