List of colonial governors of North Carolina facts for kids
A governor is like the main leader of a state or a colony. In the past, when North Carolina was a British colony, it had many governors. These leaders helped manage the land and the people for the King of England. This article tells you about the important people who served as governors in North Carolina during its colonial times.
Contents
Early Leaders in North Carolina
The first English attempts to settle in North America happened in what is now North Carolina. These early settlements were called Roanoke and Raleigh. They were not very successful, but they had leaders.
Roanoke Colony's Governor
- Sir Ralph Lane was the governor of Roanoke from 1585 to 1586. This was a very early English settlement.
Raleigh Colony's Governor
- John White was the governor of Raleigh from 1587 to 1590. He is famous for being the grandfather of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America.
Governors of Albemarle (1664–1689)
The Albemarle region was one of the earliest parts of North Carolina to be settled. It was named after the Duke of Albemarle. These governors were important in setting up the first lasting government in the area.
| Governor | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|
| William Drummond | 1664 | 1667 |
| Samuel Stephens | 1667 | 1669 |
| Peter Carteret | 1670 | 1672 |
| John Jenkins | 1672 | 1675 |
| Thomas Eastchurch | 1675 | 1676 |
| John Jenkins | 1676 | 1677 |
| Thomas Miller | 1677 | 1677 |
| John Harvey | 1679 | 1679 |
| Henry Wilkinson | — | — |
| John Jenkins | 1680 | 1681 |
| Seth Sothel | 1682 | 1689 |
Deputy Governors of North Carolina (1691–1712)
After the Albemarle period, North Carolina had "deputy governors." These leaders helped manage the colony before it became a separate royal province.
- Thomas Jarvis served from 1691 to 1694.
- Thomas Harvey was governor from 1694 to 1699.
- Henderson Walker was an acting governor from 1699 to 1704.
- Robert Daniell served from 1704 to 1705.
- Thomas Cary was governor from 1705 to 1706.
- William Glover was an acting governor from 1706 to 1708.
- Thomas Cary returned as governor from 1708 to 1711.
Governors of North Carolina (1712–1776)
In 1712, North Carolina officially became a separate colony from South Carolina. From this point until the American Revolution in 1776, it had its own line of governors. These leaders played a big role in the colony's growth and its path towards independence.
See also
