List of colonial governors of South Carolina facts for kids
South Carolina was once a colony of Great Britain, from 1670 until the American Revolution began in 1775. It was named after King Charles II of England, as Carolus is Latin for "Charles". During this time, different governors led the colony. This article lists the people who served as governors of South Carolina during its colonial period.
Early Governors: The Proprietary Period (1670–1719)
During this time, South Carolina was owned by eight special people called the Lords Proprietors. King Charles II of England gave them the land in 1663 to thank them for their help. The governors during this period were chosen either by these Proprietors or by a group called the Grand Council in Charles Town.
| No. | Governor
(birth-death) |
In Office | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Sayle(1590-1671) | March 15, 1670 – March 4, 1671 |
Appointed by John Yeamans | Charles II |
| 2 | Joseph West(?-1691) | March 4, 1671 – April 19, 1672 |
1st time | |
| 3 | John Yeamans(1611-1674) | April 19, 1672 – August 1674 |
||
| Joseph West(?-1691) | August 1674 – October 1682 |
2nd time | ||
| 4 | Joseph Morton(?-1721) | October 1682 – August 1684 |
1st time | |
| 5 | Richard Kyrle(1610-1684) | August 1684 – August 30, 1684 |
||
| Joseph West(?-1691) | August 30, 1684 – July 1, 1685 |
3rd time | ||
| James II | ||||
| 6 | Robert Quary(1644-1712) | July 1, 1685 – October 1685 |
||
| Joseph Morton(?-1721) | October 1685 – November 1686 |
2nd time | ||
| 7 | James Colleton(?-1706) | November 1686 – 1690 |
||
| William III and Mary II | ||||
| 8 | Seth Sothell(?-1694) | 1690 – April 11, 1692 |
||
| 9 | Philip Ludwell(1638-1723) | April 11, 1692 – May 1693 |
||
| 10 | Thomas Smith(1648-1694) | May 1693 – November 16, 1694 |
||
| 11 | Joseph Blake(?-1700) | November 16, 1694 – August 17, 1695 |
1st time | William III |
| 12 | John Archdale(1642-1717) | August 17, 1695 – October 29, 1696 |
||
| Joseph Blake(?-1700) | October 29, 1696 – September 7, 1700 |
2nd time | ||
| 13 | James Moore Sr.(1650-1706) | September 7, 1700 – March 1703 |
||
| Anne | ||||
| 14 | Nathaniel Johnson(1644-1712) | March 1703 – November 26, 1709 |
||
| 15 | Edward Tynte
(?-1710) |
November 26, 1709 – July 26, 1710 |
||
| 16 | Robert Gibbes(1644-1715) | June 26, 1710 – March 19, 1712 |
||
| 17 | Charles Craven(1682-1715) | March 19, 1712 – April 23, 1716 |
||
| George I | ||||
| 18 | Robert Daniell(1646-1718) | April 25, 1716 – 1717 |
||
| 19 | Robert Johnson(1682-1735) | 1717 – December 21, 1719 |
1st time |
Royal Governors: The Royal Period (1719–1776)
During the Royal Period, the King or Queen of Great Britain officially appointed the governors. However, the British government, especially a group called the Board of Trade, usually chose who would serve. The governor acted like a representative of the British monarch in the colony.
The governor had a lot of power. They could appoint officials in the colony or even remove them. They also had to approve any new laws passed by the local assembly. They could even stop the assembly from meeting if they wanted to.
| No. | Governor
(birth-death |
In Office | Notes | Monarch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | James Moore Jr.(1682-1724) | December 21, 1719 – May 30, 1721 |
George I | |
| 21 | Francis Nicholson(1655-1728) | May 30, 1721 – May 7, 1725 |
||
| 22 | Arthur Middleton(1681-1737) | May 7, 1725 – December 15, 1730 |
||
| George II | ||||
| Robert Johnson(1682-1735) | December 15, 1730 – May 3, 1735 |
2nd time Died in office |
||
| 23 | Thomas Broughton(1668-1737) | May 3, 1735 – November 22, 1737 |
Died in office | |
| 24 | William Bull(1682-1755) | November 22, 1737 – December 17, 1743 |
||
| 25 | James Glen(1701-1777) | December 17, 1743 – June 1, 1756 |
||
| 26 | William Henry Lyttleton(1724-1808) | June 1, 1756 – April 5, 1760 |
||
| 27 | William Bull II(1710-1791) | April 5, 1760 – December 22, 1761 |
1st time | |
| George III | ||||
| 28 | Thomas Boone(1730-1812) | December 22, 1761 – May 14, 1764 |
Exiled to England | |
| William Bull II(1710-1791) | May 14, 1764 – June 12, 1766 |
2nd time | ||
| 29 | Charles Greville Montagu(1741-1784) | June 12, 1766 – May 1768 |
1st time | |
| William Bull II(1710-1791) | May 1768 – October 30, 1768 |
3rd time | ||
| Charles Greville Montagu(1741-1784) | October 30, 1768 – July 31, 1769 |
2nd time | ||
| William Bull II(1710-1791) | July 31, 1769 – September 15, 1771 |
4th time | ||
| Charles Greville Montagu(1741-1784) | September 15, 1771 – March 6, 1773 |
3rd time | ||
| William Bull II(1710-1791) | March 6, 1773 – June 18, 1775 |
5th time | ||
| 30 | William Campbell(1730-1778) | June 18, 1775 – September 15, 1775 |
Exiled to England; fled Charleston on HMS Tamar | |
| Henry Laurens(1724-1792) | January 9, 1775 – March 26, 1776 |
As President of the South Carolina Committee on Safety after Campbell's departure |
||
| Monarchy abolished |
See also
