William Berkeley (governor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Sir William Berkeley
Governor of Virginia
In office 1660–1677
Appointed by	Charles II
Preceded by	Samuel Mathews
Succeeded by	Sir Herbert Jeffries
In office 1642–1652
Appointed by	Charles I
Preceded by	Sir Francis Wyatt
Succeeded by	Richard Bennett
Personal details
Born	1605 Hanworth Manor, Middlesex, England
Died	1677 (aged 71–72) Berkeley House, Mayfair, England
Resting place	St Mary's Church, Twickenham Middlesex, England
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Frances Culpeper Stephens Berkeley
Residence	Green Spring Plantation, James City County, Virginia
Occupation	Planter
Signature

Sir William Berkeley (1605 – 9 July 1677) was a colonial governor of Virginia, and one of the Lords Proprietors of the Colony of Carolina; he was appointed to these posts by King Charles I, of whom he was a favourite.

As proprietor of Green Spring Plantation in James City County, he experimented with activities such as growing silkworms as part of his efforts to expand the tobacco-based economy. Berkeley enacted friendly policies toward the Native Americans that led to the revolt by some of the planters in 1676 which became known as Bacon's Rebellion. In the aftermath, King Charles II was angered by the retribution exacted against the rebels by Berkeley, and recalled him to England