List of colonial governors of South Carolina
This is a list of colonial governors of the South Carolina from 1670 to 1775. Until the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775, South Carolina was a colony of Great Britain.
- For a list of modern governors of South Carolina, see List of governors of South Carolina.
Proprietary period (1670–1719)
Governors of the Proprietary Period were appointed either by the Proprietors or the Grand Council convening in Charles Town.[1][2]
| No. | Governor | In Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Sayle | March 15, 1670 – March 4, 1671 |
Appointed by John Yeamans |
| 2 | Joseph West | March 4, 1671 – April 19, 1672 |
1st time |
| 3 | John Yeamans | April 19, 1672 – August 1674 |
|
| Joseph West | August 1674 – October 1682 |
2nd time | |
| 4 | Joseph Morton | October 1682 – August 1684 |
1st time |
| 5 | Richard Kyrle | August 1684 – August 30, 1684 |
|
| Joseph West | August 30, 1684 – July 1, 1685 |
3rd time | |
| 6 | Robert Quary | July 1, 1685 – October 1685 |
|
| Joseph Morton | October 1685 – November 1686 |
2nd time | |
| 7 | James Colleton | November 1686 – 1690 |
|
| 8 | Seth Sothell | 1690 – April 11, 1692 |
|
| 9 | Philip Ludwell | April 11, 1692 – May 1693 |
|
| 10 | Thomas Smith | May 1693 – November 16, 1694 |
|
| 11 | Joseph Blake | November 16, 1694 – August 17, 1695 |
1st time |
| 12 | John Archdale | August 17, 1695 – October 29, 1696 |
|
| Joseph Blake | October 29, 1696 – September 7, 1700 |
2nd time | |
| 13 | James Moore | September 7, 1700 – March 1703 |
|
| 14 | Nathaniel Johnson | March 1703 – November 26, 1709 |
|
| 15 | Edward Tynte | November 26, 1709 – July 26, 1710 |
|
| 16 | Robert Gibbes | June 26, 1710 – March 19, 1712 |
|
| 17 | Charles Craven | March 19, 1712 – April 23, 1716 |
|
| 18 | Robert Daniell | April 25, 1716 – 1717 |
|
| 19 | Robert Johnson | 1717 – December 21, 1719 |
1st time |
Royal period (1719–1776)
Governors of the Royal Period were appointed by the monarch in name but were selected by the British government under the control of the Board of Trade. Governors served as a viceroy to the British monarch. The governor could appoint provincial officials or suspend their offices on his own authority, except those offices named above that were also appointed by the crown. Legislative bills required royal assent from the governor and could be rejected; he could prorogue or dissolve the Commons House of Assembly on his own authority.[3]
| No. | Governor | In Office | Notes | Monarch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | James Moore II | December 21, 1719 – May 30, 1721 |
George I | |
| 21 | Francis Nicholson | May 30, 1721 – May 7, 1725 |
||
| 22 | Arthur Middleton | May 7, 1725 – December 15, 1730 |
||
| George II | ||||
| Robert Johnson | December 15, 1730 – May 3, 1735 |
2nd time Died in office | ||
| 23 | Thomas Broughton | May 3, 1735 – November 22, 1737 |
Died in office | |
| 24 | William Bull | November 22, 1737 – December 17, 1743 |
||
| 25 | James Glen | December 17, 1743 – June 1, 1756 |
||
| 26 | William Henry Lyttleton | June 1, 1756 – April 5, 1760 |
||
| 27 | William Bull II | April 5, 1760 – December 22, 1761 |
1st time | |
| George III | ||||
| 28 | Thomas Boone | December 22, 1761 – May 14, 1764 |
Exiled to England | |
| William Bull II | May 14, 1764 – June 12, 1766 |
2nd time | ||
| 29 | Charles Greville Montagu | June 12, 1766 – May 1768 |
1st time | |
| William Bull II | May 1768 – October 30, 1768 |
3rd time | ||
| Charles Greville Montagu | October 30, 1768 – July 31, 1769 |
2nd time | ||
| William Bull II | July 31, 1769 – September 15, 1771 |
4th time | ||
| Charles Greville Montagu | September 15, 1771 – March 6, 1773 |
3rd time | ||
| William Bull II | March 6, 1773 – June 18, 1775 |
5th time | ||
| 30 | William Campbell | June 18, 1775 – September 15, 1775 |
Exiled to England; fled Charleston on HMS Tamar | |
| Henry Laurens | January 9, 1775 – March 26, 1776 |
As President of the South Carolina Committee on Safety after Campbell's departure | ||
| Monarchy Abolished |
References
- "South Carolina's Colonial Governors". Charleston Preservation Society. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "South Carolina Governors". SCIWAY. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "The Royal Colony of South Carolina". Carolana. Retrieved 11 May 2020.