This is a list of colonial governors of South Carolina from 1670 to 1775. Until the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775, South Carolina was a colony of Great Britain. South Carolina was named in honor of King Charles II of England, who first formed the English colony, with Carolus being Latin for "Charles".
Proprietary period (1670–1719)
Governors of the Proprietary Period were appointed either by the Proprietors or the Grand Council convening in Charles Town. In 1663, Charles II granted the land to eight Lords Proprietors in return for their financial and political assistance in restoring him to the throne in 1660.
+ Governors of the Province of Carolina (1670 to 1719) Governor (birth-death) In Office Notes Monarch 1 William Sayle (1590-1671)–March 4, 1671Appointed by John YeamansCharles II 2Joseph West (?-1691)–April 19, 1672 1st time 3 John Yeamans (1611-1674)–August 1674Joseph West (?-1691)–October 1682 2nd time 4 Joseph Morton (?-1721)–August 1684 1st time 5 Richard Kyrle (1610-1684)–August 30, 1684 Joseph West (?-1691)–July 1, 1685 3rd timeJames II 6 Robert Quary (1644-1712)–October 1685Joseph Morton (?-1721)–November 16862nd time7James Colleton (?-1706)–1690William III and Mary II 8Seth Sothell (?-1694)–April 11, 1692 9 Philip Ludwell (1638-1723)–May 1693 10 Thomas Smith (1648-1694)–November 16, 169411Joseph Blake (?-1700)–August 17, 16951st timeWilliam III 12 John Archdale (1642-1717)–October 29, 1696 Joseph Blake (?-1700)–September 7, 1700 2nd time13James Moore Sr. (1650-1706)–March 1703Anne 14Nathaniel Johnson (1644-1712)–November 26, 1709 15 Edward Tynte (?-1710)–July 26, 1710 16 Robert Gibbes (1644-1715)–March 19, 171217Charles Craven (1682-1754)–April 23, 1716George I 18 Robert Daniell (1646-1718)–1717 19 Robert Johnson (1682-1735)–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.
+ Governors of the Province of South Carolina (1719 to 1775) Governor (birth-death In Office Notes Monarch 20 James Moore Jr. (1682-1724)–May 30, 1721George I 21 Francis Nicholson (1655-1728)–May 7, 1725 22Arthur Middleton (1681-1737)–December 15, 1730 George II Robert Johnson (1682-1735)–May 3, 1735 2nd time Died in office 23 Thomas Broughton (1668-1737)–November 22, 1737Died in office 24 William Bull (1682-1755)–December 17, 1743 25 James Glen (1701-1777)–June 1, 1756 26 William Henry Lyttleton (1724-1808)–April 5, 1760 27William Bull II (1710-1791)–December 22, 1761 1st timeGeorge III 28 Thomas Boone (1730-1812)–May 14, 1764 Exiled to England William Bull II (1710-1791)–June 12, 1766 2nd time 29 Charles Greville Montagu (1741-1784)–May 1768 1st time William Bull II (1710-1791)–October 30, 1768 3rd time Charles Greville Montagu (1741-1784)–July 31, 1769 2nd time William Bull II (1710-1791)–September 15, 1771 4th time Charles Greville Montagu (1741-1784)–March 6, 1773 3rd time William Bull II (1710-1791)–June 18, 1775 5th time 30 William Campbell (1730-1778)–September 15, 1775 Exiled to England; fled Charleston on HMS Tamar Henry Laurens (1724-1792)–March 26, 1776 As President of the South Carolina Committee on Safety after Campbell's departureMonarchy abolished
References
See also List of governors of South Carolina List of colonial governors of North Carolina Province of Carolina Province of South Carolina