This is a list of colonial governors of Pennsylvania.
Proprietors Three generations of Penns acted as proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties (Delaware) from the founding of the colony until the American Revolution removed them from power and property. William Penn was granted the new proprietary colony in 1681 by Charles II of England in payment for debts owed to Penn's father. After Penn became ill in 1712, his second wife Hannah Callowhill Penn served as acting proprietor.
After William's death in 1718, interest in the proprietorship passed to his three sons by Hannah: John Penn "the American", Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, Sr., with John inheriting the largest share and becoming the chief proprietor. When John died without children, his brother Thomas inherited his share and became chief proprietor.
When Richard Penn, Sr. died, his share passed to his son Governor John Penn. When Thomas Penn died, his share (and the chief proprietorship) passed to his son John Penn "of Stoke".
# Chief proprietor Years Percentage interest Other proprietors 1 William Penn 1681–1718 100% Hannah Penn served as acting proprietor after 1712 2 John Penn 1718–1746 50% 25%: Thomas Penn, 25%: Richard Penn, Sr. 3 Thomas Penn 1746–1775 75% 25%: Richard Penn Sr. (1746–71), John Penn (1771–75) 4 John Penn 1775–1776 75% 25%: John Penn
Governors The government of Colonial Pennsylvania (and the Lower Counties) was conducted by a set of administrators in the name of the proprietors.
# Name Title Term Seat 1William Markham Deputy Governor 1681–1682 Philadelphia 2 William Penn Proprietor 1682 3 Thomas Lloyd President of Council 1684–1688 4 John Blackwell Deputy Governor 1688 5 Thomas Lloyd 1690 6William Markham 1691 7 Benjamin Fletcher Governor 1693 New York 8William Markham Deputy Governor 1693 Philadelphia 9 Samuel Carpenter 1694–1698 10 William Penn Proprietor 1699 11 Andrew Hamilton Deputy Governor 1701–1703 12 Edward Shippen President of Council 1703–1704 13 John Evans Deputy Governor 1704–1709 14 Charles Gookin 1709–1717 15William Keith 1717–1726 16 Patrick Gordon 1726–1736 17 James Logan President of Council 1736 18 George Thomas Deputy Governor 1738–1747 19 Anthony Palmer President of Council 1747 20James Hamilton Deputy Governor 1748–1754 21 Robert Hunter Morris 1754–1756 22 William Denny 1756–1759 Acting and 23James Hamilton 1759–1763 24 John Penn Lieutenant Governor 1763–1771 Acting and 25 Richard Penn 1771–1773 26 John Penn 1773–1776
During the British occupation of Philadelphia from 26 September 1777 until June 1778, Joseph Galloway was "in charge of policing the city, and of imports and exports".Charles Evans, Evans' American Bibliography, (Chicago:Hollister Press, 1909), V, 15331
See also List of governors of Pennsylvania
References
Sources Miller, Randall M. and William Pencak, eds. Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2002. Treese, Lorett. The Storm Gathering: The Penn Family and the American Revolution. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992. .