List of colonial governors of North Carolina
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the colonial governors of the Province of North Carolina
and preceding British colonies in the same region.
Roanoke Colony
Governors of Carolina
In 1689-91, a system developed in which the Proprietors appointed one governor of the entire Province, who was based in Charleston
. This official governed the northern section of the colony through a Deputy, who was in many ways autonomous. In the early years, the deputy governor was known as the governor of "Ye Lands North and East of Cape Feare." Eventually, this system gave way to the creation of two separate governments.
Province of North Carolina
The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina in British America, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietor. The province later became the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee....
and preceding British colonies in the same region.
Roanoke ColonyRoanoke ColonyThe Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island in Dare County, present-day North Carolina, United States was a late 16th-century attempt to establish a permanent English settlement in what later became the Virginia Colony. The enterprise was financed and organized by Sir Walter Raleigh and carried out by...
, 1585 - 1587
- Ralph LaneRalph LaneSir Ralph Lane was an English explorer of the Elizabethan era. He was part of the unsuccessful attempt in 1585 to colonize Roanoke Island, North Carolina. He also served the Crown in Ireland and was knighted by the Queen in 1593....
, 1585 - 1586 - John WhiteJohn White (surveyor)John White was an English artist, and an early pioneer of English efforts to settle the New World. He was among those who sailed with Richard Grenville to North Carolina in 1585, acting as artist and mapmaker to the expedition. During his time at Roanoke Island he made a number of watercolor...
, 1587
Governors of Albemarle Sound, 1664-1689
- William DrummondWilliam Drummond (colonial governor)William Drummond was the first colonial governor of Albemarle Sound settlement in the Province of Carolina and a participant in Bacon's Rebellion....
1664-1667 - Samuel StephensSamuel Stephens (North Carolina)Samuel Stephens was the Governor of the Albemarle colony from 1667 until his death in late 1669...
1667-1669 - Peter CarteretPeter CarteretPeter Carteret was the Governor of the British colony of Albemarle from 1670 to approximately 1672....
1670-1672 - John JenkinsJohn Jenkins (governor)John Jenkins was governor of Albemarle three times, in 1672–1675, 1676–1677, and 1680–1681.Governor John Jenkins, immigrant, was born in England and died in Perquimas County, North Carolina, 17 December 1661. He went to America in or before 1662 and originally settled in Warwick Square,...
1672-1675 - Thomas Eastchurch 1675-1676
- John JenkinsJohn Jenkins (governor)John Jenkins was governor of Albemarle three times, in 1672–1675, 1676–1677, and 1680–1681.Governor John Jenkins, immigrant, was born in England and died in Perquimas County, North Carolina, 17 December 1661. He went to America in or before 1662 and originally settled in Warwick Square,...
1676-1677 - Thomas MillerThomas Miller (North Carolina)Thomas Miller was colonial governor of North Carolina during the 1670s.In 1676, Miller "was captured by his opponents and 'enclosed in a Logghouse about 10 or 11 foot square purposely built for him.'"-References:...
1677 - John Harvey 1679
- Henry Wilkinson 1680 (appointed but never left England and did not serve) http://www.carolana.com/Carolina/Governors/hwilkinson.html
- John JenkinsJohn Jenkins (governor)John Jenkins was governor of Albemarle three times, in 1672–1675, 1676–1677, and 1680–1681.Governor John Jenkins, immigrant, was born in England and died in Perquimas County, North Carolina, 17 December 1661. He went to America in or before 1662 and originally settled in Warwick Square,...
1680-1681 - Seth SothelSeth SothelSeth Sothel was a colonial proprietor and governor of the Province of Carolina, ruling the northern portion in 1678 and 1682–1689, and the southern portion from 1690 to 1692. He died in North Carolina in about 1694.- References :* McCrady, Edward...
1682-1689
Governors of CarolinaProvince of CarolinaThe Province of Carolina, originally chartered in 1629, was an English and later British colony of North America. Because the original Heath charter was unrealized and was ruled invalid, a new charter was issued to a group of eight English noblemen, the Lords Proprietors, in 1663...
, 1689-1710
In 1689-91, a system developed in which the Proprietors appointed one governor of the entire Province, who was based in CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. This official governed the northern section of the colony through a Deputy, who was in many ways autonomous. In the early years, the deputy governor was known as the governor of "Ye Lands North and East of Cape Feare." Eventually, this system gave way to the creation of two separate governments.
Deputy Governors (North Carolina)
- John Gibbs 1689-1690
- Thomas JarvisThomas JarvisThomas Jarvis was Deputy Governor of North Carolina from 1690 to 1694....
1690-1694 - Thomas Harvey 1694-1699
- Henderson Walker 1699-1703
- Robert DaniellRobert DaniellRobert Daniell of Cardigan, Wales arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1669 as captain of the ship The Daniell. In 1682, he was commissioned as Major of the Goose Creek Men. By 1691, he was commissioned as a colonel for King William. In 1702 Daniell led forces in James Moore's expedition to St...
1703-1705 - Thomas Cary 1705-1711 (refused to abandon his office to GloverCary's RebellionCary's Rebellion was a rebellion in early North Carolina sparked by the removal of governor Thomas Cary. He was in charge until another governor arrived from England. Once he arrived, he was removed under the Vestry act of 1703. This called for the removal of Quakers and other non-Church of England...
) - William Glover 1706-1710
Governors (South Carolina)
- Philip LudwellPhilip LudwellPhilip Ludwell of Richneck Plantation in James City County, Virginia is best known for being governor of the British Colony of Carolina from 1691–94. From a base in the coastal port city of Charleston, he was governor of the entire Colony of Carolina...
1690-1693 - Thomas SmithThomas Smith (politician)Thomas Smith was the governor of colonial South Carolina from 1693 to 1694, a planter, a merchant and a surgeon. He arrived in Charles Town in 1684 with his first wife Barbara Atkins and his sons Thomas and George. He was a Cacique by 1690 and was made Landgrave by the Lords Proprietors on 13 May...
1693-1694 - Joseph BlakeJoseph Blake (governor)Joseph Blake , the nephew of British Admiral Robert Blake, was governor of colonial South Carolina in 1694 , and from 1696 to his death 1700.-References:*-See also:*List of colonial governors of South Carolina...
1694 - John ArchdaleJohn ArchdaleJohn Archdale served as British colonial Governor of North Carolina and Governor of South Carolina in 1695 and 1696. He may have also been appointed to serve circa 1683-1686. Archdale was appointed to the position by the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.He first travelled from England to North...
1695-1696 (at one point governed from the North) - Joseph BlakeJoseph Blake (governor)Joseph Blake , the nephew of British Admiral Robert Blake, was governor of colonial South Carolina in 1694 , and from 1696 to his death 1700.-References:*-See also:*List of colonial governors of South Carolina...
1696-1700 - James MooreJames Moore (South Carolina politician)James Moore was the British governor of colonial South Carolina between 1700 and 1703. He is remembered for leading several invasions of Spanish Florida, including attacks in 1704 and 1706 which wiped out most of the Spanish missions in Florida....
1700-1703 - Nathaniel Johnson 1703-1709
- Edward Tynte 1709-1710
- Robert Gibbes 1710-1711
Governors of North Carolina, 1711-1731
- Edward HydeEdward Hyde (c. 1650-1712)Edward Hyde , was the first colonial governor of the separate colony of North Carolina from 1711 until his death in 1712...
1711-1712 - Thomas Pollock 1712-1714 (acting)
- Charles EdenCharles EdenCharles Eden was the second Governor of the separate Colony of North Carolina.-Public service:Eden was appointed Governor of North Carolina on 13 July 1713. He is best known for his actions to end piracy in the area...
1714-1722 - Thomas Pollock 1722 (acting)
- William Reed 1722-1724 (acting)
- George BurringtonGeorge BurringtonGeorge Burrington was the governor of the Province of North Carolina, from January 1724 to April 1725, and again from February 1731 to 1734....
1724-1725 - Richard EverardSir Richard Everard, 4th BaronetSir Richard Everard, 4th Baronet was the last Governor of North Carolina under proprietary rule, serving in that capacity from 1725 to 1731....
1725-1731
Royal Colony, 1731-1775
- George BurringtonGeorge BurringtonGeorge Burrington was the governor of the Province of North Carolina, from January 1724 to April 1725, and again from February 1731 to 1734....
1731-1734 - Nathaniel RiceNathaniel RiceNathaniel Rice was the acting colonial governor of North Carolina for two short periods during the 18th century....
1734 (acting) - Gabriel JohnstonGabriel JohnstonGabriel Johnston was the colonial governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752, the longest-serving governor in state history.- External links :*...
1734-1752 - Nathaniel RiceNathaniel RiceNathaniel Rice was the acting colonial governor of North Carolina for two short periods during the 18th century....
1752-1753 (acting) - Matthew RowanMatthew RowanMatthew Rowan was the acting colonial governor of North Carolina in 1753 and 1754, following the death of governor Nathaniel Rice. In 1753, the area that had previously been the northern part of Anson County was formed into Rowan County, named in his honour....
1753-1754 (acting) - Arthur DobbsArthur DobbsArthur Dobbs was a wealthy landowner in North Carolina and served as colonial governor from 1754 to 1765.-Early life and career:...
1753-1765 - William TryonWilliam TryonWilliam Tryon was a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as governor of the Province of North Carolina and the Province of New York .-Early life and career:...
1765-1771 - James HasellJames HasellJames Hasell was the acting colonial governor of North Carolina in 1771 and again in 1774. When Governor William Tryon was reassigned to New York, Hasell as the senior member of the council was named to succeed him in July 1771. He resigned when newly appointed Governor Josiah Martin arrived in...
1771, 1774 (acting) - Josiah MartinJosiah MartinLieutenant-Colonel Josiah Martin was the last colonial governor of the Province of North Carolina .-Family and connections:...
1771-1775 (Martin considered himself to remain in office throughout the Revolutionary War, but he left North Carolina in July of 1775)