List of colonial governors of South Carolina

This is a list of colonial governors of the Province of South Carolina

Province of South Carolina

The South Carolina Colony, or Province of South Carolina, was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered in 1663. The colony later became the U.S. state of South Carolina....

and preceding British colonies in the same region from 1670 to 1775.

Proprietary Period (1670-1719)

Governors of the Proprietary Period for the most part were appointed either by the Proprietors

Lords Proprietor

Lords Proprietor was the name for the chief or highest owners or proprietors of certain English proprietary colonies in America, such as Carolina, New Jersey and Barbados....

or the Grand Council convening in Charleston

Charleston, 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...

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Notes
1	William Sayle William Sayle William Sayle was an explorer, settler of the Bahamas, and the first governor of colonial South Carolina from 1670–71.William Sayle established the first English settlement of the Bahamas between 1646–48 on the island of Eleuthera, although his legal claim to proprietorship in the Bahamas now...	March 15, 1670	March 4, 1671	Chosen by Sir John Yeamans John Yeamans Sir John Yeamans, 1st Baronet was an English colonial administrator described in his day as "a pirate ashore".-Life:...
2	Joseph West Joseph West (Governor) Joseph West , was an English ship captain, and an early governor of the Province of Carolina.-Life:Nothing is known of the circumstances of his birth or early years...	March 4, 1671	April 19, 1672	1st time, Appointed by Council
3	John Yeamans John Yeamans Sir John Yeamans, 1st Baronet was an English colonial administrator described in his day as "a pirate ashore".-Life:...	April 19, 1672	August 1674	Appointed by Proprietors
	Joseph West Joseph West (Governor) Joseph West , was an English ship captain, and an early governor of the Province of Carolina.-Life:Nothing is known of the circumstances of his birth or early years...	August 13, 1674	October 1682	2nd time, Appointed by Council
4	Joseph Morton Joseph Morton Joseph Morton was an early colonist and governor of the Province of Carolina. Although he was not one of Carolina's Lords Proprietors, Morton was influential in the recruitment of religious dissenters to migrate to the new colony. In 1680 he led a group of dissenters to what is now South Carolina,...	October 1682	August 1684	1st time, Appointed by Proprietors
5	Richard Kyrle	August 1684	August 1684	Appointed by Proprietors
	Joseph West Joseph West (Governor) Joseph West , was an English ship captain, and an early governor of the Province of Carolina.-Life:Nothing is known of the circumstances of his birth or early years...	August 30, 1684	July 1, 1685	3rd time, Appointed by Council
6	Robert Quary	July 1684	October 1685	Appointed by Council
	Joseph Morton Joseph Morton Joseph Morton was an early colonist and governor of the Province of Carolina. Although he was not one of Carolina's Lords Proprietors, Morton was influential in the recruitment of religious dissenters to migrate to the new colony. In 1680 he led a group of dissenters to what is now South Carolina,...	October 1685	November 1686	2nd time, Appointed by Council
7	James Colleton James Colleton James Colleton was a governor of the English proprietary Province of Carolina from 1686 to 1690. Son of Sir John Colleton, one of the colony's founders, he took over some of the family's landholdings in Barbados before being appointed governor by the colony's proprietors. Upon his arrival in the...	November 1686	1690	Appointed by Proprietors
8	Seth Sothell	1690	1692	Claimed Governoship as a Proprietor
9	Philip Ludwell Philip Ludwell Philip 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...	April 11, 1692	May 1693	Appointed by Proprietors
10	Thomas Smith Thomas 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...	May 1693	November 16, 1694	Appointed by Council
11	Joseph Blake Joseph 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...	November 1694	August 17, 1695	1st time, Appointed by Council
12	John Archdale John Archdale John 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...	August 17, 1695	October 29, 1696	Appointed by Proprietors
	Joseph Blake Joseph 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...	October 29, 1696	September 7, 1700	2nd time, Appointed by Governor Archdale
13	James Moore James 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....	September 11, 1700	March 1703	Appointed by Council
14	Nathaniel Johnson	March 1703	November 26, 1709	Appointed by Proprietors
15	Edward Tynte	November 26, 1709	June 26, 1710	Appointed by Proprietors
16	Robert Gibbes	June 1710	March 19, 1712	Appointed by Council
17	Charles Craven Charles Craven Charles Craven was governor of colonial South Carolina from 19 March 1712 to 23 April 1716. He held the office during the end of the Tuscarora War and the beginning of the Yamasee War...	March 19, 1712	April 23, 1716	Appointed by Proprietors
18	Robert Daniell Robert Daniell Robert 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...	April 25, 1716	1717	Appointed by Governor Craven
19	Robert Johnson Robert Johnson (governor) Robert Johnson was the British colonial Governor of the Province of South Carolina in 1717-1719, and again from 1729-1735. Governor Johnson ordered Colonel William Rhett to engage the notorious pirate Stede Bonnet's sloops in the Battle of Cape Fear River near Charleston in 1718...	1717	December 21, 1719	1st time, Appointed by Proprietors

Royal Period (1719-1776)

Governors of the Royal Period were appointed by the British government

Politics of the United Kingdom

The politics of the United Kingdom takes place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government...

under the control of the Board of Trade

Board of Trade

The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Notes
20	James Moore II	December 21, 1719	May 30, 1721	Appointed by Convention
21	Francis Nicholson Francis Nicholson Francis Nicholson was a British military officer and colonial administrator. His military service included time in Africa and Europe, after which he was sent as leader of the troops supporting Sir Edmund Andros in the Dominion of New England. There he distinguished himself, and was appointed...	May 30, 1721	May 7, 1725	Left for England in 1725, not removed until 1729
22	Arthur Middleton	May 7, 1725	December 1730	Acting Governor until Johnson arrived
	Robert Johnson Robert Johnson (governor) Robert Johnson was the British colonial Governor of the Province of South Carolina in 1717-1719, and again from 1729-1735. Governor Johnson ordered Colonel William Rhett to engage the notorious pirate Stede Bonnet's sloops in the Battle of Cape Fear River near Charleston in 1718...	December 15, 1730	May 3, 1735	2nd time
23	Thomas Broughton	May 3, 1735	November 22, 1737	Acting Governor after Johnson died
24	William Bull William Bull (governor) William Bull was a landowner and politician in the Province of South Carolina. He served on the governor's council and was lieutenant governor and acting governor from 1738 to 1744. In 1733 he assisted James Oglethorpe in the founding of the new Province of Georgia, laying out the town of Savannah...	November 22, 1737	December 17, 1743	Acting Governor after Broughton died
	Samuel Horsey			Appointed Governor in 1738, never served
25	James Glen	December 17, 1743	June 1, 1756	Appointed Governor in 1738, arrived in 1743
26	William Henry Lyttleton	June 1, 1756	April 5, 1760
	Thomas Pownall Thomas Pownall Thomas Pownall was a British politician and colonial official. He was governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay from 1758 to 1760, and afterward served in the British Parliament. He traveled widely in the North American colonies prior to the American Revolutionary War, and opposed...			Appointed Governor in 1760, never served
27	William Bull II William Bull II William Bull II was a landowner, military officer, and politician in the Province of South Carolina. A son of Governor William Bull, he was for many years lieutenant governor of the province, and served as acting governor on five occasions...	April 5, 1760	December 22, 1761	1st time, Acting Governor until Boone arrived
28	Thomas Boone Thomas Boone (governor) Thomas Boone was the 7th Royal Governor of New Jersey and the 28th Royal Governor of South Carolina. The New Jersey town of Boonton is named in his honour.-Early life:...	December 22, 1761	May 14, 1764
	William Bull II William Bull II William Bull II was a landowner, military officer, and politician in the Province of South Carolina. A son of Governor William Bull, he was for many years lieutenant governor of the province, and served as acting governor on five occasions...	May 1764	June 1766	2nd time, Acting Governor until Montagu arrived
29	Charles Greville Montagu Charles Greville Montagu Lord Charles Greville Montagu was Royal Governor of the Province of South Carolina from 1766 to 1773, with William Bull II serving terms in 1768 and 1769-1771. Charles was the second son of His Grace, Robert Montagu, 3rd Duke of Manchester. Charles attended Oxford University in 1759 and married...	June 12, 1766	May 1768	1st time
	William Bull II William Bull II William Bull II was a landowner, military officer, and politician in the Province of South Carolina. A son of Governor William Bull, he was for many years lieutenant governor of the province, and served as acting governor on five occasions...	May 1768	October 30, 1768	3rd time, Acting Governor during Montagu's absence
	Charles Greville Montagu Charles Greville Montagu Lord Charles Greville Montagu was Royal Governor of the Province of South Carolina from 1766 to 1773, with William Bull II serving terms in 1768 and 1769-1771. Charles was the second son of His Grace, Robert Montagu, 3rd Duke of Manchester. Charles attended Oxford University in 1759 and married...	October 30, 1768	July 31, 1769	2nd time
	William Bull II William Bull II William Bull II was a landowner, military officer, and politician in the Province of South Carolina. A son of Governor William Bull, he was for many years lieutenant governor of the province, and served as acting governor on five occasions...	July 31, 1769	September 15, 1771	4th time, Acting Governor during Montagu's absence
	Charles Greville Montagu Charles Greville Montagu Lord Charles Greville Montagu was Royal Governor of the Province of South Carolina from 1766 to 1773, with William Bull II serving terms in 1768 and 1769-1771. Charles was the second son of His Grace, Robert Montagu, 3rd Duke of Manchester. Charles attended Oxford University in 1759 and married...	September 15, 1771	March 6, 1773	3rd time
	William Bull II William Bull II William Bull II was a landowner, military officer, and politician in the Province of South Carolina. A son of Governor William Bull, he was for many years lieutenant governor of the province, and served as acting governor on five occasions...	March 6, 1773	June 18, 1775	5th time, Acting Governor during Montagu's absence
30	William Campbell William Campbell (governor) Lord William Campbell was from a Scottish family loyal to the British Crown. His father was John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll....	June 18, 1775	September 15, 1775
	Henry Laurens Henry Laurens Henry Laurens was an American merchant and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Congress...	1775	1776	President of the Committee on Safety after Campbell's flight to England

Proprietary Period (1670-1719)

Royal Period (1719-1776)

See also