# List of colonial governors of South Carolina

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) :
| No. | Governor (birth-death) | In Office | Notes | Monarch |
| 1 | William Sayle(1590-1671) | March 15, 1670 – March 4, 1671 | Appointed by John Yeamans | Charles II |
| 2 | Joseph West(?-1691) | March 4, 1671 – April 19, 1672 | 1st time | Charles II |
| 3 | John Yeamans(1611-1674) | April 19, 1672 – August 1674 | | Charles II |
| | Joseph West(?-1691) | August 1674 – October 1682 | 2nd time | Charles II |
| 4 | Joseph Morton(?-1721) | October 1682 – August 1684 | 1st time | Charles II |
| 5 | Richard Kyrle(1610-1684) | August 1684 – August 30, 1684 | | Charles II |
| | Joseph West(?-1691) | August 30, 1684 – July 1, 1685 | 3rd time | Charles II |
| | Joseph West(?-1691) | August 30, 1684 – July 1, 1685 | 3rd time | James II |
| 6 | Robert Quary(1644-1712) | July 1, 1685 – October 1685 | | James II |
| | Joseph Morton(?-1721) | October 1685 – November 1686 | 2nd time | James II |
| 7 | James Colleton(?-1706) | November 1686 – 1690 | | James II |
| 7 | James Colleton(?-1706) | November 1686 – 1690 | | William III and Mary II |
| 8 | Seth Sothell(?-1694) | 1690 – April 11, 1692 | | William III and Mary II |
| 9 | Philip Ludwell(1638-1723) | April 11, 1692 – May 1693 | | William III and Mary II |
| 10 | Thomas Smith(1648-1694) | May 1693 – November 16, 1694 | | William III and Mary II |
| 11 | Joseph Blake(?-1700) | November 16, 1694 – August 17, 1695 | 1st time | William III |
| 12 | John Archdale(1642-1717) | August 17, 1695 – October 29, 1696 | | William III |
| | Joseph Blake(?-1700) | October 29, 1696 – September 7, 1700 | 2nd time | William III |
| 13 | James Moore Sr.(1650-1706) | September 7, 1700 – March 1703 | | William III |
| 13 | James Moore Sr.(1650-1706) | September 7, 1700 – March 1703 | | Anne |
| 14 | Nathaniel Johnson(1644-1712) | March 1703 – November 26, 1709 | | Anne |
| 15 | Edward Tynte (?-1710) | November 26, 1709 – July 26, 1710 | | Anne |
| 16 | Robert Gibbes(1644-1715) | June 26, 1710 – March 19, 1712 | | Anne |
| 17 | Charles Craven(1682-1715) | March 19, 1712 – April 23, 1716 | | Anne |
| 17 | Charles Craven(1682-1715) | March 19, 1712 – April 23, 1716 | | George I |
| 18 | Robert Daniell(1646-1718) | April 25, 1716 – 1717 | | George I |
| 19 | Robert Johnson(1682-1735) | 1717 – December 21, 1719 | 1st time | George I |

## 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) :
| No. | Governor (birth-death | In Office | Notes | Monarch |
| 20 | James Moore Jr.(1682-1724) | December 21, 1719 – May 30, 1721 | | George I |
| 21 | Francis Nicholson(1655-1728) | May 30, 1721 – May 7, 1725 | | George I |
| 22 | Arthur Middleton(1681-1737) | May 7, 1725 – December 15, 1730 | | George I |
| 22 | Arthur Middleton(1681-1737) | May 7, 1725 – December 15, 1730 | | George II |
| | Robert Johnson(1682-1735) | December 15, 1730 – May 3, 1735 | 2nd time Died in office | George II |
| 23 | Thomas Broughton(1668-1737) | May 3, 1735 – November 22, 1737 | Died in office | George II |
| 24 | William Bull(1682-1755) | November 22, 1737 – December 17, 1743 | | George II |
| 25 | James Glen(1701-1777) | December 17, 1743 – June 1, 1756 | | George II |
| 26 | William Henry Lyttleton(1724-1808) | June 1, 1756 – April 5, 1760 | | George II |
| 27 | William Bull II(1710-1791) | April 5, 1760 – December 22, 1761 | 1st time | George II |
| 27 | William Bull II(1710-1791) | April 5, 1760 – December 22, 1761 | 1st time | George III |
| 28 | Thomas Boone(1730-1812) | December 22, 1761 – May 14, 1764 | Exiled to England | George III |
| | William Bull II(1710-1791) | May 14, 1764 – June 12, 1766 | 2nd time | George III |
| 29 | Charles Greville Montagu(1741-1784) | June 12, 1766 – May 1768 | 1st time | George III |
| | William Bull II(1710-1791) | May 1768 – October 30, 1768 | 3rd time | George III |
| | Charles Greville Montagu(1741-1784) | October 30, 1768 – July 31, 1769 | 2nd time | George III |
| | William Bull II(1710-1791) | July 31, 1769 – September 15, 1771 | 4th time | George III |
| | Charles Greville Montagu(1741-1784) | September 15, 1771 – March 6, 1773 | 3rd time | George III |
| | William Bull II(1710-1791) | March 6, 1773 – June 18, 1775 | 5th time | George III |
| 30 | William Campbell(1730-1778) | June 18, 1775 – September 15, 1775 | Exiled to England; fled Charleston on HMS Tamar | George III |
| | Henry Laurens(1724-1792) | January 9, 1775 – March 26, 1776 | As President of the South Carolina Committee on Safety after Campbell's departure | George III |
| | Henry Laurens(1724-1792) | January 9, 1775 – March 26, 1776 | As President of the South Carolina Committee on Safety after Campbell's departure | Monarchy abolished |