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.

No.	Governor	In Office	Notes	Monarch
1	William Sayle	– March 4, 1671	Appointed by John Yeamans	Charles II
2	Joseph West	– April 19, 1672	1st time	Charles II
3	John Yeamans	– August 1674		Charles II
	Joseph West	– October 1682	2nd time	Charles II
4	Joseph Morton	– August 1684	1st time	Charles II
5	Richard Kyrle	– August 30, 1684		Charles II
	Joseph West	– July 1, 1685	3rd time	Charles II
	Joseph West	– July 1, 1685	3rd time	James II
6	Robert Quary	– October 1685		James II
	Joseph Morton	– November 1686	2nd time	James II
7	James Colleton	– 1690		James II
7	James Colleton	– 1690		William III and Mary II
8	Seth Sothell	– April 11, 1692		William III and Mary II
9	Philip Ludwell	– May 1693		William III and Mary II
10	Thomas Smith	– November 16, 1694		William III and Mary II
11	Joseph Blake	– August 17, 1695	1st time	William III
12	John Archdale	– October 29, 1696		William III
	Joseph Blake	– September 7, 1700	2nd time	William III
13	James Moore Sr.	– March 1703		William III
13	James Moore Sr.	– March 1703		Anne
14	Nathaniel Johnson	– November 26, 1709		Anne
15	Edward Tynte	– July 26, 1710		Anne
16	Robert Gibbes	– March 19, 1712		Anne
17	Charles Craven	– April 23, 1716		Anne
17	Charles Craven	– April 23, 1716		George I
18	Robert Daniell	– 1717		George I
19	Robert Johnson	– 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.

No.	Governor	– May 30, 1721		George I
21	Francis Nicholson	– May 7, 1725		George I
22	Arthur Middleton	– December 15, 1730		George I
22	Arthur Middleton	– December 15, 1730		George II
	Robert Johnson	– May 3, 1735	2nd time Died in office	George II
23	Thomas Broughton	– November 22, 1737	Died in office	George II
24	William Bull	– December 17, 1743		George II
25	James Glen	– June 1, 1756		George II
26	William Henry Lyttleton	– April 5, 1760		George II
27	William Bull II	– December 22, 1761	1st time	George II
27	William Bull II	– December 22, 1761	1st time	George III
28	Thomas Boone	– May 14, 1764	Exiled to England	George III
	William Bull II	– June 12, 1766	2nd time	George III
29	Charles Greville Montagu	– May 1768	1st time	George III
	William Bull II	– October 30, 1768	3rd time	George III
	Charles Greville Montagu	– July 31, 1769	2nd time	George III
	William Bull II	– September 15, 1771	4th time	George III
	Charles Greville Montagu	– March 6, 1773	3rd time	George III
	William Bull II	– June 18, 1775	5th time	George III
30	William Campbell	– September 15, 1775	Exiled to England; fled Charleston on HMS Tamar	George III
	Henry Laurens	– March 26, 1776	As President of the South Carolina Committee on Safety after Campbell's departure	George III
	Henry Laurens	– March 26, 1776	As President of the South Carolina Committee on Safety after Campbell's departure	Monarchy abolished