List of governors of the Province of North Carolina

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Governor of North Carolina
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
Style His Excellency
Residence Governor's Palace, Newbern
Appointer Monarch of Great Britain
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
FormationJanuary 24, 1712
First holder Edward Hyde
Final holder Josiah Martin
Abolished July 4, 1776

The governor of North Carolina from 1712 to 1776 was the representative of the British monarch in North Carolina. From 1729 to 1776, he was appointed by the monarch on the advice of the secretary of state for the Southern Department and the Board of Trade. The role of the governor was to act as the de facto head of state, and he was responsible for appointing members of the provincial government after a general election. The governor served as the commander in chief of the provincial militia and had sole responsibility for defence and security. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Governor's Palace, New Bern Tryon Palace, North Carolina's First Colonial Capital, New Bern LCCN2011631094.tif
Governor's Palace, New Bern

Besides the governor, other provincial officials included a secretary, attorney general, surveyor general, the receiver general, chief justice, five customs collectors for each of the five ports in North Carolina, and a council. The council advised the governor and also served as the upper house of the legislature. The president of the council occasionally served as acting governor. [1]

List of governors of North Carolina (1712–1776)

No.Name
(Birth–Death)
PictureTook officeLeft officeMonarch
(Reign)
1 His Excellency
Edward Hyde
(1667–1712)
Edward Hyde NC Governor.jpg January 24, 1712September 8, 1712 Anne
Dahl, Michael - Queen Anne - NPG 6187.jpg
(1712–1714)
His Excellency
Thomas Pollock
(1654–1722)
Council president who served in the absence of governor
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1707-1714).svg September 12, 1712May 28, 1714
2 His Excellency
Charles Eden
(1673–1722)
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1707-1714).svg May 28, 1714March 26, 1722
His Excellency
Thomas Pollock
(1654–1722)
Council president who served in the absence of governor
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg March 30, 1722August 30, 1722 George I
King George I by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (3).jpg
(1714–1727)
His Excellency
William Reed
(c. 1670–1728)
Council president who served in the absence of governor
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg September 7, 1722January 15, 1724
3 His Excellency
George Burrington
(1682–1759)
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg January 15, 1724July 17, 1725
4 His Excellency
Sir Richard Everard
(1683–1733)
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg July 17, 1725February 25, 1731 George II
George II by Thomas Hudson.jpg
(1727–1760)
5 His Excellency
George Burrington
(1682–1759)
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg February 25, 1731April 17, 1734
His Excellency
Nathaniel Rice
(c. 1670–1753)
Council president who served in the absence of governor
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg April 17, 1734November 2, 1734
6 His Excellency
Gabriel Johnston
(1699–1752)
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg November 2, 1734July 17, 1752
His Excellency
Nathaniel Rice
(c. 1684–1753)
Council president who served in the absence of governor
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg July 17, 1752January 28, 1753
His Excellency
Matthew Rowan
(d. 1760)
Council president who served in the absence of governor
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg February 1, 1753November 1, 1754
7 His Excellency
Arthur Dobbs
(1689–1765)
ArthurDobbs.jpg November 1, 1754October 27, 1764
8 His Excellency
William Tryon
(1729–1788)
Tryon1767.jpg October 27, 1764June 30, 1771 George III
Allan Ramsay - King George III in coronation robes - Google Art Project.jpg
(1760–1776)
His Excellency
James Hasell
(d. 1785)
Council president who served in the absence of governor
Coat of arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg July 1, 1771August 12, 1771
9 His Excellency
Josiah Martin
(1737–1786)
Josiah Martin.jpg August 12, 1771 July 4, 1776

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Overview of the Colonial Period". NCPEDIA. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. Lewis, J.D. "House of Burgesses of North Carolina". Carolana.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  3. Lewis, J.D. "Executive Councils of Royal Governors". Carolana.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  4. Lewis, J.D. "The Royal Colony Governors". Carolana.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  5. Robinson, Blackwell P. (1963). The Five Royal Governors of North Carolina 1729-1775.