List of colonial governors of Pennsylvania

Proprietors

Three generations of Penns acted as proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties (Delaware) from the founding of the colony until the American Revolution removed them from power. William Penn was granted the new proprietary colony in 1681 by Charles II of England in payment for debts owed to Penn's father. After Penn became ill in 1712, his second wife Hannah Callowhill Penn served as acting proprietor.

After William's death in 1718, interest in the proprietorship passed to his three sons by Hannah: John Penn "the American", Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, Sr., with John inheriting the largest share and becoming the chief proprietor. When John died without children, his brother Thomas inherited his share and became chief proprietor.

When Richard Penn, Sr. died, his share passed to his son Governor John Penn. When Thomas Penn died, his share (and the chief proprietorship) passed to his son John Penn "of Stoke". All of these changes are summarized in the following table:

Years	Chief proprietor	Percentage interest	Other proprietors and their ownership interest
1681–1718	William Penn	100%	Hannah Penn served as acting proprietor after 1712; William Clayton served as acting Governor in 1684-1685
1718–1746	John Penn ("the American")	50%	Thomas Penn (25%), Richard Penn, Sr. (25%)
1746–1771	Thomas Penn	75%	Richard Penn, Sr. (25%)
1771–1775	Thomas Penn	75%	Governor John Penn (25%)
1775–1776	John Penn "of Stoke"	75%	Governor John Penn (25%)

Deputy and Lieutenant Governors

The Lieutenant Governors of Colonial Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties, 1682-1776

#	Name	Title	Took office	Left office	Capital
1	William Markham	Deputy Governor	1681		Philadelphia
2	William Penn	Proprietor	1682		Philadelphia
3	Thomas Lloyd	President of Council	1684		Philadelphia
4	John Blackwell	Deputy Governor	1688		Philadelphia
5	Thomas Lloyd	Deputy Governor	1690		Philadelphia
6	William Markham	Deputy Governor	1691		Philadelphia
7	Benjamin Fletcher	Governor	1693		New York
8	William Markham	Deputy Governor	1693		Philadelphia
9	Samuel Carpenter	Deputy Governor	Nov 24, 1694	Sep 3, 1698	Philadelphia
10	William Penn	Proprietor	1699		Philadelphia
11	Andrew Hamilton	Deputy Governor	1701	1703	Philadelphia
12	Edward Shippen	President of Council	1703	1704	Philadelphia
13	John Evans	Deputy Governor	1704	1709	Philadelphia
14	Charles Gookin	Deputy Governor	1709	1717	Philadelphia
15	William Keith	Deputy Governor	1717	1726	Philadelphia
16	Patrick Gordon	Deputy Governor	1726	1736	Philadelphia
17	James Logan	President of Council	1736		Philadelphia
18	George Thomas[disambiguation needed ]	Deputy Governor	1738	1747	Philadelphia
19	Anthony Palmer	President of Council	1747		Philadelphia
20	James Hamilton	Deputy Governor	1748	1754	Philadelphia
21	Robert Hunter Morris	Deputy Governor	1754	1756	Philadelphia
22	William Denney	Deputy Governor	1756	1759	Philadelphia
23	James Hamilton	Deputy Governor	1759	1763	Philadelphia
24	John Penn	Lieutenant Governor	1763	1771	Philadelphia
25	Richard Penn	Lieutenant Governor	1771	1773	Philadelphia
26	John Penn	Lieutenant Governor	1773	1776	Philadelphia

See also

• List of Governors of Pennsylvania

Sources

• Miller, Randall M. and William Pencak, eds. Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2002.
• Treese, Lorett. The Storm Gathering: The Penn Family and the American Revolution. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992. ISBN 0-271-00858-X.