List of colonial governors of South Carolina
For a list of modern governors of South Carolina, see List of governors of South Carolina.
This is a list of colonial governors of the South Carolina from 1670 to 1775. Until the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775, South Carolina was a colony of Great Britain.
Proprietary period (1670–1719)
Governors of the Proprietary Period were appointed either by the Proprietors or the Grand Council convening in Charles Town.| No. | Governor | In Office | Notes |
| 1 | William Sayle | – March 4, 1671 | Appointed by John Yeamans |
| 2 | Joseph West | – April 19, 1672 | 1st time |
| 3 | John Yeamans | – August 1674 | |
| Joseph West | – October 1682 | 2nd time | |
| 4 | Joseph Morton | – August 1684 | 1st time |
| 5 | Richard Kyrle | – August 30, 1684 | |
| Joseph West | – July 1, 1685 | 3rd time | |
| 6 | Robert Quary | – October 1685 | |
| Joseph Morton | – November 1686 | 2nd time | |
| 7 | James Colleton | – 1690 | |
| 8 | Seth Sothell | – April 11, 1692 | |
| 9 | Philip Ludwell | – May 1693 | |
| 10 | Thomas Smith | – November 16, 1694 | |
| 11 | Joseph Blake | – August 17, 1695 | 1st time |
| 12 | John Archdale | – October 29, 1696 | |
| Joseph Blake | – September 7, 1700 | 2nd time | |
| 13 | James Moore | – March 1703 | |
| 14 | Nathaniel Johnson | – November 26, 1709 | |
| 15 | Edward Tynte | – July 26, 1710 | |
| 16 | Robert Gibbes | – March 19, 1712 | |
| 17 | Charles Craven | – April 23, 1716 | |
| 18 | Robert Daniell | – 1717 | |
| 19 | Robert Johnson | – December 21, 1719 | 1st time |
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 | In Office | Notes | Monarch |
| 20 | James Moore II | – 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 |