List of colonial governors of Pennsylvania


This is a list of colonial governors of Pennsylvania.

Proprietors

Three generations of Penns acted as proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties 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 passed to his son John Penn "of Stoke".
#Chief proprietorYearsPercentage interestOther proprietors
1William Penn1681–1718100%Hannah Penn served as acting proprietor after 1712
2John Penn 1718–174650%25%: Thomas Penn, 25%: Richard Penn, Sr.
3Thomas Penn1746–177575%25%: Richard Penn, Sr., Governor John Penn
4John Penn "of Stoke"1775–177675%25%: Governor John Penn

Governors

The government of Colonial Pennsylvania was conducted by a set of administrators in the name of the proprietors.
#NameTitleTermCapital
1William MarkhamDeputy Governor1681–1682Philadelphia
2William PennProprietor1682Philadelphia
3Thomas LloydPresident of Council1684–1688Philadelphia
4John BlackwellDeputy Governor1688Philadelphia
5Thomas LloydDeputy Governor1690Philadelphia
6William MarkhamDeputy Governor1691Philadelphia
7Benjamin FletcherGovernor1693New York
8William MarkhamDeputy Governor1693Philadelphia
9Samuel CarpenterDeputy Governor1694–1698Philadelphia
10William PennProprietor1699Philadelphia
11Andrew HamiltonDeputy Governor1701–1703Philadelphia
12Edward ShippenPresident of Council1703–1704Philadelphia
13John EvansDeputy Governor1704–1709Philadelphia
14Charles GookinDeputy Governor1709–1717Philadelphia
15William KeithDeputy Governor1717–1726Philadelphia
16Patrick GordonDeputy Governor1726–1736Philadelphia
17James LoganPresident of Council1736Philadelphia
18George ThomasDeputy Governor1738–1747Philadelphia
19Anthony PalmerPresident of Council1747Philadelphia
20James HamiltonDeputy Governor1748–1754Philadelphia
21Robert Hunter MorrisDeputy Governor1754–1756Philadelphia
22William DennyDeputy Governor1756–1759Philadelphia
23James HamiltonDeputy Governor1759–1763Philadelphia
24John PennLieutenant Governor1763–1771Philadelphia
25Richard PennLieutenant Governor1771–1773Philadelphia
26John PennLieutenant Governor1773–1776Philadelphia

During the British occupation of Philadelphia from 26 September 1777 until June 1778, Joseph Galloway was "in charge of policing the city, and of imports and exports".