Archontology.org
Home Nations United States New York Governors: 1691-1783

New York: Governors: 1691-1783

The styles of the governors and lieutenant governors are normally appended with the references to other offices held concurrently (Vice Admiral and/or Chancellor).
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief under their Most Sacred Majesties William and Mary, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King and Queen, Defenders of the Faith, in and over the Province of New York and the Territories thereon depending in America
19/29 Mar 1691 - 23 Jul/2 Aug 1691 Henry Sloughter
Council
23 Jul/2 Aug 1691 - 26 Jul/5 Aug 1691  
Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New York [1]
26 Jul/5 Aug 1691 - 30 Aug/9 Sep 1692 Richard Ingoldsby
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief of the Province of New York and the Territories and Tracts of Land depending thereon in America
30 Aug/9 Sep 1692 - 2/12 Apr 1698 Benjamin Fletcher [2]
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
2/12 Apr 1698 - 5/16 Mar 1701 Richard Coote, Earl of Bellomont [3]
Council [4]
5/16 Mar 1701 - 19/30 May 1701  
Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
19/30 May 1701 - 3/14 May 1702 John Nanfan
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
3/14 May 1702 - 18/29 Dec 1708 Edward Hyde, Viscount Cornbury [5]
18/29 Dec 1708 - 6/17 May 1709 John Lovelace, Baron Lovelace of Hurley [5]
Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
6/17 May 1709 - 17/28 Apr 1710 Richard Ingoldsby  [5][6]
President of the Council
17/28 Apr 1710 - 14/25 Jun 1710 Gerardus Beeckman
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
14/25 Jun 1710 - 17/28 Sep 1720 Robert Hunter [5][7]
17/28 Sep 1720 - 15/26 Apr 1728 William Burnet [3][5]
15/26 Apr 1728 - 1/12 Jul 1731 John Montgomerie [5]
President of His Majesty's Council for the Province of New York
1/12 Jul 1731 - 1/12 Aug 1732 Rip Van Dam
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
1/12 Aug 1732 - 10/21 Mar 1736 William Cosby [5]
President of the Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
10/21 Mar 1736 - 30 Oct/10 Nov 1736 George Clarke
Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
30 Oct/10 Nov 1736 - 22 Sep/3 Oct 1743 George Clarke  [8]
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and Territories depending thereon in America
22 Sep/3 Oct 1743 - 10 Oct 1753 George Clinton
10 Oct 1753 - 12 Oct 1753 Sir Danvers Osborn, Baronet
Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
12 Oct 1753 - 3 Sep 1755 James De Lancey
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and Territories depending thereon in America
3 Sep 1755 - 2 Jun 1757 Sir Charles Hardy
Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
2 Jun 1757 - 30 Jul 1760 James De Lancey  [9]
President of the Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
30 Jul 1760 - 8 Aug 1761 Cadwallader Colden [10]
Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
8 Aug 1761 - 26 Oct 1761 Cadwallader Colden 
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and Territories depending thereon in America
26 Oct 1761 - 13 Nov 1765 Robert Monckton [11]
13 Nov 1765 - 11 Sep 1769 Sir Henry Moore, Baronet
Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
11 Sep 1769 - 19 Oct 1770 Cadwallader Colden  [12]
Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and Territories depending thereon in America
19 Oct 1770 - 9 Jul 1771 John Murray, Earl of Dunmore [13]
9 Jul 1771 - 23 Mar 1780 William Tryon [14]
23 Mar 1780 - 25 Nov 1783 James Robertson [15]
  1. Sloughter died on 23 Jul/2 Aug 1691, and his death was reported to the Council on the same day. In the event of the governor's death, his commission prescribed the assumption of executive power by the Commander-in-Chief appointed by the King, or, failing that, by the Council presided over by the eldest councillor residing in New York. As Ingolsby held only a commission as captain of a company of foot, the Council left the question of executive authority unresolved until Sloughter's funeral had been completed. During the interval, the Council held daily meetings, apparently presided over by Ingoldsby, whose name is recorded first among those present. On 26 Jul/5 Aug 1691 the governor's commission was read at a meeting of the Council, whereupon Ingolsby was recognized as Commander-in-Chief of the Province and immediately took the oath of office.
  2. Also in Pennsylvania.
  3. Also in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
  4. The Earl of Bellomont died on 5/16 Mar 1701, and his death was reported to the Council on the same day. In the event of the governor's death, his commission prescribed the assumption of executive power by the Lieutenant Governor or the Commander-in-Chief, or, failing that, by the Council presided over by the "first Councillor" residing in New York. At the time of Bellomont's death, Lieutenant Governor Nanfan was absent in Barbados, and the Council assumed executive authority. The eldest councillor, William Smith, was absent from the meetings of 5/16 Mar 1701 and 6/17 Mar 1701. He took the chair on 13/24 Mar 1701 and claimed the powers of Governor, but the Council refused and recognized him only as presiding officer. During Smith's absences, Abraham De Peyster and Peter Schuyler served as presiding officers..
  5. Also in New Jersey.
  6. Following the death of Lovelace (6/17 May 1709), the functions of Governor devolved on Lieutenant Governor Ingoldsby who took the oath of office on 9/20 May 1709.
  7. Following the departure of Hunter on 13/24 Jul 1719, the functions of Governor-in-Chief devolved on the eldest councillor residing in New York, Schuyler, who took the oath of office on 21 Jul/1 Aug 1719:
    President of His Majesty's Council for the Province of New York and Territories thereon depending in America
    13/24 Jul 1719 - 17/28 Sep 1720
    Peter Schuyler
  8. John West, Lord De La Warr was commissioned Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York on 21 Jul/1 Aug 1737, but never took office. His commission was revoked on the date when the commission of Clinton was read and published (22 Sep/3 Oct 1743).
  9. Hardy requested permission to resign the government of New York in a letter to the Lords of Trade dated 2 Aug 1756; authorization was granted by royal order in March 1757. Anticipating receipt of the order, Hardy announced his departure and transferred the seals, commission, and instructions to Lieutenant Governor James De Lancey at a meeting of the Council on 2 Jun 1757; De Lancey was sworn in on 3 Jun 1757. On 3 Mar 1761 the Board of Trade formally recognized the office of Governor of New York as vacant "by the resignation of Sir Charles Hardy." Nevertheless, Hardy's commission remained in force until 26 Oct 1761, when it was revoked upon the reading and publication of Monckton's commission.
  10. Following the death of De Lancey (30 Jul 1760), the functions of Governor devolved on the eldest councillor residing in New York, Colden, who took the oath of office on 4 Aug 1760.
  11. Following the departure of Monckton on 28 Jun 1763, the functions of Governor-in-Chief devolved on Lieutenant Governor Colden:
    Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
    28 Jun 1763 - 13 Nov 1765
    Cadwallader Colden
  12. Following the death of Moore (11 Sep 1769), the functions of Governor devolved on Lieutenant Governor Colden, who took the oath of office on 13 Sep 1769.
  13. Also in Virginia.
  14. During the absence of Tryon, the functions of Governor-in-Chief devolved on Lieutenant Governor Colden:
    Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
    7 Apr 1774 - 25 Jun 1775
    Cadwallader Colden
  15. Following the departure of Robertson on 16 Apr 1783, the functions of Governor-in-Chief devolved on Lieutenant Governor Elliot who was sworn in on 17 Apr 1783 and contined in office until the evacuation of the British troops from New York on 25 Nov 1783:
    Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America
    16 Apr 1783 - 25 Nov 1783
    Andrew Elliot
Last update: 14 Jan 2026
https://www.archontology.org/nations/us/new_york/00_1691_1783.php