“C” is for Colleton, Sir John (1608-1666)

“C” is for Colleton, Sir John (1608-1666). Proprietor. Born in England, Colleton was a soldier and a courtier to King Charles I. Following the king's execution, Colleton and his family fled to Barbados. He returned to England in 1659 and welcomed Charles II to the throne. Colleton was knighted in 1661 for his service and loyalty to the crown. Until his death he was the foremost leader of the Lord Proprietors--men who were the king's closest advisors and largest creditors who in 1663 accepted a collective land grant of more than 850,000 square miles between Virginia and Spanish Florida in exchange for the money owed them individually. Under Sir John Colleton's direction, the proprietor set out to populate Carolina with settlers from existing new world colonies, including New England, Virginia, and the Caribbean islands, especially Barbados.