Thomas Boone | |
|---|---|
| 7th Royal Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office 1760–1761 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | Francis Bernard |
| Succeeded by | Josiah Hardy |
| 28th Governor of South Carolina | |
| In office 5 April 1760 – 14 May 1764 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | William Bull II |
| Succeeded by | William Bull II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1730 (1730) England |
| Died | 25 September 1812(1812-09-25) (aged 81–82) Lee (then part ofCounty Kent) |
| Occupation | colonial administrator |
Thomas Boone (c. 1730 – 25 September 1812) was the 7thRoyal Governor of New Jersey and the 28thRoyal Governor of South Carolina. The New Jersey town ofBoonton (Boone Town, Booneton) is named in his honour.
Boone was born in England in 1730 or 1731. His father, Charles Boone, was a merchant with interests in theEast Indies whose family also included major landowners in theProvince of South Carolina, and his mother, Elizabeth Garth Boone, was from a military family fromCounty Durham. The extended family was well connected to the politically powerfulDuke of Newcastle. Thomas' older brother Charles served in Parliament for many years, married into the wealthy and powerful Crowley family, and was a friend ofHorace Walpole.[1] Educated atEton andTrinity College, Cambridge,[2] Boone came to South Carolina in 1752 to claim title and lands he had inherited from the Boone and Colleton families.[1][3] He traveled to England in 1754, and returned to South Carolina in 1758, at which time he married Sarah Ann Tattnall Perroneau.[1]
Possibly through the influence of his brother Charles, Boone was appointed Governor ofNew Jersey in 1759,[1] but he did not arrive in New Jersey until 10 May 1760. He did not meet with thecolonial assembly until 30 October 1760. Six months later, he was appointed Governor ofSouth Carolina.[4] He arrived in Charleston in December 1761, and replaced acting governorWilliam Bull II.[3]
In 1762, Boone refused to administer theoath of office to a newly elected provincial assemblyman namedChristopher Gadsden, stating that his election was not valid. Without taking the oath, Gadsden could not take his seat. When the Assembly objected, Governor Boone dissolved the Assembly and called for new elections.[5]
When the Assembly reconvened that winter after elections (in which Gadsden was able to take his seat), they drew up a resolution condemning Governor Boone's actions. The Assembly then produced a resolution stating clearly that the Assembly held sole authority to determine the validity of any elections of its members.[6]
Boone replied that he was acting under his authority as the representative of theBritish Crown. Ultimately, Boone and the Assembly could not come to an agreement, and the Assembly refused to conduct any business at all with the Governor until their complaints were addressed,[7] refusing even to passtax bills or appropriate money to pay the salaries of the various administrative staff.[8]
Finally, Boone gave up. Taking advantage of a previous offer of a leave of absence, he sailed to England and the matter passed.[9] In May 1764, he left lieutenant governor Bull to fill in as acting governor, and went home to England.[3]
He served for many years as commissioner of customs, resigning the post in 1805. His properties in South Carolina were confiscated after theAmerican Revolutionary War. He died atLee (then part ofCounty Kent) on 25 September 1812.[1]
Thomas Boone governor.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Governor of the Province of New Jersey 1760–1761 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by William Bull II (acting) | Governor of the Province of South Carolina 1761–1764 | Succeeded by William Bull II (acting) |
| Proprietary Province |  | |
|---|---|---|
| East New Jersey | ||
| West New Jersey | ||
| Dominion of New England (1688–89) | ||
| Royal governors |
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| State (since 1776) |
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* UnderN.J.S.A. 52:15-5 (as amended in 2005), an acting governor serving for 180 continuous days or more is conferred the title of Governor. | ||