proprietary colony
Noun: A proprietary colony was a type of colonial administration in which the English Crown granted a charter to an individual (a proprietor) or a small group, giving them full governing rights over a tract of land in the New World. The proprietor held almost royal authority within the colony, controlling land distribution, establishing courts, and appointing officials, often with the goal of generating personal profit.
The term is used historically to describe specific English colonies in North America and the Caribbean during the 17th and early 18th centuries. - Pennsylvania began as a proprietary colony under William Penn. - The Carolinas were established as a proprietary colony granted to eight Lords Proprietor.
- Historical Context: The proprietary system was one of three primary models of English colonial governance, alongside royal colonies (controlled by the Crown) and charter colonies (self-governing under a corporate charter). Proprietary colonies often faced instability due to conflicts between the proprietor's authority and the settlers' demands for self-rule.
- Transition to Royal Colony: Many proprietary colonies eventually became royal colonies when the Crown revoked or purchased the charter from the proprietor, seeking greater control and more consistent administration.
- In 1729, the proprietary colony of Carolina was divided into two royal colonies: North and South Carolina.
- Proprietor (noun): The individual or leading figure who owned and governed a proprietary colony. (e.g., )
- Proprietary (adjective): Relating to ownership or a proprietor. In a historical context, it describes something pertaining to this type of colony. (e.g., ).
- Proprietorship (in this specific historical context)
- Lordship colony (less common)
The adjective proprietary, from which the term derives, has a separate, modern meaning unrelated to colonial history: - Adjective: Relating to ownership or exclusive rights, especially by an individual or company. - The software uses a proprietary file format.
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a colony given to a proprietor to govern (in 17th century)
