William Berkeley (governor)
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Sir William Berkeley |
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| Governor of Virginia | |
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In office 1660–1677 |
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| Appointed by | Charles II |
| Preceded by | Samuel Mathews |
| Succeeded by | Sir Herbert Jeffries |
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In office 1642–1652 |
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| Appointed by | Charles I |
| Preceded by | Sir Francis Wyatt |
| Succeeded by | Richard Bennett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1605 Hanworth Manor, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 9 July 1677 (aged 71–72) Berkeley House, Mayfair, London |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Culpeper Stephens Berkeley |
| Residence | Green Spring Plantation, James City County, Virginia |
| Occupation | planter |
| Signature |  |
Sir William Berkeley (/ˈbɑːrkliː/; 1605 – 9 July 1677) was a colonial governor of Virginia, and one of the Lords Proprietors of the Colony of Carolina; he was appointed to these posts by King Charles II of England, of whom he was a favourite.
As proprietor of Green Spring Plantation in James City County, he experimented with activities such as growing silkworms as part of his efforts to expand the tobacco-based economy.
Berkeley enacted friendly policies toward the Native Americans that led to the revolt by some of the planters in 1676 which became known as Bacon's Rebellion. In the aftermath, King Charles II was angered by the retribution exacted against the rebels by Berkeley, and recalled him to England.
Berkeley was born in 1605 in Bruton, Somersetshire to Sir Maurice and Elizabeth Berkeley (née Killigrew), of the Bruton branch of the Berkeley family, both of whom held stock in the Virginia Company of London. Referred to as “Will” by his family and friends, he was born in the winter of 1605 into landed gentry. His father died when he was twelve and, though indebted, left Berkeley land in Somerset. His elder brother was John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton.
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