Proprietary governors were individuals authorized to govern
proprietary colonies. Under the proprietary system, individuals or companies were granted commercial
charters by the monarchs of the
Kingdom of England to establish
colonies. These proprietors then selected the governors and other officials in the colony. This system was used to establish several colonies on the island of
Newfoundland. The
provinces of
Maryland,
Carolina and several other colonies in the
Americas were initially established under the proprietary system.