"K" is for Kyrle, Sir Richard [d. 1684]. Governor. Born in Ireland, Kyrle was knighted by King Charles II and later received a landgraveship of 12,000 acres in the fledgling Carolina colony. In April 1684, the Lords Proprietors of Carolina appointed him governor. He arrived in Charlestowne sometime after July 28th, 1684, but died a month later. His death—and that of his wife shortly thereafter—was likely due to the colony’s first serious malaria epidemic. Prior to his appointment, the governorships of Carolina had been in the hands of rival political factions living in the province. Historians speculate that the proprietors appointed Kyrle to alleviate some of the political chaos that plagued their province in the late 1670s and early 1680s. However, Sir Richard Kyrle’s death soon after his arrival did little to alleviate the political battles.
"K" is for Kyrle, Sir Richard
