James Glen


James Glen was a politician in the Province of South Carolina. He was appointed Royal Governor of South Carolina in 1738, but did not arrive in the province until December 17, 1743. He served as governor until June 1, 1756 and was succeeded by William Henry Lyttelton. On June 21, 1761, Glen returned to Europe and died in London. He is buried in Linlithgow, Scotland.
Governor Glen was noted for forging a 1755 treaty with the Cherokee, known as the Treaty of Saluda Old Town, in present-day Saluda County and the building of Fort Prince George near Keowee River. He was also responsible for promoting an official policy that aimed to create in Indians an "aversion" to African Americans in an attempt to thwart possible alliances between them.

Governorship

James Glen has the longest term of governorship of any of those of colonial South Carolina. His term was noted for extensive dealings with Native American tribes on the colony's western and southern borders.

Controversy over Salary

Traditionally the governor of South Carolina played the role of defender of the southern frontier but with the creation of Georgia that role passed to the Georgian governor James Oglethorpe. This transfer of roles was accompanied by the transfer of a thousand pounds that no longer went to the governor of South Carolina but now went to his Georgian counterpart. James Glen stayed in England to protest this change and William Bull acted as governor in his stead.

King George's War

During King George's War, Governor Glen sent a trade delegation led by notable Indian trader and historian James Adair to win over Red Shoes to abandon their alliance with the French and to side with the British. The efforts led to a great civil war amongst the Choctaw Nation. Adair blames the resulting failure on the Glen for not supporting this mission.