| Election Name: | 1776 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Next Election: | 1778 South Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1778 |
| Election Date: | 26 March 1776 |
| Nominee1: | John Rutledge |
| Party1: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Percentage1: | 100.00% |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Henry Laurens (as President of the Committee on Safety) |
| Before Party: | Nonpartisan politician |
| After Party: | Nonpartisan politician |
The 1776 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on 26 March 1776 in order to elect the first President of South Carolina. The office would be renamed to Governor in 1778. Candidate and former Attorney General of South Carolina John Rutledge was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly as he ran unopposed. The exact number of votes cast in this election is unknown.[1]
On election day, 26 March 1776, candidate John Rutledge was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly. Rutledge was sworn in as the 1st President of South Carolina on 4 July 1776.[2]