| Edward Tynte | |
| Office: | Governor of South Carolina |
| Term Start: | November 26, 1709 |
| Term End: | June 26, 1710 |
| Predecessor: | Nathaniel Johnson |
| Successor: | Robert Gibbes |
| Death Date: | June 26, 1710 |
| Profession: | colonel, major, governor |
Edward Tynte (died June 26, 1710) was a colonial governor of the Province of South Carolina, serving from 1709 until 1710. Descending from a family of nobility, Tynte was appointed governor of South Carolina in 1708. However, his arrival was delayed, and he only held office for six months before dying in 1710.
Tynte was from Somerset, England. He was a descendant of the Tynte baronets in Somerset, a family that had recently risen to baronetcy, though his parents are unknown.[1] Tynte was a Christian, and had joined the SPG by 1710.[2] Tynte is variously called both a major and a colonel in surviving documents, providing evidence for some military career. Many of his family members attended Oxford University,[1] and it is believed that Tynte was a culturally knowledgable man based on a poem written for him by William King called "Ad Amicum."[3]
On December 9, 1708, Tynte was commissioned as the governor of South Carolina by William Craven, 2nd Baron Craven.[4] Concerning maritime trade, Tynte was instructed to allow ships to import or export goods only if their master and 75% of their crew were of English descent.[5] Other instructions included monitoring whaling and the sale of land, along with establishing friendly relationships with the local Native Americans.[6] Tynte's arrival in South Carolina was delayed, as he arrived on November 26, 1709, and was officially named governor that day.[1] Tynte succeeded Nathaniel Johnson as governor.[7] One of Tynte's few acts in his short governorship was signing legislation that would enact free public education in South Carolina.[1] [8] Tynte was ordered to deputize Edward Hyde for North Carolina, appointing Thomas Cary in the interim. However, Tynte died on June 26, 1710, before he could officially sign Hyde's commission, causing a power struggle between Hyde and Cary that eventually led to Cary's Rebellion.[9] One of Tynte's deputies, Robert Gibbes, succeeded Tynte by means of bribery.[10]
In his will, Tynte left his entire estate to Francis Killner, a spinster in London.[11]