Philip Carteret (Governor)

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Philip Carteret was the first Governor of New Jersey. He was appointed by the two proprietors of New Jersey, John Berkeley and George Carteret (his cousin), in 1665 to take the position of governor.

During Carteret's governorship, the first few towns sprung up in New Jersey. Carteret made Elizabethtown the capital of New Jersey, named after the wife of George Carteret. He issued many grants of lands to settlers and landowners to increase the worth of the colony.

Middletown Township and Shrewsbury Township refused to send representatives to the New Jersey Assembly and declared their independence, electing James Carteret as their leader. Carteret became angry and left for England, and had the English government force the New Jersey settlers to pay quitrents.

After the death of George Carteret, Governor Edmund Andros of New York attempted to seize power in East Jersey. When Carteret refused to give up his position as governor, Andros sent a raiding party to Carteret's home and had him beaten and arrested to New York. Carteret was placed on trial, but was acquitted by the jury. The attack caused permanent injuries on Carteret, and he died in 1682.