Charles Craven

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Charles Craven (1682 – December 27, 1754) was governor of colonial South Carolina from March 19, 1712 to April 23, 1716. He held the office during the end of the Tuscarora War and the beginning of the Yamasee War. He served as secretary to South Carolina's Lords Proprietors before being appointed governor by them.

At the start of the Yamasee War, in early 1715, Craven led a hastily assembled force of 240 militia troops against the Yamasee Indians. A pitched battled fought at Salkehatchie resulted in a decisive victory for South Carolina.

After the initial military victories of 1715, the South Carolina militia had trouble defending the colony and many members deserted. Governor Craven, having declared martial law at the start of the war, disbanded the militia and replaced it with a professional army. This was the first time the militia was disbanded as well as South Carolina's first professional army. Within a year, as the crisis of war ending, the army was dissolved.

Governor Craven founded the city of Beaufort, South Carolina.