Who was the third and last royal governor of Georgia, serving from 1760 to 1782 and known for delaying the flame of revolution?

• A. John Reynolds
• B. Henry Ellis
• C. Lachlan McIntosh
• D. James Wright

Answer: (D)

James Wright is the governor described because he held the position as the third and last royal governor of the Province of Georgia, serving from 1760 until the British evacuation of Savannah in 1782. His tenure came during the buildup to the American Revolution, and he is remembered for trying to keep Georgia loyal to Britain longer than some other colonies. Wright worked to balance Crown authority with colonial expectations, using diplomatic measures and maintaining relations with local assemblies to dampen revolutionary fervor rather than fueling it. His steady leadership and efforts to manage unrest helped delay Georgia’s full embrace of rebellion, a period that persisted until the war intensified and the British could no longer hold the province. After Savannah fell and the British withdrew, his role as the Crown’s representative effectively ended, marking him as Georgia’s last royal governor.

Choosing this option makes sense because the other figures were not the third and last royal governor of Georgia. John Reynolds and Henry Ellis served earlier in the royal administration, while Lachlan McIntosh was a prominent Revolutionary War military leader rather than a colonial governor. Wright’s unique place in Georgia’s history—holding the office through the onset of revolution and staying in power until Crown authority collapsed—fits the description provided.