THOMAS, Sir George, bart., royal governor of Pennsylvania, born in England about 1705; died in London, England, 11 January, 1775. He was a wealthy planter of Antigua and a member of the council of that island, and in 1737 was appointed governor of Pennsylvania. He was detained in England in defending the proprietary rights against the claims that were raised by Lord Baltimore to the jurisdiction over the lower counties of the province, and did not assume the governorship till 1738. The territorial dispute with Maryland was provisionally arranged by each governor's assuming jurisdiction over the people from his own province who were settled in the debatable district until the boundary-line should be drawn. At first he was unpopular in consequence of his arbitrary administration, especially when he attempted to use his authority to organize the militia at the beginning of the Spanish war, although the legislature had refused to vote supplies for the purpose. He roused the intense opposition of the Quakers by refusing to sign bills, but afterward he adopted a conciliatory policy, and in the end became very popular, and his resignation of the office in 1747 was received with general regret. From 1752 till 1766 he was captain-general and governor-in-chief of the Leeward and Caribbee islands. He was created a baronet, 6 September, 1766.