Sir John Colleton (1608 1666) rose to rank in the King's army during the Civil Wars, spent 40,000 in the service of Charles I, and lost much more when his property was sequestered (taken over) by the forces of Parliament. He retired to Barbadoes and was one of about a dozen Stuart followers there who were knighted by Charles II. He was a member of the Council for Foreign Plantations and of the Royal African Company which introduced slavery into British possessions in North America (not just in the South). He was an early promoter of the Carolina grant and actively interested in the successful development of the Province. He was the first Proprietor to die.