Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

proprietary colony

Noun

/prəˈpraɪəˌtɛri ˈkɒləni/

Definition

A type of colony in which one or more private landowners possess rights that are normally held by the state.

Examples

The colony of Pennsylvania was established as a proprietary colony.
In a proprietary colony, the owner has significant control over the land and its governance.
Maryland was another example of a proprietary colony, granted to Lord Baltimore.

Meaning

Proprietary colonies were a form of governance in the American colonial period, wherein individuals or groups received land and authority from the monarch to develop and rule the colony as they see fit.