Robert Daniel was born in about 1646 and arrived in Carolina by 1677. A wealthy landowner, Daniel was a prominent actor in South Carolina politics before he was appointed as the deputy governor of North Carolina in 1703. His most notable act as governor was ousting all of the colony's Quakers from political office by requiring that all office holders swear an oath, something Quakers do not do for religious reasons. This move made Daniel unpopular with many North Carolinians, who successfully called for Daniel's removal in 1705. He later removed to Bath County, North Carolina and served at various times in both the North and South Carolina assembly. He served briefly as South Carolina's governor from 1716 to 1717 before he died in about May 1718.