Galloway, Joseph (c. 1731–1803)

American lawyer who fought on the British side in the American Revolution. As a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly 1756–76, he opposed proprietary government and advocated the elevation of Pennsylvania into a royal province.

Galloway was born in Kent County, Maryland, and moved to Philadelphia. In December 1776 he joined the British army under William Howe, and became civil administrator of Philadelphia on its capture. He accompanied the army to New York. In 1778 he went to England, and his estate (worth £40,000) was confiscated by Congress.

Opposing the ideas of the American Revolution, he proposed, as a member of the Congress of 1774, a scheme of government consisting of a president-general, appointed by the king, and a grand council elected for three years by the various assemblies of the colonies. This was rejected by a narrow majority