Randolph, Edward (1632?-1703), was a British agent in colonial New England. In 1676, he carried royal instructions for the colonial governments to Boston. Curtly treated there, he returned to England and wrote two strongly critical reports. As a result, the British separated New Hampshire from Massachusetts.
Randolph took charge of customs for New England in 1679, and he started the new royal government of New Hampshire the next year. When Massachusetts resisted his authority, he had its charter annulled in 1684. In 1686, Massachusetts and New Hampshire became part of the newly formed Dominion of New England. Randolph served the royal governor of the dominion, Sir Edmund Andros, until 1689, when both were jailed during a rebellion in Boston. Randolph became surveyor general of customs for Britain in North America in 1691. He was born in Canterbury, England. He died in April 1703.
