Which type of colony was governed under the authority of individuals who had charters from the king?

Proprietary colonies were established when individuals or groups received charters from the king, granting them authority and the rights to govern a specific territory. This type of colony allowed the proprietors significant control over governance, land distribution, and local laws, thereby facilitating personal or commercial interests. Notably, examples of proprietary colonies include Maryland, granted to Lord Baltimore, and Pennsylvania, established by William Penn. The unique aspect of proprietary colonies lies in the fact that the owner or proprietor had significant autonomy, unlike royal colonies which were directly controlled by the crown and corporate colonies, which were managed by business ventures.

In the context of the question, the other types of colonies do not share the same governance structure characterized by individual charters. Royal colonies were directly overseen by the monarchy, whereas corporate colonies were established for commercial purposes and typically operated under the authority of a trading company. Federated colonies are not a widely recognized category in the historical context of colonial governance.