American Revolutionary War Edmund Fanning (April 24, 1739 – February 28, 1818) was an American-born colonial administrator and military officer.

When the American Revolutionary War broke out, he was driven from his home in New York, and joined the British Army, recruiting other Loyalists.

Fanning was appointed lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia not long after his arrival, and helped oversee the resettlement of other Loyalist refugees in the province.

He then moved to the Province of North Carolina in 1761 where he read law with Attorney-General Robert Jones and settled in Hillsborough.

After several riots, the movement was crushed by the army of the Sandy Creek Baptist Militia led by Tryon at the Battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771.

Fanning became lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia on 23 September 1783,[1] serving as deputy to Governor John Parr.