Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Herbert Jeffreys (c. 1620 – 17 December 1678) was an English Army officer and colonial administrator who served as the acting governor of Virginia in the immediate aftermath of Bacon's Rebellion.

[1][2][3] American historian Douglas Edward Leach described Jeffreys as a "chief troubleshooter" and "the most active and expert guardsman in the political police function of the courtier army.

After the restoration of Charles II as King, Jeffreys served the crown as commander of Guards Garrison companies in Portsmouth, York, the Isle of Jersey, and London.

[12][13] He served as leader of a three-member commission (alongside Sir John Berry and Francis Moryson)[14] to inquire into the causes of discontent and political strife in the colony.

"[21] As acting governor, Jeffreys was responsible for appeasing the remaining factions of resistance and reforming the colonial government to be once more under direct Crown control.

[22][24][25] In October 1677, Jeffreys persuaded the Virginia General Assembly to pass an act of amnesty for all of the participants in Bacon's Rebellion,[26] and levied fines against any citizen of the colony that called another a "traitor" or "rebel.