Governor of Fiji explained

Post:Governor
Body:Fiji
Insignia:Flag of the Governor of Fiji (1908-1970).svg
Insigniasize:220px
Insigniacaption:Flag of the governor of Fiji from 1908 to 1970
Style:His Excellency The Right Honourable
Residence:Government House, Suva
Appointer:King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Formation:10 October 1874
First:Sir Hercules Robinson
Last:Sir Robert Sidney Foster
Abolished:10 October 1970
Succession:Governor-General of Fiji

Fiji was a British Crown colony from 1874 to 1970, and an independent dominion in the Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987. During this period, the head of state was the British monarch, but in practice his or her functions were normally exercised locally by the governor prior to independence (on 10 October 1970), and by the governor-general prior to the proclamation of a republic on 7 October 1987.

From 1877 to 3 July 1952, governors of Fiji were also high commissioners for the Western Pacific.

List of governors of Fiji (1874–1970)

Following is a list of people who have served as governor of Fiji.

PortraitName
Term of officeMonarch
Took officeLeft office
Colony of Fiji
1Sir Hercules Robinson
10 October 1874June 1875
Victoria
2Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
19 August 18751880
3Sir William Des Vœux
20 December 188021 January 1885
John Bates Thurston

21 January 18851 January 1887
4Sir Charles Mitchell
1 January 1887February 1888
5Sir John Bates Thurston
February 18887 February 1897
6Sir George T. M. O'Brien
March 18971901
Sir William Allardyce

190110 September 1902
Edward VII
7Sir Henry Jackson
10 September 190211 October 1904
8Sir Everard im Thurn
11 October 19041910
Sir Charles Major

191021 February 1911

George V
9Sir Francis May
21 February 191125 July 1912
10Sir Ernest Sweet-Escott
25 July 191210 October 1918
Sir Eyre Hutson

19151916
11Sir Cecil Hunter-Rodwell
10 October 191825 April 1925
Sir Eyre Hutson

19191919
12Sir Eyre Hutson
25 April 192522 November 1929
13Sir Murchison Fletcher
22 November 1929May 1936

Edward VIII
Sir Juxon Barton

May 1936November 1936
14Sir Arthur Richards
28 November 1936August 1938

George VI
Sir Juxon Barton

August 1938September 1938
15Sir Harry Luke
16 September 193820 July 1942
Alexander Theodore Newboult

20 July 194222 July 1942
16Sir Philip Mitchell
22 July 194212 January 1944
Sir John Rankine

12 January 19444 May 1944
Sir John Nicoll

4 May 194423 October 1944
Sir John Rankine

23 October 19441 January 1945
17Sir Alexander Grantham
1 January 194521 March 1947
Sir John Nicoll

21 March 19478 October 1947
18Sir Brian Freeston
8 October 19476 October 1952

Elizabeth II
19Sir Ronald Garvey
6 October 195228 October 1958
20Sir Kenneth Maddocks
28 October 19586 January 1964
21Sir Derek Jakeway
6 January 1964December 1968
22Sir Robert Sidney Foster
December 196810 October 1970

In 1970, Fiji gained independence from the United Kingdom. After independence, the viceroy in Fiji was the governor-general of Fiji.

Further reading

See also