| Post: | Governor of the Gambia |
| Flag: | File:Flag of the Governor of The Gambia (1901–1965).svg |
| Department: | Gambia Colony and Protectorate |
| Style: | His Excellency |
| Member Of: | Executive Council, Legislative Council |
| Reports To: | Secretary of State for the Colonies |
| Formation: | 1843, 1901 |
| First: | Henry Froude Seagram |
| Last: | John Paul |
| Abolished: | 1866, 1965 |
| Deputy: | Colonial Secretary of the Gambia |
This is a list of colonial governors and administrators in the Gambia from the establishment of a British settlement on St Mary's Island, now known as Banjul Island, in 1816, through to the Gambia Colony and Protectorate's independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.
The official title of the Commandant of St Mary's Island was given as the Commandant of the British Settlement at St Mary's in 1823. In 1821, the Gambia became a British colony that formed part of Sierra Leone. In 1829, a Lieutenant Governor was appointed that was subordinate to the Governor of Sierra Leone. Between 1843 and 1866, the Gambia had its own Governor independent of Sierra Leone. It once again became subordinate in 1866, with an Administrator being appointed to govern the territory. An independent Governor was again appointed in 1901 that also acted as the Commander-in-Chief of the colony.
The Gambia achieved independence in 1965. Thereafter, the viceroy of the British Crown in the Gambia became the Governor-General of the Gambia, until it renounced the Queen as head of state in 1970.
Before 1816, the colonial presence in the Gambia was restricted to James Island (known as St Andrew's Island from 1456 to 1660, and as Kunta Kinteh Island since 2011).
| Commandant | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Grant (1775–1827) | 23 April 1816 | 1 August 1826 | - Officer with the Royal African Corps (1804–1825) - Acting Governor of Sierra Leone (1820–1821; 1821) | None | George III | ||
| First British colonial administrator in the Gambia since 1783. Negotiated lease of St Mary's Island in 1816. Founded town of Bathurst. Encouraged activities of Wesleyans and Quakers. Subordinated to Sierra Leone in 1821. Purchased MacCarthy Island in 1823 and founded Georgetown. Acquired Ceded Mile from the King of Barra in 1826. | George IV | ||||||
| Colonel Alexander Findlay KH (1784–1851) | 1 August 1826 | 8 March 1829 | - Officer with the Royal African Corps | None | |||
| Appointed an advisory board of commerce. | |||||||
| William Hutton (17??–18??) | 8 March 1829 | 8 August 1829 | - Acting Consul for the Kingdom of Ashanti | None | |||
| Assumed role after Findlay returned to Britain. Initiated merchant-backed April 1829 expedition down the Gambia River. Signed treaties with the King of Wuli and chief of Kantalikunda, later rescinded. Dismissed for misconduct. | |||||||
| Captain James Jackson (17??–18??) | 8 August 1829 | 28 January 1830 | - Officer with the 3rd West India Regiment | None | |||
| Took over from Hutton. Signed secret treaty with the King of Kombo regarding return of fugitive slaves. Treaty later repudiated by Colonies Secretary. | |||||||
| Lieutenant Governor | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonel Alexander Findlay KH (1784–1851) | 28 January 1830 | 3 April 1830 | - Officer with the Royal African Corps - Commandant of St Mary's Island (1826–1829) | None | George IV | ||
| Almost immediately appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Sierra Leone. | |||||||
| George Rendall (d. 1837) | 3 April 1830 | 20 September 1837 | - Chief Justice of Sierra Leone (1829–1830) | Andrew Hunter | |||
| Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | William IV | ||||||
| Victoria | |||||||
| Anthony Clogstoun (1815–1851) | 20 September 1837 | October 1838 | - Writer in the Colonial Secretary's Office | Thomas Lewis Ingram | |||
| Assumed role immediately after Rendall's death in office. | |||||||
| Major Sir William Mackie (d. 1839) | October 1838 | 17 September 1839 | - Officer with the 88th Regiment of Foot | Thomas Lewis Ingram | |||
| Died in office. | |||||||
| Thomas Lewis Ingram (1807–1868) | 17 September 1839 | 10 April 1840 | - Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1837–1849) | Himself | |||
| Then-Acting Colonial Secretary. Appointed Acting Lieutenant Governor despite objections of Bathurst merchants. | |||||||
| Captain Sir Henry Vere Huntley RN (1795–1864) | 10 April 1840 | 31 May 1841 | - Captain of HMS Lynx | Thomas Lewis Ingram | |||
| Agreed cession of part of Kombo from King of Kombo in 1840, creating British Kombo. Left in May 1841. | |||||||
| Thomas Lewis Ingram (1807–1868) | 31 May 1841 | 1 April 1843 | - Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1837–1849) | Himself | |||
| Re-appointed after Huntley left the Gambia. | |||||||
| Governor | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Froude Seagram (1802–1843) | 1 April 1843 | 26 August 1843 | - Unknown | Thomas Lewis Ingram | Victoria | [1] [2] | |
| First Governor as a distinct colony. Almost immediately appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Sierra Leone. | |||||||
| Thomas Lewis Ingram (1807–1868) | 26 August 1843 | 7 August 1844 | - Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1837–1849) | Himself | |||
| Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | |||||||
| Edmund Nash Norcott (1794–1874) | 30 October 1843 | 15 March 1844 | - Unknown | Thomas Lewis Ingram | |||
| Did not take office. | |||||||
| Sir John Iles Mantell (1813–1893) | 7 August 1844 | 9 December 1844 | - Queen's Advocate in the Gambia (1841–1847) | Himself | |||
| Acting Governor while serving as Queen's Advocate. | |||||||
| Captain Charles Fitzgerald RN (1791–1887) | 9 December 1844 | 18 April 1847 | - Unknown | Thomas Lewis Ingram | |||
| Agreed cession of part of Kombo from King of Kombo, creating British Kombo. Left in May 1841. | |||||||
| Thomas Lewis Ingram (1807–1868) | 18 April 1847 | 21 December 1847 | - Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1837–1849) | Himself | |||
| Re-appointed after Fitzgerald left the Gambia. | |||||||
| Richard Graves MacDonnell (1814–1881) | 21 December 1847 | 18 August 1852 | - Chief Justice of the Gambia (1843–1847) | Thomas Lewis Ingram | |||
| Daniel Robertson (1813–1892) | 11 August 1851 | 12 March 1852 | - Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1849–1865) | Himself | |||
| Brief period as Acting Governor in place of MacDonnell. | |||||||
| Arthur Kennedy (1809–1883) | May 1852 | May 1852 | - Poor Law Commission administrator (1846–1851) | Daniel Robertson | |||
| Before formally taking up role, was re-appointed to Governor of Sierra Leone, so never entered office. | |||||||
| Daniel Robertson (1813–1892) | 18 August 1852 | 21 October 1852 | - Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1849–1865) | Himself | |||
| Appointed Acting Governor after MacDonnell left the Gambia, and after Kennedy did not take up role. | |||||||
| Lieutenant Colonel Luke Smythe O'Connor (1806–1873) | 21 October 1852 | 23 April 1859 | - Officer with the 1st West India Regiment | Daniel Robertson | |||
| Upper Kombo ceded to the British by the King of Kombo in 1853. Commanded British soldiers at both sackings of Sabbajee. Negotiated end to Soninke-Marabout War (1850–1856). Albreda ceded by the French to the British in 1857. | |||||||
| Daniel Robertson (1813–1883) | 23 April 1859 | 6 September 1859 | - Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1849–1865) | Himself | |||
| George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy (1818–1885) | 6 September 1859 | 19 February 1866 | - Officer with the 3rd West India Regiment | Daniel Robertson | |||
| Ma Bah begins attacks on the Soninke at Baddibu in 1862. Death of Maba Diakhou Bâ at the Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune in 1867. | |||||||
| Administrator | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy (1818–1885) | 19 February 1866 | 18 December 1866 | - Officer with the 3rd West India Regiment - Governor of the Gambia (1859–1866) | Unknown | Victoria | ||
| Rear Admiral Charles George Edward Patey RN (retd) (1811–1881) | 18 December 1866 | 21 April 1869 | - Administrator of Lagos (1866) | ||||
| Major Alexander Bravo (18??–18??) | 21 April 1869 | 12 September 1870 | - Unknown | ||||
| Acting Administrator during a major cholera outbreak in 1869. British government accepts proposals on cession to France in principle. Native petitions and opposition in the House of Commons leads to the abandonment of the proposal. | |||||||
| Lieutenant Colonel Henry Anton (1824–1871) | 12 September 1870 | 7 August 1871 | - Acting Administrator. | ||||
| Thomas F. Callaghan (1827–1881) | 7 August 1871 | 21 April 1872 | - Governor of Labuan (1861–1866) | ||||
| Henry William John Fowler (1842–1893) | 21 April 1872 | 7 October 1872 | - Acting Administrator. | ||||
| Captain Henry T. M. Cooper (1838–1877) | 7 October 1872 | 2 October 1873 | - Unknown | ||||
| Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright (1817–1897) | 2 October 1873 | 12 February 1875 | - Lieutenant Governor of Tobago (1864–1872) | ||||
| Captain Henry T. M. Cooper (1838–1877) | 12 February 1875 | 2 July 1875 | - Unknown | ||||
| Brigade Surgeon Samuel Rowe (retd) (1835–1888) | 2 July 1875 | 3 July 1875 | - Colonial Surgeon of the Gold Coast (1875) - Governor of Sierra Leone (1875–1881) | ||||
| Day after arrival, was re-assigned as Acting Governor of Sierra Leone. | |||||||
| Captain Henry T. M. Cooper (1838–1877) | 3 July 1875 | 9 January 1877 | - Unknown | ||||
| Tomani Bojang, last Soninke King of Kombo, surrenders to Fodi Silla. British government proposes cession to France again, but abandons the idea in 1876. Died in office. | |||||||
| William Hamilton Berkeley (18??–18??) | 9 January 1877 | 30 March 1877 | - Unknown | ||||
| Acting Administrator until the arrival of Gouldsbury. | |||||||
| Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Valesius Skipton Gouldsbury CMG (1839–1896) | 30 March 1877 | 3 March 1884 | - Civil Commandant at Accra | ||||
| Civil war in Baddibu begins in 1877. First issue of The Bathurst Observer and West African Gazette in 1883. J. D. Richards appointed as first African member of the Legislative Council in 1883. | |||||||
| Cornelius Alfred Moloney CMG (1848–1913) | 3 March 1884 | December 1885 | - Colonial Secretary of Lagos (1879–1884) | ||||
| Gilbert Thomas Carter CMG (1848–1927) | December 1885 | 8 February 1886 | - Treasurer and Postmaster of the Gambia (1882–1888) | ||||
| James Shaw Hay (1839–1924) | 8 February 1886 | 12 June 1886 | - Unknown | ||||
| Gilbert Thomas Carter CMG (1848–1927) | 12 June 1886 | 29 April 1887 | - Treasurer and Postmaster of the Gambia (1882–1888) | ||||
| From 1886 to December 1888, Carter was the Acting Administrator. | |||||||
| Brigade Surgeon Samuel Rowe (retd) (1835–1888) | 29 April 1887 | 27 November 1887 | - Governor of British West Africa (1885–1888) | ||||
| Effectively acting in this role from Sierra Leone. | |||||||
| Thomas Risely Griffith (1848–1???) | 27 November 1887 | 6 June 1888 | - Unknown - Governor of Sierra Leone (1875–1881) | ||||
| Acting Administrator from 6 June 1888 to 29 November 1888. | |||||||
| Gilbert Thomas Carter CMG (1848–1927) | 6 June 1888 | 2 March 1891 | - Treasurer and Postmaster of the Gambia (1882–1888) | ||||
| Acting Administrator from 6 June 1888 to 29 November 1888. The Gambia becomes separate colony for the last time in 1888 as administrative link with Sierra Leone is severed. Anglo-French agreement in 1889 fixes border of The Gambia. | |||||||
| Charles Herbert Harley Moseley (1857–1933) | 16 March 1891 | 19 April 1891 | - Unknown | ||||
| Robert Baxter Llewelyn (1845–1919) | 19 April 1891 | 21 March 1900 | - Commissioner of Saint Lucia (1889–1891) | ||||
| Fodi Kabba driven into Casamance by British forces in 1892. First Travelling Commissioners, J. H. Ozanne and C. F. Sitwell, appointed in 1893. First comprehensive ordnance for governing the colony in 1894. | |||||||
| Horace Major Brandford Griffith (1863–1909) | 21 March 1900 | 10 January 1901 | - Unknown | ||||
| Killing of Travelling Commissioners Sitwell and Silva in June 1900. | |||||||
| Sir George Chardin Denton KCMG FRGS FZS (1851–1928) | 10 January 1901 | 4 March 1901 | - Lieutenant Governor of Lagos (1900) | ||||
| Upgraded to Governor in March 1901. | Edward VII | ||||||
| Governor | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir George Chardin Denton KCMG FRGS FZS (1851–1928) | 11 January 1901 | 21 December 1911 | - Administrator of the Gambia (1901) | Charles O'Brien | Edward VII | ||
| Death of Fodi Kabba in 1901. Establishment of the Gambia Company in 1901. Expedition of parasitologist Joseph Everett Dutton. S. J. Forster appointed as permanent member of the Legislative Council for the first time in 1906, dies in 1940. | George V | ||||||
| Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Galway KCMG DSO (1859–1949) | 21 December 1911 | 30 January 1914 | - Governor of Saint Helena (1903–1911) | Charles O'Brien | |||
| Ordnance for governing the protectorate revised in 1913. | |||||||
| Cecil Gwyn (18??–19??) | 30 January 1914 | 10 April 1914 | - Unknown | ||||
| Sir Edward John Cameron KCMG (1858–1947) | 11 April 1914 | July 1920 | - Commissioner of Saint Lucia (1909–1914) | ||||
| Governor during World War I. Establishment of the Gambia Section of the National Congress of British West Africa in 1920. | |||||||
| Herbert Henniker-Heaton (1880–1961) | 1920 | 1921 | - Lieutenant Governor of Tobago (1864–1872) | ||||
| Sir Cecil Hamilton Armitage KBE CMG DSO (1869–1833) | 3 January 1921 | 10 March 1927 | - Chief Commissioner of the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast (1910–1920) | Charles R. M. Workman | |||
| Demonetization of the French franc in 1922. Ousman Jeng appointed to the Legislative Council representing the Muslims of Bathurst in 1922. First issue of The Gambia Outlook and Senegambian Reporter, published by Edward Francis Small, in 1922. Opening of the Armitage School in 1927. | |||||||
| Sir John Middleton KBE CMG (1870–1954) | 10 March 1927 | October 1928 | - Governor of the Falkland Islands (1920–1927) | Charles R. M. Workman | |||
| Charles Rufus Marshall Workman (1874–1942) | October 1928 | 29 November 1928 | - Unknown | ||||
| Acting Governor between Middleton's departure and Denham's arrival. | |||||||
| Sir Edward Brandis Denham GCMG KBE (1876–1938) | 29 November 1928 | 13 January 1930 | - Colonial Secretary of Kenya (1923–1928) | Charles R. M. Workman | |||
| Bathurst Trade Union formed in 1929. BTU organises successful strike the same year. Denham leaves shortly afterwards having found it difficult to cope. | |||||||
| Charles Rufus Marshall Workman (1874–1942) | 13 January 1930 | 11 September 1930 | - Unknown | ||||
| Acting Governor between Denham's departure and Palmer's arrival. | |||||||
| Sir Richmond Palmer KCMG CBE (1877–1958) | 11 September 1930 | 12 April 1933 | - Governor of Northern Nigeria (1925–1930) | Charles R. M. Workman Godfrey Charles Brian Parish | |||
| Bathurst Urban District Council (BUDC) formed in 1930. Sheikh Omar Fye appointed as Muslim member of the Legislative Council in 1932, replacing Jeng. He serves until 1947. BTU becomes first registered trade union in Africa. A general reorganization of government takes place in 1933. | |||||||
| Godfrey Charles Brian Parishh (1897–1934) | 12 April 1933 | April 1934 | - Unknown | Himself | |||
| Acting Governor between the departure of Palmer and the arrival of Richards. | |||||||
| Sir Arthur Richards GCMG (1885–1978) | April 1934 | 30 May 1936 | - Governor of North Borneo (1930–1934) | ||||
| Establishment of the Bathurst Advisory Town Council (BATC) in 1935, replacing the BUDC. | Edward VIII | ||||||
| Harris Rendell Oke (1891–1940) | 30 May 1936 | 22 October 1936 | - Unknown | Himself | |||
| Acting Governor between Richards' departure and Southorn's arrival. | |||||||
| Sir Thomas Southorn KCMG KBE (1879–1957) | 22 October 1936 | 23 March 1942 | - Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong (1925–1936) | Kenneth Blackburne | |||
| Governor during home front build-up in early World War II. | George VI | ||||||
| Sir Hilary Blood GBE KCMG (1893–1967) | 23 March 1942 | October 1946 | - Colonial Secretary of Sierra Leone (1934–1942) | Kenneth Blackburne George D. Chamberlain | |||
| Governor during the deployment of Gambia Regiment soldiers to Burma in 1944 and 1945. Drew up plans on how the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts funds were to be spent. Modernized the Bathurst water system, established a sewage system, paved streets, and improved the port. Established the Bathurst Town Council in 1946. Drew up 1947 Constitution that created direct elections. | |||||||
| George D. Chamberlain (1???–19??) | October 1946 | 29 March 1947 | - Unknown | Himself | |||
| Acting Governor between Blood's departure and Wright's arrival. | |||||||
| Lieutenant Colonel Sir Andrew Barkworth Wright (1895–1971) | 29 March 1947 | May 1949 | - Colonial Secretary of the Windward Islands (1943–1947) | ||||
| Yundum egg scheme failure. Organised first direct election to Legislative Council of Edward Francis Small in 1947. Began policy of Africanization of the civil service and the reduction of European privilege. Departure to Cyprus led to protests due to his popularity. | |||||||
| Edward Rex Ward (1902–19??) | May 1949 | December 1949 | - Unknown | Himself | |||
| Acting Governor between Wright's departure and Wyn-Harris' arrival. | |||||||
| Sir Percy Wyn-Harris (1903–1979) | December 1949 | 9 April 1958 | - Chief Native Commissioner of Kenya (1947–1949) | ||||
| Opposed broadly to the development of self-government. Expanded elected and unofficial places on the Executive and Legislative Councils. I.M. Garba-Jahumpa founds the Gambia Muslim Congress in 1952. Dismissal of Pierre Sarr N'Jie from the Executive Council. Wyn-Harris is unpopular among Colony, but popular among Protectorate due to efforts to improve conditions there. Forced to leave role incognito across the Senegal border. | Elizabeth II | ||||||
| Alexander Nicol Anton Waddell (1913–1999) | 9 April 1958 | 19 June 1958 | - Unknown | Himself | |||
| Acting Governor between Wyn-Harris' departure and Windley's arrival. | |||||||
| Sir Edward Henry Windley (1909–1972) | 19 June 1958 | 29 March 1962 | - Chief Native Commissioner of Kenya (1953–1958) | ||||
| Drew up 1959 Constitution which established the House of Representatives. Foundation of the People's Progressive Party in 1959. Explored possibility of union with Senegal. Gambia Workers' Union carries out successful general strike in 1960. Drew up 1961 Constitution that led to full self-government. Appointed Pierre Sarr N'Jie as Chief Minister in 1961. | |||||||
| Kenneth Graeme Stewart Smith (1918–2001) | 28 February 1962 | 29 March 1962 | - Unknown | Himself | |||
| Acting Governor between Windley's departure and Paul's arrival. | |||||||
| Captain Sir John Paul (1916–2004) | 29 March 1962 | 18 February 1965 | - Secretary to the Cabinet of Sierra Leone (1960–1962) | ||||
| Appointed Dawda Jawara as Prime Minister in 1962 following the 1962 election. First major census of the Gambia in 1963. Independence conference in London in 1964, post-independence agreements reached with Senegal. Independence from the UK on 18 February 1965, Paul becomes first Governor-General. | |||||||
This incumbent was acting in this position in the place of a formally-appointed incumbent.
Elizabeth II remained as monarch of The Gambia from 1965 to 1970 in her capacity as Queen of the Gambia.