The territorial evolution of the British Empire is considered to have begun with the foundation of the English colonial empire in the late 16th century. Since then, many territories around the world have been under the control of the United Kingdom or its predecessor states.When the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707 by the union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England, the latter country's colonial possessions passed to the new state. Similarly, when Great Britain was united with the Kingdom of Ireland in 1801 to form the United Kingdom, control over its colonial possessions passed to the latter state. Collectively, these territories are referred to as the British Empire. When much of Ireland gained independence in 1922 as the Irish Free State, the other territories of the empire remained under the control of the United Kingdom.
From 1714 to 1837, the British throne was held by a series of kings who were also the rulers of the German state of Hanover. However, this was purely a personal union, with Hanover maintaining its political independence otherwise, and so it is not usually considered to have formed part of the British Empire.
The nature of the territories (and peoples) ruled as part of the British Empire varied enormously. In legal terms the territories included those formally under the sovereignty of the British monarch (who held the additional title of Emperor/Empress of India from 1876 to 1947); various "foreign" territories controlled as protectorates; territories transferred to British administration under the authority of the League of Nations or the United Nations; and miscellaneous other territories, such as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, a condominium with Egypt. No uniform system of government was applied to any of these.
Several countries (dominions) within the British Empire gained independence in stages during the earlier part of the 20th century. Much of the rest of the empire was dismantled in the twenty years following the end of the Second World War, starting with the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, and continued until the handover of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997. There remain, however, fourteen territories around the world known as the British Overseas Territories which remain under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom.
Many of the former territories of the British Empire are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Fourteen of these (known, with the United Kingdom, as the 15 Commonwealth realms) retain the British monarch (currently Charles III) as head of state. The British monarch is also Head of the Commonwealth, but this is a purely symbolic and personal title; members of the Commonwealth (including the Commonwealth realms) are fully sovereign states.
From the 16th to the 20th centuries, the British Empire stretched from a total area at its peak in 1920 to over 35500000km2, the largest empire in the world.[1] In terms of population, on the eve of World War II, Britain and her colonial possessions totaled 500 million inhabitants. The British Empire had an enormous impact on world history. The United Kingdom had about 120 colonies throughout its history, the most colonies in the world, the French colonial empire came second, which had about 80 colonies.[2] Around 54 countries gained independence from the United Kingdom throughout its history, the most in the world, ahead of the French colonial empire, which 40 countries gained independence from France.[3]
The British Empire refers to the possessions, dominions, and dependencies under the control of the Crown. In addition to the areas formally under the sovereignty of the British monarch, various "foreign" territories were controlled as protectorates; territories transferred to British administration under the authority of the League of Nations or the United Nations; and miscellaneous other territories, such as the condominium of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The natures of the administration of the Empire changed both by time and place, and there was no uniform system of government in the Empire.[4]
Colonies were territories that were intended to be places of permanent settlement, providing land for their settlers. The Crown claimed absolute sovereignty over them, although they were not formally part of the United Kingdom itself. Generally, their law was the common law of England together with whatever British Acts of Parliament were also applied to them. Over time, a number of colonies were granted "responsible government", making them largely self-governing.
See main article: Crown colony.
A Crown colony: a type of colonial administration of the English and later the British Empire, whose legislature and administration was controlled by the Crown.[5] [6]
Crown colonies were ruled by a governor appointed by the monarch. By the middle of the 19th century, the sovereign appointed royal governors on the advice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This became the main method of creating and governing colonies.[7] Most Crown colonies, especially the white settler colonies had a bicameral legislature, consisting of an upper house usually called the Legislative council, which members were appointed and served a similar purpose as the British House of Lords. There also existed lower houses which were usually named the Legislative Assembly or House of Assembly. The lower house was usually elected, but suffrage was restricted to free white men only, usually with property ownership restrictions. Since land ownership was widespread, most white men could vote.[8] The governor also often had an Executive Council which had a similar function to the Cabinet in England but was not responsible to the colonial lower house. They held a consultative position, however, and did not serve in administrative offices as cabinet ministers do. Members of the Executive Council were not necessarily members of the lower house but were usually members of the upper house.[9] Later as the white colonies gained more internal responsible government, the lower house began to supersede the (usually unelected) upper house as the colonial legislature, and the position of Premier emerged.[10]
See main article: Charter colony.
Charter colony is one of the three classes of colonial government established in the 17th-century English colonies in North America. In a charter colony, the King granted a royal charter to the colonial government establishing the rules under which the colony was to be governed and charter colonies elected their own governors based on rules spelled out in the charter or other colonial legislation.[11]
See main article: Proprietary colony.
A number of colonies in the 16th and 17th centuries were granted to a particular individual; these were known as proprietary colonies. Proprietary colonies in America were governed by a Lord Proprietor, who, holding authority by virtue of a royal charter, usually exercised that authority almost as an independent sovereign. Eventually these were converted to Crown colonies.[12] [13]
See main article: Chartered company.
A chartered company is an association formed by investors or shareholders for the purpose of trade, exploration and colonization. Chartered companies were usually formed, incorporated and legitimized under a royal charter. This document set out the terms under which the company could trade, defined its boundaries of influence, and described its rights and responsibilities. Groups of investors formed companies to underwrite and profit from the exploration of Africa, India, Asia, the Caribbean and North America, under the patronage of the state. Some companies like the East India Company (the most famous), the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Royal African Company ruled large colonial possessions (especially in India), but the Hudson's Bay Company took control of the Hudson Bay drainage basin in Canada as Rupert's Land, and the Royal African Company started to ship slaves from West Africa to the Americas in the Atlantic slave trade.[14] [15]
See main article: British protectorate. A protectorate is a territory which is not formally annexed but in which, by treaty, grant or other lawful means, the Crown has power and jurisdiction. A protectorate differs from a "protected state". A protected state is a territory under a foreign ruler which enjoys British protection, over whose foreign affairs she exercises control, but in respect of whose internal affairs she does not exercise jurisdiction.[16]
See main article: Dominion.
Dominions were semi-independent polities that were nominally under the Crown, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the later part of the 19th century.[17] [18] The dominions had been previously Crown colonies, and some of the colonies had been united to form dominions such as Union of South Africa and Commonwealth of Australia. The Balfour Declaration of 1926 clarified the status of the dominions, recognizing them as "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations." The Statute of Westminster 1931 converted this status into legal reality, making them essentially independent members of what was then called the British Commonwealth. Initially, the Dominions conducted their own trade policy, some limited foreign relations, and had autonomous armed forces, although the British government claimed and exercised the exclusive power to declare wars. However, after the passage of the Statute of Westminster, the language of dependency on the Crown of the United Kingdom ceased, and the Crown itself was no longer referred to as the Crown of any place in particular but simply as "the Crown". Arthur Berriedale Keith, in Speeches and Documents on the British Dominions 1918–1931, stated that "the Dominions are sovereign international States in the sense that the King in respect of each of His Dominions (Newfoundland excepted) is such a State in the eyes of international law". After then, those countries that were previously referred to as "Dominions" became Commonwealth realms where the sovereign reigns no longer as the British monarch, but as monarch of each nation in its own right, and are considered equal to the United Kingdom and one another.[19]
See main article: League of Nations mandate.
Mandates were forms of territory created after the end of the First World War. A number of German colonies and protectorates and Ottoman provinces were held as mandates by the United Kingdom (Tanganyika, British Cameroons, Togoland, Palestine and Mesopotamia); and its dominions of Australia (New Guinea, Nauru), New Zealand (Western Samoa), and South Africa (South West Africa). These territories were governed on behalf of the League of Nations for the benefit of their inhabitants. Most converted to United Nations Trust Territories in 1946.[20]
See main article: British Raj.
The Indian Empire was the imperial political structure in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947, comprising British India (a Crown colony: presidencies and provinces directly governed by the British Crown through the Viceroy and Governor-General of India) and Princely States, governed by Indian princes, under the suzerainty of the British Crown exercised through the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.[21]
See main article: British Overseas Territories.
Within twenty years of the partition and independence in 1947 of India (considered to be the most important colonial possession), most of the Empire's territories had achieved full independence. Today 14 former colonies (since 2002 known as British Overseas Territories) remain under British rule; the term "colonies" is no longer officially used to describe these, although some parts of UK legislation still refer to the term "colony" (see for instance the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988, s.255(2), which explicitly reads that "Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that this Part shall extend (...) to (a) any of the Channel Islands, (b) the Isle of Man, or (c) any colony").
Almost all of the British Overseas Territories are islands (or groups of islands) with a small population; some are in very remote areas of the world. Of the territories with a permanent population, all have at least some degree of internal self-government, with the United Kingdom retaining responsibility for defence and external relations.
The fourteen British Overseas Territories are:
| !± | Part of the United Kingdom | |||
±: | Overseas territories | |||
| £IMP | Currency pegged to the GBP | CYP | Pound sterling derived currency | |
| !T | Common law legal system to various extent | [X] | Westminster style parliamentary system | |
| abc | English as a dominant or an official language | /\\/ | Left-hand traffic |
| Colour | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Present-day members of the Commonwealth | ||
| Present-day British Overseas Territories | ||
| Crown dependencies |
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashanti | 1901–1957 | Colony | Became a part of the dominion of Ghana |
| Basutoland | 1868 | Protectorate | Wanted to join the Cape Colony, but was authorized to join the Colony of Natal instead. Eventually was placed under direct authority of the High Commissioner for South Africa. |
| 1871 | Annexed to Cape Colony | ||
| 1884 | Colony | ||
| 1965 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1966 | Independent as Lesotho | ||
| Bechuanaland Protectorate | 1884–1965 | Protectorate | Resident Commissioner assigned 1884, but Protectorate status declared after treaties with several chiefs were signed in 1885 |
| 1965–66 | Self-governing protectorate | ||
| 1966 | Independent as Botswana | ||
| Bight of Benin | 1852–1861 | Protectorate | |
| 1861 | United with Bight of Biafra | ||
| Bight of Biafra | 1849–1861 | Protectorate | |
| 1861 | United with Bight of Benin | ||
| Bights of Biafra and Benin | 1861–1891 | Protectorate | |
| British Bechuanaland (see also under "Bechuanaland") | 1885–1895 | Crown colony | |
| 1895 | Incorporated into Cape Colony | Now a part of the Northern Cape and North West provinces of South Africa | |
| British Cameroons | 1916–1919 | Occupation | |
| 1919–1946 | League of Nations mandated territory | ||
| 1946–1961 | United Nations Trust Territory | ||
| 1961 | Northern part merged into Nigeria, southern part into the Republic of Cameroon | ||
| British East Africa | 1888–1895 | Territory leased to the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) by the Sultan of Zanzibar | |
| 1895–1920 | Protectorate | Territory included former IBEAC territories and the strip of Sultan of Zanizbar's dominions on the coast of Kenya which fell within the British sphere of influence | |
| 1920 | Became the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya | Lands of Sultan of Zanzibar on coast administered with the Colony as one unit | |
| British Somaliland | 1884–1960 | Protectorate | |
| 1960 | Independent as State of Somaliland | After 5 days merged with the Trust Territory of Somaliland as Somali Republic, in 1991 independent as Somaliland (unrecognised) | |
| Cape Colony | 1806–1910 | Colony | Became a province of the Union of South Africa as the "Cape of Good Hope" |
| Egypt | 1801–03 | Occupation | |
| 1882–1914 | Occupation | ||
| 1914–1922 | Protectorate | ||
| 1922 | Independence | ||
| Bioko | 1827–1855 | Leased territory | Island leased from Spain so that Royal Navy could undertake anti-slavery operations on West Coast of Africa. Main settlement was Port Clarence now known as Malabo |
| Gambia Colony and Protectorate | 1816–1965 | Colony | Protectorate declared over hinterland of Gambia River in 1894 |
| 1965 | Independence | ||
| Gold Coast | 1874–1957 | Colony | |
| 1957 | Independent as Ghana | Also incorporated British Togoland by plebiscite | |
| Kenya, Colony & Protectorate of | 1920–1963 | Colony | Previously part of British East Africa |
| 1963 | Independence | ||
| Lagos Protectorate | 1887–1906 | Protectorate, governed from the Lagos Colony | |
| 1906 | Incorporated into the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria | ||
| Southern Nigeria Protectorate | 1900–1906 | Protectorate, created from Niger Coast Protectorate and territories of the Royal Niger Company | |
| 1906 | Incorporated the Lagos Colony to be the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria | ||
| Libya, regions of Cyrenicia & Tripolitania only | 1942–1946 | British Military administration in Cyrenicia & Tripolitania | |
| 1946–1951 | Italian forces expelled, UN trusteeship of Cyrenicia & Tripolitania, administered by Britain | Fezzan region administered by France under trusteeship | |
| 1951 | Independent as the Kingdom of Libya | ||
| Natal | 1843–1910 | Colony | |
| 1910 | Became a province of the Union of South Africa | Now part of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| Niger Districts | 1885–1899 | Protectorate under the Royal Niger Company | |
| 1900 | Became part of Northern Nigeria | ||
| Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria | 1914–1954 | Created from the Colony & Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria | |
| 1954 | Became the self-governing Federation of Nigeria | ||
| Federation of Nigeria | 1954–1960 | Autonomous federation | Formed from the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria |
| 1960 | Independence | ||
| Northern Nigeria | 1900–1914 | Protectorate governed by the Colony of Southern Nigeria | |
| 1914 | Merged with Protectorate of Southern Nigeria to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria | ||
| Northern Territories of the Gold Coast | 1901–1957 | Protectorate | Annexed to form part of Her Majesty's dominions as part of the dominion of Ghana |
| Nyasaland known as the Nyasaland Districts until 1893, and then British Central Africa until 1907 | 1891–1964 | Protectorate | |
| 1964 | Independent as Malawi | ||
| Orange River Colony | 1900–1910 | Colony | |
| 1907 | Granted responsible government | ||
| 1910 | Became the Province of the Orange Free State in the Union of South Africa | ||
| Rhodesia | 1964-1965 | Now Zimbabwe | |
| Matabeleland | 1888–1894 | Protectorate under British South Africa Company (BSAC) | |
| 1894 | United with Mashonaland as South Zambezia in 1894 | ||
| Mashonaland | 1889–1894 | Protectorate under BSAC | |
| 1894 | United with Matabeleland as South Zambezia in 1894 | ||
| South Zambezia | 1894–95 | Protectorate under BSAC | |
| 1895 | United with North Zambezia as Rhodesia | ||
| Rhodesia | 1895–1901 | Protectorate under BSAC | |
| 1901 | Mashonaland and Matabeleland united as Southern Rhodesia | ||
| Northern Rhodesia | 1911–1924 | Protectorate under BSAC | Amalgamation of Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia |
| 1924–1953 | Protectorate | ||
| 1953–1963 | Part of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland | ||
| 1964 | Independent as Zambia | ||
| Southern Rhodesia | 1901–1923 | Protectorate under BSAC | |
| 1923—1953 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1953–1963 | Part of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland | ||
| 1964–65 | Self-governing colony | ||
| Rhodesia | 1965–1970 | Unilateral declaration of independence, with Elizabeth II as head of state | Not internationally recognised |
| 1970–1979 | Republic | Not internationally recognised | |
| Zimbabwe-Rhodesia | 1979 | Interim state | |
| 1979–80 | Crown colony | ||
| 1980 | Independent as Zimbabwe | ||
| Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate | 1787–1808 | Freed slave colony organised by Sierra Leone Company | |
| 1808–1821 | Crown colony | ||
| 1821–1850 | Part of British West African Settlements | ||
| 1850–1866 | Crown colony | ||
| 1866–1888 | Part of British West African Settlements | ||
| 1888–1895 | Colony | ||
| 1896–1961 | Colony and protectorate | ||
| 1961 | Independence | ||
| South Africa, Union of | 1910–1961 | Dominion | Formed by the federation of the Cape, Natal, Orange River, and Transvaal colonies |
| 1961 | Republic | Not a member of the Commonwealth between 1961 and 1994 | |
| Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian | 1899–1952 | Condominium with Egypt | |
| 1952–1956 | Self-rule | ||
| 1956 | Independent as Republic of Sudan | ||
| Swaziland | 1902–67 | Protectorate | |
| 1967–68 | Protected State | ||
| 1968 | Independence | ||
| Tangier | 1661 | Ceded to England by Portugal | |
| 1684 | Abandoned by England | ||
| Tangier International Zone | 1924 | Established as condominium between UK, France and Spain (later also Portugal, US, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands) | |
| 1940–1945 | Spanish occupation | ||
| 1956 | Zone dissolved, Tangier returned to Morocco | ||
| German East Africa | 1916–1922 | Occupation | |
| Tanganyika Territory | 1922–1946 | League of Nations mandated territory | |
| 1946–1961 | United Nations Trust Territory under Britain | ||
| 1961 | Independence | Merged with Zanzibar in 1964 to form Tanzania | |
| Tati Concessions Land | 1872–1893 | Concession | |
| 1893 | Detached from Matabeleland | ||
| 1893–1911 | Under protectorate of Bechuanaland | ||
| 1911 | Annexed to Bechuanaland | ||
| British Togoland | 1914–1916 | Occupation | Western half of erstwhile German Togoland occupied by both British and French forces 1914–16 |
| 1916–1922 | Administered by British only | ||
| 1922–1946 | League of Nations Mandate under Britain | ||
| 1946–1957 | United Nations Trust Territory under Britain | ||
| 1957 | Independence | Merged with Ghana upon independence after plebiscite | |
| (French) Togoland | 1914–16 | occupation | Eastern half of erstwhile German Togoland occupied by both British and French forces, then after 1916 administered by France only. In 1922, became LoN Mandate, then UN Trust Territory in 1946, also under France. Now the Republic of Togo since independence in 1960. |
| Transvaal | 1877–1884 | Colony | |
| 1884–1900 | Independent as South African Republic | ||
| 1900–1906 | Colony | ||
| 1906–1910 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1910 | Part of Union of South Africa | Now divided between the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West in South Africa | |
| Uganda | 1890–1893 | Occupied by British East Africa Company | |
| 1893–94 | Provisional protectorate | ||
| 1894–1962 | Protectorate | ||
| 1962 | Self-government | ||
| 1962 | Independence | ||
| Walvis Bay | 1795–1878 | Occupation | |
| 1878–1884 | Protectorate | ||
| 1884 | Part of Cape Colony | Now part of Namibia | |
| Zanzibar | 1890–1963 | Protectorate | |
| 1963 | Independence | Merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form Tanzania | |
| Zululand | 1887–1897 | Crown colony | |
| 1897 | Incorporation into Colony of Natal | Now part of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assiniboia | 1812–1836 | Colony | ||
| 1836 | Reverted to control of the Hudson's Bay Company | Now part of the province of Manitoba, Canada | ||
| Avalon | 1623–1637 | Palatinate | ||
| 1637 | Incorporated into Newfoundland | |||
| Bristol's Hope | 1618–1631 | Colony | ||
| 1631 | Abandoned and later as Newfoundland | |||
| British Columbia | 1858–1871 | Colony | ||
| 1871 | Incorporated into Canada | |||
| Canada, Dominion of | Dominion (1867–1931) | Formed by the federation of the provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia |
| |
| Canada, Lower | 1791–1841 | Province (colony) | Now the southern half of the province of Quebec, Canada | |
| 1841 | Merged with Upper Canada to form the Province of Canada | Re-established within the Dominion of Canada as the province of Quebec in 1867 | ||
| Canada, Province of | 1841–1867 | Colony | Formed by the amalgamation of the provinces of Lower and Upper Canada | |
| 1867 | Joined the Dominion of Canada as the provinces of Ontario and Quebec | (Now the southern halves of Ontario and Quebec) | ||
| Upper Canada | 1791–1841 | Province (colony) | Now the southern half of the province of | Ontario, Canada |
| 1841 | Merged with Lower Canada to form the Province of Canada | Re-established within the Dominion of Canada as the province of Ontario in 1867 | ||
| Cape Breton Island | 1763 | Incorporated into Nova Scotia | Previously under French sovereignty | |
| 1784 | Colony | Separated from Nova Scotia | ||
| 1820 | Re-incorporated into Nova Scotia | |||
| Carolina | 1663 | Proprietary colony | ||
| 1729 | Formally divided into Crown colonies of North & South Carolina | |||
| Carolina, North | 1729 | Crown colony | ||
| 1776 | Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of North Carolina | |||
| 1783 | Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain | |||
| Carolina, South | 1729 | Crown colony | ||
| 1776 | Declared independent as the state of South Carolina | |||
| 1783 | Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain | |||
| Connecticut | 1636 | Colony | Later incorporated the unchartered Saybrook Colony (1635–44) and New Haven Colony (1638–65) | |
| 1776 | Declared independent as the state of Connecticut | |||
| 1783 | Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain | |||
| Cuper's Cove | 1610–1621 | Colony | ||
| 1621 | Abandoned and later as Newfoundland | |||
| East Florida | 1763–1783 | Colony | ||
| 1783 | Returned to Spanish sovereignty | Now part of the state of Florida, United States | ||
| Georgia | 1732 | Proprietary colony | ||
| 1755 | Crown colony | |||
| 1776 | Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of Georgia | |||
| 1783 | Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain | |||
| Massachusetts Bay | 1629 | Colony | ||
| 1691 | United with Plymouth Colony | |||
| New Brunswick | 1784 | Colony | Separated from Nova Scotia | |
| 1867 | Became a province of Canada | |||
| New Hampshire | 1641 | Became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony | ||
| 1679 | Separate colony | |||
| 1686 | Became a province of Dominion of New England | |||
| 1691 | Separate colony | |||
| 1776 | Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of New Hampshire | |||
| 1783 | Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain | |||
| New Jersey | 1664–1673 | Proprietary Colony | Formed from portions of New Netherland and New Sweden | |
| 1673–1702 | Divided into separate colonies of East and West Jersey | |||
| 1702 | Royal colony | East & West Jersey re-unified | ||
| 1776 | Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of New Jersey | |||
| 1783 | Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain | |||
| New York | 1664–1685 | Proprietary colony | Formed after conquest of New Netherland | |
| 1685–1776 | Royal Province | |||
| 1776 | Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of New York | |||
| 1783 | Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain | |||
| Newfoundland | 1497–1583 | Claimed by England | ||
| 1583–1818 | Colony | |||
| 1818–1907 | Crown colony | |||
| 1907–1949 | Dominion | |||
| 1934–1949 | Commission of Government | Self-rule suspended, de jure Dominion by Royal prerogative | ||
| 1949 | Became a province of Canada | Now known as Newfoundland and Labrador | ||
| North-Western Territory | 1859–1871 | |||
| 1870 | Incorporated into the Northwest Territories of Canada | Now divided between the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan and territories of Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon | ||
| Nova Scotia | 1621–1632 | Scottish colony | ||
| 1654–1670 | English occupation | |||
| 1713 | Colony | |||
| 1848 | Granted responsible government | |||
| 1867 | Became a province of Canada | |||
| Prince Edward Island known as New Ireland until 1769, and as St. John's Island until 1799 | 1744–1748 | Occupation | ||
| 1758–1763 | Occupation | |||
| 1763–1769 | Part of Nova Scotia | |||
| 1769–1873 | Colony | |||
| 1873 | Became a province of Canada | |||
| Quebec | 1763–1791 | Province (colony) | Nominally included territory that is now part of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and (until 1783) the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin in the United States | |
| 1791 | Divided into the provinces of Lower Canada and Upper Canada | |||
| Renews | 1610–1623 | Colony | Abandoned and later became part of Newfoundland | |
| Rupert's Land | 1670–1870 | possession of Hudson's Bay Company | Nominally included territory that is now part of the Canadian territories and provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec, and (until 1818) parts of the US states of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota | |
| 1870 | Incorporated into Canada | |||
| South Falkland | 1623–1626 | Colony | Abandoned and later became part of Newfoundland | |
| Stikine Territory | 1862–1863 | Now divided between British Columbia and Yukon, Canada | ||
| Vancouver Island | 1849–1866 | Crown colony | ||
| 1866 | Merged into the colony of British Columbia | Now part of the province of British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Virginia | 1607 | Proprietary colony | ||
| 1624 | Crown colony | |||
| 1776 | Declared independent as the state of Virginia | |||
| 1783 | Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain | |||
| West Florida | 1763–1783 | Colony | ||
| 1783 | Southern part returned to Spanish sovereignty; sovereignty of northern part formally relinquished by Great Britain | Now part of the states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, United States | ||
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla | 1650–1696 | Colony under St. Christopher | |
| 1696–1816 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1816–1832 | Part of colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1832–1871 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands as colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1871–1882 | Part of the presidency of Saint Christopher (within the Leeward Islands) | ||
| 1882–1956 | Part of the presidency of Saint Christopher and Nevis (within the Leeward Islands) | ||
| 1956–1967 | Part of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla | ||
| 1967–1969 | Unilateral declaration of independence as Republic of Anguilla | ||
| 1969–1980 | Part of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla | ||
| 1980–1982 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory |  | |
| Antigua (incl. Barbuda from 1860) | 1632–1671 | Colony | |
| 1671–72 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1672–1816 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1816–1832 | Part of colony of Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat | ||
| 1832–33 | Colony | ||
| 1833–1871 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1871–1956 | Presidency within the Leeward Islands | ||
| 1956–1958 | Colony | ||
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1967 | Colony | ||
| 1967–1981 | Associated state | ||
| 1981 | Independent as Antigua and Barbuda | ||
| Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat | 1816–1832 | Colony | |
| 1832 | Dissolved | ||
| Bahamas | 1670–1684 | Proprietary colony | |
| 1684 | Occupied by Spain | ||
| 1718–1964 | Crown colony | ||
| 1964–1969 | Self-government | ||
| 1969–1973 | Commonwealth | ||
| 1973 | Independence | ||
| Barbados | 1624–1627 | Claimed by England | |
| 1627–1652 | Proprietary colony | ||
| 1652–1663 | Colony | ||
| 1663–1833 | Crown colony | ||
| 1833–1885 | Part of colony of Windward Islands | ||
| 1885–1958 | Colony | ||
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1966 | Colony | ||
| 1966 | Independence | ||
| Barbuda | 1628–1832 | Colony | |
| 1632–1671 | Dependency of Antigua | ||
| 1671–1816 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1816–1832 | Part of colony of Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat | ||
| 1832–33 | Colony | ||
| 1833–1860 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1860 | Annexed to Antigua | ||
| 1976–1980 | Autonomous | ||
| 1980 | Unilateral declaration of independence | – | |
| 1981 | Independence as part of Antigua and Barbuda | ||
| Bay Islands[22] | 1643–early 18th century | Sporadic, short-lived settlements | |
| 1742–1748 | Colony of Port Royal (Roatan). Spanish sovereignty recognized in 1748 | ||
| 1749–1782 | Illegal but well-established English settlements. Spanish occupation and expulsion of settlers in 1782 | ||
| 1852–1860 | Colony of the Bay Islands. Surrendered to Honduras in 1860 | ||
| Belize – see under "British Honduras" | |||
| British Honduras | 1665–1742 | Settlement | |
| 1742–1840 | Settlement subordinated to Jamaica | ||
| 1840–1862 | Colony subordinated to Jamaica | ||
| 1862–1884 | Crown colony subordinated to Jamaica | ||
| 1884–1954 | Crown colony | ||
| 1954–1964 | Autonomy | ||
| 1964–1981 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1973 | Renamed "Belize" | ||
| 1981 | Independence | ||
| British Virgin Islands | 1666–1672 | Occupation | |
| 1672–1713 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands as part of Antigua | ||
| 1713–1816 | Crown colony part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1816–1832 | Part of colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1832–1871 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands as colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1871–1956 | Presidency within the Leeward Islands | ||
| 1956–1960 | Part of territory of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1960–1967 | Colony | ||
| 1967–1982 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Cayman Islands | 1670–1958 | Colony; administered from Jamaica | |
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1982 | Crown colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory |  | |
| Dominica | 1763–1778 | Occupation | |
| 1778 | Ceded to France | ||
| 1784–1871 | Colony | ||
| 1871–1939 | Presidency within the Leeward Islands | ||
| 1940–1958 | Colony within the Windward Islands | ||
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1967 | Colony | ||
| 1967–1978 | Associated state | ||
| 1978 | Independence | ||
| Grenada | 1762–63 | Occupation | |
| 1763–1779 | Part of colony of South Caribbean Islands | ||
| 1779 | Occupied by France | ||
| 1783–1802 | Part of colony of South Caribbean Islands | ||
| 1802–1833 | Colony | ||
| 1833–1958 | Part of Windward Islands | ||
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1967 | Colony | ||
| 1967–1974 | Associated state | ||
| 1974 | Independence | ||
| Old Providence | 1628–1630 | Initial settlement by English colonists | |
| 1630–1641 | Chartered colony under the Providence Island Company | ||
| 1641 | Captured by Spain, became part of New Granada | ||
| Jamaica | 1655–1670 | Occupation | |
| 1670–1953 | Colony | ||
| 1953–1958 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962 | Independence | ||
| Leeward Islands | 1671–1816 | Colony | |
| 1833–1871 | Colony | ||
| 1871–1956 | Federal colony | Comprised the presidencies of Antigua (incl. Barbuda), Dominica (to 1939), Montserrat, Nevis, Saint Kitts (incl. Anguilla, and combined with Nevis in 1883), and the Virgin Islands | |
| 1956–1960 | Territory | ||
| 1960 | Dissolved | ||
| Montserrat | 1632–1667 | Colony part of Antigua | |
| 1667 | Occupied by France | ||
| 1668–1782 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1784–1816 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1816–1832 | Part of colony of Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat | ||
| 1832–33 | Colony part of Antigua | ||
| 1833–1871 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1871–1956 | Presidency within the Leeward Islands | ||
| 1956–1958 | Colony | ||
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1982 | Colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory |  | |
| Mosquito Coast | 1668–1786 | Protectorate | |
| 1787–1861 | Protectorate | ||
| 1861 | Incorporated into Nicaragua and Honduras | ||
| Nevis | 1628–1671 | Colony subordinated to Barbados | |
| 1671–1701 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1701–1704 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands under Antigua | ||
| 1704–1816 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1816–1833 | Part of colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1833–1871 | Part of Leeward Islands as colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1871–1883 | Presidency within the Leeward Islands | ||
| 1883 | Amalgamated with Saint Kitts to form the presidency of Saint Christopher and Nevis (within the Leeward Islands) | ||
| Redonda | 1860s–1967 | British possession | |
| 1967 | Dependency of Antigua | ||
| St. Christopher (Saint Kitts) | 1623–1666 | Colony | |
| 1666 | Occupied by France | ||
| 1671–1701 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1701–1704 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands under Antigua | ||
| 1704–1782 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1782 | Occupied by France | ||
| 1783–1816 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1816–1833 | Part of colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1833–1871 | Part of Leeward Islands as colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands | ||
| 1871–1882 | Part of colony of Leeward Islands | ||
| 1882 | Amalgamated with Nevis to form the presidency of Saint Christopher-Nevis (within the Leeward Islands) | ||
| St. Christopher and Nevis | 1882–1958 | Presidency within the Leeward Islands | |
| 1958–1962 | Part of province of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1967 | Part of colony of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla | ||
| 1967–1980 | Part of associated state of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla | ||
| 1980–1983 | Associated state | ||
| 1983 | Independence | ±: | |
| St. John | 1801–02 | Occupation | |
| 1807–1815 | Occupation | Now part of the United States Virgin Islands | |
| St. Lucia | 1605–1640 | Settlement | |
| 1640 | Abandoned | ||
| 1664–1667 | Occupation | ||
| 1762–63 | Occupation | ||
| 1781–1783 | Occupation | ||
| 1794–95 | Occupation | ||
| 1796–1802 | Occupation | ||
| 1803–1838 | Colony | ||
| 1838–1958 | Crown colony part of colony of Windward Islands | ||
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1967 | Crown colony | ||
| 1967–1979 | Associated state | ||
| 1979 | Independence | ||
| Saint Martin | 1690–1699 | Occupation | |
| 1801–02 | Occupation | ||
| St. Thomas | 1801–02 | Occupation | |
| 1807–1815 | Occupation | Now part of the United States Virgin Islands | |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 1627–1636 | Claimed | |
| 1672 | Claimed | ||
| 1762–63 | Occupation | ||
| 1763–1776 | Colony | ||
| 1776–1779 | Crown colony | ||
| 1779 | Occupied by France | ||
| 1783–1833 | Crown colony | ||
| 1833–1958 | Part of colony of Windward Islands | ||
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1969 | Colony | ||
| 1969–1979 | Associated state | ||
| 1979 | Independence | ||
| South Caribbean Islands | 1763–1802 | Colony | |
| 1802 | Dissolved | Included the present-day countries of Dominica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the island of Tobago | |
| Tobago | 1762–1764 | Part of colony of Windward Islands | |
| 1764–1781 | Colony | ||
| 1781 | Colony of France | ||
| 1793–1802 | Occupation | ||
| 1802 | Colony of France | ||
| 1803–1833 | Crown colony | ||
| 1833–1888 | Part of colony of Windward Islands | ||
| 1889 | Amalgamated with Trinidad | ||
| Tortuga | 1631–1635 | Colony | |
| 1635 | French possession | Now part of Haiti | |
| Trinidad | 1802–1888 | Colony | |
| 1889 | Amalgamated with Tobago as "Trinidad and Tobago" | ||
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1889–1958 | Colony | |
| 1958–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962 | Independence | ||
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 1799–1848 | Colony part of Bahamas | |
| 1848–1874 | Colony | ||
| 1874–1959 | Colony part of Jamaica | ||
| 1959–1962 | Province of West Indies Federation | ||
| 1962–1982 | Colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Virgin Islands – see under "British Virgin Islands" | |||
| West Indies Federation | 1958–1962 | Federation of colonies | |
| 1962 | Dissolution | Included the present-day countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados; Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, and the British Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos Islands | |
| Windward Islands | 1833–1956 | Colony | |
| 1956–1960 | Territory | ||
| 1960 | Dissolution | Included the present-day countries of Barbados (to 1885), Grenada, Dominica (from 1940), St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and (until 1889) the island of Tobago | |
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berbice | 1781–82 | Subordinated to Barbados | |
| 1782 | Occupied by France | ||
| 1796–1802 | Occupied | ||
| 1802 | Restored to the Netherlands | ||
| 1803–1814 | Occupied | ||
| 1814–1831 | Colony | ||
| 1831 | United with Demerara-Essequibo to form British Guiana | Now part of Guyana | |
| British Guiana | 1831–1961 | Colony | Formed by the merger of the colonies of Berbice and Demerara-Essequibo |
| 1961–1966 | Self-rule | ||
| 1966 | Independent as Guyana | ||
| Demerara | 1781–82 | Subordinated to Barbados | |
| 1782 | French occupation | ||
| 1796–1802 | Occupied | ||
| 1802 | Restored to Netherlands | ||
| 1803–1814 | Occupied | ||
| 1814 | Merged with Essequibo to form Demerara-Essequibo | ||
| Demerara-Essequibo | 1814–1831 | Colony | Formed by the merger of the separate colonies of Demerara and Essequibo |
| 1831 | United with Berbice to form British Guiana | ||
| Essequibo | 1781–82 | Subordinated to Barbados | |
| 1782 | French occupation | ||
| 1796–1802 | Occupied | ||
| 1802 | Restored to the Netherlands | ||
| 1803–1814 | Occupied | ||
| 1814 | Merged with Demerara to form Demerara-Essequibo | ||
| Oyapoc | 1620 | Settlement | Now in Guyana |
| Pomeroon | 1666–67 | Occupied | |
| 1689 | Occupation | ||
| 1689 | Incorporated into Essequibo | Now in Guyana | |
| Willoughby | 1652–1688 | Settlement | |
| 1688 | Dutch occupation | Now Paramaribo, in Suriname | |
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aden | 1839 | Colony subordinate to Bombay Presidency British India | |
| 1932 | Separate province of British India | ||
| 1937 | Separate Crown colony | ||
| 1963 | Part of Federation of South Arabia | ||
| Afghanistan | 1879 | Protected state[23] | |
| 1919 | Independence | ||
| Assam | 1874–1905 | Province of British India | |
| 1905–1912 | Incorporated into the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam | ||
| 1912–1947 | Province of British India | Now a state of the Republic of India | |
| Bahrain | 1880 | Protectorate | |
| 1961–1971 | Autonomous | ||
| 1971 | Independence | Invited to join the Trucial States, but declined | |
| Baluchistan | 1877–1896 | Province | |
| 1896–1947 | Province of British India | ||
| 1947 | Part of Pakistan | Now part of Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, in Pakistan | |
| Bantam | 1603–1609 | Station | |
| 1609–1617 | Factory | ||
| 1617–1621 | Presidency | ||
| 1621 | Expelled by the Dutch | ||
| 1630–1634 | Subordinated to Surat | ||
| 1634–1652 | Presidency | ||
| 1652–1682 | Subordinated to Surat | ||
| 1682 | Expelled by the Dutch | Now in Indonesia | |
| Bencoolen ("Fort York", later "Fort Marlborough") | 1685–1760 | Coastal settlements of southwestern Sumatra, subordinated to Madras | |
| 1760–1785 | Presidency | ||
| 1785–1825 | Subordinated to Bengal Presidency | ||
| 1825 | Part of Dutch East Indies | Now Bengkulu, in Indonesia | |
| Bengal ("Fort William") | 1634–1658 | Factories | |
| 1658–1681 | Subordinated to Madras | ||
| 1681–82 | Agency | ||
| 1682–1694 | Presidency of Coromandel and Bengal Settlements | ||
| 1694–1698 | Subordinated to Madras | ||
| 1698–1700 | Presidency of Coromandel and Bengal Settlements | ||
| 1700–1774 | Presidency | ||
| 1774–1905 | Presidency of British India | ||
| 1905–1912 | Partitioned between [West] Bengal and Eastern Bengal and Assam | ||
| 1912–1937 | Presidency of British India | ||
| 1937–1947 | Province of British India | ||
| 1947 | Divided between India (West Bengal) and Pakistan (East Bengal) | Now Bangladesh, and part of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand, in India | |
| Brunei | 1888 | Protectorate | |
| 1967 | Protected state | ||
| 1984 | Independence | ||
| Burma (now called Myanmar) | 1824–1852 | Arakan, Tenasserim | |
| 1852–1886 | Lower Burma | ||
| 1885–1886 | Upper Burma | ||
| 1886 | Lower and Upper Burma United as province of British India | ||
| 1937 | Separate Crown Colony | ||
| 1948 | Independence | Name changed to Myanmar after a military junta in 1989. | |
| Eastern Bengal and Assam | 1905–1912 | Province of British India | Established upon the partition of Bengal (1905) |
| 1912 | Partition reversed | Split between the re-established province of Assam and the re-constituted presidency of Bengal | |
| Ceylon | 1795 | Ceded by the Dutch and subordinated to the Madras presidency of British India | |
| 1798 | Separate Crown colony | ||
| 1948 | Independence | Now the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka | |
| Dansborg | 1801–02 | Occupied | |
| 1808–1815 | Occupied | ||
| 1845 | purchased and incorporated into British India | Now in Tamil Nadu state, India | |
| Frederiksnagore | 1801–02 | Occupied | |
| 1808–1815 | Occupied | ||
| 1845 | Purchased and incorporated into British India | Now in West Bengal state, India | |
| Hong Kong | 1841 | Hong Kong Island occupied | |
| 1843–1982 | Crown colony | ||
| 1860 | Kowloon and Stonecutters Island ceded by China | ||
| 1898 | New Territories leased from China for 99 years | ||
| 1942–1945 | Occupied by Japan | ||
| 1945–1946 | Military administration | ||
| 1983–1997 | Dependent territory | ||
| 1997 | Handover to China as a special administrative region | ||
| Kuwait | 1899 | Protectorate | |
| 1961 | Independence | ||
| Indian Empire (British Raj) | 1613 | Company rule in India | |
| 1858 | Crown rule over the Indian Princely states, the Presidencies and provinces of British India | ||
| 1947 | Independent as India & Pakistan after partition | ||
| Mandatory Iraq | 1920–1932 | League of Nations mandate never passed, replaced by Anglo-Iraqi treaty with the Kingdom of Iraq | |
| Java and the Spice Islands | 1811–1816 | Occupied | restored to the Netherlands |
| Malaya | 1824 | Transferred following Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 | |
| 1824–1867 | Territory of British East India Company | ||
| 1867–1946 | Straits Settlements, Crown colony | ||
| 1895–1946 | Federated Malay States, protectorate | ||
| 1885–1946 | Johor, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States) | ||
| 1909–1946 | Kedah, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States) | ||
| 1909–1946 | Kelantan, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States) | ||
| 1909–1946 | Perlis, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States) | ||
| 1909–1946 | Terengganu, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States) | ||
| 1942–1945 | Japanese occupation | ||
| 1945–1946 | Military Administration | ||
| 1946–1948 | Malayan Union | ||
| 1948–1957 | Federation of Malaya | ||
| 1957–1963 | Independent state | ||
| 1963 | Annex North Borneo and Sarawak forming the renamed federation of Malaysia | ||
| North Borneo | 1882–1946 | Protectorate | |
| 1945–1946 | Military administration | Labuan to British N. Borneo on 15 July 1946 | |
| 1946–1963 | Crown colony | Labuan to British N. Borneo on 15 July 1946 | |
| 1963 | Self-government | ||
| 1963 | Annexed by Malaya into Malaysia | ||
| Palestine | 1920 | Mandate | |
| 1948 | British mandate dissolved; proposed partition plans never materialized; Israel established immediately after British withdrawal, with the short-lived All-Palestine government following six months later, and later the partially recognised State of Palestine | ongoing territorial dispute, see Israeli–Palestinian conflict | |
| Pulo Condore Island (Côn Đảo) | 1702 | Possession of British East India Company | |
| 1705 | Abandoned | Now Côn Đảo, in Vietnam | |
| Sarawak | 1888–1946 | Protected States | |
| 1945–1946 | Military administration | ||
| 1946–1963 | Crown colony | ||
| 1963 | Self-government | ||
| 1963 | Annexed by Malaya into Malaysia | ||
| Straits Settlements | 1826–1858 | Possession under British East India Company | Now divided between Malacca and Penang, in Malaysia, and Singapore |
| 1858–1867 | Subordinated to British India | ||
| 1867–1946 | Crown colony | ||
| 1942–1945 | Occupied by Japan | ||
| 1946 | Dissolved | ||
| Qatar | 1916–1971 | Protectorate | |
| 1971 | Independence | Invited to join the Trucial States, but declined | |
| Surat | 1612–1658 | Factory | |
| 1658–1668 | Presidency | ||
| 1668–1685 | Possession under British East India Company | ||
| 1685–1703 | Subordinated to Bombay | ||
| 1703 | Incorporated into Bombay | Now in India | |
| Singapore | 1824 | Purchased | |
| 1824 | Part of Straits Settlements (as residency of the Presidency of Bengal) | ||
| 1867–1946 | Part of Straits Settlements (crown colony) | ||
| 1946–1955 | Crown colony | ||
| 1955–1959 | self-governing colony | ||
| 1959–1963 | State of Singapore | ||
| 1963–1965 | Part of Malaysia | ||
| 1965 | Independence | ||
| Transjordan | 1920 | Part of Palestine Mandate | Now known as Jordan |
| 1923 | Formally separated from Palestine | ||
| 1928 | Emirate independent, except military and finance control | ||
| 1946 | Formal independence as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan | ||
| Trucial States | 1892 | Protectorate | |
| 1971 | Formation of Federation of Arab Emirates | Now part of the United Arab Emirates | |
| Weihaiwei | 1898–1930 | Leased from China | |
| 1930 | Returned to the Republic of China | Now part of the People's Republic of China | |
| West Bengal ("Bengal") | 1905–1912 | Province of British India | Established by the partition of Bengal. Abolished with the reversal of the partition and the creation of the new province of Bihar and Orissa. |
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akrotiri and Dhekelia | 1960–present | Sovereign Base Areas | |
| Alderney | 1198–1204 | Lordship | |
| 1204 | Fiefdom | ||
| 1205 | Fiefdom | ||
| 1206–1279 | Fiefdom | ||
| 1279 | Briefly occupied by France | ||
| 1279–1660 | Part of bailiwick of Guernsey | ||
| 1660–1825 | Seigneurie | ||
| 1825 | Subordinated to Guernsey | ||
| 1940–1945 | Occupied by Germany | ||
| 1945 | Restored to Britain | ||
| Cyprus | 1878 | Administration while nominally remaining part of the Ottoman Empire | |
| 1914 | Annexation | ||
| 1925 | Crown colony | ||
| 1960 | Independence | Two sovereign base areas remain under British sovereignty; see under "Akrotiri and Dhekelia" | |
| Dunkirk | 1658–1662 | Town and surrounding hinterland | |
| 1662 | Incorporated into France | ||
| England | 927 | Kingdom formed | |
| 1282 | Conquest of principality of Gwynedd (last remaining independent Welsh principality) | ||
| 1536 | Annexation of Principality of Wales and Marcher Lordships into England | ||
| 1603 | Personal union with Scotland | ||
| 1649 | Republic as the Commonwealth of England. Scotland and Ireland united with England | ||
| 1660 | End of Republic. Scotland independent again but in personal union with England | ||
| 1707 | Political union with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain | Treaty of Union 1706 and Acts of Union 1707 | |
| Gibraltar | 1704 | Captured by Britain | |
| 1713 | Colony | Ceded by Spain Treaty of Utrecht 1713 | |
| 1983 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory |  Sovereignty claimed by Spain | |
| Great Britain, Kingdom of | 1707 | Formed by union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland | |
| 1801 | Union of Great Britain with Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | ||
| Guernsey (incl. islands of Brecqhou, Herm, Jethou, Lihou, and Sark) | 1198–1204 | Lordship | |
| 1204–1205 | Fiefdom | ||
| 1206–1279 | Fiefdom | ||
| 1279–1940 | Bailiwick | ||
| 1940–1945 | Occupied by Germany | ||
| 1945–present | Bailiwick | ||
| Heligoland | 1807–1814 | Occupied | |
| 1814–1890 | Colony | ||
| 1890 | Incorporated into Germany | ||
| 1945–1952 | Occupied | ||
| United States of the Ionian Islands | 1809–1815 | Occupied | |
| 1815–1864 | United States of Ionian Islands, under British protection | ||
| 1864 | Incorporated into Greece | ||
| Ireland | 1172 | Lordship | Papal Bull Laudabiliter 1155 |
| 1541 | Kingdom subordinated to the English (later British) Crown | ||
| 1801 | Merged with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | Act of Union 1800 | |
| Irish Free State | 1922 | Independence from the United Kingdom | Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921 |
| 1949 | Declared a Republic | ||
| Isle of Man | 1266–1290 | Fiefdom under Scotland | |
| 1313–1317 | Fiefdom under Scotland | ||
| 1328–1333 | Fiefdom under Scotland | ||
| 1333–1504 | Fiefdom | ||
| 1504–1594 | Lordship | ||
| 1594–1610 | Direct Crown rule | ||
| 1610–1649 | Lordship | ||
| 1649–1660 | Commonwealth and protectorate | ||
| 1660–1765 | Lordship | ||
| 1765–1827 | Possession | ||
| 1827–present | Crown dependency | ||
| Jersey | 1204 | Fiefdom subordinated to Guernsey | |
| 1204–1205 | Fiefdom subordinated to Guernsey | ||
| 1206–1279 | Fiefdom subordinated to Guernsey | ||
| 1279–1380 | Bailiwick subordinated to Guernsey | ||
| 1382–1461 | Bailiwick subordinated to Guernsey | ||
| 1468–1487 | Bailiwick subordinated to Guernsey | ||
| 1487–1940 | Bailiwick | ||
| 1940–1945 | Occupied by Germany | ||
| 1945–present | Bailiwick | ||
| Malta | 1800–1813 | Protectorate | |
| 1813–1921 | Crown colony | ||
| 1921–1933 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1933–1947 | Crown colony | ||
| 1947–1958 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1958–1961 | Crown colony | ||
| 1961–1964 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1964 | Independence | ||
| Menorca | 1708–1713 | Occupied | |
| 1713 | Ceded to Britain | ||
| 1714–1756 | Colony | ||
| 1756 | Occupied by France | ||
| 1798–1802 | Colony | ||
| 1802 | Restored to Spain | ||
| Rockall | 1955 | Annexed as the latest territorial addition to the United Kingdom. | |
| 1972 | Made part of Scotland under Island of Rockall Act 1972. | ||
| Sicily | 1806–1815 | Protectorate | |
| 1816 | creation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies | ||
| Scotland | 1603 | Personal union with England | |
| 1649 | United with England and Ireland as the Commonwealth of England. | ||
| 1660 | Independent again but in personal union with England | ||
| 1707 | Political union with England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain | Treaty of Union 1706 and Acts of Union 1707 | |
| United Kingdom | 1801 | Formed by the union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland | |
| 1922 | Secession of the Irish Free State | ||
| 1927 | Formal name changed from "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" to "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" | ||
| Wales (Cymru) | 1282 | Occupied | |
| 1535 | Annexed into England by Act of English Parliament | ||
| 1999 | Devolved National Assembly established (renamed to Senedd (Parliament) in 2020) | ||
(Territories south of 60° S)
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Antarctic Territory | 1962–1982 | Colony | |
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Enderby Land | 1930–1933 | Claimed | |
| 1933 | Transferred to Australia | Now part of the Australian Antarctic Territory | |
| Graham Land | 1832 | Annexed | |
| 1908–1962 | Dependency of Falkland Islands | ||
| 1962–present | Part of the British Antarctic Territory | ||
| South Orkney | 1821–1908 | Claimed | |
| 1908–1962 | Dependency of the Falkland Islands | ||
| 1962–present | Part of the British Antarctic Territory | ||
| South Shetland | 1819–1908 | Claimed | |
| 1908–1962 | Dependency of the Falkland Islands | ||
| 1962–present | Part of the British Antarctic Territory | ||
| Victoria Land | 1841–1933 | Claimed | |
| 1933 | Transferred to Australia | Now part of the Australian Antarctic Territory |
(Islands in the Atlantic Ocean)
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Island | 1815–1922 | Possession | |
| 1922–2009 | Dependency of St Helena | ||
| 2009–present | Part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | ||
| Bermuda | 1612–1684 | Colony | |
| 1684–1968 | Crown colony | ||
| 1968–1982 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Falkland Islands | 1766 | West Falkland settled | |
| 1774 | Settlement withdrawn | ||
| 1774–1833 | Claimed | ||
| 1833 | Settlement re-established | ||
| 1841–1892 | Crown colony | ||
| 1892–1908 | Colony | ||
| 1908–1962 | Colony | ||
| 1962 | The Falkland Islands Dependencies of South Shetland, South Orkney, and Graham Land are established as the separate colony of British Antarctic Territory | ||
| 1962–1982 | Colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (formerly known as "St. Helena and its Dependencies") | 1588–1673 | St Helena claimed | |
| 1673–1815 | Possession of the East India Company | ||
| 1815–1821 | Crown colony | ||
| 1821–1834 | Possession of British East India Company | ||
| 1834–1982 | Crown colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands | 1775–1908 | Claimed | |
| 1908–1985 | Dependency of the Falkland Islands | ||
| 1985–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Tristan da Cunha | (1816–1938) | Dependency of the Cape Colony | |
| 1938–2009 | Dependency of St. Helena | ||
| 2009–present | Part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha |
(Islands in the Indian Ocean)
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 1789 | British take possession of the Andaman Islands | |
| 1848 | British take possession of the Nicobar Islands | ||
| 1942–1945 | Japanese occupation | ||
| 1947 | Became part of India upon its independence | Now a union territory of India | |
| Ashmore Island | 1878 | Annexed | |
| 1931 | Transferred to Australia | Now administered as part of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands | |
| Cartier Island | 1909–1931 | Annexed | |
| 1931 | Transferred to Australia | Now administered as part of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands | |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | 1810–1814 | Occupied | |
| 1814 | Ceded to the United Kingdom by the Treaty of Paris | ||
| 1814–1903 | Part of the colony of Seychelles | ||
| 1903–1965 | Part of colony of Mauritius | ||
| 1965–1982 | Colony | ||
| 1976 | The Aldabra Group, the Des Roches islands, and the Farquhar Group/Des Roches are restored to the Seychelles | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Christmas Island | 1888 | Annexed | |
| 1889–90 | Leased | ||
| 1900–1942 | Dependency of the colony of Straits Settlement | ||
| 1942–1945 | Japanese occupation | ||
| 1945–46 | Military administration | ||
| 1946–1958 | Dependency of the colony of Singapore | ||
| 1958 | Crown colony | ||
| 1958 | Transferred to Australia | ||
| Cocos Islands | 1825; 1826–1831 | Settlement | |
| 1831–1857 | Fiefdom | ||
| 1857–1878 | Crown colony | ||
| 1878–1886 | Part of Ceylon | ||
| 1886–1942 | Part of the colony of the Straits Settlements | ||
| 1942–1946 | Part of Ceylon | ||
| 1946–1955 | Dependency of the Colony of Singapore | ||
| 1955 | transferred to Australia | Now the Australian territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands | |
| Heard Island and McDonald Islands | 1833–1947 | Claimed | |
| 1947 | Transferred to Australia | Now the Australian territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
| Maldives | 1796–1953 | Protectorate | |
| 1953–54 | Republic | ||
| 1954–1965 | Protectorate | See also the United Suvadive Republic (1959–1963) | |
| 1965 | Independence | ||
| Mauritius | 1809 | Occupation of Rodrigues | |
| 1810–1968 | Colony | ||
| 1814 | Formal cession by the Treaty of Paris | ||
| 1965 | The Chagos Archipelago is transferred to the British Indian Ocean Territory | ||
| 1968 | Independence | ||
| Seychelles | 1794–1810 | Occupied | |
| 1810–1814 | Colony subordinated to Mauritius | ||
| 1814 | Formal cession by the Treaty of Paris | ||
| 1814–1903 | Colony | ||
| 1903–1970 | Crown colony | ||
| 1970–1975 | Self-governing colony | ||
| 1975–76 | Self-rule | ||
| 1976 | Independence | ||
| Name of territory | Dates | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1901–1942 | Dominion | |
| 1942 | Adopted the Statute of Westminster into domestic law | ||
| Baker Island | 1886–1934 | Claimed | Now a territory of the United States |
| Bonin Islands | 1827–1876 | Claimed | |
| 1876 | Annexed by Japan | ||
| British New Guinea | 1884–1886 | Protectorate | |
| 1886–1906 | Colony | ||
| 1906 | Transferred to Australia | Now part of Papua New Guinea | |
| Cook Islands | 1888–1891 | Protectorate | |
| 1891–1900 | Federation | ||
| 1900 | Annexed by New Zealand | ||
| 1965 | Self-governance | ||
| Coral Sea Islands | 1879–1969 | Part of Queensland, Australia | |
| 1969 | Became an Australian external territory | ||
| Fiji | 1874–1877 | Colony | |
| 1877–1952 | Colony administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1952–1970 | Colony | ||
| 1970 | Independence | ||
| Friendly Islands (Tonga) | 1889–1900 | Tripartite protectorate | |
| 1900–1952 | Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1952–1970 | Protectorate | ||
| 1970 | Independence | ||
| Gilbert and Ellice Islands | 1892–1916 | Protectorate | |
| 1916–1975 | Crown colony administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories until 1971 | ||
| 1975 | The Gilbert and Ellice Islands are split into the two separate colonies of the Gilbert Islands and Tuvalu (formally in 1976) | ||
| Gilbert Islands | 1975–76 | Crown colony (with the same Governor of the Tuvalu colony) | |
| 1976–1979 | Colony | ||
| 1979 | Independent as "Kiribati" | ||
| Howland Island | 1886–1935 | Claimed | Now a territory of the United States |
| Jarvis Island | 1889–1935 | Annexed | Now a territory of the United States |
| Lord Howe Island | 1788–1834 | Claimed | |
| 1834–1855 | Settlement | Now part of New South Wales | |
| Macquarie Island | 1810–1890 | Part of the colony of New South Wales | |
| 1890–present | Part of Tasmania | ||
| Nauru | 1914–1920 | Administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | |
| 1920–21 | League of Nations mandate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1921–1942 | League of Nations mandate | ||
| 1942–1945 | Japanese occupation | ||
| 1945–1947 | League of Nations mandate | ||
| 1947–1968 | United Nations Trust Territory | ||
| 1968 | Independence | ||
| New Hebrides | 1824–1878 | Protectorate | |
| 1878–1887 | Neutral territory | ||
| 1887–1906 | Joint naval commission | ||
| 1906–1976 | Condominium with France, administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1976–1980 | Condominium | ||
| 1980 | Independent as "Vanuatu" | ||
| New South Wales | 1788–1900 | Colony | |
| 1901–present | State of Australia | ||
| New Zealand | 1769–1788 | Claimed | |
| 1788–1835 | Part of New South Wales | ||
| 1835 | Declared independence | ||
| 1835–1840 | Protectorate | ||
| 1840–41 | Part of New South Wales | ||
| 1841–1907 | Colony | ||
| 1907–1947 | Dominion of New Zealand | ||
| 1947 | Adopted the Statute of Westminster into domestic law | ||
| Niue | 1889–1900 | Tripartite protectorate | |
| 1900–01 | Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1901 | Annexed to New Zealand (as part of the Cook Islands) | ||
| Norfolk Island | 1788–1844 | Part of New South Wales | |
| 1844–1856 | Part of Van Diemen's Land (later Tasmania) | ||
| 1856–1897 | Subordinated to New South Wales | ||
| 1897 | Dependency of New South Wales | ||
| Palmyra Atoll | 1889 | Annexed | |
| 1898 | Annexed by the United States | ||
| Pitcairn Islands | 1838–1887 | Protectorate | |
| 1887–1898 | Colony | ||
| 1898–1970 | Colony administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1970–1982 | Colony | ||
| 1983–2002 | Dependent territory | ||
| 2002–present | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Queensland | 1824–1859 | Part of the colony of New South Wales | |
| 1859–1900 | Colony | ||
| 1901–present | State of Australia | ||
| Samoan Islands | 1889–1900 | Tripartite protectorate | |
| Sandwich Islands | 1794 – 10 February 1843 | Protectorate | |
| 10 February 1843 – 31 July 1843 | Ceded to Britain | ||
| Solomon Islands | 1889–1893 | Tripartite protectorate | |
| 1893–1942 | Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1942–1943 | Japanese occupation | ||
| 1943–1971 | Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1971–1973 | protectorate | ||
| 1973–1976 | Autonomy | ||
| 1975 | Renamed from "British Solomon Islands" to "Solomon Islands" | ||
| 1976–1978 | Self-government | ||
| 1978 | Independence | ||
| South Australia | 1788–1836 | Part of the colony of New South Wales | |
| 1836–1900 | Province (colony) | ||
| 1901–present | State of Australia | ||
| Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) | 1803–1825 | Part of New South Wales | |
| 1825–1900 | Colony | ||
| 1856 | Renamed as "Tasmania" | ||
| 1901–present | State of Australia | ||
| Tokelau (Union Islands) | 1889–1898 | Protectorate | |
| 1898–1916 | Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories | ||
| 1916–1949 | Part of colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands | Transferred to New Zealand | |
| 1949 | Transferred to New Zealand | ||
| Torres Strait Islands | 1879–present | Part of Queensland | |
| Tuvalu | 1975–76 | Colony administered with the same Governor of Gilbert Islands colony | |
| 1976–1978 | Colony | ||
| 1978 | Independence | ||
| Victoria | 1839–1851 | Part of colony of New South Wales | |
| 1851–1900 | Colony | ||
| 1901–present | State of Australia | ||
| Western Australia | 1791–1829 | King George Sound settled | |
| 1829–1832 | Swan River Colony | ||
| 1832–1900 | Colony | ||
| 1901–present | State of Australia | ||
This is a listing of the more important treaties, Acts of Parliament, and other legal instruments and events affecting the nature and territorial extent of the British Empire.
| Effective date | Name of treaty, etc. | Territorial effect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1536/1543 | Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 | Wales annexed to the Kingdom of England | |
| 1606 | First Virginia Charter | Granted the Virginia Company the right to colonize the modern-day East Coast of the United States, with the London Company establishing the Colony of Virginia at Jamestown and the Plymouth Company receiving the right to colonize what would become New England | |
| 1613–1753 | Covenant Chain | ||
| 1621 | Mayflower Compact | Established the legal and constitutional system of the Plymouth Colony | |
| 1628 | Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company | Established the Massachusetts Bay Company to colonize the region | |
| 1639 | Fundamental Orders of Connecticut | Established English towns in the Connecticut River Valley as the Connecticut Colony | |
| 1651–1696 | Navigation Acts | Regulated trade between England (and later Great Britain) and its overseas colonies through mercantilist policies, prohibiting them each from importing certain commodities to countries outside the British Empire and from producing certain products imported by the other | |
| 1663 | Rhode Island Royal Charter | Granted legal recognition to the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations | |
| 1664 | Articles of Surrender of New Netherland | ||
| 1652 | 1652 Articles of Peace and Friendship | Ceded Susquehannock land at the mouth of the Susquehanna River to white settlers from the Province of Maryland | |
| 1682 | Frame of Government of Pennsylvania | Established political and constitutional system of Province of Pennsylvania | |
| 1669 | Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina | ||
| 1691 | Massachusetts Charter | Established the Massachusetts Bay Colony | |
| 1701 | Nanfan Treaty | ||
| 1707 | Acts of Union 1707 | Scotland and England unite as the Kingdom of Great Britain | |
| 1713 | Treaty of Utrecht | Spain cedes Gibraltar to Britain. France cedes Newfoundland, Hudson Bay and Acadie to Britain. | |
| 1749–1764 | New Hampshire Grants | Allowed for colonization in what would become Vermont | |
| 1758 | Treaty of Easton | ||
| 1763 | Treaty of Paris | France cedes all its territories in America to Britain except Saint Pierre and Miquelon Islands. | |
| 1763 | Royal Proclamation of 1763 | ||
| 1765 | Stamp Act | Issued direct tax on stamped paper in British America, led to the beginning of the American Revolution due to opposition to "taxation without representation" | |
| 1766 | Declaratory Act | Repealed the stamp tax but declared that the Parliament of Great Britain virtually represented colonies and could pass legally biding legislation and taxes on their behalf | |
| 1767–1768 | Townshend Acts | Series of legislation introducing taxes on British America | |
| 1768 | Treaty of Fort Stanwix | Established Line of Property dividing the Indian Reserve from the Thirteen Colonies, as well as adding modern-day Kentucky and West Virginia to it | |
| 1773 | Regulating Act of 1773 | Reformed Company rule in India | |
| 1774 | Intolerable Acts | Series of laws to punish the Thirteen Colonies for the Boston Tea Party protest during the American Revolution, major cause of the American Revolutionary War | |
| 1776 | Declaration of Independence of the United States | The Thirteen Colonies (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia) assert independence | |
| 1783 | Second Treaty of Paris | Great Britain formally recognises the independence of the United States. End of the American Revolution. | |
| 1784 | Pitt's India Act | Established Crown political control over Company rule in India | |
| 1788 | New South Wales is established by settlement as a penal colony | ||
| 1791 | Constitution Act | The Province of Quebec is divided in two sections Upper Canada (now Ontario) and Lower Canada (now Quebec). | |
| 1801 | Act of Union 1800 | Ireland unites with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | |
| 1813 | Charter Act of 1813 | Renewed the British East India Company's royal charter but discontinued its commercial monopoly over India with the exception of tea, opium, and trade with China | |
| 1814 | Third Treaty of Paris | France cedes the Seychelles to Britain and Malta officially becomes a colony | |
| 1835 | Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand | Asserted the sovereign independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand | |
| 1840 | Treaty of Waitangi | New Zealand becomes a British colony | |
| 1850 | Australian Constitutions Act 1850 | ||
| 1852 | New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 | Granted responsible government to the Colony of New Zealand | |
| 1858 | Government of India Act 1858 | ||
| 1865 | Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865 | ||
| 1867 | British North America Act 1867 (known in Canada as the Constitution Act, 1867) | The Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia federate as Canada | |
| 1870 | Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory are annexed to Canada | ||
| 1871 | British Columbia becomes a province of Canada | ||
| 1876 | Proclamation under the Royal Titles Act 1876 | Queen Victoria adopts the title "Empress of India" | |
| 1899 | Joint British-Egyptian condominium established over Sudan | ||
| 1901 | Proclamation under the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (1900) | The Commonwealth of Australia is formed by the federation of the colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania | |
| 1910 | Proclamation under the South Africa Act 1909 | Union of South Africa formed by the federation of the colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Transvaal, and the Orange River Colony | |
| 1912 | Government of India Act, 1912 | ||
| 1914 | Government of Ireland Act 1920 | ||
| 1914 | Suspensory Act 1914 | ||
| 1914 | Cyprus (Annexation) Order in Council 1914 | Cyprus formally annexed | |
| 1916 | Proclamation of the Irish Republic | The Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army, and Irish Republican Brotherhood proclaim the Irish Republic. | |
| 1919 | Irish Declaration of Independence | The Dáil Éireann declares the independence of the Irish Republic, which is not recognized by the British government and begins the Irish War of Independence. | |
| 1919 | Government of India Act 1919 | Granted limited responsible government for India, including a reformed Imperial Legislative Council and Provincial Councils | |
| 1920 | Kenya (Annexation) Order in Council 1920 | Most of the East Africa Protectorate is annexed as the Colony of Kenya | |
| 1920 | Government of Ireland Act 1920 | Partitioned Ireland into autonomous regions of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland due to Irish War of Independence | |
| 1922 | Anglo-Irish Treaty | Southern Ireland is separated from the United Kingdom as the Irish Free State | |
| Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence | Egypt becomes independent | ||
| 1926 | Balfour Declaration of 1926 | Declared the Dominions to be "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status" and established the Commonwealth of Nations | |
| 1930 | Purna Swaraj | The Indian National Congress declared the Indian subcontinent's right to independence. | |
| 1931 | Statute of Westminster | Canada, the Irish Free State, and the Union of South Africa obtain effective sovereignty | |
| 1934 | Financial difficulties result in Newfoundland losing its status as a dominion | ||
| 1935 | Government of India Act 1935 | Permitted limited provincial autonomy and autonomous institutions for India incl. the princely states, as well as separating Burma from India | |
| 1942 | Australia adopts the Statute of Westminster, backdated to 1939 | ||
| 1947 | New Zealand Constitution Amendment (Request and Consent) Act 1947 | New Zealand adopts the Statute of Westminster | |
| Indian Independence Act 1947 | India is partitioned into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan | ||
| 1948 | Republic of Ireland Act 1948 | Abolished the Irish monarchy and replaced it with a democratically elected President of Ireland, severing final constitutional links between the United Kingdom and Ireland | |
| 1948 | King George VI relinquishes the title "Emperor of India" | ||
| 1948 | Israeli Declaration of Independence | The Jewish community of Mandatory Palestine declares independence as the State of Israel | |
| 1949 | Ireland Act 1949 | British Parliament recognizes the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 | |
| 1949 | Newfoundland Act | Newfoundland becomes a province of Canada | |
| 1949 | London Declaration | Allowed continued Indian membership in the Commonwealth of Nations after the abolition of the Indian monarchy | |
| 1955 | Buganda Agreement (1955) | Reestablished Mutesa II as constitutional monarch of Kingdom of Buganda after the Kabaka crisis | |
| 1957 | Malayan Declaration of Independence | The Federation of Malaya declares independence. | |
| 1957–1958 | Lancaster House Agreements (Nigeria) | Negotiated independence of Nigeria from the British Empire as well as its post-colonial legal and constitutional system | |
| 1960 | Nigeria Independence Act 1960 | The Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria becomes independent | |
| 1960–1963 | Lancaster House Agreements (Kenya) | Negotiated independence of Kenya from the British Empire as well as its post-colonial legal and constitutional system | |
| 1961 | Buganda Agreement (1965) | Negotiated independence of Uganda from the British Empire as well as its post-colonial legal and constitutional system | |
| 1962 | Jamaica Independence Act 1962 | Jamaica becomes independent | |
| 1963 | Malaysia Agreement | Transferred North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore from the British Empire to Malaya, renamed Malaysia under the agreement | |
| 1965 | Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence | Declared independence of Rhodesia from the British Empire, not recognized by the British government under principle of no independence before majority rule | |
| 1966 | Barbados Independence Act 1966 | Declared independence of Barbados from the British Empire | |
| 1970 | Instruments of Independence | Fiji becomes independent | |
| 1971 | Singapore Declaration | Identified the Commonwealth of Nations as a "voluntary association of independent sovereign states" | |
| 1979 | Lancaster House Agreement | ||
| 1982 | Canada Act 1982 | Completed patriation of Constitution of Canada by ending British Parliament's authority to make laws and constitutional amendments related to Canada, severing final constitutional links between the two | |
| 1983 | The status of "colony" is renamed "dependent territory" | ||
| 1986 | Constitution Act 1986 | Severed final constitutional links between Britain and New Zealand, including the British Parliament's abilities to make laws related to New Zealand | |
| 1986 | Australia Act 1986 | Severed final constitutional links between Britain and Australia, including the British Parliament's abilities to make laws related to Australia. | |
| 1997 | Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984) and the Hong Kong Act 1985 | Hong Kong is transferred to the People's Republic of China | |
| 2002 | The status of "British Dependent Territory" is renamed "British Overseas Territory" |
| Country | Concession | Location (modern name) | Year established | Year dissolved | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International | Shanghai International Settlement | Shanghai | 1863 | 1945 | Formed from the British and American concessions | |
| International | Beijing Legation Quarter | Beijing | 1861 | 1945 | ||
| International | Kulangsu International Settlement | Xiamen | 1903 | 1945 | ||
| United Kingdom | New Territories, Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 1898 | 1997 | ||
| United Kingdom | Weihaiwei leased territory | Weihai | 1898 | 1930 | Liugong Island remained under British control as a separate territory until 1940 | |
| United Kingdom | Liugong Island | Weihai | 1930 | 1940 | Formerly part of Weihaiwei leased territory since 1898 | |
| United Kingdom | British concession of Tianjin | Tianjin | 1860 | 1945 | ||
| United Kingdom | British concession of Hankou | Hankou | 1861 | 1927 | ||
| United Kingdom | British Concession of Jiujiang | Jiujiang | 1861 | 1929 | ||
| United Kingdom | British concession of Zhenjiang | Zhenjiang | 1861 | 1929 | ||
| United Kingdom | British concession of Shamian Island, Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 1861 | 1945 | ||
| United Kingdom | British concession of Amoy | Xiamen | 1852 | 1930 | ||
| United Kingdom | British concession of Dalian | Dalian | 1858 | 1860 | ||
| United Kingdom | British concession of Shanghai | Shanghai | 1846 | 1863 | Merged to form Shanghai International Settlement | |
| United Kingdom | Trading warehouses at Tengchong (Tengyue) | Yunnan | Late 19th/early 20th century. | Still standing, with bullet holes. British diplomat Augustus Margary was murdered here in 1875. Consulate built 1921. |
| Country | Planned Concession | Location (modern name) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | British concession of Yingkou | Yingkou |
| British concession of Jiangning | Nanjing | |
| British concession of Yichang | Yichang | |
| British concession of Wuhu | Wuhu | |
| British concession of Wenzhou | Wenzhou |
Bermuda
British Indian Ocean Territory
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands