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
, in 1816, through to the
Gambia Colony and Protectorate
The Gambia Colony and Protectorate was the British colonial administration of the Gambia from 1821 to 1965, part of the British Empire in the New Imperialism era. The colony was the immediate area surrounding Bathurst (now Banjul), and the pr ...
's independence from the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
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
This is a list of the heads of state of the Gambia, from the independence of the Gambia in 1965 to the present day.
From 1965 to 1970 the head of state under the Constitution of 1965 was the queen of the Gambia, Elizabeth II, who was also the ...
, until it renounced the Queen as head of state in 1970.
Before 1816
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).
Commandants of St Mary's Island (1816–1830)
Lieutenant Governors of the Gambia (1830–1843)
Governors of the Gambia (1843–1866)
Administrators of the Gambia (1866–1901)
Governors of the Gambia (1901–1965)
See also
*
History of the Gambia
The first written records of the region come from Arab traders in the 9th and 10th centuries. In medieval times, the region was dominated by the Trans-Saharan trade and was ruled by the Mali Empire. In the 16th century, the region came to be rul ...
*
List of heads of state of the Gambia
This is a list of the heads of state of the Gambia, from the independence of the Gambia in 1965 to the present day.
From 1965 to 1970 the head of state under the Constitution of 1965 was the queen of the Gambia, Elizabeth II, who was also the q ...
*
List of heads of government of the Gambia
Prime Minister of the Gambia, known as Chief Minister from 1961–1962, was the head of government in the Gambia Colony and Protectorate, and later The Gambia, from 1961 to 1970. The position was only held by two people, Pierre Sarr N'Jie and D ...
*
Lists of office-holders
Notes
: 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
Elizabeth II was Queen of the Gambia from 1965 to 1970, when the Gambia was an independent sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations. She was also the monarch of the other Commonwealth realms, including the U ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Colonial Heads Of the Gambia
History of the Gambia
Gambia, The