List of colonial governors and administrators of Dominica facts for kids
Dominica is a beautiful island nation in the Caribbean Sea. For many years, it was a colony, which means it was ruled by other countries. This article tells you about the important people who were in charge of Dominica during those times. They were called governors, lieutenant-governors, presidents, and administrators.
Dominica was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain (from 1761 to 1778, and again from 1784 to 1800). For a short time, it was a colony of the Kingdom of France (from 1778 to 1784). Later, it was a colony of the United Kingdom (from 1800 until 1978), when it became an independent country.
Contents
Governors (1761–1833)
These were the first main leaders of Dominica when it was a British colony. They were called 'Governors' and had a lot of power.
British Rule (1761–1778)
- 1761–1763: The Lord Rollo
- 1763–1765: Robert Melvill
- 1765–1767: George Scott (acting)
- 1768–1773: Sir William Young
- 1773–1774: William Stewart
- 1774–1778: Thomas Shirley
- 1778: William Stewart (acting)
French Rule (1778–1784)
During these years, France took control of Dominica. These leaders were appointed by France.
- 1778–1781: Marie-Charles, Marquis du Chilleau
- 1781–1782: Comte de Bourgon
- 1782–1784: M. de Beaupré
British Rule (1784–1833)
Britain took control of Dominica again. These are the governors who served during this period.
- 1784–1792: Sir John Orde
- 1789–1790: Thomas Bruce (acting)
- 1792–1794: Thomas Bruce (acting)
- 1794–1796: Henry Hamilton
- 1796–1797: John Matson (acting)
- 1797–1802: Andrew James Cochrane Johnstone
- 1802–1805: George Prévost
- 1805–1808: George Metcalfe (acting)
- 1808: Edward Barnes
- 1808–1809: James Montgomerie
- 1809–1812: Edward Barnes
- 1812–1813: John Corlet (acting)
- 1813–1814: George Robert Ainslie
- 1814–1816: Benjamin Lucas (acting)
- 1816: Robert Reid (acting)
- 1816–1819: Charles William Maxwell
- 1819–1820: Robert Reid (acting)
- 1820–1821: Samuel Ford Whittingham
- 1821–1822: Robert Reid (acting)
- 1822–1824: The Earl of Huntingdon
- 1824: William Bremner (acting)
- 1824–1830: William Nicolay
- 1827–1828: John Laidlaw (acting)
- 1830–1832: James Potter Lockhart (acting)
- 1832–1833: Evan John Murray MacGregor
Lieutenant-Governors (1833–1872)
In 1833, a big change happened. Dominica became part of a larger group of islands called the British Leeward Islands. Because of this, the main leader in Dominica was no longer called a Governor. Instead, they were called a 'Lieutenant-Governor'. This person reported to a higher leader, the Governor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands.
- 1833–1835: Charles Marsh Schomberg
- 1835–1837: James Potter Lockhart (acting)
- 1837–1838: Henry Light
- 1838: John Longley
- 1838–1839: S. Bridgewater (acting)
- 1839–1843: John Macphail
- 1843–1845: Dugald Stewart Laidlaw (acting)
- 1845–1851: George McDonald
- 1851–1857: Samuel Wensley Blackall
- 1857–1861: Harry St. George Ord (acting from 1860)
- 1860–1861: George Berkeley (acting)
- 1861–1864: Thomas Price
- 1865: William Cleaver Francis Robinson (acting)
- 1865–1867: James Robert Longden
- 1867–1869: Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer (acting)
- 1869–1871: Sanford Freeling
- 1871–1872: Neale Porter (acting)
Presidents (1872–1895)
In 1872, the title changed again. The Lieutenant-Governor was replaced by a 'President'. This leader still reported to the Governor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands.
- 1872–1873: Alexander Wilson Moir
- 1873–1882: Charles Monroe Eldridge
- 1882–1887: James Meade
- 1887–1894: George Ruthven Le Hunte
- 1894–1895: Edward Baynes (acting)
Administrators (1895–1967)
In 1895, the 'President' was replaced by an 'Administrator'. This person also reported to the Governor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands for a long time.
Later, in 1940, Dominica moved to a different group called the British Windward Islands. From 1940 to 1958, the Administrator reported to the Governor of the Windward Islands. Then, from 1958 to 1962, they reported to the Governor-General of the West Indies Federation, which was a group of Caribbean islands trying to become one country.
- 1895–1899: Philip Arthur Templer
- 1899–1905: Henry Hesketh Joudou Bell
- 1905–1914: William Douglas Young (acting from 1913)
- 1914: Edward Rawle Drayton
- 1915–1919: Arthur William Mahaffy
- 1919–1923: Robert Walter
- 1923–1924: Wilfred Bennett Davidson-Houston (acting)
- 1924–1930: Edward Carlyon Eliot
- 1927–1928: Herbert Walter Peebles (acting)
- 1930–1931: Thomas Edwin Percival Baynes (acting)
- 1931–1933: Walter Andrew Bowring
- 1933–1937: Henry Bradshaw Popham
- 1937–1938: Thomas Edwin Percival Baynes (acting)
- 1938–1946: James Scott Neill (acting from 1945)
- 1946–1952: Edwin Porter Arrowsmith
- 1952–1959: Henry Laurence Lindo
- 1960–1964: Alec Lovelace
- 1965–1967: Geoffrey Colin Guy
Governors (1967–1978)
In 1967, Dominica became an Associated State. This meant it had more control over its own affairs, but Britain was still responsible for defense and foreign policy. The 'Administrator' title was changed back to 'Governor'. These were the last colonial leaders before Dominica became fully independent in 1978.
- 1967: Geoffrey Colin Guy
- 1967–1978: Sir Louis Cools-Lartigue
See also
