List of governors of the Bahamas facts for kids
The Bahamas is a beautiful island nation in the Caribbean. For a long time, it was ruled by different governors. These governors were important leaders who managed the islands on behalf of a king or a government. This article lists the people who served as governors of the Bahamas throughout history.
The first English people settled in the Bahamas on an island called Eleuthera in 1648. Later, in 1670, the King of England gave control of the Bahamas to a group of people called the lords proprietors of the Province of Carolina. However, these islands were mostly left alone.
For several years, the Bahamas became a place where pirates ruled! This time was known as the 'Privateers' Republic'. But in 1717, the Bahamas officially became a British colony, and the pirates were eventually forced out.
During the American War of Independence, the Bahamas were briefly taken over by American and Spanish forces. Over time, the Bahamas gained more control over their own affairs. In 1964, they achieved self-governance, meaning they could make many of their own decisions. Finally, in 1973, the Bahamas became a fully independent country.
Contents
- Governors of the Bahamas: A Historical List
- Early Governors of Eleuthera (1648–1657)
- Proprietary Governors (1670–1706)
- The Pirate Republic (1706–1718)
- Royal Governors of the Bahama Islands (1718–1776)
- American Occupation (1776)
- Royal Governors (1776–1782)
- Spanish Occupation (1782–1783)
- Royal Governors of the Bahama Islands (1783–1969)
- Governors of the Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands (1969–1973)
- See also
Governors of the Bahamas: A Historical List
This list shows the different governors who led the Bahamas during various periods of its history. From the early settlements to becoming a British colony and then an independent nation, these leaders played a key role.
Early Governors of Eleuthera (1648–1657)
These were the first known governors during the very early English settlement on Eleuthera.
Image | Governor | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
William Sayle | 1648 | 1657 |
Proprietary Governors (1670–1706)
After the King granted the islands to the lords proprietors, these governors were in charge.
Image | Governor | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
Hugh Wentworth | 1671 | December 1671 | |
John Wentworth | December 1671 | 1676 | |
Charles Chillingworth | 1676 | 1677 | |
Robert Clarke | 1677 | 1682 | |
Richard Lilburne | 1682 | 1684 | |
British rule was briefly stopped because of attacks by Spanish and French forces. | |||
Thomas Bridges | 1686 | 1690 | |
Cadwallader Jones | 1690 | 1694 | |
Nicholas Trott | 1694 | 1697 | |
Nicholas Webb | 1697 | 1699 | |
Read Elding (acting) |
1699 | 1701 | |
Elias Haskett | 1701 | 1701 | |
Ellis Lightfoot | 1701 | 1703 | |
Edward Birch | 1704 | 1704 |
The Pirate Republic (1706–1718)
During this time, the Bahamas were largely controlled by pirates, and there was no official British governor.
Royal Governors of the Bahama Islands (1718–1776)
After the pirates were driven out, the Bahamas became a "Crown Colony," meaning it was directly ruled by the British Crown. These were the first royal governors.
Image | Governor | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
Woodes Rogers | 26 July 1718 | 1721 | |
George Phenney | 1721 | 1728 | |
Woodes Rogers | August 1729 | 16 July 1732 | |
Richard Fitzwilliam (acting) |
1734 | 1738 | |
John Tinker | 1741 | 1758 | |
John Gambier (acting) |
1758 | 1760 | |
William Shirley | 1760 | 1775 | |
Montfort Browne | 1775 | 3 March 1776 |
American Occupation (1776)
For a short time during the American War of Independence, American forces took control.
Image | Commandant | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
Samuel Nicholas | 3 March 1776 | 17 March 1776 |
Royal Governors (1776–1782)
After the American occupation, British royal governors returned.
Image | Governor | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
John Gambier (acting) |
1776 | 1778 | |
John Robert Maxwell | 1780 | 8 May 1782 |
Spanish Occupation (1782–1783)
The Bahamas were also briefly under Spanish rule during this period.
Image | Governor | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez |
8 May 1782 | 19 April 1783 |
Royal Governors of the Bahama Islands (1783–1969)
After the Spanish left, the Bahamas returned to British rule for a very long time.
Image | Governor | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
Andrew de Vau (acting) | 1783 | 1783 | |
John Robert Maxwell | 1783 | 1784 | |
James Edward Powell (Lieutenant-governor) |
1784 | 1786 | |
John Brown (acting) |
1786 | 1787 | |
The 4th Earl of Dunmore | 1787 | 1796 | |
Robert Hunt (acting) |
1796 | 14 February 1797 | |
John Forbes (Lieutenant-governor) |
14 February 1797 | June 1797 | |
Lieutenant-General William Dowdeswell | 20 November 1797 | 1801 | |
John Halkett | 1801 | 1804 | |
Charles Cameron | 8 May 1804 | 1820 | |
Lewis Grant | 1821 | 1829 | |
Sir James Carmichael Smyth, 1st Baronet | 1829 | 1833 | |
Blayney Townley Balfour | 1833 | 1835 | |
William MacBean George Colebrooke | 1835 | 1837 | |
Sir Francis Cockburn | 1837 | 1844 | |
George Benvenuto Mathew | 1844 | 1849 | |
John Gregory | 1849 | 1854 | |
Sir Alexander Bannerman | 1854 | 1857 | |
Charles John Bayley | 1857 | 1864 | |
Rawson William Rawson | 1864 | 1869 | |
Sir James Walker | 1869 | 1871 | |
Sir George Cumine Strahan KCMG |
1871 | 1873 | |
Sir John Pope Hennessy KCMG |
13 March 1873 | 1874 | |
Sir William Robinson | 1874 | 1880 | |
Jeremiah Thomas Fitzgerald Callaghan CMG |
1880 | 1881 | |
Sir Charles Cameron Lees KCMG |
1882 | January 1884 | |
Sir Henry Arthur Blake GCMG, DL |
4 January 1884 | 1887 | |
Sir Ambrose Shea KCMG |
1887 | 1895 | |
Sir William Frederick Haynes Smith | 1895 | 1898 | |
Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter | 1898 | 1904 | |
Sir William Grey-Wilson | 29 November 1904 | 1912 | |
Sir George Basil Haddon-Smith | 29 October 1912 | 1914 | |
Sir William Lamond Allardyce KCMG |
15 June 1914 | 1920 | |
Sir Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux KCMG, CB |
8 December 1920 | 1926 | |
Sir Charles William James Orr | December 1926 | January 1932 | |
Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford | 10 January 1932 | 23 July 1937 | |
Sir Charles Cecil Farquharson Dundas | 27 November 1937 | 1940 | |
The Duke of Windsor | 18 August 1940 | 30 April 1945 | |
Sir William Lindsay Murphy | 28 July 1945 | 21 July 1949 | |
F. A. Evans (Acting Governor) | 22 July 1949 | 31 December 1949 | |
Sir George Ritchie Sandford | 17 February 1950 | 15 September 1950 | |
Sir Robert Arthur Ross Neville | 6 December 1950 | 1953 | |
The Earl of Ranfurly | 21 December 1953 | 19 December 1956 | |
Sir Oswald Raynor Arthur | 1 April 1957 | 14 June 1960 | |
Sir Robert Stapledon | 18 July 1960 | April 1964 | |
Sir Ralph Grey, GCMG, GCVO, OBE, GCSt.J. P.C |
3 June 1964 | 1968 | |
Sir Francis Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, KCMG |
1 November 1968 | 1969 |
Governors of the Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands (1969–1973)
This period marked the final years before the Bahamas gained full independence.
Image | Governor | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
Sir Francis Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce (The Lord Thurlow from 1971), KCMG |
1969 | 1972 | |
Sir John Warburton Paul GCMG, OBE, MC |
14 May 1972 | 10 July 1973 |
On 10 July 1973, the Bahamas became fully independent from the United Kingdom. From this point on, the main representative of the monarch became known as the Governor-General of the Bahamian Monarch.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de las Bahamas para niños