High Commissioner for the Western Pacific facts for kids

Quick facts for kids High Commissioner of British Western Pacific Territories
High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
Style	His Excellency The Right Honourable
Residence	Suva, Fiji (1877-1952) Honiara, British Solomon Islands (1953-1976)
Appointer	King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Formation	13 August 1877
First holder	The Rt Hon. Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
Final holder	The Rt Hon. Sir Donald Luddington
Abolished	2 January 1976

The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific was an important leader in charge of a group of islands called the British Western Pacific Territories. This was a part of the British Empire, which was a time when Britain controlled many countries around the world. This special role existed from 1877 to 1976. Many islands were part of these Territories over time, but Fiji and the Solomon Islands were the main ones for a long time.

The High Commissioner was never a separate job. Instead, the person who was already the Governor of another British island colony also took on this role. For many years (1877-1952), the Governor of Fiji was also the High Commissioner. During World War II (1942-1945), this job was paused because some islands were under British military control and others, like the Solomon Islands, were controlled by Japan. After 1952, the Governor of the Solomon Islands became the High Commissioner until the job ended in 1976. These leaders worked from Suva in Fiji and later from Honiara in the Solomon Islands. The job ended because most of the islands became independent countries.

Who Were the High Commissioners?

This section lists the people who held the important role of High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. They served from 1877 until the job ended in 1976. Each person also had another big job at the same time, either as the Governor of Fiji or the Governor of the Solomon Islands.

No.	Name	Picture	Time in Office		British Monarch	Other Main Job
			Started	Ended
High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
1.	Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon		13 August 1877	1880	Victoria	Governor of Fiji
2.	Sir William Des Vœux		20 December 1880	21 January 1885	Victoria	Governor of Fiji
	John Bates Thurston Acting		21 January 1885	1 January 1887	Victoria	Governor of Fiji (acting)
3.	Sir Charles Mitchell		1 January 1887	February 1888	Victoria	Governor of Fiji
4.	Sir John Bates Thurston		February 1888	7 February 1897	Victoria	Governor of Fiji
5.	Sir George T. M. O'Brien		March 1897	1901	Victoria	Governor of Fiji
	Sir William Allardyce Acting		1901	10 September 1902	Edward VII	Governor of Fiji (acting)
6.	Sir Henry Jackson		10 September 1902	11 October 1904	Edward VII	Governor of Fiji
7.	Sir Everard im Thurn		11 October 1904	1910	Edward VII	Governor of Fiji
	Sir Charles Major Acting		1910	21 February 1911	Edward VII George V	Governor of Fiji (acting)
8.	Sir Francis May		21 February 1911	25 July 1912	George V	Governor of Fiji
9.	Sir Ernest Sweet-Escott		25 July 1912	10 October 1918	George V	Governor of Fiji
	Sir Eyre Hutson Acting for Sweet-Escott		1915	1916	George V	Governor of Fiji (acting)
10.	Cecil Hunter-Rodwell		10 October 1918	25 April 1925	George V	Governor of Fiji
	Sir Eyre Hutson Acting for Hunter-Rodwell		1919	1919	George V	Governor of Fiji (acting)
11.	Sir Eyre Hutson		25 April 1925	22 November 1929	George V	Governor of Fiji
12.	Sir Arthur Fletcher		22 November 1929	May 1936	George V Edward VIII	Governor of Fiji
	Sir Cecil Barton Acting		May 1936	November 1936	Edward VIII	Governor of Fiji (acting)
13.	Sir Arthur Richards		28 November 1936	August 1938	Edward VIII George VI	Governor of Fiji
	Sir Cecil Barton Acting		August 1938	September 1938	George VI	Governor of Fiji (acting)
14.	Sir Harry Luke		16 September 1938	1942	George VI	Governor of Fiji
	Office suspended		1942	1945
15.	Sir Alexander Grantham		1945	21 March 1947	George VI	Governor of Fiji
	Sir John Nicoll Acting		21 March 1947	8 October 1947	George VI	Governor of Fiji (acting)
16.	Sir Brian Freeston		8 October 1947	3 July 1952	George VI Elizabeth II	Governor of Fiji
17.	Sir Robert Stanley		3 July 1952	July 1955	Elizabeth II	Governor of the Solomon Islands (From 1 January 1953)
18.	Sir John Gutch		1955	4 March 1961	Elizabeth II	Governor of the Solomon Islands
19.	Sir David Trench		4 March 1961	16 June 1964	Elizabeth II	Governor of the Solomon Islands
20.	Sir Robert Sidney Foster		16 June 1964	6 March 1969	Elizabeth II	Governor of the Solomon Islands
21.	Sir Michael Gass		6 March 1969	1973	Elizabeth II	Governor of the Solomon Islands
22.	Sir Donald Luddington		10 October 1973	2 January 1976	Elizabeth II	Governor of the Solomon Islands

Images for kids

• 

  Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon, the first High Commissioner.

• 

  Sir William Des Vœux, who served as High Commissioner.

• 

  Sir John Bates Thurston, who was High Commissioner twice.

• 

  Sir Charles Mitchell, High Commissioner from 1887-1888.

• 

  Sir William Allardyce, who acted as High Commissioner.

• 

  Sir Francis May, High Commissioner from 1911-1912.