List of governors of Jamaica facts for kids

This article lists the main leaders, often called "viceroys" or "governors," who were in charge of Jamaica from when Spain first took control in 1509 until the island became independent from the United Kingdom in 1962. These leaders were like the top bosses, representing the ruling country. If you want to know about the leaders after Jamaica became independent, you can look up the Governor-General of Jamaica. To learn more about Jamaica's past, check out the History of Jamaica.

Spanish Leaders of Santiago (1510–1660)

Spain first claimed Jamaica in 1494 when Christopher Columbus landed there. Spain started to settle the island in 1509 and called it Santiago. The second leader, Francisco de Garay, set up the capital city, which was then called Villa de la Vega. Today, we know this city as Spanish Town.

Here are the Spanish leaders who governed Santiago:

• Juan de Esquivel, 1510–1514
• Francisco de Garay, 1514–1523
• Pedro de Mazuelo, 1523–1526
• Juan de Mendegurren, 1526–1527
• Santino de Raza, 1527–1531
• Gonzalo de Guzman, ?–1532
• Manuel de Rojas, 1532–?, first time
• Gil González Dávila, 1533?–1534?
• Manuel de Rojas, 1536–?, second time
• Pedro Cano, 1539?, first time
• Francisco de Pina, 1544?
• Juan González de Hinojosa, 1556?
• Pedro Cano, 1558?, second time
• Blas de Melo, 1565?
• Juan de Gaudiel, 1567?–1572?
• Hernán Manrique de Rojas, 1575?
• Iñigo Fuentes, ?–1577
• Rodrigo Núñez de la Peña, 1577–1578
• Lucas del Valle Alvarado, 1578–1583?, first time
• Diego Fernández de Mercado, 1586?
• Lucas del Valle Alvarado, 1591?, second time
• García del Valle, 1596?
• Fernando Melgarejo Córdoba, 1596–1606
• Alonso de Miranda, 1607–1611
• Pedro Espejo Barranco, 1611–1614
• Andrés González de Vera, 1614–?
• Sebastián Lorenzo Romano, 1620?
• Francisco Terril, 1625–1632
• Juan Martínez Arana, 1632–1637
• Gabriel Peñalver Angulo, 1637–1639
• Jacinto Sedeño Albornoz, 1639–1640, first time
• Francisco Ladrón de Zegama, 1640–1643
• Alcades, 1643–1645
• Sebastián Fernández de Gamboa, 1645–1646
• Pedro Caballero, 1646–1650
• Jacinto Sedeño Albornoz, 1650, second time
• Francisco de Proenza, 1650–1651, first time
• Juan Ramírez de Arellano, 1651–1655
• Francisco de Proenza, 1655–1656, second time
• Cristóbal Arnaldo Isasi, 1656–1660

English Military Leaders of Jamaica (1655–1661)

In 1655, a military force from England, led by Admiral Sir William Penn and General Robert Venables, took control of Jamaica. After these leaders left, the English soldiers who stayed successfully defended the island. They fought off Spanish attempts to get it back over the next few years.

Here are the English military leaders during this time:

• Admiral Sir William Penn, May 11, 1655 – 1655
• General Robert Venables, 1655
• Edward D'Oyley, 1655–1656, first time
• William Brayne, 1656–1657
• Edward D'Oyley, 1657–1661, second time

Early English Governors of Jamaica (1661–1662)

In 1661, England officially started to colonize Jamaica. This meant they began to set up a permanent government and bring more settlers to the island.

Here are the first English governors:

• Edward D'Oyley, 1661–August 1662, continued
• Thomas, Lord Windsor, August 1662–November 1662

Deputy Governors of Jamaica (1662–1671)

After the first governors, some leaders were called "Deputy Governors." They helped manage the island on behalf of the English Crown.

Here are the Deputy Governors:

• Charles Lyttleton, 1662–1663, acting
• Thomas Lynch, 1663–1664, acting, first time
• Edward Morgan, 1664
• Sir Thomas Modyford, 1664–August 1671

Lieutenant Governors of Jamaica (1671–1690)

In 1670, a special agreement called the Treaty of Madrid was signed. This treaty officially recognized England's right to own Jamaica. After this, some leaders were called "Lieutenant Governors."

Here are the Lieutenant Governors:

• Thomas Lynch, August 1671–November 1674, second time
• Henry Morgan, 1674–1675, acting, first time
• John Vaughan, 1675–1678
• Henry Morgan, 1678, acting, second time
• The Earl of Carlisle, 1678–1680
• Henry Morgan, 1680–1682, acting, third time
• Thomas Lynch, 1682–1684, third time
• Hender Molesworth, 1684–December 1687, acting
• Christopher Monck The Duke of Albemarle, 1687–1688
• Hender Molesworth, 1688–1689, acting
• Francis Watson, 1689–1690, acting

Governors of Jamaica (1690–1962)

From 1690 until Jamaica gained independence, the main leaders were known simply as "Governors." They were responsible for running the colony and representing the British Crown. This was a long period of British rule in Jamaica.

Here is a list of the Governors of Jamaica:

• The Earl of Inchiquin, 1690–January 16, 1692
• John White, 1691–August 22, 1692, acting
• John Bourden, 1692–1693, acting
• Sir William Beeston, March 1693–January 1702, acting to 1699
• William Selwyn, Jan-April 1702 (died in office)
• Peter Beckford, 1702, acting
• Thomas Handasyd, 1702–1711, acting to 1704
• Lord Archibald Hamilton, 1711–1716
• Thomas Pitt, 1716-1717
• Peter Heywood, 1716–1718
• Sir Nicholas Lawes, 1718–1722
• The Duke of Portland, 1722–July 4, 1726
• John Ayscough, 1726–1728, acting, first time
• Robert Hunter, 1728–March 1734
• John Ayscough, 1734–1735, acting, second time
• John Gregory, 1735, acting, first time
• Henry Cunningham, 1735–1736
• John Gregory, 1736–1738, acting, second time
• Edward Trelawny, 1738–1752
• Sir Charles Knowles, 1752–January 1756
• Sir Henry Moore, February 1756–April 1756, acting, first time
• George Haldane, April 1756–November 1759
• Sir Henry Moore, November 1759 – 1762, acting, second time
• Sir William Lyttleton, 1762–1766
• Roger Hope Elletson, 1766–1767
• Sir William Trelawny, 1767–December 1772
• John Dalling, December 1772 – 1774, acting, first time
• Sir Basil Keith, 1774–1777
• John Dalling, 1777–1781, second time
• Archibald Campbell, 1781–1784, acting to 1783
• Alured Clarke, 1784–1790
• The Earl of Effingham, 1790–November 19, 1791
• Sir Adam Williamson, 1791–1795, acting
• The Earl of Balcarres, 1795–1801
• Sir George Nugent, 1801–1805
• Sir Eyre Coote, 1806–1808
• The Duke of Manchester, 1808–1827
• Sir John Keane, 1827–1829, acting
• The Earl Belmore, 1829–1832
• George Cuthbert, 1832, acting, first time
• The Earl of Mulgrave, 1832–1834
• Sir Amos Norcott, 1834, acting
• George Cuthbert, 1834, acting, second time
• The Marquess of Sligo, 1834–1836
• Sir Lionel Smith, 1836–1839
• Sir Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, 1839–1842
• The Earl of Elgin, 1842–1846
• George Henry Frederick Berkeley, 1846–1847, acting
• Sir Charles Edward Grey, 1847–1853
• Sir Henry Barkly, 1853–1856
• Edward Wells Bell, 1856–1857, acting
• Charles Henry Darling, 1857–1862
• Edward John Eyre, 1862–1865, acting to 1864
• Sir Henry Knight Storks, December 12, 1865 – July 16, 1866
• Sir John Peter Grant, 1866–1874
• W. A. G. Young, 1874, acting
• Sir William Grey, 1874–January 1877
• Edward Rushworth, January 1877, acting
• Sir Anthony Musgrave, January 1877 – 1883
• Somerset M. Wiseman Clarke, 1883, acting
• Dominic Jacotin Gamble, 1883, acting
• Sir Henry Wylie Norman, 1883–1889
• William Clive Justice, 1889, acting
• Sir Henry Arthur Blake, 1889–1898
• Henry Jardine Hallowes, 1898, acting
• Sir Augustus William Lawson Hemming, 1898–1904
• Sydney Haldane Olivier, 1904, acting, first time
• Hugh Clarence Bourne, 1904, acting, first time
• Sir James Alexander Swettenham, September 30, 1904 – 1907
• Hugh Clarence Bourne, 1907, acting, second time
• Sydney Haldane Olivier, May 16, 1907 – January 1913, acting
• Philip Clark Cork, January 1913 – March 7, 1913, acting
• Sir William Henry Manning, March 7, 1913 – May 11, 1918
• Robert Johnstone, May 11, 1918 – June 11, 1918, acting
• Sir Leslie Probyn, June 11, 1918 – 1924
• Herbert Bryan, 1924, acting, first time
• Sir Samuel Herbert Wilson, September 29, 1924 – June 1925
• Sir Herbert Bryan, 1925, acting, second time
• Sir Arthur S. Jelf, October 1925 – April 26, 1926, acting, first time
• Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs, April 26, 1926 – November 9, 1932
• Sir Arthur S. Jelf, November 9, 1932 – November 21, 1932, acting, second time
• Sir Alexander Ransford Slater, November 21, 1932 – April 1934
• Sir Arthur S. Jelf, April 1934–October 24, 1934, acting, third time
• Sir Edward Brandis Denham, October 24, 1934 – June 2, 1938
• Charles Campbell Woolley, June 2, 1938 – August 19, 1938, acting
• Sir Arthur Frederick Richards, August 19, 1938 – July 1943
• William Henry Flinn, July 1943 – September 29, 1943, acting
• Sir John Huggins, September 29, 1943 – April 7, 1951
• Sir Hugh Mackintosh Foot, April 7, 1951 – November 18, 1957
• Sir Kenneth Blackburne, December 18, 1957 – August 6, 1962

In 1962, Jamaica became an independent country, no longer ruled by the United Kingdom. Since then, the main representative in Jamaica has been called the Governor-General of Jamaica.