List of colonial governors and administrators of Saint Christopher facts for kids

Saint Christopher, also known as Saint Kitts, is an island in the Caribbean. For a long time, it was controlled by different European countries, mainly England (later Great Britain and the United Kingdom) and France. This article tells you about the important leaders, often called "governors" or "viceroys," who managed the island from when Europeans first settled there in the 1600s until it became an independent country, Saint Kitts and Nevis, in 1983. These leaders were like the main bosses in charge of the island for their home countries.

English Leaders of Saint Christopher (1623–1666)

The English started settling on Saint Christopher in 1623. Here are some of their first leaders:

• Sir Thomas Warner, 1623–1649
• Rowland Rich, 1649–1651
• Clement Everard, 1651–1660
• William Watts, 1660–1666

In 1666, a war started between the French and English colonies. The French took control of the whole island during this time.

French Leaders of Saint-Christophe (1625–1713)

The French also started settling on Saint Christopher (which they called Saint-Christophe) in 1625. Here are some of their leaders:

• Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc, 1625–1636
• Pierre du Halde, 1636–1638
• René de Béthoulat de La Grange-Fromenteau, 1638–1639
• Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy, 1639–1644, first time
• Robert de Longvilliers de Poincy, 1644–1646
• Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy, 1646–1660, second time
• Charles de Sales, 1660–1666
• Claude de Roux de Saint-Laurent, 1666–1689
• Charles de Pechpeyrou-Comminges de Guitaut, 1689–1690

Between 1690 and 1697, the English took control of the entire island again.

• Jean-Baptiste de Gennes, 1698–1702

In 1702, English forces once more took over the whole island. Finally, in 1713, a peace agreement called the Treaty of Utrecht officially gave the entire island to Great Britain.

English Local Leaders of Saint Christopher (1671–1769)

After the 1667 Treaty of Breda, the English parts of the island were returned. In 1671, Saint Christopher became part of the British Leeward Islands. This group of islands was managed by a main Governor based in Antigua. Saint Christopher had its own local leader, called a Deputy Governor, who handled daily island matters.

• Abednego Mathew, 1671–1681
• Thomas Hill, 1682–1697
• James Norton, 1697–1701
• Walter Hamilton, 1704–1706

In 1706, French forces led by Henri-Louis de Chavagnac took over the island for a short time.

• Michael Lambert, 1706–1715
• William Mathews, Jr., 1715–1733
• Gilbert Fleming, 1733–1769

Governors of Saint Christopher (1816–1833)

Hon Stedman Rawlins, a leader of Saint Christopher.

In 1816, the group of British Leeward Islands was split up. Saint Christopher was then managed on its own again.

• Stedman Rawlins, 1816
• Thomas Probyn, 1816–1821
• Charles William Maxwell, 1821–1832
• Lieutenant-General Sir William Nicolay, 1832–1833

Lieutenant Governors of Saint Christopher (1833–1870)

In 1833, the British Leeward Islands group was formed again. A Lieutenant Governor was put in charge of Saint Christopher. This person worked under the main Governor of Antigua, who was the top leader for the whole group of islands.

• John Lyons Nixon 1833–1836
• Henry George Macleod, 1836–1839
• Charles Cunningham, 1839–1847
• Robert James Mackintosh, 1847–1850
• Edward Hay Drummond Hay, 1850–1855
• Hercules George Robert Robinson, 1855–1859
• Benjamin Chilley Campbell Pine, 1860–1866
• James George Mackenzie, 1867–1869
• William Wellington Cairns, 1869–1870

Presidents of Saint Christopher (1870–1883)

• Francis Spencer Wigley, 1870–1872, first time
• James Samuel Berridge, 1872–1873
• Alexander Wilson Moir, 1873–1883

Presidents of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla (1883–1888)

In 1883, Saint Christopher joined with the nearby islands of Nevis and Anguilla. They became one area called Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla, with a single President based in Saint Christopher.

• Charles Monroe Eldridge, 1883–1885
• Francis Spencer Wigley, 1885–1888

Commissioner of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla (1889–1895)

• John Kemys Spencer-Churchill, 1889–1895

Administrators of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla (1895–1967)

Standard of the Governor (1958–1967).

• Thomas Riseley Griffith, 1895–1899
• Charles Thomas Cox, 1899–1904
• Sir Robert Bromley, 1904–1906
• Thomas Laurence Roxburgh, 1906–1916
• John Alder Burdon, 1916–1925
• Thomas Reginald St. Johnston, 1925–1929
• Terence Charles Macnaghten, 1929–1931
• Douglas Roy Stewart, 1931–1940
• James Dundas Harford, 1940–1947
• Leslie Stuart Greening, 1947–1949
• Frederick Mitchell Noad, 1949
• Hugh Burrowes, 1949–1956
• Henry Howard, 1956–1966
• Frederick Albert Phillips, 1966–February 27, 1967

Governors of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla (1967–1980)

Standard of the Governor (1967–1980)

In 1967, Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla became an "associated state" of the United Kingdom. This meant they could manage their own local matters, but the UK was still in charge of things like defense and foreign affairs.

• Sir Frederick Albert Phillips, February 27, 1967 – 1969, continued
• Sir Milton Pensonville Allen, 1969–1975, acting until August 1972
• Sir Probyn Ellsworth Inniss, 1975–April 13, 1980

Governors of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1980–1983)

Standard of the Governor (1980–1983)

In 1980, Anguilla separated from the group. The state was then renamed Saint Christopher and Nevis.

• Sir Probyn Ellsworth Inniss, April 13, 1980 – November 26, 1981, continued
• Clement Athelston Arrindell, November 1981–September 19, 1983

On September 19, 1983, Saint Kitts and Nevis became a fully independent country from the United Kingdom. For a list of leaders after independence, you can look up Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

See also

• List of colonial heads of Nevis