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

Have you ever wondered who was in charge of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines before it became an independent country? This article lists the important leaders, sometimes called 'viceroys,' who governed the islands from when the British first settled in 1763 until they gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979.

Early Leaders: Lieutenant Governors of Saint Vincent (1763–1776)

After the British settled in Saint Vincent in 1763, the first leaders were called Lieutenant Governors. They were in charge of the island during this early period.

• George Maddison, 1763–1764
• Joseph Higginson, 1764–1766
• Lauchlin McLean, 1766
• Ulysses FitzMaurice, 1766–1772
• Valentin Morris, 1772–1776

Governors of Saint Vincent: A Time of Change (1776–1833)

From 1776, the main leaders of Saint Vincent were known as Governors. During this time, the island was sometimes under French control.

• Valentin Morris, 1776–1779, continued
• Charles-Marie de Trolong du Rumain, 1779 (French occupation)
• Antoine Dumontet, 1779–1780 (French occupation)
• Philibert François Rouxel de Blanchelande 1780–1781 (French occupation)
• Jean-Baptiste Vigoureux Duplessis, 1781–1782 (French occupation)
• Pierre-Jean-François de Feydeau, March 1782–Septembre 1782, interim (French occupation)
• Édouard Hilaire Louis de Tilly, 1782–1 January 1784 (French occupation)
• Edmund Lincoln, 1783–1787
• James Seton, 1787–1798
• William Bentinck, 1798–1802
• Henry William Bentinck, 1802–1806
• Robert Paul (1st time)(acting) 1805–1806
• George Beckwith, 1806–1808
• Robert Paul (2nd time)(acting) 1807
• Robert Paul (3rd time)(acting) 1808–1809
• Robert Paul (4th time)(acting) 1810–1812
• Robert Paul (5th time)(acting) 1816–1817
• William John Struth, 1829–1831, acting
• Sir George Hill, Bt 1831–1833

Lieutenant Governors of Saint Vincent: Part of the Windward Islands (1833–1886)

In 1833, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became part of a larger group called the British Windward Islands. This meant that the Lieutenant Governor of Saint Vincent reported to a higher authority, like the Governor of Barbados or the Governor of the Windward Islands.

• George Tyler, 1833–1842
• Richard Doherty, 1842–1845
• John Campbell, 1845–1853
• Richard Graves MacDonnell, 1853–1854
• Edward John Eyre, 1854–1861
• Anthony Musgrave, 1861–1864
• George Berkeley 1864–1871
• William Hepburn Rennie, 1871–1875
• George Dundas, 1875–1880
• Augustus Frederick Gore, 1880–1886

Administrators of Saint Vincent (1886–1969)

From 1886, the leaders of Saint Vincent were known as Administrators. They continued to manage the island's affairs under British rule.

• Robert Baxter Llewelyn, 1886–1889
• Irwin Charles Maling, 1889–1893
• John Hartley Sandwith, 1893–1895
• Harry Langhorne Thompson, 1895–1901
• Edward John Cameron, 1901–1909
• Charles Gideon Murray, 1909–1915
• Reginald Popham Lobb, 1915–1923
• Robert Walter, 1923–1929
• Herbert Walter Peebles, 1929–1933
• Arthur Francis Grimble, 1933–1936
• Arthur Alban Wright, 1936–1938
• William Bain Gray, 1938–1941
• Alexander Elder Beattie, 1941–1944
• Ronald Herbert Garvey, 1944–1948
• Walter Coutts, 1948–1955
• Alexander Falconer Giles, 1955–1961
• Samuel Horatio Graham, 1961–1966
• John Lionel Chapman, 1966–1967
• Hywel George, 1967–27 October 1969

Governors of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Towards Independence (1969–1979)

On October 27, 1969, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became an "associated state" of the United Kingdom. This meant they could manage their own internal affairs, but the UK was still responsible for defense and foreign policy. The leaders were again called Governors.

• Hywel George, 27 October 1969–27 October 1970, continued
• Rupert Godfrey John, 27 October 1970 – 1976
• Sidney Gun-Munro, 1976–27 October 1979

On October 27, 1979, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines officially gained full independence from the United Kingdom. After independence, the main representative of the Queen became known as the Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Sidney Gun-Munro continued in this new role.

See also

• History of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines