List of colonial governors and administrators of Seychelles facts for kids

Flag of the governor of Seychelles (1903–1961)

Flag of the governor of Seychelles (1961–1976)

Sir Bruce Greatbatch, a colonial governor of Seychelles, inspecting a police guard of honour in 1972

Seychelles is a beautiful island country made up of many islands, called an archipelago. It is located in the Indian Ocean. For many years, Seychelles was under the control of other countries.

First, the French took control of Seychelles in 1770. Then, in 1810, the British captured the islands. The British ruled Seychelles as part of Mauritius until 1903. After that, Seychelles became its own separate colony, known as a Crown Colony. Finally, Seychelles became an independent country on June 29, 1976. This article lists the people who governed Seychelles during its time as a colony.

Leaders of Seychelles During Colonial Times

This section lists the important people who were in charge of Seychelles when it was a colony. The names in italic mean that the person continued their role without a formal change.

French Rule: Early Leaders

Seychelles was first claimed by France. It was under the control of Île de France (which is now Mauritius).

British Rule: Commissioners and Administrators

After the British took over, Seychelles was under the control of Mauritius. The leaders were called Commissioners or Administrators.

Time in Office	Portrait	Incumbent	Notes
17 May 1810 to 2 June 1811		Jean-Baptiste Quéau de Quincy, Commissioner
2 June 1811 to 1812		Bartholomew Sullivan, Commissioner
1812 to 1815		Bibye Lasage, Commissioner
1815 to 1822		Edward Henry Madge, Commissioner
1822 to 1837		George Harrison, Commissioner
1837 to 1839		Arthur Wilson, Commissioner
1839 to 1850		Charles Augustus Etienne Mylius, Commissioner
1850 to 1852		Robert William Keate, Commissioner
1852 to 1862		Charles William Bhering, Viscount Bhering, Commissioner
1862 to 1868		Swinburne Ward, Commissioner
1868 to 1874		William Hales Franklyn, Commissioner
1874 to 1879		Charles Spencer Salmon, Commissioner
1879 to 1880		Arthur Elibank Havelock, Commissioner
1880 to 1882		Francis Theophilus Blunt, Commissioner
1882 to 1888		Arthur Cecil Stuart Barkly, Commissioner
1889 to 1895		Thomas Risely Griffith, Administrator
1895 to August 1899		Henry Cockburn Stewart, Administrator
August 1899 to 31 August 1903		Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott, Administrator

British Crown Colony: Governors of Seychelles

In 1903, Seychelles became a separate British Crown Colony. This meant it was no longer directly controlled by Mauritius. From this point, the leaders were called Governors.

Time in Office	Portrait	Incumbent	Notes
31 August 1903 to November 1903		Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott, Administrator
November 1903 to 1904		Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott, Governor
1904 to 1912		Walter Edward Davidson, Governor
1912 to 1918		Charles Richard Mackey O'Brien, Governor
1918 to 1922		Sir Eustace Edward Twistleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, Governor
1922 to 1927		Sir Joseph Aloysius Byrne, Governor
May 1927 to November 1927		Sir Malcolm Stevenson, Governor
November 1927 to March 1928		Sir Justin Louis Devaux, Acting Governor
March 1928		Robert Vere de Vere, Acting Governor	He took office on March 22, 1928, because Louis Devaux did not want to leave his position.
1928 to 1934		Sir de Symons Montagu George Honey, Governor
1934 to 1936		Sir Gordon James Lethem, Governor
1936 to 5 January 1942		Arthur Francis Grimble, Governor	He became Sir Arthur Francis Grimble from January 1, 1938.
5 January 1942 to July 1947		William Marston Logan, Governor	He became Sir William Marston Logan from June 8, 1944. John Woodman, a Chief Justice, was acting Governor in 1946.
July 1947 to 14 May 1951		Sir Percy Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke, Governor
14 May 1951 to 1953		Frederick Crawford, Governor
31 May 1953 to January 1958		William Addis, Governor	He became Sir William Addis from June 9, 1955.
January 1958 to 13 August 1961		John Kingsmill Thorp, Governor	He became Sir John Kingsmill Thorp from June 13, 1959.
January 1962 to 1967		The 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith, Governor
1967 to 1969		Sir Hugh Selby Norman-Walker, Governor
1969 to 1973		Sir Bruce Greatbatch, Governor	Seychelles gained some self-governance on November 12, 1970.
1973 to 1 October 1975		Colin Hamilton Allan, Governor
1 October 1975 to 28 June 1976		Colin Hamilton Allan, High Commissioner	Seychelles was granted self-rule on October 1, 1975.
29 June 1976	Independence as Republic of Seychelles

After Seychelles became independent, it began to elect its own leaders. To learn about them, you can look at the List of presidents of Seychelles.

See also

• Seychelles
  • Politics of Seychelles
  • List of presidents of Seychelles
  • Vice-President of Seychelles
  • Prime Minister of Seychelles
• Lists of office-holders