List of governors of Guernsey facts for kids
The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British crown dependency located near the coast of France. For many centuries, important people called Governors were in charge of Guernsey. They were like the main leaders or representatives of the King or Queen in Guernsey.
This article lists the people who held the important job of Governor of Guernsey. The role of Governor was eventually changed in 1835. After that, a different kind of leader, called a Lieutenant-Governor, took over. You can find more about them in the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey article.
A special list of all the Governors and Lieutenant Governors, from 1198 until today, is proudly displayed at Government House in Guernsey.
Contents
What Was a Governor?
A Governor was a high-ranking official who represented the ruler of England (and later Britain) in Guernsey. They were responsible for the island's defense, law, and order. This was a very important job, especially because Guernsey is an island close to France, and its control was often contested throughout history.
A Look at Guernsey's Governors Through History
Here is a list of the people who served as Governors of Guernsey, organized by the century they served.
12th Century Leaders
- Julian de la Plaque (1111)
- Walter Duncker (1154)
- Peter Cornet (1167)
- John, Count of Mortain (1198)
- Sir William Orseth (1199)
13th Century Leaders
- George Ballizon (Gregory Balizon) (1203)
- Peter de Preaux (1206)
- Geoffrey de Lucy (1225-6)
- Richard Grey (1226)
- William de St John (1227)
- Arnauldus de St Amand and Philip de Carteret (1232)
- Philip de Albimar and William St John
- Prince Edward, in appanage (1271)
- Steven Wallard (Stephen Waller) (1284)
- Otton de Grandson (1290)
- Henry de Cobham (1299)
14th Century Leaders
- Sir Peter Cornet (who began to build Castle Cornet) (1312)
- Sir William Oethfinde
- Edmund Rose
- Otton de Grandson (1323)
- John de Roches (1330)
- William de Montagou and Henry de Ferrure (1335)
- Thomas de Ferrariis (1339)
- Thomas Hampton (1342)
- John Mantaners (1350)
- Thomas Holland (1356)
- Sir Edmund de Chene (1360)
- Walter Huet (1372)
- Edmund Rose and Hugh Calvilegh (1374)
- John Golafre (1388)
- Edmund, Earl of Rutland (1397)
15th Century Leaders
- Edward, 2nd Duke of York (also known as Edward of Norwich), in appanage (1415)
- John, 1st Duke of Bedford (1430)
- Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1435)
- The 1st Duke of Warwick (1446)
- William Bertram and Nicholas Hault (1447)
- John Nanfan (1453)
- Geffrey Wallifly (1470)
- Sir John Tichefilde (1482)
- Duarte Brandão (1482–1485)
- Edward Weston (1486–1509)
- John Avril (1488)
- Sir William Weston
16th Century Leaders
- Sir Richard Weston (1509–1541)
- Sir Francis Weston (1533–1536) (co-governor with his father, Sir Richard Weston)
- Sir Richard Weston, reverted to sole governor until his death (1536–1541)
- Sir Richard Long (1541–1545)
- Sir Peter Mewtis (1545–1553)
- Sir Leonard Chamberlain (1553–1561)
- Sir Francis Chamberlain (1561–1570)
- Sir Thomas Leighton (1570–1609)
17th Century Leaders
- The 1st Baron Carew (1610–1621)
- The 1st Earl of Danby (1621–1644)
- The 2nd Earl of Warwick (1643–1644)
- Sir Peter Osborne (1644–1649)
- The 1st Baron Percy of Alnwick (1649–1650)
- Colonel Alban Coxe (1649–1650)
- Colonel John Bingham (1651–1660)
- Major Henry Wanseye (1660)
- Sir Hugh Pollard (1660–1662)
- The 1st Baron Hatton of Kirby (1662–1665)
- Colonel Sir Jonathan Atkins (1665–1670)
- The 1st Viscount Hatton of Grendon (1670–1706)
- Colonel Mordaunt (1697)
18th Century Leaders
- General Charles Churchill (1706–1714)
- Giles Spencer (1711)
- Lieutenant-General Daniel Harvey (1715–1732)
- Lewis Dollon (1726)
- The 2nd Earl of Cholmondeley (1732–1733)
- Major-General Richard Sutton (1733–1737)
- Field Marshal The Marquis de Montandre (1737–1739)
- The 1st Earl of Pomfret (1739–1742)
- General The 7th Duke of Somerset (known as the 1st Baron Percy until 1748; 1742–1750)
- Field Marshal Sir John Ligonier (1750–1752)
- General The 1st Earl De La Warr (1752–1766)
- Sir Richard Lyttelton (1766–1770)
- Field Marshal The 1st Baron Amherst (known as Sir Jeffery Amherst until 1776; 1770–1797)
- General The 1st Earl Grey (1797–1807)
19th Century Leaders
- Lieutenant-General The 11th Earl of Pembroke and 8th Earl of Montgomery (1807–1827)
- General Sir William Keppel (1827–1834)
- The position of Governor was abolished in 1835.
See also
- List of bailiffs of Guernsey
- List of lieutenant governors of Guernsey
- List of bailiffs of Jersey
- List of lieutenant governors of Jersey