List of governors of the Bahamas facts for kids

The Bahamas is a beautiful island nation in the Caribbean. For a long time, it was ruled by different governors. These governors were important leaders who managed the islands on behalf of a king or a government. This article lists the people who served as governors of the Bahamas throughout history.

The first English people settled in the Bahamas on an island called Eleuthera in 1648. Later, in 1670, the King of England gave control of the Bahamas to a group of people called the lords proprietors of the Province of Carolina. However, these islands were mostly left alone.

For several years, the Bahamas became a place where pirates ruled! This time was known as the 'Privateers' Republic'. But in 1717, the Bahamas officially became a British colony, and the pirates were eventually forced out.

During the American War of Independence, the Bahamas were briefly taken over by American and Spanish forces. Over time, the Bahamas gained more control over their own affairs. In 1964, they achieved self-governance, meaning they could make many of their own decisions. Finally, in 1973, the Bahamas became a fully independent country.

Governors of the Bahamas: A Historical List

This list shows the different governors who led the Bahamas during various periods of its history. From the early settlements to becoming a British colony and then an independent nation, these leaders played a key role.

Early Governors of Eleuthera (1648–1657)

These were the first known governors during the very early English settlement on Eleuthera.

Proprietary Governors (1670–1706)

After the King granted the islands to the lords proprietors, these governors were in charge.

The Pirate Republic (1706–1718)

During this time, the Bahamas were largely controlled by pirates, and there was no official British governor.

Royal Governors of the Bahama Islands (1718–1776)

After the pirates were driven out, the Bahamas became a "Crown Colony," meaning it was directly ruled by the British Crown. These were the first royal governors.

Image	Governor	From	To
	Woodes Rogers	26 July 1718	1721
	George Phenney	1721	1728
	Woodes Rogers	August 1729	16 July 1732
	Richard Fitzwilliam (acting)	1734	1738
	John Tinker	1741	1758
	John Gambier (acting)	1758	1760
	William Shirley	1760	1775
	Montfort Browne	1775	3 March 1776

American Occupation (1776)

For a short time during the American War of Independence, American forces took control.

Image	Commandant	From	To
	Samuel Nicholas	3 March 1776	17 March 1776

Royal Governors (1776–1782)

After the American occupation, British royal governors returned.

Spanish Occupation (1782–1783)

The Bahamas were also briefly under Spanish rule during this period.

Image	Governor	From	To
	Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez	8 May 1782	19 April 1783

Royal Governors of the Bahama Islands (1783–1969)

After the Spanish left, the Bahamas returned to British rule for a very long time.

Image	Governor	From	To
	Andrew de Vau (acting)	1783	1783
	John Robert Maxwell	1783	1784
	James Edward Powell (Lieutenant-governor)	1784	1786
	John Brown (acting)	1786	1787
	The 4th Earl of Dunmore	1787	1796
	Robert Hunt (acting)	1796	14 February 1797
	John Forbes (Lieutenant-governor)	14 February 1797	June 1797
	Lieutenant-General William Dowdeswell	20 November 1797	1801
	John Halkett	1801	1804
	Charles Cameron	8 May 1804	1820
	Lewis Grant	1821	1829
	Sir James Carmichael Smyth, 1st Baronet	1829	1833
	Blayney Townley Balfour	1833	1835
	William MacBean George Colebrooke	1835	1837
	Sir Francis Cockburn	1837	1844
	George Benvenuto Mathew	1844	1849
	John Gregory	1849	1854
	Sir Alexander Bannerman	1854	1857
	Charles John Bayley	1857	1864
	Rawson William Rawson	1864	1869
	Sir James Walker	1869	1871
	Sir George Cumine Strahan KCMG	1871	1873
	Sir John Pope Hennessy KCMG	13 March 1873	1874
	Sir William Robinson	1874	1880
	Jeremiah Thomas Fitzgerald Callaghan CMG	1880	1881
	Sir Charles Cameron Lees KCMG	1882	January 1884
	Sir Henry Arthur Blake GCMG, DL	4 January 1884	1887
	Sir Ambrose Shea KCMG	1887	1895
	Sir William Frederick Haynes Smith	1895	1898
	Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter	1898	1904
	Sir William Grey-Wilson	29 November 1904	1912
	Sir George Basil Haddon-Smith	29 October 1912	1914
	Sir William Lamond Allardyce KCMG	15 June 1914	1920
	Sir Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux KCMG, CB	8 December 1920	1926
	Sir Charles William James Orr	December 1926	January 1932
	Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford	10 January 1932	23 July 1937
	Sir Charles Cecil Farquharson Dundas	27 November 1937	1940
	The Duke of Windsor	18 August 1940	30 April 1945
	Sir William Lindsay Murphy	28 July 1945	21 July 1949
	F. A. Evans (Acting Governor)	22 July 1949	31 December 1949
	Sir George Ritchie Sandford	17 February 1950	15 September 1950
	Sir Robert Arthur Ross Neville	6 December 1950	1953
	The Earl of Ranfurly	21 December 1953	19 December 1956
	Sir Oswald Raynor Arthur	1 April 1957	14 June 1960
	Sir Robert Stapledon	18 July 1960	April 1964
	Sir Ralph Grey, GCMG, GCVO, OBE, GCSt.J. P.C	3 June 1964	1968
	Sir Francis Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, KCMG	1 November 1968	1969

Governors of the Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands (1969–1973)

This period marked the final years before the Bahamas gained full independence.

On 10 July 1973, the Bahamas became fully independent from the United Kingdom. From this point on, the main representative of the monarch became known as the Governor-General of the Bahamian Monarch.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de las Bahamas para niños