List of colonial heads of Sierra Leone

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This is a list of colonial administrators in Sierra Leone from the establishment of the Province of Freedom by the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor in 1787 until Sierra Leone's independence in 1961.

Administrator (1787) change

On 14 May 1787, the Province of Freedom was founded by the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor for freed slaves.

Governor (1787-1789) change

On 22 August 1788, the Province of Freedom and the land along the Freetown peninsula was given to Captain John Taylor of the HMS Miro. In 1789, it was abandoned.

  • John Taylor (August 1788 - 1789)

Agent (1791-1792) change

In January 1791, Granville Town was taken back by the St. George Bay Company.

Superintendent (1792) change

In 1792, Freetown was founded as the main town of the newly established Colony of Sierra Leone

Governors (1792-1827) change

  • John Clarkson (July - 31 December 1792)
  • William Dawes (31 December 1792 - March 1794) (1st time)
  • Zachary Macaulay (March 1794 - 6 May 1795) (1st time)
  • William Dawes (6 May 1795 - March 1796) (2nd time)
  • Zachary Macaulay (March 1796 - April 1799) (2nd time)
  • John Gray (April - May 1799) (1st time)

On 5 July 1799, the Province of Freedom was renamed Sierra Leone.

  • Thomas Ludlum (May 1799 - 1800) (1st time)
  • John Gray (1800 - January 1801) (2nd time)
  • William Dawes (January 1801 - February 1803) (3rd time)
  • William Day (February 1803 - 1803) (1st time)
  • Thomas Ludlum (1803 - 1805) (2nd time)
  • William Day (1805 - 4 November 1805) (2nd time)

On 1 January 1808, Sierra Leone (including the coastal area) becomes a Crown colony of the United Kingdom, and the Sierra Leone Company stopped being in charge.

On 17 October 1821, Sierra Leone territory became part of British West African Territories. Its Governorship was held by the Governor (from 1827 until 1837 Lieutenant governor) of Sierra Leone.

Lieutenant governors (1827-1837) change

Governors (1837-1961) change

On 13 January 1850, Sierra Leone becomes a separate crown colony again.

On 19 February 1866, Sierra Leone territory becomes part of the British West African Settlements. Its Governorship was held by the Governor of Sierra Leone.

On 17 December 1874, British West African Settlements became known as British West Africa Settlements.

On 28 November 1888, the Sierra Leone became a separate crown colony again.

  • Sir James Shaw Hay (1888 - 1889) (2nd time, acting to 24 November 1888)
  • Patchett and Foster (1889) (acting)
  • J.M. Maltby (1889 - 1890) (2nd time)
  • Sir James Shaw Hay (1890 - 1891) (3rd time)
  • J.J. Crooks (1891 - 1892) (acting)
  • W.H.Q. Jones (1892) (1st time, acting)
  • Francis Fleming (1892 - 1893) (1st time)
  • W.H.Q. Jones (1893) (2nd time, acting)
  • Francis Fleming (1893 - 1894) (2nd time)
  • W.H.Q. Jones (1894) (3rd time, acting)
  • Frederic Cardew (1894 - 1895) (1st time)
  • Caulfield (1895 - 24 August 1895) (1st time, acting)

On 24 August 1895, the land by the coast of Sierra Leone became a British protectorate, and the crown colony was renamed as the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate.

In 1961, Sierra Leone achieved independence from the United Kingdom. After independence, the viceroy in Sierra Leone was the Governor-General of Sierra Leone.

References change

  • Guinness Book of Kings, Rulers & Statesmen, Clive Carpenter, Guinness Superlatives Ltd
  • African States and Rulers, John Stewart, McFarland

Other websites change