Governors of British Ceylon - wikipedia Governors of British Ceylon Governor of Ceylon Flag of Governor of Ceylon Frederick North Style His / Her Excellency Residence Government House Appointer Monarch of the United Kingdom Precursor Governor of Zeylan Formation Aug 1795 First holder Patrick Alexander Agnew as Military Governor Final holder Henry Monck - Mason Moore Abolished 4 February 1948 Succession Governor - General of Ceylon The Governor of Ceylon was the representative in Ceylon of the British Crown from 1795 to 1948. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and Commander - in - Chief of the British Forces in Ceylon. The governor was the head of the British colonial administration in Ceylon, reporting to the Colonial Office. With Ceylon gaining self rule and dominion status with the creation of Dominion of Ceylon in 1948, this office was replaced by the Governor - General, who represented the British Monarch as the head of state. The office of Governor - General was itself abolished in 1972 and replaced by the post of President when Sri Lanka became a Republic. Contents 1 Appointment 2 Functions 2.1 Ceremonial 3 Privileges 3.1 Residence 3.2 Guard 4 List of Governors 5 See also 6 References Appointment The Governor, appointed by the British monarch ( on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Colonies ), maintained executive power in Ceylon throughout British rule. Functions The Governor was the Commander - in - Chief of British Forces in Ceylon, except only during World War II, when Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton was appointed Commander - in - Chief, Ceylon with power exceeding that of the Governor. Ceremonial In November each year, the Governor would receive the annual tribute from the Sultan of Maldives. The Governor was the ex-officio Chancellor of the University of Ceylon and patron of the Royal College Colombo. Privileges Residence The Governor 's main residence and office was the King 's House in Colombo and secondary residence was the King 's Pavilion in Kandy. The vacationing residence of the Governor, Queen 's Cottage was located in the hill station of Nuwara Eliya. Guard The Governor 's Bodyguard was a mounted guard that functioned as a ceremonial guard for the Governor when attending state functions. List of Governors Acting Governor # Portrait Name Birth Death Governor From Governor Until Sovereign Military Governors ( 1795 -- 1798 ) Patrick Alexander Agnew ( in Trincomalee ) 1765 1813 August 1795 1 March 1796 George III James Stuart 1741 1815 1 March 1796 1 January 1797 George III Welbore Ellis Doyle 1758 1797 1 January 1797 2 July 1797 George III Peter Bonnevaux c. 1752 1797 2 July 1797 12 July 1797 George III 5 Pierre Frédéric de Meuron 1788 1813 12 July 1797 12 October 1798 George III Resident and Superintendent ( 1796 - 1798 ) Robert Andrews - - 12 February 1796 12 October 1798 George III Governors ( 1798 -- 1948 ) Frederick North 7 February 1766 14 October 1827 12 October 1798 19 July 1805 George III Thomas Maitland 1759 1824 19 July 1805 19 March 1811 George III John Wilson 1780 1856 19 March 1811 11 March 1812 George III Robert Brownrigg 1759 27 April 1833 11 March 1812 1 February 1820 George III Edward Barnes 1776 19 March 1838 1 February 1820 2 February 1822 George III George IV Edward Paget 3 November 1775 13 May 1849 2 February 1822 6 November 1822 George IV James Campbell - - 6 November 1822 18 January 1824 George IV 5 Edward Barnes 1776 19 March 1838 18 January 1824 13 October 1831 George IV William IV John Wilson 1780 1856 13 October 1831 23 October 1831 William IV 6 Robert Wilmot - Horton 21 December 1784 31 May 1841 23 October 1831 7 November 1837 William IV Queen Victoria 7 James Alexander Stewart - Mackenzie 23 September 1784 24 September 1843 7 November 1837 15 April 1841 Queen Victoria 8 Colin Campbell 1776 13 June 1847 15 April 1841 19 April 1847 Queen Victoria James Emerson Tennent 7 April 1804 6 March 1869 19 April 1847 29 May 1847 Queen Victoria 9 The Viscount Torrington 9 September 1812 27 April 1884 29 May 1847 18 October 1850 Queen Victoria Charles Justin MacCarthy 1820 1864 18 October 1850 27 November 1850 Queen Victoria 10 George William Anderson 1791 12 March 1857 27 November 1850 18 January 1855 Queen Victoria Charles Justin MacCarthy 1820 1864 18 January 1855 11 May 1855 Queen Victoria 11 Henry George Ward 1797 1860 11 May 1855 30 June 1860 Queen Victoria Henry Frederick Lockyer 1797 1860 30 June 1860 30 July 1860 Queen Victoria Charles Edmund Wilkinson 1807 1870 30 July 1860 22 October 186 Queen Victoria 12 Charles Justin MacCarthy 1820 1864 22 October 1860 1 December 1863 Queen Victoria Terence O'Brien - - 1 December 1863 21 March 1865 Queen Victoria Hercules Robinson 19 December 1824 28 October 1897 21 March 1865 16 May 1865 Queen Victoria 13 Hercules Robinson 19 December 1824 28 October 1897 16 May 1865 4 January 1872 Queen Victoria Henry Turner Irving 1833 1923 4 January 1872 4 March 1872 Queen Victoria 14 William Henry Gregory 12 July 1817 6 March 1892 4 March 1872 4 September 1877 Queen Victoria 15 James Robert Longden 1827 9 October 1891 4 September 1877 10 July 1883 Queen Victoria John Douglas 1835 23 August 1885 10 July 1883 3 December 1883 Queen Victoria 16 Arthur Hamilton - Gordon 26 November 1829 30 January 1912 3 December 1883 28 May 1890 Queen Victoria 17 Arthur Elibank Havelock 21 February 1844 25 June 1908 28 May 1890 24 October 1895 Queen Victoria Edward Noël Walker 1842 1908 24 October 1895 10 February 1896 Queen Victoria 18 Joseph West Ridgeway 16 May 1844 16 April 1930 10 February 1896 19 November 1903 Queen Victoria Edward VII Sir Everard im Thurn 1852 9 October 1932 19 November 1903 3 December 1903 Edward VII 19 Henry Arthur Blake 8 January 1840 13 February 1918 3 December 1903 11 July 1907 Edward VII Hugh Clifford 5 March 1866 18 December 1941 11 July 1907 24 August 1907 Edward VII 20 Henry Edward McCallum 28 October 1852 24 November 1919 24 August 1907 24 January 1913 Edward VII George V Reginald Edward Stubbs 13 October 1876 7 December 1947 24 January 1913 18 October 1913 George V 21 Robert Chalmers 18 August 1858 17 November 1938 4 December 1915 George V Reginald Edward Stubbs 13 October 1876 7 December 1947 4 December 1915 15 April 1916 George V 22 John Anderson 23 June 1858 24 March 1918 15 April 1916 24 March 1918 George V Reginald Edward Stubbs 13 October 1876 7 December 1947 24 March 1918 10 September 1918 George V 23 William Henry Manning 19 July 1863 1 January 1932 10 September 1918 1 April 1925 George V Cecil Clementi 1 September 1875 5 April 1947 1 April 1925 18 October 1925 George V Edward Bruce Alexander 1872 1955 18 October 1925 30 November 1925 George V 24 Hugh Clifford 5 March 1866 18 December 1941 30 November 1925 June 1927 George V Arthur George Murchison Fletcher 1878 1954 June 1927 20 August 1928 George V 25 Herbert Stanley 25 July 1872 5 June 1955 20 August 1928 11 February 1931 George V Bernard Henry Bourdillon 3 December 1883 6 February 1948 11 February 1931 11 April 1931 George V 26 Graeme Thomson 1875 1933 11 April 1931 20 September 1933 George V Graeme Tyrrell 1876 1964 20 September 1933 23 December 1933 George V 27 Reginald Edward Stubbs 13 October 1876 7 December 1947 23 December 1933 30 June 1937 George V Edward VIII George VI Maxwell MacLagan Wedderburn 1883 1953 30 June 1937 16 October 1937 George VI 28 Andrew Caldecott 26 October 1884 14 July 1951 16 October 1937 19 September 1944 George VI 29 Henry Monck - Mason Moore 1887 1964 19 September 1944 4 February 1948 George VI See also Dutch governors of Zeylan Governor - General of Ceylon History of Sri Lanka References Governors of Ceylon CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, Ministry Constitutional Change and National Integration ← Governors of British Ceylon → Military Governors Agnew Stuart Doyle Bonnevaux de Meuron Andrews * Governors North Maitland Wilson Brownrigg Barnes Paget Campbell Barnes Wilson Wilmot - Horton Stewart - Mackenzie Campbell Emerson Tennent Torrington MacCarthy Anderson MacCarthy Ward Lockyer Wilkinson MacCarthy O'Brien Robinson Robinson Irving Gregory Longden Douglas Hamilton - Gordon Havelock Walker Ridgeway im Thurn Blake Clifford McCallum Stubbs Chalmers Stubbs Anderson Stubbs Manning Clementi Alexander Clifford Fletcher Stanley Bourdillon Thomson Tyrrell Stubbs Wedderburn Caldecott Moore * * Acting, * Resident and Superintendent, * * became Governor - General of Ceylon European presence in Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ) Overview Bibliography Timeline Crisis of the Sixteenth Century History of British Ceylon Burgher people Portuguese territory in Ceylon topics History Sinhalese -- Portuguese War Luso -- Kandyan Treaty Dutch -- Portuguese War Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom Administration Portuguese captains Portuguese captain - majors Portuguese governors Economy Maral Tombo Cinnamon Society Culture Architecture Portuguese buildings Music Baila Related peoples Kaffirs Mestiços Portuguese Languages Kaffirs ' Sri Lankan Portuguese creole Sinhala words of Portuguese origin Religion Roman Catholicism Other Lascarins Joseph Vaz Dutch territory in Ceylon topics History Dutch -- Portuguese War Kandyan Treaty of 1638 Treaty of Batticaloa Administration Dutch governors Economy Stuiver Ceylonese rixdollar Coffee Society Culture Architecture Dutch buildings Place names Dutch Music Related peoples Dutch Malays Languages Sri Lankan Creole Malay Sinhala words of Dutch origin Religion Protestantism Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka Lanka Reformed Church ← British Ceylon topics → History British Expedition to Ceylon Kandyan Wars Great Rebellion of 1817 -- 18 Matale Rebellion Kandyan Convention Sri Lankan independence movement Ceylon in World War II South East Asia Command Politics & government Law Colebrooke -- Cameron Commission Donoughmore Commission Donoughmore Constitution Soulbury Commission Soulbury Constitution Legislature Legislative Council of Ceylon State Council of Ceylon Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice Executive Executive Council of Ceylon List Gov CS AG AuG Tres GOCC British governor - generals Ceylon Civil Service Military Ceylon Defence Force Commanders Commander - in - Chief, Ceylon South East Asia Command Economy British pound Indian rupee Cinnamon Coconut Coffee Rubber Tea production Society Culture Architecture British buildings Place names British Scottish Music Social class Related peoples British Indian Moors Indian Tamils Malays Languages Sri Lankan English Sri Lankan Creole Malay Sinhala words of English origin Religion Protestantism Church of Ceylon Bishop of Colombo Methodist Church in Sri Lanka American Ceylon Mission Batticotta Seminary Wesleyan Methodist Mission, North Ceylon Lanka Lutheran Church The Pentecostal Mission Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints in Sri Lanka Bible translations into Sinhala Other An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon Schools Coats of arms of Governors - General of Ceylon WikiProject Governors, Civil Commissioners and Administrators of British dependencies Overseas territories Governor of Anguilla Governor of Bermuda Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory Governor of the Virgin Islands Governor of the Cayman Islands Governor of the Falkland Islands Governor of Gibraltar Governor of Montserrat Governor of the Pitcairn Islands Administrator of the Pitcairn Islands Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Governor of St Helena Governor of Ascension Administrator of Ascension Governor of Tristan da Cunha Administrator of Tristan da Cunha Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands Crown dependencies Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man Lieutenant Governor of Jersey Former ( Africa ) Governor of British Mauritius Governor of British Cameroons Governor of Cape Colony Governor of the Gambia Governor of Gold Coast Lieutenant Governor of Griqualand West Governor of Kenya Governor of Lagos Colony Governor - General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Governor of Northern Rhodesia Governor of Nyasaland Governor of Southern Rhodesia Governor of Natal Governor of Nigeria Governor of Senegal Governor of the Seychelles Governor of Sierra Leone Governor - General of the Union of South Africa High Commissioner for Southern Africa Governor of British Somaliland Governors of Tanganyika Governor of Uganda Resident in Zanzibar Former ( Americas ) Governor of Barbados Lieutenant Governor of Grenada Lieutenant - Governor of Berbice Governor of British Guiana Governor of British Honduras Governor of Cuba Governor of Dominica Lieutenant - Governor of Demerara - Essequibo Governor of Grenada Governor of Jamaica Governor of the Leeward Islands Governor of St. Lucia Governor of St. Vincent Governor of Trinidad and Tobago Lieutenant governors of Tobago Governor of Trinidad Governor of Newfoundland Governor General of Canada Governor of British Columbia Governor of New Brunswick Governor of Nova Scotia Governor of Prince Edward Island Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Governor of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla Governor - in - Chief of the Windward Islands Governor - General of the West Indies Federation Colonial Governors of Connecticut Colonial governors of Delaware Colonial Governors of Florida Colonial Governors of Georgia Colonial Governors of Maryland Colonial Governors of Massachusetts Colonial Governors of New Hampshire Colonial Governors of New Jersey Colonial Governor of New York Colonial Governors of North Carolina Colonial Governors of Pennsylvania Colonial Governors of Rhode Island Colonial Governors of South Carolina Colonial Governors of Virginia Former ( Asia ) Governor of Aden Governor of Burma Governor of Ceylon High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States Senior British representatives in the constituent protected states Senior British representatives in the neighbouring Malayan protected states General Adviser to the Government of Johore Adviser to the Sultan of Kedah Adviser to the Government of Kelantan Adviser to the Government of Perlis Adviser, Trengganu Governor of Hong Kong Viceroy and Governor - General of India Heads of the provinces of British India Governor of Aden Governor of Bengal Governor of Bombay Governor of Madras Governor of Sind Senior British representatives in neighbouring protected states Resident of Gwalior High Commissioner for Iraq Governor of Labuan High Commissioner for Malaya Governor of the Malayan Union Governor of North Borneo Resident Minister in Nepal High Commissioners for Palestine and Transjordan Governor of Penang Governor of Sarawak Governor of Singapore Former ( Australasia ) Governor - General of Australia Government Resident of Central Australia Governor of New South Wales Government Resident of North Australia Governor of Queensland Governor of South Australia Governor of Tasmania Governor of Victoria Governor of Western Australia Lieutenant Governor of the Swan River Colony Governor - General of New Zealand Governor - General of Papua New Guinea Consul in Tonga Former ( Europe ) Governor of Cyprus Lieutenant Governor of Heligoland High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands Governor of the Isle of Wight Governor of Malta Governor of Minorca Governor of Northern Ireland Former ( Oceania ) Governor of Fiji Governor of the Solomon Islands High Commissioner for the Western Pacific Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Governors_of_British_Ceylon&oldid=792755986 '' Categories : Governors of British Ceylon History of British Ceylon Lists of office - holders in Sri Lanka Lists of British colonial governors and administrators Talk Contents About Wikipedia Languages Italiano 日本 語 Polski Русский සිංහල தமிழ் Edit links This page was last edited on 28 July 2017, at 13 : 32. 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Question: who is the first british governor of sri lanka
Answer: Patrick Alexander Agnew