# List of governors of Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe

The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were discovered and claimed by Portugal in the 1470s. A Portuguese colony was established in 1485. Each island was governed as a separate entity until 1753, when they were united as a single crown colony. In 1951, the islands became an overseas province of Portugal. Autonomy was granted in 1974 and independence was granted on 12 July 1975.

## São Tomé

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Tenure | Portrait | Incumbent | Notes |
| Portuguese Colony (1485–1522) ||||
| 24 September 1485 to 3 February 1490 | | João de Paiva, Captain | |
| 3 February 1490 to 29 July 1493 | | João Pereira, Captain | |
| 29 July 1493 to 28 April 1499 | | Álvaro Caminha, Captain | |
| 11 December 1499 to c. 1510 | | Fernão de Melo, Captain | |
| c. 1510 to c. 1516 | | ..., Captain | |
| c. 1516 to c. 1517 | | Diogo de Alcáçova, Captain | |
| c. 1517 to 1522 | | João de Melo, Captain | |
| Portuguese Crown Colony (1522–1641) ||||
| 1522 to 15.. | | Vasco Estevens, Captain | |
| 15.. to 1531 | | ..., Captain | |
| 1531 to c. 1535 | | Henrique Pereira, Captain | |
| c. 1535 to 1541 | | Gonçalo Álvares, Governor | |
| 1541 to 1545 | | Diogo Botelho Pereira, Captain | |
| 1546 to c. 1554 | | Francisco de Barros de Paiva, Captain | |
| c. 1558 to 15.. | | Pedro Botelho, Captain | |
| 15.. to 1560 | | Ana Chaves, Administrator | ♀; 1st term |
| 1560 to 1564 | | Cristóvão Dória de Sousa, Captain | |
| 1564 to 1569 | | Francisco de Gouveia, Captain | |
| 1569 to 1571 | | Francisco de Pavia Teles, Captain | |
| 1571 to 1575 | | Diogo Salema, Captain | |
| 1575 to c. 1582 | | António Monteiro Maciel, Captain | |
| c. 1582 to c. 1584 | | Ana Chaves, Administrator | ♀; 2nd term |
| c. 1584 to 1586 | | Francisco Fernandes de Figueiredo, Captain | |
| 1586 to 1587 | | Francisco Fernandes de Figueiredo, Governor | |
| 1587 to 1591 | | Miguel Teles de Moura, Governor | |
| 1591 to 1592 | | Duarte Peixoto da Silva, Governor | |
| 1592 to 1593 | | Francisco de Vila Nova, acting Governor | |
| 1593 to 1597 | | Fernandes de Meneses, Governor | |
| 1597 to c. 1598 | | Vasco de Carvalho, Governor | |
| c. 1598 to 1601 | | João Barbosa da Cunha, acting Governor | |
| 1601 to 1604 | | António Maciel Monteiro, acting Governor | |
| 1604 to 160. | | Pedro de Andrade, Governor | |
| 160. to 1609 | | João Barbosa da Cunha, acting Governor | |
| 1609 | | Fernando de Noronha, Governor | |
| 1609 to 1611 | | Constantino Tavares, Governor | |
| 1611 | | João Barbosa da Cunha, acting Governor | |
| 1611 | | Francisco Teles de Meneses, Governor | |
| 1611 to 1613 | | Luís Dias de Abreu, Governor | |
| 1613 to 1614 | | Feliciano Carvalho, Governor | |
| 1614 to 1616 | | Luís Dias de Abreu, Governor | |
| 1616 to 1620 | | Miguel Correia Baharem, Governor | |
| 1620 to 1621 | | Pedro da Cunha, Governor | |
| 1621 to 1623 | | Félix Pereira, Governor | |
| 1623 to 1627 | | Jerónimo de Melo Fernando, Governor | |
| 1627 to 1628 | | André Gonçalves Maracote, Governor | |
| 1628 to 1632 | | Lourenço Pires de Távora, acting Governor | 1st term |
| 1632 | | Francisco Barreto de Meneses, Governor | |
| 1632 to 1636 | | Lourenço Pires de Távora, acting Governor | 2nd term |
| 1636 | | António de Carvalho, Governor | |
| 1636 to 1640 | | Lourenço Pires de Távora, acting Governor | 3rd term |
| 1640 | | Manuel Quaresma Carneiro, Governor | |
| 1640 to 1641 | | Miguel Pereira de Melo e Albuquerque, acting Governor | |
| Dutch occupation ||||
| 3 October 1641 to 1648 | | ..., Commander | |
| Portuguese Crown Colony (1648–1709) ||||
| 1641 to 1642 | | Paulo da Ponte, acting Governor | |
| 1642 to c. 1650 | | Lourenço Pires de Távora, Governor | 4th term |
| c. 1650 to 1656 | | ..., Governor | |
| 1656 to c. 1657 | | Cristóvão de Barros do Rêgo, Governor | |
| c. 1657 to c. 1661 | | ..., Governor | |
| c. 1661 to 166. | | Pedro da Silva, Governor | |
| 166. to 1669 | | ..., Governor | |
| 1669 to 1671 | | Paulo Ferreira de Noronha, Governor | |
| 1671 to 1673 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1673 to 1677 | | Julião de Campos Barreto, Governor | |
| 1677 to 1680 | | Bernardim Freire de Andrade, Governor | |
| 1680 to 1683 | | Jacinto de Figueiredo e Abreu, Governor | |
| 1683 to 1686 | | João Álvares da Cunha, acting Governor | |
| 1686 | | António Pereira de Brito Lemos, Governor | |
| 1686 to 1689 | | Bento de Sousa Lima, Governor | |
| 1689 to 1693 | | António Pereira de Lacerda, Governor | |
| 1693 to 1694 | | António de Barredo, Governor | |
| 1695 to 1696 | | José Pereira Sodré, Governor | |
| 1696 to 1697 | | João da Costa Matos, Governor | |
| 1697 to 1702 | | Manuel António Pinheiro da Câmara, Governor | |
| 1702 to 1709 | | José Correia de Castro, Governor | |
| 1709 | | Vicente Dinis Pinheiro, Governor | |
| French occupation ||||
| 1709 to 1715 | Junta | Junta | |
| Portuguese Crown Colony (1715–1753) ||||
| 1715 to 1716 | | Bartolomeu da Costa Ponte, Governor | |
| 1716 to 1717 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1717 to 1720 | | António Furtado Mendonça, Governor | |
| 1720 to 1722 | Junta | Junta | |
| 1722 to 1727 | | José Pinheiro da Câmara, Governor | |
| 1727 to 1734 | | Serafim Teixeira Sarmento, Governor | |
| 1734 to 1736 | | Lopo de Sousa Coutinho, Governor | |
| 1736 to 1741 | | José Caetano Soto Maior, Governor | |
| 1741 | | António Ferrão de Castelo Branco, Governor | |
| 1741 to 1744 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1744 | | Francisco Luís da Conceição, Governor | |
| 1744 to 1745 | | Francisco de Alva Brandão, acting Governor | |
| 1747 to 1748 | | Francisco Luís das Chagas, Governor | |
| 1748 to 1751 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1751 | | António Rodrigues Neves, Governor | |
| 1751 to 1753 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |

## Príncipe

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Tenure | Portrait | Incumbent |
| 1500 to 3 April 1545 | | António Carneiro, seigneur de Vimioso |
| 3 April 1545 to 15?? | | Francisco de Alcaçova Carneiro |
| 15?? to 16?? | | Luís Carneiro |
| 16?? to 1640 | | Francisco Carneiro |
| 4 February 1640 to 1690 | | Luís Carneiro de Sousa, comte de Príncipe |
| 1690 to 7 January 1708 | | Francisco Luís Carneiro de Sousa, comte de Príncipe |
| 7 January 1708 to 6 November 1724 | | António Carneiro de Sousa, comte de Príncipe |
| 6 November 1724 to 18 November 1731 | | Francisco Carneiro de Sousa, comte de Príncipe |
| 18 November 1731 to 29 November 1753 | | Carlos Carneiro de Sousa e Faro, comte de Príncipe |
| 1753 to 1851 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1851 to 1852 | | Francisco Ferreira Coelho Cintra |
| 1852 to 1852 | | Manuel Francisco Landolph |
| 1852 to 1854 | | Manuel Mariano Ghira |
| 1854 to 1857 | | Joaquim José de Sousa Osório Menezes |
| 1857 to 1860 | | João Manuel de Melo |
| 1862 to 1862 | | João Filipe de Gouveia |

## São Tomé and Príncipe

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Tenure | Portrait | Incumbent | Notes |
| Portuguese Crown Colony (1753–1951) ||||
| 1753 to 1755 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1755 | | Lopo de Sousa Coutinho, Governor | |
| 1755 to 1758 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1758 to 1761 | | Luís Henrique da Mota e Mele, Governor | |
| 1758 to 1767 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1767 to 1768 | | Lourenço Lôbo de Almeida Palha, Governor | |
| 1768 to 1770 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1770 to 1778 | | Vicente Gomes Ferreira, Governor | |
| 1778 to 1782 | | João Manuel de Azambuja, Governor | |
| 1782 to 1788 | | Cristóvão Xavier de Sá, Governor | |
| 1788 to 1797 | | João Resende Tavares Leote, Governor | |
| 1797 | | Inácio Francisco de Nóbrega Sousa Coutinho, Governor | |
| 1797 | | Manuel Monteiro de Carvalho, acting Governor | |
| 1797 to 1798 | | Varela Borca, Governor | |
| 1798 to 1799 | | Manuel Francisco Joaquim da Mota, Governor | |
| 1799 | | Francisco Rafael de Castelo de Vide, Governor | |
| 1799 to 1802 | | João Baptista de Silva, Governor | |
| 1802 to 1805 | | Gabriel António Franco de Castro, Governor | |
| 1805 to 1817 | | Luís Joaquim Lisboa, Governor | |
| 1817 to 1824 | | Filipe de Freitas, Governor | |
| 1824 to 1830 | | João Maria Xavier de Brito, Governor | |
| 1830 to 1834 | | Joaquim Bento da Fonseca, Governor | |
| 1834 to 1836 | Provisional government | Provisional government | |
| 1836 to 1837 | | Fernando Correia Henriques de Noronha, acting Governor | |
| 1837 to 1838 | | Leandro José da Costa, Governor | 1st term |
| 1838 to 1839 | | José Joaquim de Urbanski, Governor | |
| 1839 to 1843 | | Bernardo José de Sousa Soares de Andréa, Governor | |
| 5 February 1843 to 2 March 1843 | | Leandro José da Costa, Governor | 2nd term |
| 2 March 1843 to 1 May 1846 | | José Maria Marquês, Governor | 1st term |
| 1 May 1846 to 30 September 1847 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 30 September 1847 to 20 November 1847 | | Carlos Augusto de Morais e Almeida, Governor | |
| 20 November 1847 to 20 July 1848 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 20 July 1848 to 30 June 1849 | | José Caetano René Vimont Pessoa, Governor | |
| 12 December 1849 to 9 March 1851 | | Leandro José da Costa, Governor | 3rd term |
| 9 March 1851 to 20 March 1853 | | José Maria Marquês, Governor | 2nd term |
| 20 March 1853 to 28 July 1855 | | Francisco José da Pina Rolo, Governor | |
| 28 July 1855 to 21 March 1857 | | Adriano Maria Passaláqua, Governor | |
| 21 March 1857 to 15 January 1858 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 15 January 1858 to 29 May 1858 | | Francisco António Correia, Governor | |
| 29 May 1858 to 1859 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 1859 to 21 November 1860 | | Luís José Pereira e Horta, Governor | |
| 21 November 1860 to 8 July 1862 | | José Pedro de Melo, Governor | |
| 8 July 1862 to 17 November 1862 | Chamber Senate | Chamber Senate | |
| 17 November 1862 to 30 March 1863 | | José Eduardo da Costa Moura, Governor | |
| 30 March 1863 to 8 January 1864 | | João Baptista Brunachy, Governor | 1st term |
| 8 January 1864 to 2 August 1865 | | Estanislau Xavier de Assunção e Almeida, Governor | 1st term |
| 2 August 1865 to 30 July 1867 | | João Baptista Brunachy, Governor | 2nd term |
| 30 July 1867 to 30 September 1867 | | António Joaquim da Fonseca, Governor | |
| 30 September 1867 to 30 May 1869 | | Estanislau Xavier de Assunção e Almeida, Governor | 2nd term |
| 30 May 1869 to 7 October 1872 | | Pedro Carlos de Aguiar Craveiro Lopes, Governor | |
| 7 October 1872 to July 1873 | | João Clímaco de Carvalho, Governor | |
| 28 October 1873 to 1 November 1876 | | Gregório José Ribeiro, Governor | |
| 1 November 1876 to 28 September 1879 | | Estanislau Xavier de Assunção e Almeida, Governor | 3rd term |
| 28 September 1879 to 28 November 1879 | | Francisco Ferreira do Amaral, Governor | |
| 28 November 1879 to 3 January 1880 | | Custódio Miguel de Borja, acting Governor | 1st term |
| 3 January 1880 to 30 December 1881 | | Vicente Pinheiro Lôbo Machado de Melo e Almada, Governor | |
| 30 December 1881 to 26 January 1882 | | Augusto Maria Leão, acting Governor | |
| 26 January 1882 to 24 May 1884 | | Francisco Teixeira da Silva, Governor | |
| 24 May 1884 to 25 August 1886 | | Custódio Miguel de Borja, Governor | 2nd term |
| 25 August 1886 to 9 March 1890 | | Augusto César Rodrigues Sarmento, Governor | |
| 9 March 1890 to 26 June 1891 | | Firmino José da Costa, Governor | |
| 26 June 1891 to 8 December 1894 | | Francisco Eugénio Pereira de Miranda, Governor | |
| 8 December 1894 to 8 April 1895 | | Jaime Lobo Brito Godins, acting Governor | |
| 8 April 1895 to 5 April 1897 | | Cipriano Leite Pereira Jardim, Governor | |
| 5 April 1897 to 5 April 1899 | | Joaquim da Graça Correia e Lança, Governor | |
| 5 April 1899 to 3 January 1901 | | Amâncio de Alpoim Cerqueira Borges Cabral, Governor | |
| 3 January 1901 to 8 May 1901 | | Francisco Maria Peixoto Vieira, acting Governor | |
| 8 May 1901 to 8 October 1902 | | Joaquim Xavier de Brito, Governor | |
| 8 October 1902 to 7 June 1903 | | João Abel Antunes Mesquita Guimarães, Governor | |
| 7 June 1903 to 14 December 1903 | | João Gregório Duarte Ferreira, acting Governor | 1st term |
| 14 December 1903 to 13 April 1907 | | Francisco de Paula Cid, Governor | |
| 13 April 1907 to 24 June 1907 | | Vítor Augusto Chaves Lemos e Melo, acting Governor | 1st term |
| 24 June 1907 to 24 October 1908 | | Pedro Berquó, Governor | |
| 24 October 1908 to 13 March 1909 | | Vítor Augusto Chaves Lemos e Melo, acting Governor | 2nd term |
| 13 March 1909 to 13 June 1910 | | José Augusto Vieira da Fonseca, Governor | |
| 13 June 1910 to 7 August 1910 | | Jaime Daniel Leote do Rego, Governor | 1st term |
| 7 August 1910 to 11 November 1910 | | Fernando Augusto de Carvalho, Governor | |
| 12 November 1910 to 28 November 1910 | | Carlos de Mendonça Pimentel e Melo, acting Governor | |
| 28 November 1910 to 14 June 1911 | | António Pinto Miranda Guedes, Governor | |
| 14 June 1911 to 24 December 1911 | | Jaime Daniel Leote do Rego, Governor | 2nd term |
| 24 December 1911 to 13 May 1913 | | Mariano Martins, Governor | |
| 13 May 1913 to 31 May 1915 | | Pedro do Amaral Boto Machado, Governor | |
| 31 May 1915 to 6 June 1915 | | José Dionísio Carneiro de Sousa e Faro, Governor | |
| 6 June 1915 to 28 July 1918 | | Rafael dos Santos Oliveira, acting Governor | |
| 28 July 1918 to 11 June 1919 | | João Gregório Duarte Ferreira, Governor | 2nd term |
| 11 June 1919 to 25 September 1920 | | Avelino Augusto de Oliveira Leite, Governor | |
| 25 September 1920 to 22 October 1920 | | José Augusto de Conceição Alves Vélez, acting Governor | |
| 22 October 1920 to 2 July 1921 | | Eduardo Nogueira de Lemos, acting Governor | |
| 2 July 1921 to 23 January 1924 | | António José Pereira, Governor | |
| 23 January 1924 to 8 July 1926 | | Eugénio de Barros Soares Branco, Governor | |
| 8 July 1926 to 31 August 1928 | | José Duarte Junqueira Rato, Governor | |
| 31 August 1928 to 30 January 1929 | | Sebastião José Barbosa, acting Governor | |
| 30 January 1929 to 31 August 1929 | | Francisco Penteado, Governor | |
| 31 August 1929 to 17 December 1933 | | Luís Augusto Vieira Fernandes, Governor | |
| 17 December 1933 to 8 May 1941 | | Ricardo Vaz Monteiro, Governor | |
| 8 May 1941 to 5 April 1945 | | Amadeu Gomes de Figueiredo, Governor | |
| 5 April 1945 to July 1948 | | Carlos de Sousa Gorgulho, Governor | |
| July 1948 to 8 October 1950 | | Afonso Manuel Machado de Sousa, acting Governor | |
| 8 October 1950 to 11 June 1951 | | Mário José Cabral Oliveira Castro, acting Governor | |
| Overseas Province of Portugal (1951–1974) ||||
| 11 June 1951 to 28 June 1952 | | Mário José Cabral Oliveira Castro, acting Governor | |
| 28 June 1952 to 18 April 1953 | | Guilherme António Amaral Abranches Pinto, acting Governor | Served at the time of the Batepá massacre |
| 18 April 1953 to 19 May 1953 | | Fernando Augusto Rodrigues, acting Governor | |
| 19 May 1953 to July 1953 | | Afonso Manuel Machado de Sousa, acting Governor | |
| July 1953 to August 1954 | | Francisco António Pires Barata, Governor | |
| August 1954 to 15 June 1955 | | Luís da Câmara Leme Faria, acting Governor | |
| 15 June 1955 to 5 December 1956 | | José Machado, acting Governor | |
| 5 December 1956 to 13 October 1957 | | Octávio Ferreira Gonçalves, acting Governor | |
| 13 October 1957 to August 1963 | | Manuel Marques de Abrantes Amaral, Governor | |
| August 1963 to 30 October 1963 | | Alberto Monteiro de Sousa Campos, acting Governor | |
| 30 October 1963 to 1972 | | António Jorge da Silva Sebastião, Governor | |
| 1973 to 1974 | | João Cecilio Gonçalves, Governor | |
| 29 July 1974 to 18 December 1974 | | António Pires Veloso, Governor | |
| Autonomous Province of Portugal (1974–1975) ||||
| 18 December 1974 to 12 July 1975 | | António Pires Veloso, High Commissioner | |
| 12 July 1975 | Independence as Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe | Independence as Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe | Independence as Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe |