# List of governors of Singapore

The governors of Singapore were the political leaders of Singapore during its pre-independence phase in the history of Singapore.

## Residents of Singapore (1819–1826)

The Resident of Singapore ruled the British colony that is today the Republic of Singapore. The persons on this position governed Singapore from 1819 to 1826, on behalf of the British East India Company.
British East India Company :
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Duration | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| 1 | | Major-General William Farquhar (1774–1839) | 6 February 1819 | 1 May 1823 | 4 years, 2 months | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Resident of Malacca, Chief Engineer | George III |
| 1 | | Major-General William Farquhar (1774–1839) | 6 February 1819 | 1 May 1823 | 4 years, 2 months | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Resident of Malacca, Chief Engineer | George IV |
| 2 | | Dr John Crawfurd (1783–1868) | 27 May 1823 | 15 August 1826 | 3 years, 2 months | Argyll, Scotland | Surgeon, Diplomat | George IV |

## Governors of the Straits Settlements (1826–1942)

The Governor of the Straits Settlements ruled the Straits Settlements. The persons on this position governed the Straits Settlements from 1826 to 1946, on behalf of the British East India Company (1826–1858), the India Office (1858–1867) and the Colonial Office (1867–1946) respectively.
British Straits Settlements :
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Duration | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| 1 | | Robert Fullerton (1773–1831) | 27 November 1826 | 12 November 1830 | 3 years, 11 months | Edinburgh, Scotland | Second Member of Council, and President of the Board of Trade | George IV |
| 1 | | Robert Fullerton (1773–1831) | 27 November 1826 | 12 November 1830 | 3 years, 11 months | Edinburgh, Scotland | Second Member of Council, and President of the Board of Trade | William IV |
| 2 | | Robert Ibbetson (1789–1880) | 12 November 1830 | 7 December 1833 | 3 years, 25 days | England | Resident Councillor of the Prince of Wales Island | William IV |
| 3 | | Kenneth Murchison (1794–1854) | 7 December 1833 | 17 November 1836 | 2 years, 11 months | Scotland | Resident Councillor of the Straits Settlements | William IV |
| 4 | | Sir Samuel George Bonham (1803–1863) | 18 November 1836 | January 1843 | 6 years, 1 month | Kent, England | Resident Councillor of the Straits Settlements | William IV |
| 4 | | Sir Samuel George Bonham (1803–1863) | 18 November 1836 | January 1843 | 6 years, 1 month | Kent, England | Resident Councillor of the Straits Settlements | Victoria |
| Victoria ||||||||
| 5 | | Major General William John Butterworth (1801–1856) | August 1843 | 21 March 1855 | 11 years, 9 months | Unknown | Lieutenant-Colonel of the 38th Madras Regiment | Victoria |
| 6 | | Edmund Augustus Blundell (1804–1868) | 21 March 1855 | 6 August 1859 | 4 years, 4 months | Somerset, England | Resident Councillor of Penang | Victoria |
| Victoria ||||||||
| 7 | | Major General Sir Orfeur Cavenagh (1820–1891) | 6 August 1859 | 16 March 1867 | 7 years, 7 months | Kent, England | British Indian Army | Victoria |
| Victoria ||||||||
| 8 | | Major General Sir Harry St. George Ord (1819–1885) | 16 March 1867 | 4 March 1871 | 3 years, 11 months | Kent, England | Special Commissioner to West Africa | Victoria |
| — | | Major General Edward Archibald Harbord Anson (1826–1925) (acting) | 4 March 1871 | 22 March 1872 | 1 year and 18 days | London, England | Lieutenant Governor of Penang | Victoria |
| 8 | | Major General Sir Harry St. George Ord (1819–1885) | 22 March 1872 | 3 November 1873 | 1 year, 7 months | Kent, England | Colonial administrator | Victoria |
| — | | Major General Edward Archibald Harbord Anson (1826–1925) (acting) | 3 November 1873 | 4 November 1873 | 1 day | London, England | Lieutenant Governor of Penang | Victoria |
| 9 | | Sir Andrew Clarke (1824–1902) | 4 November 1873 | 8 May 1875 | 1 year, 6 months | Hampshire, England | Director of Works at the Admiralty | Victoria |
| 10 | | Sir William Jervois (1821–1897) | 8 May 1875 | 3 April 1877 | 1 year, 10 months | Isle of Wight, England | Colonel of the Royal Engineers | Victoria |
| — | | Major General Edward Archibald Harbord Anson (1826–1925) (acting) | 3 April 1877 | August 1877 | 4 months | London, England | Lieutenant Governor of Penang | Victoria |
| 11 | | Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson (1834–1897) | August 1877 | 10 February 1879 | 1 year, 5 months | County Westmeath, Ireland | Governor of Western Australia | Victoria |
| — | | Major General Edward Archibald Harbord Anson (1826–1925) (acting) | 10 February 1879 | 16 May 1880 | 1 year, 3 months | London, England | Lieutenant Governor of Penang | Victoria |
| 12 | | Sir Frederick Weld (1823–1891) | 16 May 1880 | 17 October 1887 | 7 years, 5 months | Dorset, England | Governor of Tasmania | Victoria |
| 13 | | Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1840–1916) | 17 October 1887 | 30 August 1893 | 5 years, 10 months | London, England | Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements | Victoria |
| — | | William Edward Maxwell (1846–1897) (acting) | 30 August 1893 | 1 February 1894 | 5 months and 2 days | unknown | Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements | Victoria |
| 14 | | Sir Charles Mitchell (1836–1899) Died while in office | 1 February 1894 | 7 December 1899 | 5 years, 10 months | London, England | Governor of Natal | Victoria |
| — | | James Alexander Swettenham (1846–1933) (acting) | 7 December 1899 | 5 November 1901 | 1 year, 10 months | Derbyshire, England | Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements | Victoria |
| — | | James Alexander Swettenham (1846–1933) (acting) | 7 December 1899 | 5 November 1901 | 1 year, 10 months | Derbyshire, England | Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements | Edward VII |
| 15 | | Sir Frank Swettenham (1850–1946) | 5 November 1901 | 16 April 1904 | 2 years, 5 months | Derbyshire, England | Resident-General of the Federated Malay States | Edward VII |
| 16 | | Sir John Anderson (1858–1918) | 16 April 1904 | 2 September 1911 | 7 years, 4 months | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Colonial administrator | Edward VII |
| 16 | | Sir John Anderson (1858–1918) | 16 April 1904 | 2 September 1911 | 7 years, 4 months | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Colonial administrator | George V |
| 17 | | Sir Arthur Henderson Young (1854–1938) | 2 September 1911 | 17 February 1920 | 8 years, 5 months | unknown | Resident-General of the Federated Malay States | George V |
| 18 | | Sir Laurence Guillemard (1862–1951) | 17 February 1920 | 3 June 1927 | 7 years, 3 months | unknown | Colonial administrator | George V |
| 19 | | Sir Hugh Clifford (1866–1941) | 3 June 1927 | 21 October 1929 | 2 years, 4 months | London, England | Governor of British Ceylon | George V |
| — | | Sir John Scott (1878 – 1946) (acting) | 21 October 1929 | 5 February 1930 | 3 months and 15 days | unknown | Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements | George V |
| 20 | | Sir Cecil Clementi (1875–1947) | 5 February 1930 | 17 February 1934 | 4 years and 12 days | Cawnpore, India | Governor of Hong Kong | George V |
| — | | Sir Andrew Caldecott (1884–1951) (acting) | 17 February 1934 | 9 November 1934 | 8 months and 23 days | Kent, England | Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements | George V |
| | | Sir Shenton Thomas (1879–1962) | 9 November 1934 | 15 February 1942 | 7 years, 3 months | London, England | Governor of the Gold Coast | George V |
| 21 | | Sir Shenton Thomas (1879–1962) | 9 November 1934 | 15 February 1942 | 7 years, 3 months | London, England | Governor of the Gold Coast | George V |
| 21 | | Sir Shenton Thomas (1879–1962) | 9 November 1934 | 15 February 1942 | 7 years, 3 months | London, England | Governor of the Gold Coast | Edward VIII |
| 21 | | Sir Shenton Thomas (1879–1962) | 9 November 1934 | 15 February 1942 | 7 years, 3 months | London, England | Governor of the Gold Coast | George VI |
| Japanese occupation of Singapore |||||||||

## Japanese occupation (1942 to 1945)

During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, there were two Mayors and five Military Administrators appointed to Syonan-to.
Mayor of Syonan-to「昭南島」(Shōnan-tō) :
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Duration | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| 1 | | Odate Shigeo (1892–1955) | 7 March 1942 | 8 July 1943 | 1 year, 4 months | Hamada, Shimane | Bureaucrat in the Home Ministry | Emperor Shōwa |
| 2 | | Naito Kanichi (1897–19??) | 19 July 1943 | 12 September 1945 | 2 years, 1 month | Ehime | Chief Military Administrator | Emperor Shōwa |
| End of Japanese occupation of Singapore |||||||||
Military Administrator of Syonan-to「昭南島」(Shōnan-tō) :
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| 1 | | Yamashita Tomoyuki (1888–1946) | 15 February 1942 | 1 July 1942 | Ōtoyo, Kōchi | Commanding Officer of the Japanese 25th Army | Emperor Shōwa |
| 2 | | Yaheita Saito (1885-1953) | 1 July 1942 | 8 April 1943 | Kagawa | Commanding Officer of the Japanese 25th Army | Emperor Shōwa |
| 3 | | Terauchi Hisaichi (1879–1946) | 8 April 1943 | 22 March 1944 | Tokyo | Commanding Officer of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group | Emperor Shōwa |
| 4 | | Doihara Kenji (1883–1948) | 22 March 1944 | 7 April 1945 | Okayama, Okayama | Commanding Officer of the Japanese 7th Area Army | Emperor Shōwa |
| 5 | | Itagaki Seishiro (1885–1948) | 7 April 1945 | 12 September 1945 | Morioka, Iwate | Commanding Officer of the Japanese 7th Area Army | Emperor Shōwa |
| Emperor Shōwa ||||||||

## Governors of the Straits Settlements (1945–1946)

British Straits Settlements :
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Duration | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946. | British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946. | British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946. | British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946. | British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946. | British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946. | British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946. | British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946. | George VI |
| — | | Lord Louis Mountbatten (1900–1979) British High Command | 12 September 1945 | 31 March 1946 | 6 months and 19 days | Berkshire, England | Supreme Allied Commander of the Southeast Asia Theatre | George VI |
| George VI ||||||||
| 21 | | Sir Shenton Thomas (1879–1962) | 12 September 1945 | 31 March 1946 | 6 months and 19 days | London, England | Colonial administrator | George VI |
| George VI ||||||||

## Governors of Singapore (1946–1959)

The Governor of Singapore governs Singapore. The persons on this position governed the Colony of Singapore from 1946 to 1959, on behalf of the Colonial Office until Singapore gained self-governance in 1959 in which the Office of the Governor was abolished.
Crown Colony of Singapore :
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Duration | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Monarch |
| 1 | | Sir Franklin Charles Gimson (1890–1975) | 1 April 1946 | 20 March 1952 | 5 years, 11 months | Leicestershire, England | Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong | George VI |
| 1 | | Sir Franklin Charles Gimson (1890–1975) | 1 April 1946 | 20 March 1952 | 5 years, 11 months | Leicestershire, England | Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong | Elizabeth II |
| — | | Wilfred Lawson Blythe (1896–1975) (acting) | 20 March 1952 | 21 April 1952 | 1 month and 1 day | unknown | Colonial Secretary of Singapore | Elizabeth II |
| 2 | | Sir John Fearns Nicoll (1899–1981) | 21 April 1952 | 2 June 1955 | 3 years, 1 month | London, England | Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong | Elizabeth II |
| — | | Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode (1907–1986) (acting) | 2 June 1955 | 30 June 1955 | 28 days | Middlesex, England | Colonial Secretary of Singapore | Elizabeth II |
| 3 | | Sir Robert Brown Black (1906–1999) | 30 June 1955 | 9 December 1957 | 2 years, 5 months | Edinburgh, Scotland | Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong | Elizabeth II |
| 4 | | Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode (1907–1986) | 9 December 1957 | 2 June 1959 | 1 year, 5 months | Middlesex, England | Chief Secretary of Singapore | Elizabeth II |
| Singapore is granted self-governance in 1959 within the British Empire |||||||||