# List of rulers of the Pitcairn Islands

The Pitcairn Islands, a group of islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, are the last remaining British Overseas Territory in Oceania. Settled by mutineers from the Bounty in 1790, the island was effectively sovereign until 1898, when it was annexed by the United Kingdom and placed under the jurisdiction of the governor of Fiji. When Fiji became independent in 1970, Pitcairn Island was placed under the authority of the British high commissioner (ambassador) to New Zealand. In practice, partly due to its isolation, Pitcairn has effectively had internal self-government throughout this period. From 1790 to 1829, the local head of government was known simply as the leader. They had a president from 1832 to 1838, and a magistrate from that time until 1999, except for an eleven-year gap from 1893 to 1904, when the chief official was the president of the Council. In 1999, the magistrate's non-judicial functions were transferred to the new office of mayor.

## Local heads of government (1790–present)

Pitcairn Islands :
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) | Title | Portrait | Tenure | Tenure | Notes | Governor of Pitcairn | Monarch |
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) | Title | Portrait | From | Until | Notes | Governor of Pitcairn | Monarch |
| 1 | Fletcher Christian (1764–1793) | Leader | | 23 January 1790 | 3 October 1793 | | — | — |
| 2 | Edward "Ned" Young (1762–1800) | Leader | | 3 October 1793 | 25 December 1800 | | — | — |
| 3 | John "Jack" Adams (1767–1829) | Leader | | 25 December 1800 | 5 March 1829 | | — | — |
| – | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | 5 March 1829 | October 1832 | | — | — |
| 4 | Joshua Hill (1773–1844?) | President | | October 1832 | 1838 | | — | — |
| 5 | Edward Quintal (1800–1841) | Magistrate | | 1838 | 1839 | | — | Victoria |
| 6 | Arthur Quintal I (1795–1872) | Magistrate | | 1840 | 1841 | | — | Victoria |
| 7 | Fletcher Christian II (1812–1852) | Magistrate | | 1842 | 1842 | | — | Victoria |
| 8 | Matthew McCoy (1819–1853) | Magistrate | | 1843 | 1843 | 1st term | — | Victoria |
| 9 | Thursday October Christian II (1820–1911) | Magistrate | | 1844 | 1844 | 1st term | — | Victoria |
| 10 | Arthur Quintal II (1816–1902) | Magistrate | | 1845 | 1846 | 1st term | — | Victoria |
| 11 | Charles Christian II (1818–1886) | Magistrate | | 1847 | 1847 | | — | Victoria |
| 12 | George Adams (1804–1873) | Magistrate | | 1848 | 1848 | | — | Victoria |
| 13 | Simon Young (1823–1893) | Magistrate | | 1849 | 1849 | | — | Victoria |
| 14 | Arthur Quintal II (1816–1902) | Magistrate | | 1850 | 1850 | 2nd term | — | Victoria |
| 15 | Thursday October Christian II (1820–1911) | Magistrate | | 1851 | 1851 | 2nd term | — | Victoria |
| 16 | Abraham Blatchly Quintal (1827–1910) | Magistrate | | 1852 | 1852 | | — | Victoria |
| 17 | Matthew McCoy (1819–1853) | Magistrate | | 1853 | 1853 | 2nd term | — | Victoria |
| 18 | Arthur Quintal II (1816–1902) | Magistrate | | 1854 | 1854 | 3rd term | — | Victoria |
| 19 | George Martin Frederick Young (1822–1909) | Magistrate | | 1855 | 3 May 1856 | | — | Victoria |
| – | Vacant due to relocation to Norfolk Island | Vacant due to relocation to Norfolk Island | Vacant due to relocation to Norfolk Island | 1856 | 1864 | | — | Victoria |
| 20 | Thursday October Christian II (1820–1911) | Magistrate | | 1864 | 1864 | 3rd term | — | Victoria |
| 21 | Moses Young (1829–1909) | Magistrate | | 1865 | 1866 | 1st term | — | Victoria |
| 22 | Thursday October Christian II (1820–1911) | Magistrate | | 1867 | 1867 | 4th term | — | Victoria |
| 23 | Robert Pitcairn Buffett (1830–1916) | Magistrate | | 1868 | 1868 | | — | Victoria |
| 24 | Moses Young (1829–1909) | Magistrate | | 1869 | 1869 | 2nd term | — | Victoria |
| 25 | James Russell McCoy (1845–1924) | Magistrate | | 1870 | 1872 | 1st term | — | Victoria |
| 26 | Thursday October Christian II (1820–1911) | Magistrate | | 1873 | 1874 | 5th term | — | Victoria |
| 27 | Moses Young (1829–1909) | Magistrate | | 1875 | 1875 | 3rd term | — | Victoria |
| 28 | Thursday October Christian II (1820–1911) | Magistrate | | 1876 | 1877 | 6th term | — | Victoria |
| 29 | James Russell McCoy (1845–1924) | Magistrate | | 1878 | 1879 | 2nd term | — | Victoria |
| 30 | Thursday October Christian II (1820–1911) | Magistrate | | 1880 | 1880 | 7th term | — | Victoria |
| 31 | Moses Young (1829–1909) | Magistrate | | 1881 | 1881 | 4th term | — | Victoria |
| 32 | Thursday October Christian II (1820–1911) | Magistrate | | 1882 | 1882 | 8th term | — | Victoria |
| 33 | James Russell McCoy (1845–1924) | Magistrate | | 1883 | 1883 | 3rd term | — | Victoria |
| 34 | Benjamin Stanley Young (1851–1934) | Magistrate | | 1884 | 1885 | 1st term | — | Victoria |
| 35 | James Russell McCoy (1845–1924) | Magistrate | | 1886 | 1889 | 4th term | — | Victoria |
| 36 | Charles Carleton Vieder Young (1850–1941) | Magistrate | | 1890 | 1891 | | — | Victoria |
| 37 | Benjamin Stanley Young (1851–1934) | Magistrate | | 1892 | 1892 | 2nd term | — | Victoria |
| 38 | James Russell McCoy (1845–1924) | President of the Council | | 1893 | 1896 | 5th term | — | Victoria |
| 39 | William Alfred Young (1863–1911) | President of the Council | | 1897 | 1897 | 1st term | — | Victoria |
| 40 | James Russell McCoy (1845–1924) | President of the Council | | 1897 | 1903 | 6th term | — | Victoria |
| 40 | James Russell McCoy (1845–1924) | President of the Council | | 1897 | 1903 | 6th term | — | Edward VII |
| 41 | William Alfred Young (1863–1911) | President of the Council | | 1904 | 1904 | 2nd term | — | Edward VII |
| 42 | James Russell McCoy (1845–1924) | Magistrate | | 1905 | 1906 | 7th term | — | Edward VII |
| 43 | Arthur Herbert Young (1873–1943) | Magistrate | | 1907 | 1907 | 1st term | — | Edward VII |
| 44 | William Alfred Young (1863–1911) | Magistrate | | 1908 | 1908 | 3rd term | — | Edward VII |
| 45 | Matthew Edmond McCoy (1868–1929) | Magistrate | | 1909 | 1909 | | — | Edward VII |
| 46 | Gerard Bromley Robert Christian (1870–1919) | Magistrate | | 1910 | 1919 | | — | Edward VII |
| 46 | Gerard Bromley Robert Christian (1870–1919) | Magistrate | | 1910 | 1919 | | — | George V |
| 47 | Charles Richard Parkin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1920 | 1920 | 1st term | — | George V |
| 48 | Frederick Martin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1921 | 1921 | 1st term | — | George V |
| 49 | Charles Richard Parkin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1922 | 1922 | 2nd term | — | George V |
| 50 | Edgar Allen Christian (1879–1960) | Magistrate | | 1923 | 1924 | 1st term | — | George V |
| 51 | Charles Richard Parkin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1925 | 1925 | 3rd term | — | George V |
| 52 | Richard Edgar Christian (1882–1940) | Magistrate | | 1926 | 1929 | 1st term | — | George V |
| 53 | Arthur Herbert Young (1873–1943) | Magistrate | | 1930 | 1931 | 2nd term | — | George V |
| 54 | Edgar Allen Christian (1879–1960) | Magistrate | | 1932 | 1932 | 2nd term | — | George V |
| 55 | Charles Richard Parkin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1933 | 1934 | 4th term | — | George V |
| 56 | Richard Edgar Christian (1882–1940) | Magistrate | | 1935 | 1938 | 2nd term | — | George V |
| 56 | Richard Edgar Christian (1882–1940) | Magistrate | | 1935 | 1938 | 2nd term | — | Edward VIII |
| 56 | Richard Edgar Christian (1882–1940) | Magistrate | | 1935 | 1938 | 2nd term | — | George VI |
| 57 | Arthur Herbert Young (1873–1943) | Magistrate | | 1939 | 1939 | 3rd term | — | George VI |
| 58 | Richard Edgar Christian (1882–1940) | Magistrate | | 1940 | 1940 | 3rd term | — | George VI |
| 59 | Andrew Clarence David Young (1899–1988) | Magistrate | | 1940 | 1940 | | — | George VI |
| 60 | Arthur Herbert Young (1873–1943) | Magistrate | | 1941 | 1941 | 4th term | — | George VI |
| 61 | Frederick Martin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1942 | 1943 | 2nd term | — | George VI |
| 62 | Charles Richard Parkin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1944 | 1945 | 5th term | — | George VI |
| 63 | Norris Henry Young (1887–1974) | Magistrate | | 1945 | 1948 | | — | George VI |
| 64 | Charles Richard Parkin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1949 | 1949 | 6th term | — | George VI |
| 65 | Warren Clive Christian (1914–2003) | Magistrate | | 1950 | 1951 | 1st term | — | George VI |
| 66 | John Lorenzo Christian (1895–1984) | Magistrate | | 1952 | 1954 | 1st term | — | George VI |
| 66 | John Lorenzo Christian (1895–1984) | Magistrate | | 1952 | 1954 | 1st term | — | Elizabeth II |
| 67 | Charles Richard Parkin Christian (1883–1971) | Magistrate | | 1955 | 1957 | 7th term | — | Elizabeth II |
| 68 | Warren Clive Christian (1914–2003) | Magistrate | | 1958 | 1959 | 2nd term | — | Elizabeth II |
| 69 | John Lorenzo Christian (1895–1984) | Magistrate | | 1959 | 1966 | 2nd term | — | Elizabeth II |
| 70 | Pervis Ferris Young (1928–2003) | Magistrate | | 1967 | December 1975 | | — | Elizabeth II |
| 70 | Pervis Ferris Young (1928–2003) | Magistrate | | 1967 | December 1975 | | Sir Arthur Norman Galsworthy | Elizabeth II |
| 70 | Pervis Ferris Young (1928–2003) | Magistrate | | 1967 | December 1975 | | Sir David Aubrey Scott | Elizabeth II |
| 71 | Ivan Christian (1919–1991) | Magistrate | | December 1975 | December 1984 | | Sir Harold Smedley | Elizabeth II |
| 71 | Ivan Christian (1919–1991) | Magistrate | | December 1975 | December 1984 | | Richard Stratton | Elizabeth II |
| 72 | Brian Young (born 1954) | Magistrate | | December 1984 | 1 January 1991 | | Terence Daniel O'Leary | Elizabeth II |
| 72 | Brian Young (born 1954) | Magistrate | | December 1984 | 1 January 1991 | | Robin Byatt | Elizabeth II |
| 72 | Brian Young (born 1954) | Magistrate | | December 1984 | 1 January 1991 | | David Moss | Elizabeth II |
| 73 | Jay Warren (born 1956) | Magistrate | | 1 January 1991 | 7 December 1999 | 1st term | David Moss | Elizabeth II |
| 73 | Jay Warren (born 1956) | Magistrate | | 1 January 1991 | 7 December 1999 | 1st term | Robert John Alston | Elizabeth II |
| 73 | Jay Warren (born 1956) | Magistrate | | 1 January 1991 | 7 December 1999 | 1st term | Martin Williams | Elizabeth II |
| 74 | Steve Christian (born 1951) | Mayor | | 7 December 1999 | 8 November 2004 | | Martin Williams | Elizabeth II |
| 74 | Steve Christian (born 1951) | Mayor | | 7 December 1999 | 8 November 2004 | | Richard Fell | Elizabeth II |
| 75 | Brenda Christian (born 1953) | Acting Mayor | | 8 November 2004 | 15 December 2004 | | Richard Fell | Elizabeth II |
| 76 | Jay Warren (born 1956) | Mayor | | 1 January 2005 | 31 December 2007 | 2nd term | Richard Fell | Elizabeth II |
| 76 | Jay Warren (born 1956) | Mayor | | 1 January 2005 | 31 December 2007 | 2nd term | George Fergusson | Elizabeth II |
| 77 | Mike Warren (born 1964) | Mayor | | 1 January 2008 | 31 December 2013 | | George Fergusson | Elizabeth II |
| 77 | Mike Warren (born 1964) | Mayor | | 1 January 2008 | 31 December 2013 | | Mike Cherrett | Elizabeth II |
| 77 | Mike Warren (born 1964) | Mayor | | 1 January 2008 | 31 December 2013 | | Victoria "Vicki" Treadell | Elizabeth II |
| 78 | Shawn Christian (born 1975) | Mayor | | 1 January 2014 | 31 December 2019 | | Victoria "Vicki" Treadell | Elizabeth II |
| 78 | Shawn Christian (born 1975) | Mayor | | 1 January 2014 | 31 December 2019 | | Jonathan Sinclair | Elizabeth II |
| 78 | Shawn Christian (born 1975) | Mayor | | 1 January 2014 | 31 December 2019 | | Robin Shackell | Elizabeth II |
| 78 | Shawn Christian (born 1975) | Mayor | | 1 January 2014 | 31 December 2019 | | Laura Clarke | Elizabeth II |
| 79 | Charlene Warren-Peu (born 1979) | Mayor | | 1 January 2020 | 31 December 2022 | | Laura Clarke | Elizabeth II |
| 79 | Charlene Warren-Peu (born 1979) | Mayor | | 1 January 2020 | 31 December 2022 | | Iona Thomas | Elizabeth II |
| 79 | Charlene Warren-Peu (born 1979) | Mayor | | 1 January 2020 | 31 December 2022 | | Iona Thomas | Charles III |
| 80 | Simon Young | Mayor | | 1 January 2023 | Incumbent | | Iona Thomas | Charles III |
| Sources: Pitcairn Island Civil Recorder (1864–1964) |||||||||
* ↑ The death of John Adams led to a constitutional crisis. An important leader was Thursday October Christian, the first son of Fletcher Christian and the first child born on the island. In the ensuing period, the islanders tried to relocate to Tahiti, until the arrival of Joshua Hill.
* ↑ Dismissed from office by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office following his four rape convictions.

## Colonial governors (1898–present)

See separate articles:
* Governors of Fiji (1898–1970)
* British High Commissioners to New Zealand (1970–present)