# List of colonial governors of the Gambia

This is a list of colonial governors and administrators in the Gambia from the establishment of a British settlement on St Mary's Island, now known as Banjul Island, in 1816, through to the Gambia Colony and Protectorate's independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.
The official title of the Commandant of St Mary's Island was given as the Commandant of the British Settlement at St Mary's in 1823. In 1821, the Gambia became a British colony that formed part of Sierra Leone. In 1829, a Lieutenant Governor was appointed that was subordinate to the Governor of Sierra Leone. Between 1843 and 1866, the Gambia had its own Governor independent of Sierra Leone. It once again became subordinate in 1866, with an Administrator being appointed to govern the territory. An independent Governor was again appointed in 1901 that also acted as the Commander-in-Chief of the colony.
The Gambia achieved independence in 1965. Thereafter, the viceroy of the British Crown in the Gambia became the Governor-General of the Gambia, until it renounced the Queen as head of state in 1970.

## Before 1816

Before 1816, the colonial presence in the Gambia was restricted to James Island (known as St Andrew's Island from 1456 to 1660, and as Kunta Kinteh Island since 2011).

## Commandants of St Mary's Island (1816–1830)

| Commandant | Commandant | Term of office | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch |
| | Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Grant (1775–1827) | 23 April 1816 | 1 August 1826 | – Officer with the Royal African Corps (1804–1825) – Acting Governor of Sierra Leone (1820–1821; 1821) | None | George III (1760–1820) |
| | Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Grant (1775–1827) | First British colonial administrator in the Gambia since 1783. Negotiated lease of St Mary's Island in 1816. Founded town of Bathurst. Encouraged activities of Wesleyans and Quakers. Subordinated to Sierra Leone in 1821. Purchased MacCarthy Island in 1823 and founded Georgetown. Acquired Ceded Mile from the King of Barra in 1826. | First British colonial administrator in the Gambia since 1783. Negotiated lease of St Mary's Island in 1816. Founded town of Bathurst. Encouraged activities of Wesleyans and Quakers. Subordinated to Sierra Leone in 1821. Purchased MacCarthy Island in 1823 and founded Georgetown. Acquired Ceded Mile from the King of Barra in 1826. | First British colonial administrator in the Gambia since 1783. Negotiated lease of St Mary's Island in 1816. Founded town of Bathurst. Encouraged activities of Wesleyans and Quakers. Subordinated to Sierra Leone in 1821. Purchased MacCarthy Island in 1823 and founded Georgetown. Acquired Ceded Mile from the King of Barra in 1826. | First British colonial administrator in the Gambia since 1783. Negotiated lease of St Mary's Island in 1816. Founded town of Bathurst. Encouraged activities of Wesleyans and Quakers. Subordinated to Sierra Leone in 1821. Purchased MacCarthy Island in 1823 and founded Georgetown. Acquired Ceded Mile from the King of Barra in 1826. | George IV (1820–1830) |
| | Colonel Alexander Findlay KH (1784–1851) | 1 August 1826 | 8 March 1829 | – Officer with the Royal African Corps | None | George IV (1820–1830) |
| | William Hutton (17??–18??) | 8 March 1829 | 8 August 1829 | – Acting Consul for the Kingdom of Ashanti | None | George IV (1820–1830) |
| | Captain James Jackson (17??–18??) | 8 August 1829 | 28 January 1830 | – Officer with the 3rd West India Regiment | None | George IV (1820–1830) |

## Lieutenant Governors of the Gambia (1830–1843)

| Lieutenant Governor | Lieutenant Governor | Term of office | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch |
| | Colonel Alexander Findlay KH (1784–1851) | 28 January 1830 | 3 April 1830 | – Officer with the Royal African Corps – Commandant of St Mary's Island (1826–1829) | None | George IV (1820–1830) |
| | George Rendall (d. 1837) | 3 April 1830 | 20 September 1837 | – Chief Justice of Sierra Leone (1829–1830) | Andrew Hunter | George IV (1820–1830) |
| | George Rendall (d. 1837) | Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | William IV (1830–1837) |
| | George Rendall (d. 1837) | Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | Established a Liberated Africans Department in 1831. 1831–32 Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War. Groundnuts shipped to Britain for the first time in 1834. Failed expedition against Kemintang Kamara in 1835. Died of yellow fever in office. | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Anthony Clogstoun (1815–1851) | 20 September 1837 | October 1838 | – Writer in the Colonial Secretary's Office | Thomas Lewis Ingram | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Major Sir William Mackie (d. 1839) | October 1838 | 17 September 1839 | – Officer with the 88th Regiment of Foot | Thomas Lewis Ingram | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Thomas Lewis Ingram (1807–1868) | 17 September 1839 | 10 April 1840 | – Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1837–1849) | Himself | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Captain Sir Henry Vere Huntley RN (1795–1864) | 10 April 1840 | 31 May 1841 | – Captain of HMS Lynx | Thomas Lewis Ingram | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Thomas Lewis Ingram (1807–1868) | 31 May 1841 | 1 April 1843 | – Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1837–1849) | Himself | Victoria (1837–1901) |

## Governors of the Gambia (1843–1866)

| Governor | Governor | Term of office | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch |
| | Henry Froude Seagram (1802–1843) | 1 April 1843 | 26 August 1843 | – Unknown | Thomas Lewis Ingram | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Thomas Lewis Ingram (1807–1868) | 26 August 1843 | 7 August 1844 | – Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1837–1849) | Himself | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Edmund Nash Norcott (1794–1874) | 30 October 1843 | 15 March 1844 | – Unknown | Thomas Lewis Ingram | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Sir John Iles Mantell (1813–1893) | 7 August 1844 | 9 December 1844 | – Queen's Advocate in the Gambia (1841–1847) | Himself | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Captain Charles Fitzgerald RN (1791–1887) | 9 December 1844 | 18 April 1847 | – Unknown | Thomas Lewis Ingram | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Thomas Lewis Ingram (1807–1868) | 18 April 1847 | 21 December 1847 | – Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1837–1849) | Himself | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Richard Graves MacDonnell (1814–1881) | 21 December 1847 | 18 August 1852 | – Chief Justice of the Gambia (1843–1847) | Thomas Lewis Ingram | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Daniel Robertson (1813–1892) | 11 August 1851 | 12 March 1852 | – Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1849–1865) | Himself | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Arthur Kennedy (1809–1883) | May 1852 | May 1852 | – Poor Law Commission administrator (1846–1851) | Daniel Robertson | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Daniel Robertson (1813–1892) | 18 August 1852 | 21 October 1852 | – Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1849–1865) | Himself | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Lieutenant Colonel Luke Smythe O'Connor (1806–1873) | 21 October 1852 | 23 April 1859 | – Officer with the 1st West India Regiment | Daniel Robertson | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Daniel Robertson (1813–1883) | 23 April 1859 | 6 September 1859 | – Colonial Secretary of the Gambia (1849–1865) | Himself | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy (1818–1885) | 6 September 1859 | 19 February 1866 | – Officer with the 3rd West India Regiment | Daniel Robertson | Victoria (1837–1901) |

## Administrators of the Gambia (1866–1901)

| Administrator | Administrator | Term of office | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch |
| | George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy (1818–1885) | 19 February 1866 | 18 December 1866 | – Officer with the 3rd West India Regiment – Governor of the Gambia (1859–1866) | Unknown | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Rear Admiral Charles George Edward Patey RN (retd) (1811–1881) | 18 December 1866 | 21 April 1869 | – Administrator of Lagos (1866) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Major Alexander Bravo (18??–18??) | 21 April 1869 | 12 September 1870 | – Unknown | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Lieutenant Colonel Henry Anton (1824–1871) | 12 September 1870 | 7 August 1871 | – Acting Administrator. | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Thomas F. Callaghan (1827–1881) | 7 August 1871 | 21 April 1872 | – Governor of Labuan (1861–1866) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Henry William John Fowler (1842–1893) | 21 April 1872 | 7 October 1872 | – Acting Administrator. | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Captain Henry T. M. Cooper (1838–1877) | 7 October 1872 | 2 October 1873 | – Unknown | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright (1817–1897) | 2 October 1873 | 12 February 1875 | – Lieutenant Governor of Tobago (1864–1872) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Captain Henry T. M. Cooper (1838–1877) | 12 February 1875 | 2 July 1875 | – Unknown | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Brigade Surgeon Samuel Rowe (retd) (1835–1888) | 2 July 1875 | 3 July 1875 | – Colonial Surgeon of the Gold Coast (1875) – Governor of Sierra Leone (1875–1881) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Captain Henry T. M. Cooper (1838–1877) | 3 July 1875 | 9 January 1877 | – Unknown | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | William Hamilton Berkeley (18??–18??) | 9 January 1877 | 30 March 1877 | – Unknown | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Valesius Skipton Gouldsbury CMG (1839–1896) | 30 March 1877 | 3 March 1884 | – Civil Commandant at Accra | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Cornelius Alfred Moloney CMG (1848–1913) | 3 March 1884 | December 1885 | – Colonial Secretary of Lagos (1879–1884) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Gilbert Thomas Carter CMG (1848–1927) | December 1885 | 8 February 1886 | – Treasurer and Postmaster of the Gambia (1882–1888) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | James Shaw Hay (1839–1924) | 8 February 1886 | 12 June 1886 | – Unknown | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Gilbert Thomas Carter CMG (1848–1927) | 12 June 1886 | 29 April 1887 | – Treasurer and Postmaster of the Gambia (1882–1888) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Brigade Surgeon Samuel Rowe (retd) (1835–1888) | 29 April 1887 | 27 November 1887 | – Governor of British West Africa (1885–1888) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Thomas Risely Griffith (1848–1???) | 27 November 1887 | 6 June 1888 | – Unknown – Governor of Sierra Leone (1875–1881) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Gilbert Thomas Carter CMG (1848–1927) | 6 June 1888 | 2 March 1891 | – Treasurer and Postmaster of the Gambia (1882–1888) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Charles Herbert Harley Moseley (1857–1933) | 16 March 1891 | 19 April 1891 | – Unknown | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Robert Baxter Llewelyn (1845–1919) | 19 April 1891 | 21 March 1900 | – Commissioner of Saint Lucia (1889–1891) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Horace Major Brandford Griffith (1863–1909) | 21 March 1900 | 10 January 1901 | – Unknown | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Sir George Chardin Denton KCMG FRGS FZS (1851–1928) | 10 January 1901 | 4 March 1901 | – Lieutenant Governor of Lagos (1900) | | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| | Sir George Chardin Denton KCMG FRGS FZS (1851–1928) | Upgraded to Governor in March 1901. | Upgraded to Governor in March 1901. | Upgraded to Governor in March 1901. | Upgraded to Governor in March 1901. | Edward VII (1901–1910) |

## Governors of the Gambia (1901–1965)

| Governor | Governor | Term of office | Term of office | Prior or concurrent offices | Colonial Secretary | Monarch |
| | Sir George Chardin Denton KCMG FRGS FZS (1851–1928) | 11 January 1901 | 21 December 1911 | – Administrator of the Gambia (1901) | Charles O'Brien | Edward VII (1901–1910) |
| | Sir George Chardin Denton KCMG FRGS FZS (1851–1928) | Death of Fodi Kabba in 1901. Establishment of the Gambia Company in 1901. Expedition of parasitologist Joseph Everett Dutton. S. J. Forster appointed as permanent member of the Legislative Council for the first time in 1906, dies in 1940. | Death of Fodi Kabba in 1901. Establishment of the Gambia Company in 1901. Expedition of parasitologist Joseph Everett Dutton. S. J. Forster appointed as permanent member of the Legislative Council for the first time in 1906, dies in 1940. | Death of Fodi Kabba in 1901. Establishment of the Gambia Company in 1901. Expedition of parasitologist Joseph Everett Dutton. S. J. Forster appointed as permanent member of the Legislative Council for the first time in 1906, dies in 1940. | Death of Fodi Kabba in 1901. Establishment of the Gambia Company in 1901. Expedition of parasitologist Joseph Everett Dutton. S. J. Forster appointed as permanent member of the Legislative Council for the first time in 1906, dies in 1940. | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Galway KCMG DSO (1859–1949) | 21 December 1911 | 30 January 1914 | – Governor of Saint Helena (1903–1911) | Charles O'Brien | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Cecil Gwyn (18??–19??) | 30 January 1914 | 10 April 1914 | – Unknown | | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Sir Edward John Cameron KCMG (1858–1947) | 11 April 1914 | July 1920 | – Commissioner of Saint Lucia (1909–1914) | | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Herbert Henniker-Heaton (1880–1961) | 1920 | 1921 | – Lieutenant Governor of Tobago (1864–1872) | | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Sir Cecil Hamilton Armitage KBE CMG DSO (1869–1833) | 3 January 1921 | 10 March 1927 | – Chief Commissioner of the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast (1910–1920) | Charles R. M. Workman | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Sir John Middleton KBE CMG (1870–1954) | 10 March 1927 | October 1928 | – Governor of the Falkland Islands (1920–1927) | Charles R. M. Workman | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Charles Rufus Marshall Workman (1874–1942) | October 1928 | 29 November 1928 | – Unknown | | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Sir Edward Brandis Denham GCMG KBE (1876–1938) | 29 November 1928 | 13 January 1930 | – Colonial Secretary of Kenya (1923–1928) | Charles R. M. Workman | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Charles Rufus Marshall Workman (1874–1942) | 13 January 1930 | 11 September 1930 | – Unknown | | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Sir Richmond Palmer KCMG CBE (1877–1958) | 11 September 1930 | 12 April 1933 | – Governor of Northern Nigeria (1925–1930) | Charles R. M. Workman Godfrey Charles Brian Parish | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Godfrey Charles Brian Parishh (1897–1934) | 12 April 1933 | April 1934 | – Unknown | Himself | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Sir Arthur Richards GCMG (1885–1978) | April 1934 | 30 May 1936 | – Governor of North Borneo (1930–1934) | | George V (1910–1936) |
| | Sir Arthur Richards GCMG (1885–1978) | Establishment of the Bathurst Advisory Town Council (BATC) in 1935, replacing the BUDC. | Establishment of the Bathurst Advisory Town Council (BATC) in 1935, replacing the BUDC. | Establishment of the Bathurst Advisory Town Council (BATC) in 1935, replacing the BUDC. | Establishment of the Bathurst Advisory Town Council (BATC) in 1935, replacing the BUDC. | Edward VIII (1936) |
| | Harris Rendell Oke (1891–1940) | 30 May 1936 | 22 October 1936 | – Unknown | Himself | Edward VIII (1936) |
| | Sir Thomas Southorn KCMG KBE (1879–1957) | 22 October 1936 | 23 March 1942 | – Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong (1925–1936) | Kenneth Blackburne | Edward VIII (1936) |
| | Sir Thomas Southorn KCMG KBE (1879–1957) | Governor during home front build-up in early World War II. | Governor during home front build-up in early World War II. | Governor during home front build-up in early World War II. | Governor during home front build-up in early World War II. | George VI (1936–1952) |
| | Sir Hilary Blood GBE KCMG (1893–1967) | 23 March 1942 | October 1946 | – Colonial Secretary of Sierra Leone (1934–1942) | Kenneth Blackburne George D. Chamberlain | George VI (1936–1952) |
| | George D. Chamberlain (1???–19??) | October 1946 | 29 March 1947 | – Unknown | Himself | George VI (1936–1952) |
| | Lieutenant Colonel Sir Andrew Barkworth Wright KCMG CBE MC (1895–1971) | 29 March 1947 | May 1949 | – Colonial Secretary of the Windward Islands (1943–1947) | | George VI (1936–1952) |
| | Edward Rex Ward (1902–19??) | May 1949 | December 1949 | – Unknown | Himself | George VI (1936–1952) |
| | Sir Percy Wyn-Harris KCMG MBE KStJ (1903–1979) | December 1949 | 9 April 1958 | – Chief Native Commissioner of Kenya (1947–1949) | | George VI (1936–1952) |
| | Sir Percy Wyn-Harris KCMG MBE KStJ (1903–1979) | Opposed broadly to the development of self-government. Expanded elected and unofficial places on the Executive and Legislative Councils. I.M. Garba-Jahumpa founds the Gambia Muslim Congress in 1952. Dismissal of Pierre Sarr N'Jie from the Executive Council. Wyn-Harris is unpopular among Colony, but popular among Protectorate due to efforts to improve conditions there. Forced to leave role incognito across the Senegal border. | Opposed broadly to the development of self-government. Expanded elected and unofficial places on the Executive and Legislative Councils. I.M. Garba-Jahumpa founds the Gambia Muslim Congress in 1952. Dismissal of Pierre Sarr N'Jie from the Executive Council. Wyn-Harris is unpopular among Colony, but popular among Protectorate due to efforts to improve conditions there. Forced to leave role incognito across the Senegal border. | Opposed broadly to the development of self-government. Expanded elected and unofficial places on the Executive and Legislative Councils. I.M. Garba-Jahumpa founds the Gambia Muslim Congress in 1952. Dismissal of Pierre Sarr N'Jie from the Executive Council. Wyn-Harris is unpopular among Colony, but popular among Protectorate due to efforts to improve conditions there. Forced to leave role incognito across the Senegal border. | Opposed broadly to the development of self-government. Expanded elected and unofficial places on the Executive and Legislative Councils. I.M. Garba-Jahumpa founds the Gambia Muslim Congress in 1952. Dismissal of Pierre Sarr N'Jie from the Executive Council. Wyn-Harris is unpopular among Colony, but popular among Protectorate due to efforts to improve conditions there. Forced to leave role incognito across the Senegal border. | Elizabeth II (1952–1970) |
| | Alexander Nicol Anton Waddell (1913–1999) | 9 April 1958 | 19 June 1958 | – Unknown | Himself | Elizabeth II (1952–1970) |
| | Sir Edward Henry Windley KCMG KCVO (1909–1972) | 19 June 1958 | 29 March 1962 | – Chief Native Commissioner of Kenya (1953–1958) | | Elizabeth II (1952–1970) |
| | Kenneth Graeme Stewart Smith (1918–2001) | 28 February 1962 | 29 March 1962 | – Unknown | Himself | Elizabeth II (1952–1970) |
| | Captain Sir John Paul GCMG OBE MC (1916–2004) | 29 March 1962 | 18 February 1965 | – Secretary to the Cabinet of Sierra Leone (1960–1962) | | Elizabeth II (1952–1970) |