Governor of Gibraltar

Governor of Gibraltar
Coat of arms of Gibraltar
Flag
since 4 June 2024
StyleHis Excellency
ResidenceThe Convent, Main Street, Gibraltar
AppointerMonarch
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation24 July 1704; 320 years ago (1704-07-24)
First holderSir George Rooke
WebsiteOffice of the Governor
Politics of Gibraltar
Constitution
The Crown
Government
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Other
flag Gibraltar portal

The governor of Gibraltar is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The role of the governor is to act as the de facto head of state. They are responsible for formally appointing the chief minister of Gibraltar, along with other members of the government of Gibraltar after a general election. The governor serves as commander-in-chief of Gibraltar's military forces and has sole responsibility for defence and security. Although recent appointments have all been former military personnel, most being former Royal Navy or Royal Marines flag officers, Sir James Dutton resigned from the role in 2015, complaining that it was "more representational and ceremonial than I had expected".[1]

The governor has his own flag in Gibraltar, the Union Flag defaced with the territory's coat of arms. However, at the governor's official residence (The Convent), the Union Flag and the flag of Gibraltar are also flown.

List of governors of Gibraltar

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Picture Term Incumbent Notes
4 August 1704 Habsburg occupation
Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt 4 August 1704 to 6 August 1704 Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt Appointed by Archduke Charles
6 August 1704 to November 1704 Henry Nugent Appointed by Archduke Charles
24 December 1704 to 24 December 1707 John Shrimpton, Governor Appointed by Archduke Charles
Roger Elliott 24 December 1707 to 24 January 1711 Roger Elliott, Governor
24 January 1711 to 13 July 1713 Thomas Stanwix, Governor
13 July 1713 Spain cedes Gibraltar to Great Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht
13 July 1713 to 7 August 1713 Brigadier-General Thomas Stanwix, Governor
The Earl of Portmore 7 August 1713 to 20 October 1720 General The Earl of Portmore, Governor
Richard Kane 20 October 1720 to 2 February 1727 Richard Kane, Governor
2 February 1727 to 13 May 1730 Jasper Clayton, Governor
Joseph Sabine 15 May 1730 to 24 October 1739 General Joseph Sabine, Governor
24 October 1739 to 22 April 1740 Francis Columbine, Governor
22 April 1740 to 14 March 1748/9 William Hargrave, Governor
14 March 1748/9 to 31 May 1754 Humphrey Bland, Governor
31 May 1754 to 12 July 1756 Thomas Fowke, Governor
12 July 1756 to 16 April 1757 Lieutenant-General The Lord Tyrawley, Governor Later promoted to field marshal.
William Home 16 April 1757 to 28 April 1761 The Earl of Home, Governor
28 April 1761 to 23 June 1761 John Toovey, acting Governor
13 June 1761 to 14 June 1761[dubious – discuss] Major-General John Parslow, acting Governor
Edward Cornwallis 14 June 1761 to January 1776 Edward Cornwallis, Governor
1765 to 1767 John Irwin, acting Governor
January 1776 to 25 May 1777 Robert Boyd, acting Governor 1st Term
George Augustus Eliott 25 May 1777 to 14 June 1787 George Augustus Eliott, Governor
The Lord Heathfield 14 June 1787 to July 1790 The Lord Heathfield, Governor
July 1790 to October 1790 Sir Robert Boyd, acting Governor
October 1790 to 13 May 1794 Sir Robert Boyd, Governor 2nd Term
Henry Clinton 1794–1795 Henry Clinton, Governor Died in London before taking up the post
13 May 1794 to 30 December 1795 Charles Rainsford, Governor Robert Boyd's second-in-command and assumed position on his death
Charles O'Hara 30 December 1795 to 25 February 1802 Charles O'Hara, Governor
25 February 1802 to 10 May 1802 Charles Barnett, Governor
The Duke of Kent 24 May 1802 to 23 January 1820 The Duke of Kent
Thomas Trigge 2 May 1803 to 17 December 1804 Sir Thomas Trigge, acting Governor For the Duke of Kent
Henry Edward Fox 17 December 1804 to June 1806 Henry Edward Fox, acting Governor For the Duke of Kent
June 1806 to November 1806 James Drummond, acting Governor 1st Term; for the Duke of Kent
Sir Hew Dalrymple November 1806 to August 1808 Sir Hew Dalrymple, acting Governor For the Duke of Kent
August 1808 to May 1809 James Drummond, acting Governor 2nd Term; for the Duke of Kent
Sir John Francis Cradock May 1809 to August 1809 Sir John Cradock, acting Governor For the Duke of Kent
August 1809 to October 1809 Brigadier-General John Smith, acting Governor For the Duke of Kent
Sir John Smith from 1831, later promoted to full general
October 1809 to November 1809 Alex McKenzie Fraser, acting Governor For the Duke of Kent
November 1809 to 2 April 1814 Colin Campbell, acting Governor For the Duke of Kent
George Don 3 April 1814 to 15 November 1821 Sir George Don, acting Governor 1st Term; for the Duke of Kent
The Earl of Chatham 29 January 1820 to 1835 The Earl of Chatham, Governor
George Don 7 June 1825 to 20 June 1830 Sir George Don, acting Governor 2nd Term; for the Earl of Chatham
20 June 1830 Gibraltar becomes a British Crown colony
George Don 20 June 1830 to 10 May 1831 Sir George Don, acting Governor 2nd Term; for the Earl of Chatham
10 May 1831 to 29 May 1835 Sir William Houston, acting Governor For the Earl of Chatham
Sir Alexander Woodford 28 February 1835 to 11 October 1842 Sir Alexander Woodford, Governor
Sir Robert Thomas Wilson 11 October 1842 to 12 December 1848 Sir Robert Wilson, Governor
12 December 1848 to 26 July 1855 Sir Robert Gardiner, Governor
26 July 1855 to 5 May 1859 Sir James Fergusson, Governor
5 May 1859 to 21 September 1865 Sir William Codrington, Governor
21 September 1865 to 25 July 1870 Sir Richard Airey, Governor
Sir William Williams 25 July 1870 to 23 June 1876 Sir William Williams, Governor
The Lord Napier of Magdala 23 June 1876 to 3 January 1883 The Lord Napier of Magdala, Governor
3 January 1883 to 2 November 1886 Sir John Miller Adye, Governor
2 November 1886 to 23 August 1890 Sir Arthur Hardinge, Governor
23 August 1890 to 27 January 1891 Sir Leicester Smyth, Governor
27 January 1891 to 31 March 1891 Sir Henry Richard Legge Newdigate, acting Governor
31 March 1891 to 27 June 1893 Sir Lothian Nicholson, Governor
27 June 1893 to 7 August 1893 G.J. Smart, acting Governor
7 August 1893 to 22 May 1900 Sir Robert Biddulph, Governor
Sir George Stuart White 22 May 1900 to 1 August 1905 Sir George Stuart White, Governor
1 August 1905 to 30 July 1910 Sir Frederick Forestier-Walker, Governor
Sir Archibald Hunter 30 July 1910 to 11 July 1913 Sir Archibald Hunter, Governor
Sir Herbert Miles 11 July 1913 to 9 July 1918 Sir Herbert Miles, Governor
Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien 9 July 1918 to 26 May 1923 Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, Governor
26 May 1923 to 13 August 1928 Sir Charles Monro, Governor
Sir Alexander Godley 13 August 1928 to 13 May 1933 Sir Alexander Godley, Governor
Sir Charles Harington 13 May 1933 to 12 August 1938 Sir Charles Harington, Governor
Sir Edmund Ironside 12 August 1938 to 11 July 1939 Sir Edmund Ironside, Governor
11 July 1939 to 14 May 1941 Sir Clive Gerard Liddell, Governor
The Viscount Gort 14 May 1941 to 31 May 1942 The Viscount Gort, Governor
31 May 1942 to 14 February 1944 Sir Noel Mason-Macfarlane, Governor
14 February 1944 to 8 February 1947 Sir Ralph Eastwood, Governor
Sir Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson 8 February 1947 to 23 April 1952 Sir Kenneth Anderson, Governor
23 April 1952 to 6 May 1955 Sir Gordon MacMillan, Governor
6 May 1955 to 16 April 1958 Sir Harold Redman, Governor
16 April 1958 to 8 June 1962 Sir Charles Keightley, Governor
8 June 1962 to 5 August 1965 Sir Alfred Ward, Governor
5 August 1965 to March 1969 Sir Gerald Lathbury, Governor
March 1969 to 3 October 1973 Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg, Governor
3 October 1973 to 30 May 1978 Marshal of the RAF Sir John Grandy, Governor
30 May 1978 to 1981 General Sir William Jackson, Governor
1981 Gibraltar becomes a British dependent territory Under the British Nationality Act 1981
1981 to 26 October 1982 General Sir William Jackson, Governor
26 October 1982 to 19 November 1985 Admiral Sir David Williams, Governor
19 November 1985 to December 1989 Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Terry, Governor
December 1989 to April 1993 Sir Derek Reffell, Governor
April 1993 to 5 December 1995 Sir John Chapple, Governor
5 December 1995 to 19 February 1997 Admiral Sir Hugo White, Governor
Sir Richard Luce 24 February 1997 to 21 March 2000 Sir Richard Luce, Governor
21 March 2000 to 5 April 2000 Paul Speller, acting Governor
5 April 2000 to 2002 David Durie, Governor
2002 Gibraltar becomes a British overseas territory Under the British Overseas Territories Act 2002
2002 to 16 May 2003 David Durie, Governor Sir David Durie from 1 January 2003
16 May 2003 to 27 May 2003 David Blunt, acting Governor
Sir Francis Richards 27 May 2003 to 17 July 2006 Sir Francis Richards, Governor
Mr Philip Barton 17 July 2006 to 27 September 2006 Philip Barton, acting Governor
Sir Robert Fulton 27 September 2006 to 21 October 2009 Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Fulton, Governor
21 October 2009 to 26 October 2009 Lesley Pallett, acting Governor [2]
Sir Adrian Johns 26 October 2009 to 13 November 2013 Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns, Governor [3][4]
Alison MacMillan 13 November 2013 to 6 December 2013 Alison MacMillan, acting Governor [5]
Sir James Benjamin Dutton 6 December 2013 to 28 September 2015 Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, Governor [6][7]
Alison MacMillan 28 September 2015 to 19 January 2016 Alison MacMillan, acting Governor [8]
Ed Davis 19 January 2016 to 18 February 2020 Lieutenant General Ed Davis, Governor [9]
Nick Pyle 18 February 2020 to 11 June 2020 Nick Pyle OBE, acting Governor [10]
David Steel 11 June 2020 to 23 May 2024 Vice Admiral Sir David Steel, Governor [11]
23 May 2024 to 4 June 2024 Marc Holland, acting Governor
Sir Ben Bathurst 4 June 2024 to present Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst, Governor [12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Giannangeli, Marco (31 May 2015). "'Sold a duff' Governor of Gibraltar quits after UK fails to stand up to Spain aggression". Daily Express. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Sir Robert Leaves The Rock". Gibraltar Chronicle. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  3. ^ "New swearing in ceremony for Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns". Gibraltar Chronicle. 26 October 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  4. ^ "GBC News online report video of Sir Adrian Johns' departure". Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation. 13 November 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Alison MacMillan appointed interim Governor until arrival of Sir James Dutton in December". Gibraltar Chronicle. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Dutton is New Gibraltar Governor". Gibraltar Chronicle. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  7. ^ Reyes, Brian (6 December 2013). "Navy Flagship to Patrol Gib Waters Before Landing New Governor". Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Deputy Governor sworn in as interim Governor at the Convent". GBC News. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  9. ^ "New Gibraltar governor pledges to ensure sovereignty, safety and success for the Rock". MercoPress. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Final Farewells at the Airport as Governor leaves about BA flight". GBC News. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Vice Admiral Sir David Steel is Gibraltar New Governor". GBC News. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Gibraltar's new Governor Sir Ben Bathurst sworn in at ceremony in Parliament".
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