List of resident commissioners and governors of the Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands archipelago, with the British Solomon Islands in beige and Bougainville Island (in the North Solomon Islands) in dun

This is a list of the resident commissioners of the British Solomon Islands protectorate (1893–1975) and the dependent Solomon Islands (1975[1]–1978[2]).

Resident commissioners of the Solomon Islands Protectorate (1896–1953)

The resident commissioners were subordinate to the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, the executive officer of the British Western Pacific Territories (BWPT) who was, until 3 July 1952, the Governor of Fiji.

Term Name
1896–1915 Charles Morris Woodford
1915–1917 Frederick Joshua Barnett
1917–1921 Charles Rufus Marshall Workman
1921–1929 Richard Rutledge Kane
1929–1939 Francis Noel Ashley
1939–1943 William Sydney Marchant
1943–1950 Owen Cyril Noel
1950 – 1 January 1953 Henry Graham Gregory-Smith

Governors of the Solomon Islands (1953–1978)

From 3 July 1952, Fiji (and Tonga) separated from the BWPT. A separate High Commissioner for the Western Pacific was appointed. The High Commissioner remained temporarily based in Fiji, but moved to Honiara, British Solomon Islands, at the end of 1952, and from 1 January 1953, the role was combined with that of the Governor of the Solomon Islands. On 1 January 1972, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands separated with their own governor. On 2 January 1976, after nearly all had been given separate statehood, the office of High Commissioner and the entity of the BWPT were abolished.

Term Name
3 July 1952 – July 1955 Sir Robert Stanley
July 1955 – 4 March 1961 Sir John Gutch
4 March 1961 – 16 June 1964 Sir David Trench
16 June 1964 – 1968 Sir Robert Sidney Foster
6 March 1969 – 1973 Sir Michael Gass
1973–1976 Sir Donald Luddington
1976 – 7 July 1978 Sir Colin Allan

See also

References

  1. ^ "Britain to Give Solomons Freedom". New York Times. Reuters. 22 May 1975. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Solomons, Once Battleground, Gains Independence". New York Times. Reuters. 8 July 1978. Retrieved 28 May 2022.