List of Governors of British Guiana
Encyclopedia
The Governor of British Guiana was the Crown representative in British Guiana
. The office existed from 1833 when the colonies of Demerara-Essequibo
(see Demerara
and Essequibo (colony)
) and Berbice
united as British Guiana until 1966 when Guyana
attained independence.
On 26 May 1966, the colony achieved independence from the United Kingdom as Guyana
. After independence, the viceroy in Guyana was the Governor-General of Guyana.
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
. The office existed from 1833 when the colonies of Demerara-Essequibo
Demerara-Essequibo
The colony of Demerara-Essequibo was created on 13 August 1814 when the British combined the colonies of Demerara and Esequibo. On 20 November 1815 the colony was formally ceded to Britain by the Netherlands....
(see Demerara
Demerara
Demerara was a region in South America in what is now Guyana that was colonised by the Dutch in 1611. The British invaded and captured the area in 1796...
and Essequibo (colony)
Essequibo (colony)
Essequibo was from 1616 to 1814 a Dutch colony in the region of the Essequibo river on the north coast of South America. The colony formed a part of the colonies that are known under the collective name of Dutch Guyana.- History :...
) and Berbice
Berbice
Berbice is a region along the Berbice River in Guyana, which was between 1627 and 1815 a colony of the Netherlands. After having been ceded to the United Kingdom in the latter year, it was merged with Essequibo and Demerara to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831...
united as British Guiana until 1966 when Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
attained independence.
Governors of British Guiana (1831–1966)
- Sir Benjamin d'UrbanBenjamin d'UrbanLieutenant-General Sir Benjamin d'Urban, GCB, KCH, KCTS was a British general and colonial administrator, who is best known for his frontier policy when he was the Governor in the Cape Colony .-Early career:...
, 21 July 1831–26 June 1833 - Sir James Carmichael SmythJames Carmichael SmythSir James Carmichael Smyth, 1st Baronet KCH CB was a British colonial administrator.He was born in London, England, the eldest of five sons of James Carmichael Smyth and Mary Holyland...
, 26 June 1833–27 June 1838 - Henry Light, 27 June 1838–19 May 1848
- William Walker, 19 May 1848–12 February 1849, acting, first time
- Henry BarklyHenry BarklySir Henry Barkly, GCMG, KCB, FRS, FRGS was a British politician, colonial governor and patron of the sciences.-Early life and education:...
12 February 1849–11 May 1853 - William Walker, 11 May 1853–23 May 1854, acting, second time
- Philip Edmond Wodehouse, 23 May 1854–7 January 1862
- Sir Francis HincksFrancis HincksSir Francis Hincks, KCMG, PC was a Canadian politician.Born in Cork, Ireland, he was the son of Thomas Dix Hincks an orientalist, naturalist and Presbyterian minister and the brother of Edward Hincks orientalist, naturalist and clergyman.He moved to York in 1832 and set up an importing business...
, 7 January 1862–25 January 1869 - Sir John Scott, 25 January 1869–26 December 1873
- Edward E. Rushworth, 27 December 1873–10 March 1874, acting
- James Robert Longden, 10 March 1874–8 March 1877
- William A. G. Young, 8 March 1877–3 April 1877, acting, first time
- Cornelius Hendricksen KortrightCornelius Hendricksen KortrightSir Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright, KCMG was a British civil servant who held positions including Governor of British Guiana.Cornelius was baptised on 8 January 1818 at Saint Mary church in London. He was the son of Lawrence and Jane Maria Kortright...
, 3 April 1877–13 December 1881 - William A. G. Young, 13 December 1881–4 May 1882, acting, second time
- Sir Henry Turner IrvingHenry Turner IrvingSir Henry Turner Irving was a British Civil Servant.He was Governor of British Guiana from 4 May 1882 to 1887.-References:...
, 4 May 1882–1887- William Frederick Haynes-Smith, 26 April 1884–1884, acting for Irving
- Charles BruceCharles Bruce (governor)Sir Charles Bruce was 18th Governor of Mauritius from 11 May 1897 to 30 October 1903.-References:...
, 1887–1888, acting - The Viscount GormanstonJenico Preston, 14th Viscount GormanstonJenico William Joseph Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston GCMG , was an Anglo-Irish colonial administrator.Gormanston was born the son of Edward Anthony John Preston, 13th Viscount Gormanston, and his wife Lucretia, daughter of William Charles Jerningham, and was born at Gormanston Castle, County...
, 1888–23 March 1893- Sir Charles BruceCharles Bruce (governor)Sir Charles Bruce was 18th Governor of Mauritius from 11 May 1897 to 30 October 1903.-References:...
, April 1891–15 October 1891, acting for Viscount Gormanston, second time
- Sir Charles Bruce
- Sir Charles BruceCharles Bruce (governor)Sir Charles Bruce was 18th Governor of Mauritius from 11 May 1897 to 30 October 1903.-References:...
, 23 March 1893–5 July 1893, acting, third time - Sir Charles Cameron Lees, 5 July 1893–September 1895
- Charles Cavendish BoyleCharles Cavendish BoyleSir Charles Cavendish Boyle, KCMG was a British colonial administrator. He joined the British Colonial Office and was made magistrate in the Leeward Islands in 1879. He served as Colonial Secretary in Bermuda from 1882 to 1888 and in Gibraltar from 1888 to 1894 and was granted a knighthood for his...
, 15 December 1894–29 January 1895, acting for Lees, first time
- Charles Cavendish Boyle
- Charles Cavendish BoyleCharles Cavendish BoyleSir Charles Cavendish Boyle, KCMG was a British colonial administrator. He joined the British Colonial Office and was made magistrate in the Leeward Islands in 1879. He served as Colonial Secretary in Bermuda from 1882 to 1888 and in Gibraltar from 1888 to 1894 and was granted a knighthood for his...
, September 1895–March 1896, acting, second time - Sir Augustus William Lawson Hemming, March 1896–27 March 1898
- Charles Cavendish BoyleCharles Cavendish BoyleSir Charles Cavendish Boyle, KCMG was a British colonial administrator. He joined the British Colonial Office and was made magistrate in the Leeward Islands in 1879. He served as Colonial Secretary in Bermuda from 1882 to 1888 and in Gibraltar from 1888 to 1894 and was granted a knighthood for his...
, 1 October 1896–18 November 1896, acting for Hemming, third time - Charles Cavendish BoyleCharles Cavendish BoyleSir Charles Cavendish Boyle, KCMG was a British colonial administrator. He joined the British Colonial Office and was made magistrate in the Leeward Islands in 1879. He served as Colonial Secretary in Bermuda from 1882 to 1888 and in Gibraltar from 1888 to 1894 and was granted a knighthood for his...
, 27 May 1897–28 July 1897, acting for Hemming, fourth time
- Charles Cavendish Boyle
- Sir Walter Joseph SendallWalter Joseph SendallSir Walter Joseph Sendall GCMG was a British colonial governor.-Life:As Director of Public Instruction in Ceylon, he expanded the system of schools, teaching in English and the vernacular....
, 27 March 1898–25 December 1901 - Sir James Alexander Swettenham, 25 December 1901–26 September 1904
- Sir Frederick Mitchell HodgsonFrederick Mitchell HodgsonSir Frederick Mitchell Hodgson was a British colonial administrator who was Governor of the Gold Coast , Barbados and British Guiana .-Early years:...
, 26 September 1904–5 July 1912 - Sir Walter EgertonWalter EgertonWalter Egerton had a long career in the administration of the British Empire, holding a number of senior positions including the Governorships of Lagos Colony Southern Nigeria and British Guiana .-Early career:...
, 5 July 1912–15 April 1917 - Sir Wilfred Collet, 15 April 1917–4 April 1923
- Sir Graeme ThomsonGraeme ThomsonSir Graeme Thomson G.C.M.G. K.C.B. was a British Civil Servant in the Admiralty, who served as a colonial civil servant and then governor in several British colonies.-Civil Servant:...
, 4 April 1923–31 August 1925 - Sir Cecil Hunter RodwellCecil Hunter RodwellBorn in England, Rodwell attended Cheam School and Eton College and went up to Cambridge in 1892 to study at King's College. Upon the outbreak of the South African War, Rodwell joined the Suffolk Yeomanry and was awarded the Queen's Medal with two clasps for bravery....
, 31 August 1925–7 November 1928 - Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg, 7 November 1928–9 June 1930
- Sir Edward Brandis DenhamEdward Brandis DenhamSir Edward Brandis Denham, GCMG, KBE was a British colonial administrator. He served as Governor of The Gambia , British Guiana and Jamaica .-Life:...
, 9 June 1930–26 March 1935 - Sir Geoffry Alexander Stafford NorthcoteGeoffry Alexander Stafford NorthcoteSir Geoffry Alexander Stafford Northcote, KCMG was a British colonial administrator.-Early life, education, and early colonial services career:...
, 26 March 1935–19 November 1937, acting from 1936 - Sir Wilfrid Edward Francis JacksonWilfrid Edward Francis JacksonSir Wilfrid Edward Francis Jackson was a British colonial governor.Jackson was the 23rd Governor of Mauritius from August 30, 1930, to June 7, 1937, and was knighted on June 3, 1931. During this period the constitution was modified in 1933, and Dr Maurice Curé founded the worker's party as first...
, 19 November 1937–7 November 1941 - Sir Gordon James LethemGordon James LethemSir Gordon James Lethem was a British Civil Servant.He was Governor of British Guiana from 7 November 1941 to 1946. He was acting Governor from 1946 to 12 April 1947.The city of Lethem, Guyana is named after him....
, 7 November 1941–1947, acting from 1946 - Sir Charles Campbell Woolley, 12 April 1947–14 April 1953
- Sir Alfred William Lungley Savage, 14 April 1953–25 October 1955
- Sir Patrick Muir Renison, 25 October 1955–22 December 1958
- Sur Ralph Francis Alnwick GreyRalph Grey, Baron Grey of NauntonRalph Francis Alnwick Grey, Baron Grey of Naunton, GCMG, GCVO, OBE, GCSt.J, PC, was the last Governor of Northern Ireland....
, 22 December 1958–7 March 1964 - Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt, 7 March 1964–26 May 1966
On 26 May 1966, the colony achieved independence from the United Kingdom as Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. After independence, the viceroy in Guyana was the Governor-General of Guyana.