List of Governors of British Honduras
Encyclopedia
This is a list of viceroys in British Honduras
and Belize
from the start of British settlement in the area until the colony's independence in 1981. Until 1862, the territory was under the vice-regency of the Governor of Jamaica, and administered by a Superintendent. After this is was a colony in its own right, and administered by a Lieutenant Governor, still subordinate to Jamaica. In 1884, the colony gained its own governor, independent of Jamaica.
In 1973 the colony's name was changed to Belize and in 1981 it gained independence. For a list of viceroys after independence, see Governor-General of Belize.
On 21 September 1981 Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom. For viceroys of Belize after independence, see Governor-General of Belize.
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
and Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
from the start of British settlement in the area until the colony's independence in 1981. Until 1862, the territory was under the vice-regency of the Governor of Jamaica, and administered by a Superintendent. After this is was a colony in its own right, and administered by a Lieutenant Governor, still subordinate to Jamaica. In 1884, the colony gained its own governor, independent of Jamaica.
In 1973 the colony's name was changed to Belize and in 1981 it gained independence. For a list of viceroys after independence, see Governor-General of Belize.
Superintendents of British Honduras (1742–1862)
- Robert Hodgson, Sr., 1749–1758
- Joseph Otway, 1760–1767
- Robert Hodgson, Jr., 1767–1775
- John Ferguson, 1776
- James Lawrie, 1776–10 March 1787
- Edward Marcus DespardEdward Marcus DespardEdward Marcus Despard was an Irish soldier who served in the British Army. During the American War of Independence. Despard led a force to victory at the Battle of the Black River, securing the British presence on the Mosquito Coast. Following the war Despard was appointed Superintendent of what...
, 1787–June 1790 - Peter HunterPeter HunterLieutenant-General Peter Hunter was a British Army officer and colonial administrator. He was eldest son to John Hunter laird of Knapp and Euphemia Jack of Longforgan, Perthshire, Scotland....
, June 1790–March 1791
- (vacant)
- Thomas Barrow, January 1797–1800, first time
- Richard Basset, 1800–1802
- Thomas Barrow, January 1803–1805, second time
- Gabriel Gordon, 1805–1806
- Alexander Mark Kerr Hamilton, 1806–1809
- John Nugent Smyth, 1809–1814
- George ArthurGeorge ArthurLieutenant-General Sir George Arthur, 1st Baronet KCH PC was Lieutenant Governor of British Honduras , Van Diemen's Land and Upper Canada . He also served as Governor of Bombay .-Early life:George Arthur was born in Plymouth, England...
, 1814–1822 - A. H. Pye, 1822–1823
- Edward Codd, 1823–1829
- Archibald MacDonaldArchibald MacdonaldSir Archibald Macdonald, 1st Baronet was a British lawyer and politician.-Family:Archibald Macdonald was the posthumous son of Sir Alexander Macdonald, 7th Baronet, and younger brother of the 8th baronet , but was bought to England in the aftermath of Culloden to complete his education at...
, 1829–1830, first time - Francis CockburnFrancis CockburnSir Francis Cockburn served in the British Army, played an important role in the early settlement of eastern Canada and was a colonial administrator....
, 1830–1837 - Archibald MacDonaldArchibald MacdonaldSir Archibald Macdonald, 1st Baronet was a British lawyer and politician.-Family:Archibald Macdonald was the posthumous son of Sir Alexander Macdonald, 7th Baronet, and younger brother of the 8th baronet , but was bought to England in the aftermath of Culloden to complete his education at...
, 1837–1843, second time - Charles St. John FancourtCharles St. John FancourtCharles St. John Fancourt was an English Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1837 and later a British colonial superintendent....
, 1843–1851 - Philip Edmond Wodehouse, 1851–1854
- William Stevenson, 1854–1857
- Frederick SeymourFrederick SeymourFrederick Seymour was a colonial administrator. He served as the second Governor of the Colony of British Columbia from 1864 to 1866, and the first governor of the union of the two colonies, also named the Colony of British Columbia from 1866 to 1869.Seymour was the son of Henry Augustus Seymour,...
, 1857–1862
Lieutenant Governors of British Honduras (1862–1884)
In 1862, the territory became a crown colony, and was subsequently administered by a Lieutenant Governor, subordinate to the Governor of Jamaica.- Frederick SeymourFrederick SeymourFrederick Seymour was a colonial administrator. He served as the second Governor of the Colony of British Columbia from 1864 to 1866, and the first governor of the union of the two colonies, also named the Colony of British Columbia from 1866 to 1869.Seymour was the son of Henry Augustus Seymour,...
, 1862–1864, continued - John Gardiner Austin, 1864–1867
- James Robert Longden, 1867–1870
- William Wellington Cairns, 1870–1874
- Robert Miller MundyRobert Miller MundySir Robert Miller Mundy K.C.M.G. was awarded Knight Commander, Order of St. Michael and St. George. He was the Lieutenant-Governor of Grenada.-Biography:...
, 1874–1877 - Frederick Palgrave Barlee, 1877–1883
- Robert William Harley, 13 May 1883–1884
Governors of British Honduras (1884–1973)
In 1884, the colony was severed from its dependency to Jamaica and gained its own Governor.- Roger Tuckfield Goldsworthy, 1884–1891
- Sir Cornelius Alfred MoloneyCornelius Alfred MoloneySir Cornelius Alfred Moloney, KCMG, was a British colonial administrator.He served as British Administrator of The Gambia from 1884 to 1886, Governor of Lagos Colony from 1886 to 1890, Governor of British Honduras from 1891 to 1897, Governor of the Federal Colony of the Windward Islands from 1897...
, 1891–1897 - David Wilson, 1897–1904
- Sir Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott, 15 April 1904–1906
- Sir Eric John Eagles SwayneEric John Eagles SwayneSir Eric John Eagles Swayne was a British army officer and colonial administrator. He served in British Somaliland, where he was appointed Commissioner, and as Governor of British Honduras, now Belize.-Early years:...
, 13 August 1906–9 May 1913 - Wilfred Collet 19 May 1913–January 1918
- William Hart-Bennett, 29 January 1918–4 September 1918
- Sir Eyre HutsonEyre HutsonSir Eyre Hutson KCMG was an English colonial administrator who became Governor of British Honduras and later Governor of Fiji....
, 22 March 1919–1925 - Sir John Alder BurdonJohn BurdonMajor Sir John Alder Burdon was Governor-General of British Honduras from 1925 to 1932. He also wrote Brief Sketch of British Honduras, Past, Present and Future ....
, 16 April 1925–1932 - Sir Harold Baxter KittermasterHarold Baxter KittermasterSir Harold Baxter Kittermaster KCMG, KBE was governor of British Somaliland , British Honduras , and then of the Nyasaland protectorate in the period before the Second World War....
, 9 March 1932–1934 - Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns, 2 November 1934–1939
- Sir John Adams Hunter, 24 February 1940–1 July 1946
- Arthur Norman Wolffsohn, 1 July 1946–14 January 1947, acting
- Sir Edward Gerald Hawkesworth, 14 January 1947–1948
- Ronald Herbert GarveyRonald GarveySir Ronald Herbert Garvey KCMG KCVO MBE was a colonial administrator.-Career:Garvey joined the colonial service and was appointed Governor of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 1944. He moved on to be Governor of British Honduras in 1949; there he had to contend with a general strike and the need...
, 28 February 1949–1952 - Patrick Muir Renison, 21 October 1952–1955
- Colin Hardwick Thornley, 17 January 1956–1961
- Sir Peter Hyla Gawne Stallard, 9 December 1961–1966
- Sir John Warburton PaulJohn Warburton PaulSir John Warburton Paul, GCMG, OBE, MC was a British government official, best known as a prolific administrator for 20 years of various British overseas territories around the world...
, 11 July 1966–January 1972 - Sir Richard Neil Posnett, 26 January 1972–31 May 1973
Governors of Belize (1973–1981)
On 1 June 1973, the colony of British Honduras was renamed Belize.- Sir Richard Neil Posnett, 1 June 1973–1976, continued
- Peter Donovan McEntee, 1 June 1976–1980
- Sir James Patrick Ivan Hennessy, 1980–21 September 1981
On 21 September 1981 Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom. For viceroys of Belize after independence, see Governor-General of Belize.