The Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn Islands

The Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Pacific...

, a small group of islands in the eastern Pacific

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

, are currently the last remaining British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 colony

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

 in Oceania

Oceania

Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...

. Settled by mutineers from the Bounty

HMS Bounty

HMS Bounty , famous as the scene of the Mutiny on the Bounty on 28 April 1789, was originally a three-masted cargo ship, the Bethia, purchased by the British Admiralty, then modified and commissioned as His Majesty's Armed Vessel the...

 in 1790, the island was effectively sovereign until 1898, when it was annexed by the United Kingdom and placed under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Fiji. When Fiji became independent in 1970, Pitcairn Island was placed under the authority of the British High Commissioner

High Commissioner

High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...

 (ambassador) to New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. In practice, partly due to its isolation, Pitcairn has effectively had internal self-government throughout this period. From 1790 to 1829, the local head of government was known simply as the Leader. They had a President from 1832 to 1838, and a Magistrate from that time until 1999, except for an eleven-year gap from 1893 to 1904, when the chief official was the President of the Council. In 1999, the Magistrate's non-judicial functions were transferred to the new office of Mayor.

Colonial Governors

See separate articles:

• Governors of Fiji (1898-1970)
• British High Commissioners to New Zealand (1970-present)

Leaders (1790-1829)

1. Fletcher Christian

Fletcher Christian

Fletcher Christian was a master's mate on board the Bounty during William Bligh's fateful voyage to Tahiti for breadfruit plants...

 (23 January 1790-3 October 1793)

2. Edward Young

Ned Young

Edward "Ned" Young , was a British sailor, mutineer from the famous HMS Bounty incident, and co-founder of the mutineers' Pitcairn Island settlement. He was noted for his ability to sleep through important events....

 (3 October 1793-25 December 1800)

3. John Adams

John Adams (mutineer)

John Adams was the last survivor of the Bounty mutineers who settled on Pitcairn Island in January 1790, the year after the mutiny. His real name was John Adams; He used the name Alexander Smith until he was discovered in 1808 by Captain Mayhew Folger of the ship Topaz...

 (25 December 1800-5 March 1829)

(The death of John Adams led to a power vacuum. An important leader was Thursday October Christian

Thursday October Christian I

Thursday October Christian was the first son of Fletcher Christian and his Tahitian wife Mauatua. He was conceived on Tahiti, and was the first child born on the Pitcairn Islands after the mutineers took refuge on the island...

, the first child born on the island. In the ensuing period, the islanders tried to relocate to Tahiti, until the arrival of Joshua Hill).

President (1832-1838)

1. Joshua Hill

Joshua Hill (Pitcairn Island leader)

Joshua Hill was an American adventurer.In 1832 he arrived on Pitcairn Island which was first inhabited in the 1790s by British mutineers from the HMS Bounty and some Tahitians who joined them. The descendants of the mutineers had recently migrated to Tahiti following the death of the last...

 (October 1832-1838)

Magistrates (1838-1893)

1. Edward Quintal

Edward Quintal

Edward Quintal was the first Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island. Quintal was the son of Matthew Quintal, the Bounty Mutineer, and Teraura, the partner of Ned Young, and the future spouse of Thursday October Christian...

 (1838-1839)

2. Arthur Quintal I

Arthur Quintal I

Arthur Quintal was a Pitcairn Islander who served as the island's second magistrate, from 1840 - 1841. Quintal was the son of Matthew Quintal, the bounty mutineer, and his wife Tevarua. The elder Quintal was killed with a hatchet in 1799...

  (1840-1841)

3. Fletcher Christian II

Fletcher Christian II

Fletcher Christian served as magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island in 1842. Christian was the grandson of Fletcher Christian, the Bounty mutineer, through his son Charles Christian. He was the cousin of Thursday October Christian. Like Thursday, Christian was of...

  (1842)

4. Matthew McCoy

Matthew McCoy (Magistrate)

Matthew McCoy served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island twice, in 1843, and in 1853. McCoy was the son of Daniel McCoy and Sarah Quintal, making him the grandson of the Bounty Mutineers William McCoy and Matthew Quintal. He married Margaret Christian, making him the...

 (1843)

5. Thursday October Christian II

Thursday October Christian II

Thursday October Christian, Jr. was a Pitcairn Islands political leader. He was the grandson of Fletcher Christian and son of Thursday October Christian , and mother, Teraura . He was also known as "Doctor", "Duddie" or "Doodie". He spent several years on Norfolk Island but returned to Pitcairn in...

 (1844)

6. Arthur Quintal II

Arthur Quintal II

Arthur Quintal, Jr. served as Magistrate of the Overseas British Territory of Pitcairn Island on three occasions between 1845 and 1854, he served as Magistrate of Norfolk Island twice between 1862 and 1885. Quintal was the son of Arthur Quintal, Sr. And Catherine McCoy. He was a grandson of...

  (1845-1846)

7. Charles Christian II

Charles Christian II

Charles Christian, Jr. served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island in 1847. He was the son of Charles Christian and Sully. He married Charlotte Quintal and had 16 children. Christian died on Norfolk Island....

 (1847)

8. George Adams

George Adams (magistrate)

George Adams was the only son of the Bounty Mutineer John Adams. He was born to his partner Teio, who had once been the partner of William McCoy and was the mother-in-law of Charles Christian, on Pitcairn Island...

 (1848)

9. Simon Young

Simon Young (magistrate)

Simon Young served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands in 1849. Young was the son of George Young, who in turn was the son of bounty mutineer Ned Young, his mother was Hannah Adams, a daughter of John Adams...

 (1849)

-- Arthur Quintal II

Arthur Quintal II

Arthur Quintal, Jr. served as Magistrate of the Overseas British Territory of Pitcairn Island on three occasions between 1845 and 1854, he served as Magistrate of Norfolk Island twice between 1862 and 1885. Quintal was the son of Arthur Quintal, Sr. And Catherine McCoy. He was a grandson of...

  (1850)

-- Thursday October Christian II

Thursday October Christian II

Thursday October Christian, Jr. was a Pitcairn Islands political leader. He was the grandson of Fletcher Christian and son of Thursday October Christian , and mother, Teraura . He was also known as "Doctor", "Duddie" or "Doodie". He spent several years on Norfolk Island but returned to Pitcairn in...

 (1851)

10. Abraham Blatchly Quintal (1852)

--- Matthew McCoy

Matthew McCoy (Magistrate)

Matthew McCoy served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island twice, in 1843, and in 1853. McCoy was the son of Daniel McCoy and Sarah Quintal, making him the grandson of the Bounty Mutineers William McCoy and Matthew Quintal. He married Margaret Christian, making him the...

 (1853)

--- Arthur Quintal II

Arthur Quintal II

Arthur Quintal, Jr. served as Magistrate of the Overseas British Territory of Pitcairn Island on three occasions between 1845 and 1854, he served as Magistrate of Norfolk Island twice between 1862 and 1885. Quintal was the son of Arthur Quintal, Sr. And Catherine McCoy. He was a grandson of...

  (1854)

--- George Martin Frederick Young  (1855-3 May 1856)

(Office vacant 1856-1864, due to relocation to Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...

)

--- Thursday October Christian II

Thursday October Christian II

Thursday October Christian, Jr. was a Pitcairn Islands political leader. He was the grandson of Fletcher Christian and son of Thursday October Christian , and mother, Teraura . He was also known as "Doctor", "Duddie" or "Doodie". He spent several years on Norfolk Island but returned to Pitcairn in...

 (1864)

11. Moses Young

Moses Young

Moses Young served as magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island four times, between 1865 and 1881. Young married Albina McCoy, and together they had 12 children. Moses and Albina Young are important genetically, they are ancestors of the people who live on the island...

  (1865-1866)

--- Thursday October Christian II (1867)

12. Robert Pitcairn Buffett (1868)

--- Moses Young (1869)

13. James Russell McCoy

James Russell McCoy

James Russell McCoy served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island 7 times, between 1870 and 1904. McCoy was among the first wave of settlers to return to Pitcairn from Norfolk Island in 1859. He was the son of Matthew McCoy and Margaret Christian...

  (1870-1872)

--- Thursday October Christian II (1873-1874*)

--- Moses Young (1875)

--- Thursday October Christian II (1876-1877*)

--- James Russell McCoy (1878-1879)

--- Thursday October Christian II (1880)

--- Moses Young (1881)

--- Thursday October Christian II (1882)

--- James Russell McCoy (1883)

14. Benjamin Stanley Young

Benjamin Stanley Young

Benjamin Stanley Young served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands twice, from 1884 - 1885, and in 1892. Young's father, Simon Young, also served as magistrate...

  (1884-1885)

--- James Russell McCoy (1886-1889)

15. Charles Carleton Vieder Young  (1890-1891)

--- Benjamin Stanley Young (1892)

Presidents of the Council (1893-1904)

1. James Russell McCoy

James Russell McCoy

James Russell McCoy served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island 7 times, between 1870 and 1904. McCoy was among the first wave of settlers to return to Pitcairn from Norfolk Island in 1859. He was the son of Matthew McCoy and Margaret Christian...

  (1893-1896)

2. William Alfred Young

William Alfred Young

William Alfred Young served as President of the Council, and Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island three times, between 1897 and 1908. Young was the son of Simon Young and the younger brother of Benjamin Stanley Young, both had held the office before him...

  (1897)

-- James Russell McCoy

James Russell McCoy

James Russell McCoy served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island 7 times, between 1870 and 1904. McCoy was among the first wave of settlers to return to Pitcairn from Norfolk Island in 1859. He was the son of Matthew McCoy and Margaret Christian...

  (1897-1904)

-- William Alfred Young

William Alfred Young

William Alfred Young served as President of the Council, and Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island three times, between 1897 and 1908. Young was the son of Simon Young and the younger brother of Benjamin Stanley Young, both had held the office before him...

  (1904)

Magistrates (1904-1999)

--- James Russell McCoy

James Russell McCoy

James Russell McCoy served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island 7 times, between 1870 and 1904. McCoy was among the first wave of settlers to return to Pitcairn from Norfolk Island in 1859. He was the son of Matthew McCoy and Margaret Christian...

  (1904-1906)

16. Arthur Herbert Young  (1907)

--- William Alfred Young

William Alfred Young

William Alfred Young served as President of the Council, and Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island three times, between 1897 and 1908. Young was the son of Simon Young and the younger brother of Benjamin Stanley Young, both had held the office before him...

  (1908)

17. Matthew Edmond McCoy

Matthew Edmond McCoy

Matthew Edmond McCoy served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island in 1909. He was the son of James Russell McCoy and Eliza Coffin Palmer Young, and was the grandson of Matthew McCoy...

  (1909)

18. Gerard Bromley Robert Christian

Gerard Bromley Robert Christian

Gerard Bromley Robert Christian served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island from 1910 to 1919. As is commonly the case with the small population of Pitcairn, he was closely related to several other island leaders, notably cousins Edgar Allen Christian, Frederick...

  (1910-1919)

19. Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...

  (1920)

20. Frederick Martin Christian

Frederick Martin Christian

Frederick Martin Christian was a politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island on three occasions between 1921 and 1943...

  (1921)

--- Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...

  (1922)

21. Edgar Allen Christian

Edgar Allen Christian

Edgar Allen Christian was a politician from Pitcairn. He was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island on several occasions between 1923 and 1939...

  (1923-1924)

--- Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...

  (1925)

--- Edgar Allen Christian

Edgar Allen Christian

Edgar Allen Christian was a politician from Pitcairn. He was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island on several occasions between 1923 and 1939...

  (1926-1929)

--- Arthur Herbert Young  (1930-1931)

--- Edgar Allen Christian

Edgar Allen Christian

Edgar Allen Christian was a politician from Pitcairn. He was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island on several occasions between 1923 and 1939...

  (1932)

--- Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...

  (1933-1934)

--- Edgar Allen Christian

Edgar Allen Christian

Edgar Allen Christian was a politician from Pitcairn. He was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island on several occasions between 1923 and 1939...

  (1935-1939)

22. Andrew Clarence David Young  (1940)

--- Frederick Martin Christian

Frederick Martin Christian

Frederick Martin Christian was a politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island on three occasions between 1921 and 1943...

  (1941)

--- Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...

  (1942)

--- Frederick Martin Christian

Frederick Martin Christian

Frederick Martin Christian was a politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island on three occasions between 1921 and 1943...

  (1943)

--- Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...

  (1944)

23. Norris Henry Young  (1945-1948)

--- Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...

  (1949)

24. Warren Clive Christian

Warren Clive Christian

Warren Clive Christian Served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island twice, in 1950-51 and 1958-60. Christian was the son of Richard Edgar Allen Christian and Adelia Carrie Jordan McCoy...

  (1950-1951)

25. John Lorenzo Christian

John Lorenzo Christian

John Lorenzo Christian served as Chief Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island, twice, in 1952-54 and 1961-66. He was the son of Gerard Bromley Robert Christian. He married Bernice Young. In 1980, he and his wife were the oldest couple on Pitcairn.- References :...

  (1952-1954)

--- Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian

Charles Richard Parkin Christian was a long-serving politician from Pitcairn. The was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island for eleven years at various times between 1920 and 1957...

  (1955-1957)

--- Warren Clive Christian

Warren Clive Christian

Warren Clive Christian Served as Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island twice, in 1950-51 and 1958-60. Christian was the son of Richard Edgar Allen Christian and Adelia Carrie Jordan McCoy...

  (1958-1960)

--- John Lorenzo Christian

John Lorenzo Christian

John Lorenzo Christian served as Chief Magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island, twice, in 1952-54 and 1961-66. He was the son of Gerard Bromley Robert Christian. He married Bernice Young. In 1980, he and his wife were the oldest couple on Pitcairn.- References :...

  (1961-1966)

26. Pervis Ferris Young

Pervis Ferris Young

Pervis Ferris Young was magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island from 1967 until 1975. Young was born on Pitcairn Island and died in 2003 at Auckland. He was succeeded by his brother-in-law Ivan Christian, and was uncle to future mayor's Steve Christian and Brenda...

  (1967-December 1975)

27. Ivan Christian

Ivan Christian

Ivan Roa Christian is a former politician from Pitcairn. He was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island from 1976 to 1984. As his surname suggests, he is descended from the original mutineers who settled the island, led by Fletcher Christian...

  (December 1975-December 1984)

28. Brian Young

Brian Young (magistrate)

Brian Michael John Young served as magistrate of the British Overseas Territory of Pitcairn Island from December 1984 until 1 January 1991. In 2007 Young was found guilty of rape and indecent assault and was sentenced to six years and six months in prison.-Ancestry:-References:...

  (December 1984-January 1, 1991)

29. Jay Warren

Jay Warren

Jay Calvin Warren is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Political roles:Jay Warren was elected Mayor of the last remaining British dependency in Oceania in the general election held on 15 December 2004, defeating Brenda Christian, who had held the Mayoralty in...

  (January 1, 1991-December 7, 1999)

Mayors (since 1999)

1. Steve Christian

Steve Christian

Steven Raymond Christian is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Mayor:...

  (7 December 1999-30 October 2004) (Dismissed from office by the British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 colonial

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

 authorities following his four rape convictions

Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004

On 30 September 2004, seven men living on Pitcairn Island , went on trial facing 55 charges relating to sexual offences. On 24 October, all but one of the defendants were found guilty on at least some of the charges they faced...

).

2. Brenda Christian

Brenda Christian

Brenda Vera Amelia Lupton-Christian is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Mayor of the Pitcairn Islands :...

 (8 November 2004-15 December 2004) (Acting)

3. Jay Warren

Jay Warren

Jay Calvin Warren is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Political roles:Jay Warren was elected Mayor of the last remaining British dependency in Oceania in the general election held on 15 December 2004, defeating Brenda Christian, who had held the Mayoralty in...

 (15 December 2004-9 December 2007)

4. Mike Warren

Mike Warren (mayor of Pitcairn)

Michael Calvert Warren is the current mayor of Adamstown, the capital city and sole settlement of Pacific territory Pitcairn Islands....

 (9 December 2007-Present)

See also

• Governor of the Pitcairn Islands
  Governor of the Pitcairn Islands
  The Governor of the Pitcairn Islands is the representative of the British crown in the Pitcairn Islands, which are the last remaining British territory in the Pacific Ocean...
  
  
• History of the Pitcairn Islands
  History of the Pitcairn Islands
  The history of the Pitcairn Islands begins with the colonization of the islands by Polynesians in the 11th century. The Polynesians established a culture that flourished for four centuries and then vanished...