Faroe (Faeroe) Islands
 

Adopted 1380          22 Jun 1919 - 25 Apr 1940 Unofficial;   25 Apr 1940 - 23 Mar 1948 Ensign;               Adopted 23 Mar 1948   Map of the Faroe Islands Faroe National Anthem "Tú Alfagra Land Mítt" (My land, oh most beauteous) Adopted 1948 Danish National Anthem "Der er et yndigt land" (There Is A Lovely Land)  Home Rule Act (1 Apr 1948) Capital: Tórshavn  Currency: Danish Krone (DKK)  National Holiday: 29 Jul (1030) Ólavsøkudagur (Saint Olav's Day/National Day) Population: 48,668 (2008) GDP: $1 billion (2001) Exports: $634 million (2006) Imports: $751 million (2006)  Ethnic groups: Faeroese 97%, Danish 2.5%, other Scandinavian 0.4%, other 0.1% (2000) Total Police Forces: N/A Defense is the Responsibility of Denmark Merchant marine: 12 ships (2008) Religions: Protestant 91% (of which Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark 79%, Plymouth Brethren 10%),  other 9% (2005) International Organizations/Treaties: AC, FAO (associate), IMO (associate), NC, NIB , UNESCO (associate), UPU Faroe Islands Chronology c.650 - c.825              Settlement by Celtic monks. c.825                      Norse conquest and settlement. 970 - 1280                 Republic (periodically a dependency of Orkney). 1035                       Norwegian rule. 24 Jun 1298                First local constitutional law ("Sheep Letter"). 11 Sep 1380                Danish rule begins (from 1396, part of Denmark's                               Sjaelland County). 1655 - 1708                Granted as a feudal estate to the von Gabel                              family by the King of Denmark. 1708                       Danish crown again takes possession.  6 Mar 1720 -  6 Mar 1775  Administered as part of Iceland. 1776                       Administered as part of Sjaelland (Sealand) County                              of Denmark. 24 Jan 1814                Recognized as Danish possession by the Treaty                              of Kiel. 1816                       Faroe Islands become a separate County. 12 Apr 1940 - 16 Sep 1945  British occupation. 14 Sep 1946                Referendum votes independence 48.7% to 47%;                              independence is declared on 18 Sep 1946,                              declaration is annulled by Denmark on 20 Sep. 30 Mar 1948                Self-government granted.

Chiefs
c.800                      Grim Kamban "the Lame"
c.965                      Halfgrim
                           - jointly with following two -
c.965                      Breste Gataskeggi
c.965                      Breine Gataskeggi
c.1000                     Sigmundur Brestisson               (d. 1005)
c.1000                     Tróndur í Gøtu                     (d. 1035) 
                             (in opposition to Sigmundur)
c.1035                     Leivur Øssurarson
Logsogumaor (Lawspeakers of the Þing)
970 - 1298                 ....
Bailiffs
1035 - 10..                Leivur Øssurarson
10.. - 1520                ....
1520 - 1523?               Joachim Wullenweber
Governors
1524 - 1529                Jørgen Hansen
1529 - 1553                Thomas Koppen                      (d. 1553)
Bailiffs
1556 - 1569                Anders Jude
1573 - 1578                Joachim Thim
1579 - 1581                Mads Poulsøn 
1582                       Sören Christensøn Flue 
1583 - 1584                Mikkel Ibsøön
1584                       Niels Skinkel til Gierskov 
1586 - 1587                Lyder Augustinssøn 
1588 - 1591                Mads Batzersøn 
1592 - 1593                Mogens Nielssøn 
1593 - 1594                Sören Nielssøn (1st time)
1597                       Strange Madssøn (1st time)
1598                       Sören Nielssøn (2nd time) 
1599 - 1619                Strange Madssøn (2nd time)
1620 - 1644                Mads Christensøn Gullandsfar
1645 - 1647                Hans Selmer 
1648 - 1655                Christen Madssøn
Governors
 6 Jan 1655 - 18 Apr 1670  Christoffer von Gabel              (b. 1617 - d. 1673)
                             (Commander of the Faroes)
18 Apr 1670 - 21 Jun 1708  Frederik von Gabel                 (b. 1645 - d. 1708)
16 Apr 1709 -  6 Mar 1720  Committee
                           - Jørgen Kristian Klein (to 1715)
                           - Didrik Markussen (from 1715)
                           - Rasmus Juel
                           - Samuel Pedersen
 6 Mar 1720 -  6 Mar 1775  the governors of Iceland¹
Prefects of Sjaelland
11 Mar 1776 -  1 Apr 1787  Henrik Adam Brockenhuus            (b. 1720 - d. 1803)
 1 Apr 1787 - 26 May 1790  Gregers Kristian von Haxthausen    (b. 1732 - d. 1802)
26 May 1790 -  6 Jul 1802  Johan Heinrich Knuth               (b. 1746 - d. 1802)
23 Jul 1802 - 12 Nov 1810  Frederik Hauch                     (b. 1754 - d. 1839)
12 Nov 1810 - 22 May 1816  Verner Jasper Andreas Moltke       (b. 1755 - d. 1835)
Prefects (Amtmaend)
 6 Jul 1816 -  1 Jul 1828  Emilius Marius Georgius Løbner     (b. 1766 - d. 1849)
                             (acting to 27 Mar 1821)
 1 Jul 1828 - 16 Feb 1830  Ludvig Christian Tillisch          (b. 1797 - d. 1844)
27 Mar 1830 - 15 Apr 1837  Frederik Ferdinand Tillisch        (b. 1801 - d. 1889)
 8 Jul 1837 - 31 Dec 1848  Christian Pløyen                   (b. 1803 - d. 1867)
1849 - 1862                Carl Emil Dahlerup                 (b. 1813 - d. 1890)
1862 - 1871                Peter Holten                       (b. 1816 - d. 1892)
1871 - 1885                Hannes Christian Steingrim Finsen  (b. 1828 - d. 1892)
1885 - 1897                Lorens Høyer Buchwaldt             (b. 1841 - d. 1933)
1897 - 1911                Christian Baerentsen               (b. 1862 - d. 1944)
1911 - 1918                Svenning Krag Nielsen Rytter       (b. 1875 - d. 1955)
1918 - 1920                Victor Stahlschmidth               (b. 1884 - d. 1920)
1920 - 1929                Elias Olrik                        (b. 1885 - d. 1975)
1929 - 1936                Hjalmar Ringberg                   (b. 1889 - d. 1978)
1936 - 1945                Carl Aage Hilbert                  (b. 1899 - d. 1953)
British Naval officers-in-charge
16 Apr 1940 -  1 Apr 1941  William Reginald Denys Crowther    (b. 1883 - d. 1974)
 1 Apr 1941 - 27 Nov 1941  Richard Thornton Down              (b. 1882 - d. 1944)
27 Nov 1941 - 25 Feb 1945  Noel Marcus Francis Corbett        (b. 1887 - d. 1962)
25 Feb 1945 - Apr 1945     Horace George Gorton               (d. 1976)
Prefect
1945 - 1948                Cai A. Vagn-Hansen                 (b. 1911 - d. 1990)
High Commissioners (Rigsombudsmand)
1948 - 1954                Cai A. Vagn-Hansen                 (s.a.)
1954 - 1961                Niels Elkaer-Hansen                (b. 1915 - d. 2007)
1961 - 1972                Mogens Wahl                        (b. 1918 - d. 1986)
1972 - 1981                Leif Groth                         (b. 1930 - d. 2009)
1981 - 1988                Niels Bentsen                      (b. 1936)
1988 - 1995                Bent Klinte                        (b. 1939)
1995 -  1 Nov 2001         Vibeke Larsen (f)                  (b. 1944)
 1 Nov 2001 -  1 Aug 2005  Birgit Kleis (f)                   (b. 1956)
 1 Aug 2005 -  1 Jan 2008  Søren Christensen                  (b. 1940)
 1 Jan 2008 -              Dan M. Knudsen                     (b. 1962)

Løgmenn
c.1000                     Gilli
c.1300                     Sjúrdur
c.1350                     Símun
c.1400                     Dagfinnur Halvdanarson
1412 - 14..                Haraldur Kálvsson
c.1450                     Roald
1479 - 1524                Jørundur Skógdrívsson
1524 - 1531                Tormódur Sigurdsson                (d. 1531)
1531 - 1544                Andras Guttormson                  (b. c.1490 - d. 1544)
1544 - 1572                Guttormur Andrasson                (d. 1572) 
1572 - 1583                Jógvan Heinason (Joen Heinesen)    (b. 1541 - d. 1602)
1583 - 1588                Ísak Guttormsson
1588 - 1601                Paetur Jákupsson 
1601 - 1608                Tummas Símunarson                  (d. 1608) 
1608 - 1628                Zakaris Tórmódarson                (d. 1628) 
1629 - 1654                Jógvan Justinusson 
1654 - 1655                Jógvan Poulsen (1st time)
1655 - 1661                Balzer Jacobsen 
1662 - 1677                Jógvan Poulsen (2nd time)
1677 - 1679                Jakup Jógvansson  
1679 - 1706                Jóhan Hendrik Weyhe
1706 - 1752                Sámal Paetursson                   (d. 1752)
1752 - 1769                Hanus Jákupsson Debes              (b. 1723 - d. 1769)
1769 - 1772                Thorkild Fjeldsted                 (b. 1741 - d. 1796)
1772 - 1786                Jacob Hveding
1786 - 1805                Johan Michael Lund                 (b. 1753 - d. 1824)
1806 - 1816                Jørgen Frants Hammershaimb         (b. 1767 - d. 1820)
1816 - 1946                Post abolished
Chairman of the Lagting
18 Sep 1946 - 20 Sep 1946  Thorstein Petersen                 (b. 1899 - d. 1960)  VF/FF
Prime ministers
12 May 1948 - 15 Dec 1950  Andras Samuelsen                   (b. 1873 - d. 1954)  SF
15 Dec 1950 -  8 Jan 1959  Kristian Djurhuus (1st time)       (b. 1895 - d. 1984)  SF
 8 Jan 1959 -  4 Jan 1963  Peter Mohr Dam (1st time)          (b. 1898 - d. 1968)  JF
 4 Jan 1963 - 12 Jan 1967  Hákun Djurhuus                     (b. 1908 - d. 1987)  FF
12 Jan 1967 - 19 Nov 1968  Peter Mohr Dam (2nd time)          (s.a.)               JF
19 Nov 1968 - 12 Dec 1970  Kristian Djurhuus (2nd time)       (s.a.)               JF
12 Dec 1970 -  5 Jan 1981  Atli P. Dam (1st time)             (b. 1932 - d. 2005)  JF
 5 Jan 1981 - 10 Jan 1985  Pauli Ellefsen                     (b. 1936 - d. 2012)  JF
10 Jan 1985 - 18 Jan 1989  Atli P. Dam (2nd time)             (s.a.)               JF
18 Jan 1989 - 15 Jan 1991  Jógvan Sundstein                   (b. 1933)            JF
15 Jan 1991 - 18 Jan 1993  Atli P. Dam (3rd time)             (s.a.)               JF
18 Jan 1993 - 15 Sep 1994  Marita Petersen (f)                (b. 1940 - d. 2001)  JF
15 Sep 1994 - 15 May 1998  Edmund Joensen                     (b. 1944)            SF
15 May 1998 -  3 Feb 2004  Anfinn Kallsberg                   (b. 1947)            FF
 3 Feb 2004 - 26 Sep 2008  Jóannes Eidesgaard                 (b. 1951)            JF
26 Sep 2008 -              Kaj Leo Johannesen                 (b. 1964)            SF

Bailiffs¹ (Landfogeden/Landfúta)
1556 - 1569                Anders Jude
1573 - 1578                Joachim Thim
1579 - 1581                Mads Poulsøn 
1582                       Sören Christensøn Flue 
1583 - 1584                Mikkel Ibsøön
1584                       Niels Skinkel til Gierskov 
1586 - 1587                Lyder Augustinssøn 
1588 - 1591                Mads Batzersøn 
1592 - 1593                Mogens Nielssøn 
1593 - 1594                Sören Nielssøn (1st time)
1597                       Strange Madssøn (1st time)
1598                       Sören Nielssøn (2nd time) 
1599 - 1619                Strange Madssøn (2nd time)
1620 - 1644                Mads Christensøn Gullandsfar
1645 - 1647                Hans Selmer 
1648 - 1655                Christen Madssøn
1655                       Baltzer Jacobsøn
1656 - 1664                Johan Heideman 
1664 - 1674                Søren Pedersøn Skougaard 
1675 - 1680                Christoffer Heideman               (b. c.1653 - d. 1703) 
1680 - 1708/09             Hans Willumsøn 
1708/09 - 1715             Jörgen Kristian Klein
1715 - 1723                Didrik Markussen 
1723 - 1765                Jørgen Frands Hammershaimb         (s.a.)
1765 - 1815                Venceslaus Hammershaimb            (b. 1819 - d. 1909)
1816 - 1829                Hans Wilhelm Meyer
Underfogde¹ (deputy chiefs of police)
1715 - 1750                Carl Hans Hypner
1750 - 1762                Frederik Carl Hammershaimb
1780 - 1785                Johan Joensen Aargaard
1785 - 1815                Børge Schultz 
Sorenskriver¹ (judges)
1583 – 1584                Søren Christensen Flue
1584 - 1588                Gabriel Mitens
1588 - 1588                Mouritz Lauritsen
1588 - 1592                Mads Balzersen
1592 - 1604                Søren Nielsen Islaender
1604 - 1619                Gabriel Mitens
1621 - 1628                Hans Pedersen Morsing
1629 - 1641                Jacob Pedersen Morsing
1642 - 1645                Jacob Wilumsen
1646                       Hans Madsen 
1646 - 1669                Niels Jacobsen Glibre 
1669 - 1674                Peder Sørensen Broberg (1st time)
1675 - 1676                Hans Joensen (acting)
1677 - 1694                Peder Sørensen Broberg (2nd time)
1694 - 1705                Morten Mortensen Høyvig  
1705 - 1751                Frederik Schougaard
1751 - 1753                Frederik Jonassen
1753 - 1760                Joen Jacobsen Faerøe 
1760 - 1775                Peder Samuelsen Weyhe
1775 - 1782                Peder Pedersen Weyhe
1790 – 1810                Lauritz Olsen
1810 – 1812                Jacob Nolsøe                       (b. 1775 - d. 1869)
1812 – 1819                Søren Marius Sewel

  ¹The Danish officers in the Faroe Islands when the governorship resided with the
governors of Iceland 1720 - 1776.
 

Territorial Disputes: Because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the U.K., and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm. 

Party abbreviations: FF = Fólkaflokkurin (People's Party, conservative, pro-independence);
JF = Foroya Javnaðarflokkurin (Faroese Social Democratic Party, social-democratic); 
MF = Miðflokkurin (Centre Party, christian-democratic); SF = Sambandsflokkurin (Unionist Party, conservative); SSF = Sjálvstýrisflokkurin (Home Rule Party, social-liberal);
TF = Tjóðveldisflokkurin (Party for People's Government-Republican Party, socialist, pro-independence); VF = Vinnuflokkurin (Business Party, liberal)