The Gambia
 

1713 - 1779, 1815 - 1870                               1870 - 1889                           1889 - 18 Feb 1965                   Adopted 18 Feb 1965   Map of Gambia National Anthem  "For The Gambia, Our Homeland" Text of National Anthem  Adopted 1965 Constitution (24 Apr 1970; suspended Jul 1994 - Jan 1997) Capital: Banjul (Bathurst 1816-14 Apr 1973; Fort James 1661-1765) Currency: Dalasi (GMD)  National Holiday: 18 Feb (1965) Independence Day Population: 1,735,464 (2008) GDP: $2.26 billion (2008) Exports: $111 million (2008) Imports: $301 million (2008)  Ethnic groups: Malinke 42%, Fulani 18%, Wolof 16%,  Diola (Jola) 10%, Soninke 9%, other 5% (2003) Total Active Armed Forces: 800 (2006) Merchant marine: 5 ships (2008)  Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 9%, traditional beliefs and other 1% (2005) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, C, CEN-SAD, CTBT (signatory), ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISESCO, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO,  UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WAMZ, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO The Gambia Index Chronology 1588                       Granted to a Company of Devon and London Merchants                              by Queen Elizabeth I of England, but no                               settlement is undertaken. 1618                       Granted to the Company of Adventurers of London                              by King James I of England. 26 Oct 1651                Courlander (Latvian) colony (Courlander Gambia)                              established, includes St. Andrew's Island,                              St. Mary Island (now Banjul, with Fort                              Bayona), and Fort Jillifree (now Juffurreh,                              on the northern bank of the Gambia river).  4 Feb 1659 - 10 Jun 1660  Dutch occupation (Dutch Gambia) under West India                               Company.  3 Jul 1660 -  2 Aug 1660  Dutch occupation (Dutch Gambia) under West India                              Company. 19 Mar 1661                English occupy St. Andrew's Island and other                               Courlander possessions, renaming the island                               James Island and the fort as Fort James                              (administered by the Royal Adventurers in                              Africa Company). 17 Nov 1664                Formally ceded by Courland to England.  1 Aug 1669                Administration sublet to Gambia Adventurers. 1681                       French found Fort Albreda. 1684                       Administration taken over by the Royal African                               Company. 27 Jul 1695 - Apr 1699     French rule (French Gambia), island is deserted. 20 May 1709 - 13 Nov 1713  Abandoned. 13 Jun 1750                Administration taken over by the Company of                               Merchants Trading in Africa (Fort James). 25 May 1765 - 11 Feb 1779  Part of British Senegambia (former French                              Senegal and British Gambia settlements)                              (see Senegal). Apr 1766                   British crown colony of Senegambia. 11 Feb 1779 -  3 Sep 1783  French occupation, part of French Senegal                               (see Senegal).  3 Sep 1783                Gambia formally restored to Britain. 1815                       British rule at Fort James. 23 Aug 1816                Bathurst founded (Bathurst colony). 1821                       Cape St. Mary annexed. 17 Oct 1821                British colony (subordinated to Sierra Leone                              to 1843 and 1866-88). 1823                       McCarthy's Island (Lemaine Island) annexed. 1827                       South bank below McCarthy's Island annexed. 12 Dec 1829                Bathurst Settlement and Dependencies in the                              Gambia. 1840                       Kombo formally incorporated. 11 Apr 1843                Gambia Colony 19 May 1857                France cedes its last settlement in the area                               (Albreda) to Britain. 19 Feb 1866 - 17 Dec 1874  Part of British West African Settlements                               (see Sierra Leone). 17 Dec 1874 - 24 Nov 1888  Part of smaller British West Africa Settlements                               (see Sierra Leone). 24 Nov 1888                Gambia a separate colony. 1894                       British protectorate proclaimed over the                               interior. 11 Jan 1901                Gambia Colony and Protectorate  3 Oct 1963                Self-rule achieved. 18 Feb 1965                Independence from U.K. (The Gambia). 24 Apr 1970                Republic of The Gambia  1 Feb 1982 - 30 Sep 1989  Confederation with Senegal (Senegambia). 18 Oct 1996                The Gambia¹  Traditional States Gambia Protectorate (1893-1935) Historical Maps of The Gambia

English Agents 

1618 - 1619                George Thompson                    (d. 1619)

1619 - 16..                Richard Jobson

.... - ....                .... [unknown]

Courlander Commandants

1651 - 1654                Heinrich Fock

1654 - 1659                Otto Stiel (1st time)

1659 - 1660                No fixed rule

1660 - 19 Mar 1661         Otto Stiel (2nd time)

English Agents

19 Mar 1661 - 1661         Francis Kerby

1661 - 1662                Morgan Facey

1662 - 26 Jan 1664         Stephen Ustick

26 Jan 1664 - 1666         John Ladd

1666 - 1672                ....

1672 - 1674                Rice Wright

1674 - 1677                ....

1677 - 1680                Thomas Thurloe

1680 - 1681                Thomas Forde 

1681 - 1684                John Kastell

1684 - 1688                Alexander Cleeve

1688 -  8 Jun 1693         John Booker                        (d. 1693)

 8 Jun 1693 - 1695         William Heath

1695 - 27 Jul 1695         John Hanbury

27 Jul 1695 - Apr 1699     French rule, but deserted

Apr 1699 - 1700            Thomas Corker

1700                       Paul Pindar

1700 - 1701                Thomas Gresham

1701 - Nov 1702            Henry Bradshaw

Nov 1702 -  7 Dec 1703     Humphrey Chishull

 7 Dec 1703 -  4 Sep 1704  Thomas Weaver

 4 Sep 1704 - 22 Jun 1706  John Chidley

22 Jun 1706 - Aug 1706     Joseph Dankins (acting)

Aug 1706 -  2 Dec 1706     John Tozer

 2 Dec 1706 - 20 May 1709  John Snow

20 May 1709 - 13 Nov 1713  Abandoned

13 Nov 1713 - Dec 1714     William Cooke

Dec 1714 -  9 Oct 1717     David Francis

 9 Oct 1717 -  4 Feb 1721  Charles Orfeur

Governors

 4 Feb 1721 -  6 Oct 1721  Thomas Whitney

 6 Oct 1721 - 13 Apr 1723  Henry Glynne

13 Apr 1723 - 28 Oct 1723  Joseph Willey

28 Oct 1713 -  2 Nov 1725  Robert Plunkett

 2 Nov 1725 - 1728         Anthony Rogers

1728                       Richard Hull (1st time)

1728 - 1729                Charles Cornewall

1729 - 29 Nov 1729         Daniel Pepper (acting)

29 Nov 1729 -  7 Feb 1733  Anthony Rogers

 7 Feb 1733 - 16 Jan 1737  Richard Hull (2nd time)

16 Jan 1737 - 1745         Charles Orfeur

1745 - 13 Jun 1750         John Gootheridge

13 Jun 1750 - 1752         James Alison (acting)

1752 - 1754                James Skinner

1754 - 1755                Robert Lawrie

1755 - 1758                Tobias Lisle

1758 - 25 May 1765         Joseph Debat 

25 May 1765 - 11 Feb 1779  part of British Senegambia (see Senegal)

11 Feb 1779 -  3 Sep 1783  part of French Senegal

Commandants

 3 Sep 1783 - 1815         None

1815 -  1 Aug 1826         Alexander Grant

 1 Aug 1826 - 12 Dec 1829  Alexander Findlay

Lieutenant governors

12 Dec 1829 - 23 Feb 1830  Alexander Findlay

23 Feb 1830 - 22 Sep 1837  George Rendall

22 Sep 1837 - Oct 1838     Thomas Lewis Ingram (1st time) 

                             (acting)

Oct 1838 - May 1839        William Mackie

May 1839 - Jan 1840        Thomas Lewis Ingram (2nd time) 

                             (acting)

Jan 1840 - Oct 1841        Sir Henry Vere Huntley             (b. 1795 - d. 1864)

Oct 1841 - 11 Apr 1843     Thomas Lewis Ingram (3rd time) 

                             (acting)

Governors

11 Apr 1843 - Oct 1843     Henry Froude Seagram               (b. c.1802 - d. 1843)

Oct 1843 - 1844            Edmund Norcott

1844 - 1847                Charles Fitzgerald                 (b. 1792 - d. 1887)

1847 - 1851                Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell      (b. 1814 - d. 1881)

1851 -1852                 Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy          (b. 1810 - d. 1883)

1852 - 1859                Luke Smythe O'Connor               (b. 1806 - d. 1873)

Apr 1859 - Sep 1859        D. Robertson (acting)

Sep 1859 - 19 Feb 1866     George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy          (b. 1818? - d. 1885)

Administrators

19 Feb 1866 - 1869         Charles George Edward Patey        (b. 1813 - d. 1881)

1869 - 1871                Alexander Bravo

1871 - 1873                Jeremiah Thomas Fitzgerlad         (b. c.1830 - d. 1881)

                             Callaghan 

1873 - 1875                Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright    (b. 1817 - d. 1899)

1875 - 1877                Sir Samuel Rowe                    (b. 1835 - d. 1888)

30 Mar 1877 - 1884         Valerius Skipton Gouldsbury

1884 - 1886                Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney       (b. 1848 - d. 1913)

1886 - 1888                Sir James Shaw Hay                 (b. 1839 - d. 1924)

1888 - 1891                Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter          (b. 1848 - d. 1927)

                             (acting to 28 Nov 1888) 

1891 - 1900                Sir Robert Baxter Llewelyn         (b. 1845 - d. 1919) 

1900 - 11 Jan 1901         Sir George Chardin Denton          (b. 1851 - d. 1928)

Governors

11 Jan 1901 - 21 Dec 1911  Sir George Chardin Denton          (s.a.)

21 Dec 1911 - 11 Apr 1914  Henry Lionel Galway                (b. 1859 - d. 1949)

11 Apr 1914 - 1920         Edward John Cameron                (b. 1858 - d. 1947)

                            (from 1916, Sir Edward John Cameron)

1920                       Herbert Henniker (acting)

 3 Jan 1921 - 10 Mar 1927  Sir Cecil Hamilton Armitage        (b. 1868 - d. 1933)

10 Mar 1927 - 29 Nov 1928  Sir John Middleton                 (b. 1870 - d. 1954)

29 Nov 1928 - 11 Sep 1930  Sir Edward Brandis Denham          (b. 1876 - d. 1938)

11 Sep 1930 - 12 Apr 1934  Sir Herbert Richmond Palmer        (b. 1877 - d. 1958)

12 Apr 1934 - 22 Oct 1936  Sir Arthur Frederick Richards      (b. 1885 - d. 1978)

22 Oct 1936 - 23 Mar 1942  Sir Wilfred Thomas Southorn        (b. 1879 - d. 1957)

23 Mar 1942 - 29 Mar 1947  Hilary Rudolph Robert Blood        (b. 1893 - d. 1967)

                            (from 11 Jan 1944, Sir Hilary Rudolph Robert Blood)

29 Mar 1947 - Dec 1949     Andrew Barkworth Wright            (b. 1895 - d. 1971)

                            (from 1948, Sir Andrew Barkworth Wright) 

Dec 1949 - 19 Jun 1958     Percy Wyn-Harris                   (b. 1903 - d. 1979)

                            (from 4 Jan 1952, Sir Percy Wyn-Harris) 

19 Jun 1958 - 29 Mar 1962  Sir Edward Henry Windley           (b. 1909 - d. 1972)

29 Mar 1962 - 18 Feb 1965  John Warburton Paul                (b. 1916 - d. 2004)

                            (from 2 Jun 1962, Sir John Warburton Paul)  

Queen²

18 Feb 1965 - 24 Apr 1970  the Queen of the United Kingdom

Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)

18 Feb 1965 -  9 Feb 1966  Sir John Warburton Paul            (s.a.)

 9 Feb 1966 - 24 Apr 1970  Farimang Mamadi Singhateh          (b. 1912 - d. 1977)

                            (from 12 Sep 1966, Sir Farimang Mamadi Singhateh)

                            (acting to 11 Aug 1966)

Presidents

24 Apr 1970 - 22 Jul 1994  Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara           (b. 1924)            PPP

30 Jul 1981 -  5 Aug 1981  Kukoi Samba Sanyang                (b. 1952)            Mil

                            (chairman National Revolutionary Council, in rebellion)

22 Jul 1994 -              Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung    (b. 1965)          Mil;1996 APRC

                             Jammeh 

                            (chairman Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council 

                             to 28 Sep 1996; Head of State to 18 Oct 1996)

 

Chief minister

Mar 1961 - 12 Jun 1962     Pierre Sarr N'Jie                  (b. 1909 - d. 1993)  UP

Prime minister

12 Jun 1962 - 24 Apr 1970  David Kairaba Jawara               (s.a.)               PPP

                            (from 1965, Dawda Kairaba Jawara;

                             from 1 Jan 1966, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara)

 

  ¹Referred to as "The Second Republic of The Gambia" in the preface to the Constitution of 1997 and in the Constitution's Schedule 2, section 2.

 ²Full style:

(a) 18 Feb 1965 - 18 Jun 1965: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith";

(b) 18 Jun 1965 - 24 Apr 1970: "Queen of The Gambia and all Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

 

Territorial Disputes: Attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region as well as from conflicts in other west African states.

 

Note: Before 1935, The Gambia was divided into the Colony (a small area containing present-day Banjul) and the Protectorate. The Protectorate originally had two divisions North Bank and South Bank and later five divisions.

Jan 1893                   First traveling commissioners appointed.
1894                       Gambia Protectorate formed.
11 Jan 1901                Gambia Colony and Protectorate
1935                       Partitioned into five divisions (Saint Mary, MacCarthy Island,
                             North Bank, South Bank, and Upper River) subordinated to
                             the Senior Commissioner at Bathurst. 
18 Feb 1965                Part of independent Gambia.

Traveling Commissioners of the North Bank of the Gambia River
1893 - 28 Feb 1902         John Henry Ozanne                  (b. 1850 - d. 1902)
1902 - 1935                ....
Traveling Commissioners of the South Bank of the Gambia River
Jan 1893 - 1900            Cyril Frederick Stilwell           (d. 1900)
1900                       Frederick Edgar Silva              (d. 1900)
1900 - 1935                ....
Senior Commissioners
1935 - 1963                ....

1892                       Extinguished by British colonial authorities.

Rulers
16.. - 1826                .... [unknown, 64 kings]
1826 - 1832                Burungai Djirayandi Sonko
1832 - 1862                Demba Adam Sonko
1862 - 1892                Demba Sonko

1867 - 1887                Part of N'Gabu (see under Guinea-Bissau).

Rulers
1887 - 1931                Alfa Musa Molo                       (d. 1931)
                            (in Sierra Leone exile 1919-1923)
1931 - 1950                Cherno Bande                         (d. 1950)

Rulers
1851 - 1855                'Umar
1851 - 1892                Fodi Kabba (in Jarra)
1861 - 1866                Maba Almami (in Badibbu)             (d. 1867)
1867 - 1885                Manimadu N'Dare (in Badibbu)
1877 - 1887                Bayram Sis (in rebellion) 
1885 - 1887                Sa'id Mattin (in Badibbu)