Kiribati
 

15 Apr 1884 - 28 Jun 1884 Abemama kingdom     28 Jun 1884 - c.1889? Abemama kingdom       c.1889? - 1895/1911? Abemama kingdom      1895 - 1937 Flag of British Gilbert Islands Resident          1937 - 1 Oct 1975 Government Maritime Flag                       1 Oct 1975 - 12 Jul 1979                       Adopted 12 Jul 1979  Map of Kiribati  Hear National Anthem "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Kiribati)  Text of National Anthem Adopted 12 Jul 1979 Constitution (12 Jul 1979) Capital: Tarawa (Butaritari 1892-27 Jan 1916; Tapiri 17 Jan 1916-1945; Bairiki 1945-12 Jul 1976) Currency: Kiribati Dollar (KID); Australian Dollar (AUD)  National Holiday: 12 Jul (1979) Independence Day Population: 110,356 (2008) GDP: $357.4 million (2008) Exports: $17 million (2004) Imports: $62 million (2004) Ethnic groups: Micronesian 98.8%, Polynesian 0.7%, European 0.2%, other 0.3% (2000) Total Police Force: about 250 (2002) Defense assistance is provided by Australia & New Zealand Merchant marine: 43 ships (2008) Religions: Roman Catholic 55.3%, Kiribati Protestant (Congregational) 35.7%, Mormon 3.1%, Baha'i 2.2%, other/nonreligious 3.7% (2005)  International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ADB, APM, C, CTBT, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, KP, NPT, OPCW, PC, PIF, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UPU, WHO, WMO Kiribati Index Chronology 21 Dec 1605                Spanish Capt. Pedro Fernández de Quirós                               discovers Butaritari, which he names Buen Viaje.  2 Jul 1765                Nikunau discovered by British Capt. John Byron. 1788                       British Capt. Thomas Gilbert visits the islands. ....                       Abemama kingdom established. 1820                       Named Gilbert Islands by Russian Admiral Adam                              von Krusenstern. 13 Aug 1877                Under British jurisdiction by the British Western                              Pacific order. 27 May 1892                Gilbert Islands declared a British protectorate                              by H.M. Davis of HMS Royalist.  9-16 Oct 1892             Ellice Islands declared a British protectorate. 26 Sep 1901                Ocean (Banaba) Island annexed by U.K. 12 Jan 1916                Gilbert and Ellice Islands a British crown colony.  12 Jan 1916 -  2 Jan 1976  Part of the British Western Pacific Territories. 18 Mar 1937                Phoenix Islands (part of Kiribati) annexed by U.K.  8 Apr 1937                Phoenix Islands (Canton, Enderbury, Hull, Birnie,                              Gardner, Phoenix, Sydney, McKean, Christmas,                              Caroline, Starbuck, Malden, Flint and Vostok                              islands) part of Gilbert and Ellice Islands. 29 Feb 1916 -  1 Jan 1949  Colony includes Union Group (see Tokelau).  9 Dec 1941-19/23 Nov 1943 Japanese occupation (occupation on Ocean Island                               26 Aug 1942 - 10 Oct 1945; Abemama 31 Aug 1942 -                              23 Nov 1943).  1 Oct 1975                Separation of the Ellice Islands as Tuvalu. 12 Jul 1979                Independence of the Gilbert Islands as                               Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati. 20 Sep 1979                U.S. recognizes Canton (Kanton), Enderbury, Hull                               (Orona), Birnie, Gardner (Nikumaroro), Phoenix                              (Rawaki), Sydney (Manra), McKean, Christmas                              (Kiritimati), Caroline, Starbuck, Malden, Flint                              and Vostok islands as part of Kiribati                              (effective 23 Sep 1983). Abemama (to 1911) Banaba (Ocean) Island (1900-1945) Canton and Enderbury Islands (1939-1979) Christmas Island (Kiritimati) (1888-1979)

Chiefs of Abemama (title Uea)
.... - ....                Tem Tetabo
.... - ....                Tem Namoriki
.... - c.1841              Tem Karotu
c.1841 - c.1850            Tem Tawaia
c.1850 - 1878              Tem Baiteke
1878 - 10 Nov 1891         Tem Binoka                         (d. 1891)
10 Nov 1891 - ....         Tem Bauro
.... - 1911?               Tem Tokatake
Resident Commissioners
1892 - 1901                Charles Richard Swayne             (b. 1843 - d. 1921)
1901 - 1909                W. Telfer Campbell
1909 - 1913                John Quayle Dickson
1913 - 1920                Edward Carlyon Eliot               (b. 1870 - d. 1940)
May 1920 - May 1921        Thomas Dundas Hope Bruce (acting)  (b. 1885 - d. 19..)
1921 - 1926                Herbert Reginald McClure
1926 - 1933                Arthur Francis Grimble             (b. 1888 - d. 1956)
18 Oct 1933 - 19 Dec 1941  Jack Charles Barley                (b. 1887 - d. 19..)
Japanese Commanders
Dec 1941 - Feb 1943        ..... 
Feb 1943 - Jul 1943        Saichiro Tomonari 
Sep 1943 - 20 Nov 1943     Keiji Shibasaki                    (d. 1943)
Resident Commissioners
Dec 1941 - 1946            Vivian Fox-Strangways              (b. 1898)
1946 - 1949                Henry Evans Maude                  (b. 1906)
1949 - 1951                William John Peel                  (b. 1912 - d. 2004)
1952 - 1961                Michael Louis Bernacchi            (b. 1911 - d. 1983)
May 1962 - 1970            Valdemar Jens Andersen             (b. 1919)
1970 - 1971                Sir John Osbaldiston Field         (b. 1913 - d. 1985)
Governors
 1 Jan 1972 - 1973         Sir John Osbaldiston Field         (s.a.)
1973 - 1978                John Hilary Smith                  (b. 1918)
1978 - 12 Jul 1979         Reginald James Wallace             (b. 1919)
Presidents (beretitenti)
12 Jul 1979 - 10 Dec 1982  Ieremia Tienang Tabai (1st time)   (b. 1950)            NPP 
                             (from 23 Oct? 1982, Sir Ieremia Tienang Tabai)
10 Dec 1982 - 18 Feb 1983  Rota Onorio                        (b. 1919)
                             (chairman Council of State)
18 Feb 1983 -  3 Jul 1991  Sir Ieremia Tienang Tabai          (s.a.)               NPP
                             (2nd time)  
 3 Jul 1991 - 24 May 1994  Teatao Teannaki                    (b. 1939)            NPP
24 May 1994 - 28 May 1994  Tekiree Tamuera                    (b. 1940) 
                             (chairman Council of State)
28 May 1994 -  1 Oct 1994  Ata Teaotai 
                             (chairman Council of State)
 1 Oct 1994 - 28 Mar 2003  Teburoro Tito                      (b. 1953)            CDP/MTM
28 Mar 2003 - 10 Jul 2003  Tion Otang
                             (chairman Council of State)
10 Jul 2003 -              Anote Tong                         (b. 1952)            BTK

Leader of Government Business
Apr 1971 - May 1974        Reuben K. Uatioa                   (b. 1924 - d. 1977)  GNP
Chief ministers
May 1974 - Mar 1978        Naboua Ratieta                     (b. 1938 - d. 1986)
Mar 1978 - 12 Jul 1979     Ieremia Tienang Tabai              (s.a.)               NPP 
12 Jul 1979                Post abolished

Party abbreviations - (Note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures): BTK = Boutokaan Te Koaua (Pillars of Truth); MTM = Maneaban Te Mauri (Protect the Maneaba, christian-democratic, conservative, merger of CDP and NPP);
- Former parties: CDP = Maneabau Te Mauri (Christian Democratic Party, merges into MTM);
GNP = Gilbertese National Party; NPP = Gilbertese National Progress Party (merges into MTM)

 3 Jan 1801                Discovered by U.S. Capt. Jered Gardener, named Rodman's Island.
1804                       Re-discovered by British Capt. John Mertho aboard Ocean and
                             named Ocean Island.
 3 May 1900                Ceded to British Phosphate Company (BPC) by local chiefs.
28 Nov 1900                Jurisdiction of the British Resident Commissioner for Gilbert
                             and Ellice Islands is extended to Ocean Island.
28 Sep 1901                Annexed for U.K. by Adm. Tupper aboard HMS Pylades.
26 Aug 1942 - 10 Oct 1945  Japanese occupation.
1942                       Japanese deport most islanders to Nauru or Tarawa.
15 Dec 1945                Islanders are relocated to Rabi Island, Fiji. 
1977                       Islanders begin to return.
12 Jul 1979                Part of independent Kiribati.
25 Nov 1979                Phosphate mining ends.

British Resident Commissioners
190. - c.1909              Mahaffy
190. - c.1912              John Quayle Dickson
c.1913                     Edward Carlyon Eliot               (b. 1870 - d. 1940)
c.1920                     Arthur Francis Grimble (acting)    (b. 1888 - d. 1956)
1942                       Ron Third (acting)
Japanese Commander 
 1 Sep 1942 - 10 Oct 1945  Suzuki Naoomi                      (d. 1946)

1820's                     Discovered by U.S. 
1850's                     British rediscover the island.
Dec 1823                   Enderbury Island discovered by Capt. James Coffin on British 
                             ship Transit.
28 Aug 1840                Enderbury visited by the U.S. Exploring Expedition under 
                             Capt. Wilkes.
 4 Mar 1854                U.S. whaling ship Canton under Capt. Andrew Wing runs around
                             on reef on Canton Island.
1872                       U.S. Capt. Meade aboard U.S.S. Narragansett names it Canton Island. 10 Jul 1889                Enderbury Island claimed by Britain.
 6 Aug 1936                Canton Island claimed by Britain (and reclaimed on 3 Jun 1937).
 8 Apr 1937                Part of British Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.
31 Aug 1937                HMS Leith lands 2 radio operators on Canton Island to
                             maintain British sovereignty.
 3 Mar 1938                Canton and Enderbury Islands claimed by U.S., placed under
                             Department of Interior.
 6 Mar 1938                U.S. Coast Guard cutter Taney lands a party of colonists
                             on Enderbury Island
 6 Apr 1939                Canton and Enderbury Islands made a joint Anglo-American
                             condominium for fifty years.
1968                       U.S. ends its presence on the islands.
12 Jul 1979                Part of independent Kiribati.
20 Sep 1979                Canton and Enderbury Islands are recognized as part of
                             Kiribati by the U.S.

British district officer
c.1944 - c.1962            Paul B. Laxton
U.S. Commissioner
c.1962                     Victor Cox

24 Dec 1774                Discovered by British Capt. James Cook,
                             named Christmas Island.
11 Mar 1857                Claimed for U.S.
17 Mar 1888                Annexed by Britain.
1902                       U.K. grants a 99-year lease to Lever Pacific Plantations.
28 Nov 1919                U.K. reasserts its claim to Christmas Island and annexes it 
                             to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
1936                       U.S. challenges Britain's claim to Christmas Island.
Feb 1937                   British open radio station.
12 Jul 1979                Part of independent Kiribati.
20 Sep 1979                Recognized as part of Kiribati by the U.S.

Proprietor
17 Dec 1913 - 1939         Emmanuel Rougier                     (d. 1939?)