Kiribati
 

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: South Tarawa (Butaritari 1892-27 Jan 1916; Tapiri 17 Jan 1916-1945; Bairiki 1945-12 Jul 1976) Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)  National Holiday: 12 Jul (1979) Independence Day Population: 107,817 (2007) GDP: $72 million (2005) 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 and N.Z. Merchant marine: 2 ships (2006) Religions: Roman Catholic 54.6%, Kiribati Protestant (Congregational) 37%, Mormon 2.7%, Baha'i 2.4%, other Protestant 2.3%, other/non-religious 1% (2000)  International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ADB, APM, C, CTBT, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, 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. 1820                       Named Gilbert Islands by Russian Admiral Adam                              von Krusenstern.  9-16 Oct 1892             Gilbert and Ellice Islands (British protectorate) 26 Sep 1901                Ocean Island (Banaba) annexed by U.K. 12 Jan 1916                British colony.  12 Jan 1916 -  2 Jan 1976  Part of the British Western Pacific Territories. 12 Jan 1916                Phoenix Islands (part of Kiribati) a separate                               part of the British Western Pacific Territories.  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 -                              Nov 1943).  1 Oct 1975                Separation of the Ellice Islands as Tuvalu. 12 Jul 1979                Independence of the Gilbert Islands as                               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 (1800-1891) Banaba (Ocean) Island (1900-1945) Canton and Enderbury Islands (1939-1979) Christmas Island (Kiritimati) (1888-1979)

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
1941 - 1946                Vivian Fox-Strangways              (b. 1898 - d. 19..)
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 
10 Dec 1982 - 18 Feb 1983  Rota Onorio                        (b. 1919)
                             (chairman Council of State)
18 Feb 1983 -  4 Jul 1991  Ieremia Tienang Tabai (2nd time)   (s.a.)               NPP
 4 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
Jan 1972 - 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)

....                       Abemama kingdom
27 May 1892                British protectorate declared.
1911                       Part of Gilbert Islands (s.a.).
31 Aug 1942 - Nov 1943     Japanese occupation.
12 Jul 1979                Part of Republic of Kiribati.

Chiefs (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
.... - ....                Tem Tokatake

 3 Jan 1801                Discovered by U.S. Capt. Jerede Gardener, named Rodmans' Island.
1804                       Resighted by British Capt. John Mertho aboard Ocean and
                             named Ocean Island.
 3 May 1900                Ceded to British Phosphate Company (BPC) by local chiefs.
29 Nov 1900                Administratively included within Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
28 Sep 1901                Annexed by Britain, part of Gilbert Islands.
26 Aug 1942 - 10 Oct 1945  Japanese occupation.
1942                       Japanese deport most islanders to Kosrae, Nauru or Tarawa.
15 Dec 1945                Native islanders relocated to Rabi Island in Fiji. 
1977                       Some islanders return.
12 Jul 1979                Part of Republic of Kiribati.
Nov 1979                   End of phosphate mining.

British District Commissioners
.... - c.1909              John Quayle Dickson
c.1909 - 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  Naoomi Suzuki                      (d. 1946)

1820's                     Canton Island discovered by U.S. 
1850's                     British rediscover Canton 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 Canton Island.
10 Jul 1889                Enderbury Island claimed by Britain.
 6 Aug 1936                Canton Island claimed by Britain (reclaimed 3 Jun 1937).
 8 Apr 1937                Part of British Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.
 3 Mar 1938                Canton and Enderbury Islands claimed by U.S.
 6 Apr 1939 - 12 Jul 1979  Joint British-U.S. condominium.
1968                       U.S. ends its presence on the islands.
20 Sep 1979                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.
Feb 1937                   British open radio station.
20 Sep 1979                Recognized as part of Kiribati by the U.S.

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