Marshall Islands
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- 15 Oct 1885 - 3
Oct 1914
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- 21 Jan 1888 - 1
Apr 1906 Jaluit Company Flag
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- 3 Oct 1914 - 23
Feb 1944
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- 23 Feb 1944 - 21
Oct 1986
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- 18 Jul 1947 - 3
Oct 1962 Pacific Is. Trust Terr.
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- 3 Oct 1962 - 1 May
1979 Pacific Is.Trust Terr.
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- Adopted 1 May 1979
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Map
of the Marshall
Islands
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Hear
National Anthem
"Indeeo Ṃajeḷ"
(Forever Marshall
Islands)
Adopted 1991 |
Former
National Anthem
"Ij Io̧kwe Ļo̧k Aelōn̄ Eo Aō"
(My Beloved Homeland,
My Birthright)
(1979-1991)
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Constitution
(1 May 1979) |
Capital:
Delap-Uliga-Djarri
(Eten 1889-1906,
Jabor, Jaluit 1906-1914,
Majuro 1914-1986)
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Currencies:
US Dollar (USD);
from 1979 Marshall Islands
Dollar (MHD); from 26 Feb 2018
Sovereign (SOV); 1914-1944
Japanese Yen (JPY)
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National
Holiday: 1 May (1979)
Jemenei
Ei
(Constitution Day)
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Population:
61,988 (2022)
11,056 (1945)
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GDP: $220
million (2019)
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Exports:
$325 million (2017)
Imports: $8.79
billion (2017)
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Ethnic groups:
Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese
5.9%,
other 2% (2006)
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Total Police
Force: 130 (2012)
Defense is the
Responsibility of the U.S.
Merchant marine:
3,419 ships (2018)
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Religions:
Protestant 80.5% (United Church of
Christ 47%,
Assembly of God 16.2%, Bukot Nan Jesus
5.4%, Full
Gospel 3.3%, Reformed Congressional
Church 3%, Salvation
Army 1.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%,
Meram in Jesus 1.2%,
other Protestant 1.1%), Roman Catholic
8.5%, Mormon 7%, Jehovah's Witness
1.7%, other 1.2%, none 1.1% (2011)
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International
Organizations/Treaties: ACP,
ADB, AOSIS, APA (observer), APM,
BTWC, CTBT, CWC, ESCR, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ITU, NPT, OPCW, PC, PIDF, PIF,
UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNIDO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO
(observer)
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Marshall
Islands Index
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Chronology
21 Aug
1526
Spanish Capt. Toribio Alonso de
Salazar (d. 1526),
commanding
the ship Santa Maria
de la Victoria,
sighted an island (probably Taongi)
that he names
San
Bartolome.
1 Jan
1528
Rongelap-Ailinginae atolls, are
sighted by Spanish
Capt. Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón (d.
1529) and
jointly charted as the Islas
de los Reyes
("Islands of the Three Kings").
21 Sep
1529
Saavedra Cerón (s.a.) sights
Ujelang Atoll, charted
as Los Pintados
("The Painted Ones").
1 Oct
1529
Saavedra Cerón (s.a.)
sights Enewetak Atoll, that
is named Los
Jardines ("The
Gardens").
8 Jan 1530
Spanish explorer Miguel López de
Legazpi (b. 1502 -
d. 1572) sighted an island possibly
Mejit, named
Los
Barbudos. On 10 Jan
1530 the Spaniards sight
another island that they name
"Placeres", perhaps
Ailuk; and they
sighted another island that they
called "Pajares" (perhaps
Jemo).
30 Jun
1788
Re-discovered by British Capt. John
Marshall
(b. 1748 - d. 1819), later the islands
are named
the
Marshall Islands after him.
May
1816
First visit by Russian Capt. Otto von
Kotzebue
(b. 1787 - d. 1846), sights Utirik and
Taka atolls
in the Ratak Islands.
Jan 1817 - Mar 1817
Second visit by von
Kotzebue (s.a.), sighting Maidi,
Wotje, Otdia, Erikub, Aur, Ailuk and
Likiep atolls.
1874
Spain reasserts its claims to the
islands, but
does begin settlement (Archipiélago
de Marshal).
18 Nov
1878
Treaty of Friendship signed by the
chiefs of the
Ralik islands granting Germany
exclusive use
of Jaluit harbor.
15 Oct
1885
Marshall Islands (Marshall-Inseln)
are annexed
by
Germany.
13 Sep
1886
German protectorate formally declared
(Kaiserliches Kommissariat
Jaluit).
21 Jan 1888 - 1 Apr
1906 Administered by Jaluit-Gesellschaft
(Jaluit Company)
(as Kaiserliches
Kommissariat Jaluit;
from 1893,
Landeshauptmannschaft
Jaluit).
1 Apr
1906
Part of German New Guinea (see Papua New Guinea)
(Bezirksamt
Jaluit [from 1911 Station Jaluit],
subordinated to district officer in Caroline Is.])
3 Oct
1914
Japanese occupation (Eniwetok
on 30 Sep 1914 and
Jaluit
on 3 Oct 1914).
3 Oct 1914
- 1 Apr 1922 Japanese
military (naval) administration, from
Jul
1918, with civil administration
department
subordinate under the navy. In Dec
1914, Jaluit
district created (from the Marshall
Islands east
of 164 E; the islands west of
164 E, Eniwetok and
Ujelang Atolls are part of the Ponape
district
[see Micronesia]).
28 Jun
1919
Germany formally renounces claim to
the islands by
the Treaty of Versailles.
17 Dec
1920
Part of League of Nations mandate of
Japan (South
Seas Islands [Nan'yō Chō
Guntō])(see
under Palau).
1
Apr
1922
Part of the South Seas Government
(Nan'yō Chō)
(see under Palau).
26 Mar
1935
Japan declares that the mandated
islands are an
"integral part of the Japanese Empire"
as it exits
the League of Nations.
Dec 1941
Martial law
declared.
5 Nov
1943
Re-organization, the Jaluit district
becomes part of
the Eastern Area (Jaluit, Truk,
and Ponape) with
headquarters at Truk (see Micronesia).
20 Feb
1944
U.S. occupation (see Micronesia)(from
2 Feb 1944
on Kwajalein, on
Eniwetok 20 Feb 1944,
Majuro
on 1 Mar 1944, Bikini on 29 Mar 1944).
Mar 1944
- 30 Jun 1951 U.S.
Navy military administration.
18 Jul
1947
Marshall Islands District
of the United Nations
Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands
(see Micronesia)(Marshall
Islands District).
1 Jul 1951 - 30 Apr 1979
Administered by the U.S. Department of
Interior.
30 Jul
1977
Marshall Islands district votes in
referendum to be
separated from Micronesia - 4,763 yes
to 2,871 no.
1 May
1979
Autonomy (Marshall Islands [Aelōn
in Ṃajeḷ]).
12 Mar
1982
Republic of the Marshall Islands (Aolepān
Aorōkin
Ṃajeḷ)(style
confirmed by Constitutional Amendment
effective 14 Feb
1991, retroactive to 1 May 1979).
21 Oct
1986
Compact of Free Association with the
U.S. effective,
exists the Trust Territory.
10 Jul
1987
Trust territory dissolved.
22 Dec
1990
Final independence (Security Council
ratifies
termination of trusteeship).
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Traditional
states
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Kommissar
1885 -
1886
Gustav von
Oertzen
(b. 1836 - d. 1911)
Kaiserlicher Kommissare (Imperial
Commissioners)
1886 - 5 Oct
1887
Wilhelm
Knappe
(b. 1855 - d. 1910)
5 Oct 1887 - 29 Mar 1889 Franz Leopold
Sonnenschein (b. 1857 -
d. 1897)
(acting to 14 Apr 1888)
29 Mar 1889 - 14 Apr 1890 Eugen Brandeis (1st
time)(acting) (b. 1846 - d. 1919)
14 Apr 1890 - Feb 1892
Friedrich Louis Max Biermann
(b. 1856 - d. 1929)
Feb 1892 -
1893
Eugen Brandeis (2nd time)(acting) (s.a.)
1893 -
1894
Ernst
Schmidt-Dargitz
(b. 1859 - d. 1924)
Landeshauptleute
11 May 1894 - Mar 1898 Georg
Irmer
(b. 1853 - d. 1931)
24 Mar 1898 - 18 Jan 1906 Eugen
Brandeis
(s.a.)
(acting to 22 Feb 1900)
18 Mar 1902 - 1903
Waldemar von Bunsen
(acting for Brandeis)
1903
Konrad Geppert
(b. 18.. - d. 1908)
(acting for Brandeis)
18 Jan 1906 - May 1906 Ludwig
Kaiser
(acting)
(b. 1862 - d. 1906)
1 Apr 1906 - 3 Oct 1914 the
Governors of German New
Guinea
Bezirksamtleute (District
magistrates)
1906 - 30 Apr
1907
Victor
Berg
(b. 1861 - d. 1907)
1907
Joseph Siegwanz (acting)
1908 - Nov
1909
Wilhelm
Stuckhardt
(b. 18.. - d. 1909)
Nov 1909 -
1910
Erich Berghausen (interim)
1910 -
1911
Georg Merz
Stationsleiter
(Station chief)
1911 - 3 Oct
1914
Georg Merz
(deported by Japanese on 31 May 1915)
Commanders of Japanese South Seas
Squadrons
3 Oct 1914 - 28 Dec 1914
Tanin
Yamaya
(b. 1866 - d. 1940)
(in occupation of Central and eastern
Caroline [from 3 Oct 1914] and Marshall islands)
7 Oct 1914 - 28 Dec 1914
Tatsuo
Matsumura
(b. 1868 - d. 1932)
(in occupation of western Caroline, the
Northern Marianas [from 14 Oct 1914]
and Palau [from 8 Oct 1914] islands)
Governors
28 Dec 1914 - 1 Apr 1922 the
Commanders of Interim Southern
Islands Defense Unit (see Palau)
1 Apr 1922 - 2 Feb
1944 the Directors of South
Seas Government (see Palau)
Chiefs of the Jaluit Branch of the
South Seas Government
1 Apr 1922 - 1924?
Kazuo Horiguchi
1924 - 1925
Taira Fukushima
1925 - 1929?
Kiichi Kōsaka
17 Jul 1929 - 15 Feb 1932 Shigeru Tateyama
1932 - 1935?
Nobuyoshi Tani
1935 - 1936
Ukichi Nagai
Mar 1936 - 1937
Seiichi Murakami
1937 - 1940
Yūzaburō Yamaguchi
1940 - 1941
Mikita
Narimoto
1941 - 1942?
Shinkichi Kanai
1942 - 1943?
Koo Ueno
Jun 1943 - 5 Nov 1943
Yoshitaka Nakajima
5 Nov 1943 - 1 Mar
1944 the chiefs of Eastern Area Branch
(see Micronesia)
Commanders of the Imperial Japanese Navy 6th Fleet
Forces Service (in Kwajalein)
15 Jan 1941 - 1 Feb 1942 Sukeyoshi
Yatsushirō
(b. 1890 - d. 1942)
5 Feb 1942 - 29 Nov 1943
Kōsō Abe
(b. 1892 - d. 1947)
29 Nov 1943 - 6 Feb 1944 Monzō
Akiyama
(b. 1891 - d. 1944)
Commanders-in-chief U.S. Pacific
Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas,
Military Governors of the Marshall Islands
2 Feb 1944 - 24 Nov
1945 Chester William
Nimitz
(b. 1885 - d. 1966)
24 Nov 1945 - 3 Feb 1946 Raymond Ames
Spruance
(b. 1886 - d. 1969)
3 Feb 1946 - 28 Feb 1947 John Henry
Towers
(b. 1885 - d. 1955)
28 Feb 1947 - 1 Jul 1947 Louis Emil
Denfeld
(b. 1891 - d. 1972)
U.S. Military
Administrators
1 Jun 1945 - 18 Jul
1947 the Commanders U.S. Naval Forces
Marianas Area (see Northern Marianas)
U.S. Commanders of
(Kwajalein Atoll to 1 May 1944)
Marshall Islands Subarea
1 May - 1 Oct 1944; from 1 Oct 1944
Marshalls-Gilberts Area;
and from 1 Jun 1944,
Deputy Military Governors of the Marshall
Islands
2 Feb 1944 - 6 Nov 1944 Alva
Douglas
Bernhard
(b. 1886 - d. 1955)
6 Nov 1944 - 26 Feb 1945
Harold Bushnell "Slats" Sallada (b. 1895
- d. 1977)
26 Feb 1945 -
1945
William Keene Harrill
(b. 1892 - d. 1962)
Governors, Marshall Islands
and Commanders U.S. Naval Base Kwajalein
Jul 1945 -
1947
Ben Harrison Wyatt
(b. 1894 - d. 1968)
Sep 1947 - 24 Oct
1947 George Albert
Seitz
(b. 1897 - d. 1947)
Dec 1947 - 16 Jul 1949 John
Pinckney Wheeler Vest
(b. 1901 - d. 1993)
16 Jul 1949 - Jun 1950 Cecil
Bachelder Gill
(b. 1902 - d. 1992)
Sep 1950 - 30 Jun 1951
Stanhope Cotton Ring
(b. 1902 - d. 1963)
Officers in Charge, Military Government South Sector
(Kwajalein)
Sep 1945 - Oct 1945
Chester Morey Carré
(b. 1902 - d. 1968)
Nov 1945 - Jun 1946
Clyde L. Ogden
(b. 1906 - d. ....)
Jul 1946 - Aug 1946
Hector C. Cyr
(b. 1920 - d. 2005)
Officers in Charge,
Military Government North Sector (Roi)
Sep 1945 - Dec
1945 Frank
E.
O'Reilly
(b. 1904 - d. 1946)
Jan 1946 - Apr 1946 Herbert
C. Meade
Officer in Charge, Military Government Kwajalein
Atoll
Sep 1946 - Jun
1947 Edward B.
Miller
(b. 1902 - d. 19..)
Civil Administrators
Kwajalein
Sep 1947 - 1947
Edward B. Miller
(s.a.)
Dec 1947 -
1948
Edward Robert Nelson, Jr.
(b. 1910 - d. ....)
Mar 1948 - 30 Sep 1948
Edward Franklin Ferguson
(b. 1910 - d. ....)
Military Government Officers Majuro
Sep 1945 - Dec
1945
Douglas Woodley DeLaurier
(b. 1901 - d. 1967)
Jan 1946 - Apr 1946 Frank
E.
O'Reilly
(s.a.)
Oct 1946 - Jun 1947
Chester Eugene Herrick
(b. 1908 - d. 19..)
Civil
Administrators Majuro
Sep
1947 - 21 Aug 1948
Chester Eugene
Herrick
(s.a.)
21 Aug 1948 - 30 Sep 1948 Edward
Franklin Ferguson
(s.a.)
Civil Administrators
Marshall Islands
1 Oct 1948 - Dec
1949 Edward Franklin
Ferguson (s.a.)
Mar 1950 - Sep
1950
Roland Walker Kenney
(b. 1904 - d. 1995)
Dec 1950 - 30 Jun 1951
Frank Wilson Avila
(b. 1914 - d. 1993)
Marshall Islands District Administrators
(Distad)
1 Jul 1951 -
1954
Donald W. Gilfillan
(b. 1904 - d. 1979)
1954 -
1960
Maynard Neas
(b. 1906 – d. 1979)
1960 -
1961
William E. Finale
(b. 1924 – d. 2006)
27 May 1961 -
1965 Peter
Tali Coleman
(b. 1919 - d. 1997)
15 Oct 1965 -
1969
Dwight
Heine
(b. 1919
- d. 1984)
1969 - 1970
Robert Davis Law
(b. 1917
- d. 1982)
1970 - 1979
Oscar DeBrum
(b. 1929
- d. 2002)
Presidents of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
1 May 1979 - 21 Dec 1996 Amata
Kabua
(b. 1928 - d. 1996) Non-party;
(acting to 17 Nov
1979)
c.1991 AKA
21 Dec 1996 - 17 Jan 1997 Kunio David
Lemari (acting) (b.
1942 - d. 2008) AKA
17 Jan 1997 - 10 Jan 2000 Imata
Jabro
Kabua
(b. 1943 - d. 2019) AKA
10 Jan 2000 - 7 Jan 2008
Kessai Hesa Note
(b.
1950)
UDP
7 Jan 2008 - 21 Oct 2009 Litokwa
Tomeing
(b. 1939 - d. 2020) UPP
21 Oct 2009 - 2 Nov 2009 Ruben Rakin
Zackhras (acting) (b. 1947)
UDP
2 Nov 2009 - 10 Jan 2012 Jurelang
Zedkaia
(b. 1950 - d. 2015) AKA;2011 KEA
10 Jan 2012 - 11 Jan 2016 Christopher
Jorebon
Loeak
(b. 1952) AKA
11 Jan 2016 - 28 Jan 2016 Casten Ned
Nemra
(b.
1971)
KEA
28 Jan 2016 - 13 Jan 2020 Hilda
Cathy Heine (f)(1st time) (b.
1951)
Non-party
13 Jan 2020 - 3 Jan 2024
David
Kabua
(b.
1951)
AKA
3 Jan 2024
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Hilda Cathy Heine (f)(2nd time)
(s.a.)
Non-party
Territorial Dispute: Claims U.S.
territory of Wake
Island as Ānen Kio (new orthography) or
Enen-kio (old orthography).
Party abbreviations (political
parties are mostly unofficial groupings):
AKA = Ailon Kein Ad (Our
Islands, also called the 'presidential caucus' [or
'Kabua party'], supported by traditional chiefs,
from c.1991, formally est.2002); UDP
= United Democratic Party (reformist,
est.c.1997); KEA = Kien Eo Am (Our
Government, split from AKA, est.2011); UPP = United
People's Party
© Ben Cahoon
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