Sierra Leone
 

1787 - 1870                               1870 - 1889                             1889 - 30 Jul 1914                        30 Jul 1914 - 27 Apr 1961                  Adopted 27 Apr 1961   Map of Sierra Leone Hear National Anthem "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free" Text of National Anthem Adopted 1961 Constitution (1 Oct 1991) Capital: Freetown (Granville's Town 1787-1789, 1791-1792) Currency: Leone (SLL) National Holiday: 27 Apr (1961) Independence Day Population: 6,294,774 (2008) GDP: $4.3 billion (2008) Exports: $216 million (2006) Imports: $560 million (2006) Ethnic groups: Mende 26%, Temne 24.6%,  Limba 7.1%, Kuranko 5.5%, Kono 4.2%, Fulani 3.8%, Bullom-Sherbro 3.5%, other 25.3% (2000) Total Actie Armed Forces: 12,500 (2006) Merchant marine: 182 ships (2008) Religions: Sunni Muslim 45.9%, traditional beliefs 40.4%, Christian 11.4%, other 2.3% (2000) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, C, CEN-SAD, CTBT, ECOWAS, ENMOD (signatory), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (applicant), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISA, ISESCO, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Sierra Leone Index Chronology   14 May 1787                 Freedom Province (British settlement established                               at Freetown for freed slaves). 22 Aug 1788                 Grant of land to Capt. John Taylor of ship Miro,                                along the Freetown peninsula by Timni chief. 1789 - 1791                 Abandoned. Jan 1791                    Freedom Province restored (under Sierra Leone                               Company rule). 11 Mar 1792                 Freetown founded.  5 Jul 1799                 Renamed Sierra Leone.  1 Jan 1808                 Sierra Leone crown colony (including coastal                                area). 17 Oct 1821                 Sierra Leone territory part of British West                                African Territories. 13 Jan 1850                 Sierra Leone crown colony (dissolution of BWAT). 19 Feb 1866                 Sierra Leone territory, part of British West                                African Settlements. 17 Dec 1874                 Part of British West Africa Settlements 28 Nov 1888                 Sierra Leone colony (dissolution of BWAS). 24 Aug 1895                 Hinterland becomes British protectorate                               (Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate). 27 Apr 1961                 Independence from U.K. (Sierra Leone). 19 Apr 1971                 Republic of Sierra Leone 23 Mar 1991 - 18 Jan 2002   During civil war the Revolutionary United Front                               controls much of interior Mar 1991 - May 2001. Traditional States British West Africa (1821-1850, 1866-1888) Revolutionary United Front (1991-2000)

Administrator
14 May 1787 - Sep 1787     Thomas B. Thompson
Governor
Aug 1788 - 1789            John Taylor                        (d. 18..)
1789 - Jan 1791            Abandoned
Agent
Jan 1791 - Mar 1792        Alexander Falconbridge             (b. c.1760 - d. 1792)
Superintendent
Mar 1792 - Jul 1792        John Clarkson                      (b. 1763 - d. 1828)
Governors
Jul 1792 - 31 Dec 1792     John Clarkson                      (s.a.)
31 Dec 1792 - Mar 1794     William Dawes (1st time)           (b. 17.. - d. 1836)
Mar 1794 -  6 May 1795     Zachary Macaulay (1st time)        (b. 1768 - d. 1838)
 6 May 1795 - Mar 1796     William Dawes (2nd time)           (s.a.)
Mar 1796 - Apr 1799        Zachary Macaulay (2nd time)        (s.a.)
Apr 1799 - May 1799        John Gray (1st time)
May 1799 - 1800            Thomas Ludlum (1st time)           (b. 1775 - d. 1810)
1800 - Jan 1801            John Gray (2nd time)
Jan 1801 - Feb 1803        William Dawes (3rd time)           (s.a.)
Feb 1803 - 1803            William Day (1st time)             (b. 17.. - d. 1805)
1803 - 1805                Thomas Ludlum (2nd time)           (s.a.)
1805 -  4 Nov 1805         William Day (2nd time)             (s.a.)
 4 Nov 1805 - 1806         ....
1806 - 21 Jul 1808         Thomas Ludlum (3rd time)           (s.a.)
                             (acting to 1 Jan 1808)
21 Jul 1808 - 12 Feb 1810  Thomas Perronet Thompson           (b. 1783 -  d. 1865)
12 Feb 1810 - May 1811     Edward H. Columbine                (b. 17.. - d. 1811)
May 1811 -  1 Jul 1811     Robert Bones (acting)
 1 Jul 1811 - Jul 1815     Charles William Maxwell            (d. 1848)
Jul 1815 - Dec 1814        Charles Macarthy (acting)          (b. 1768 - d. 1824)
                             (1st time)
Dec 1814 - Jan 1815        J. Mailing (acting)
Jan 1815 - Mar 1815        R. Purdie (acting)
Mar 1815 - Jun 1815        William Appleton (acting)
Jun 1815 - Jul 1815        H.B. Hyde (acting)
Jul 1815 - Jul 1820        Charles Macarthy (2nd time)        (s.a.)
                             (from 1820, Sir Charles Macarthy)
                             (acting to 1 Jan 1816) 
Jul 1820 - 1821            Sir Alexander Grant (1st time)
                             (acting)
1821                       Burke (acting)
1821 - Nov 1821            Sir Alexander Grant (2nd time)
                             (acting)
Nov 1821 - 21 Jan 1824     Sir Charles Mcarthy (3rd time)     (s.a.)
21 Jan 1824 -  5 Feb 1824  Daniel Molloy Hamilton (acting)
 5 Feb 1824 -  7 Mar 1826  Charles Turner                     (d. 1826)
 7 Mar 1826 - 26 Aug 1826  Kenneth Macaulay (acting)          (d. 1829)
26 Aug 1826 - 14 Aug 1827  Sir Neil Campbell                  (b. 1776 - d. 1827)
17 Aug 1827 -  9 Jun 1828  Dixon Denham                       (b. 1786 - d. 1828)
Lieutenant governors
 9 Jun 1828 - Aug 1828     Hugh Lumley                        (d. 1828)
Aug 1828 - 28 Jan 1829     Samuel Smart (acting)              (d. 1828)
Jan 1829 - 16 Jan 1830     Henry John Ricketts (acting)
Jan 1830 - 25 Aug 1830     Alexander Maclean Fraser (acting)
26 Aug 1830 - 12 Jun 1832  Alexander Findley
12 Jun 1832 - Jul 1833     Augustine Fitzgerald Evans (acting)
Jul 1833 - Dec 1833        Michael Linning Melville (acting)  (d. 1876)
Dec 1833 - 13 Aug 1834     Octavius Temple                    (b. 1784 - d. 1834)
1834 - 13 Feb 1835         Thomas Cole (acting)
13 Feb 1835 - 13 Jun 1837  Henry Dundas Campbell      
Governors
13 Jun 1837 - 16 Dec 1840  Richard Doherty                    (d. 1862)
16 Dec 1840 - 23 Apr 1841  John Jeremie                       (b. 1795 - d. 1841)
23 Apr 1841 -  3 Sep 1841  John Carr (acting)
 3 Sep 1841 - 31 Jan 1842  William Fergusson (1st time)       (b. 1773 - d. 1846)
                             (acting)
31 Jan 1842 -  1 May 1844  George Macdonald
17 May 1844 - 27 Dec 1845  William Fergusson (2nd time)       (s.a.)
27 Dec 1845 -  7 Apr 1848  Norman William MacDonald (1st time)
                             (acting to 8 Apr 1848)
 7 Apr 1848 - 24 Nov 1849  B.C.C. Pine (acting)
24 Nov 1849 - 12 Oct 1852  Norman William MacDonald (2nd time)
1852 - 1854                Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy          (b. 1810 - d. 1883)
                             (1st time) 
13 Oct 1854 - 1855         Robert Dougan (acting)
1855 - 1859                Sir Stephan John Hill (1st time)   (b. 1809 - d. 1891)
1859 - 1860                Alexander Fitzjames
1860 - 1861                Sir Stephan John Hill (2nd time)   (s.a.)
21 Jul 1861 - 1862         William Hill (acting)
1862 - Mar 1865            Samuel Wensley Blackall (1st time) (b. 1809 - d. 1871)
Mar 1865 - 19 Feb 1866     W.J. Chamberlayne (acting)
19 Feb 1866 - 1867         Samuel Wensley Blackall (2nd time) (s.a.)
1867                       Gustavus N.K. Yonge (acting)       (b. 1814 - d. 1894)
1867 - 1868                Samuel Wensley Blackall (3rd time) (s.a.)
1868 - 1869                John Jennings Kendall (acting) 
                             (1st time)
1869 - 1871                Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy          (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
1871                       John Jennings Kendall (acting)
                             (2nd time)
1871                       Sheppard (acting)
1871 - Jan 1872            Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy          (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)
Jan 1872 - Feb 1872        John Jennings Kendall (acting)
                             (3rd time)
Feb 1872 -  7 Mar 1873     John Pope Hennessey                (b. 1834 - d. 1891)
 7 Mar 1873 - 17 Mar 1873  Robert Keate                       (b. 1814 - d. 1873)
17 Mar 1873 -  2 Oct 1873  Alexander Bravo (acting)
 2 Oct 1873 -  4 Mar 1874  Sir Garnet Wolseley                (b. 1833 - d. 1913)
 4 Mar 1874 - 17 Dec 1874  George Berkeley                    (b. 1819 - d. 1905)
17 Dec 1874 - 1875         George French (acting)
1875                       Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright    (b. 1817 - d. 1899) 
                             (1st time)
1875 - 1876                Sir Samuel Rowe (1st time)         (b. 1835 - d. 1888)
1876 - 1877                Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright    (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
1877                       Horatio James Huggins (acting)
Sep 1877 - 1880            Sir Samuel Rowe (2nd time)         (s.a.)
1880 - 1881                William Streeten (acting)
1881                       Sir Samuel Rowe (3rd time)         (s.a.)
1881                       Franas Frederick Pinkett (acting) 
                             (1st time)
1881 - 1883                Arthur Elibank Havelock (1st time) (b. 1844 - d. 1908)
1883                       Franas Frederick Pinkett (acting)
                             (2nd time)
1883 - 1884                Arthur Elibank Havelock (2nd time) (s.a.)
1884                       Arthur M. Tarleton (acting)        (d. 1884)
1884 - 1885                Franas Pinkett (acting) (3rd time)
1885 - 1886                Sir Samuel Rowe (4th time)         (s.a.)
1886 - 1887                James Shaw Hay (acting) (1st time) (b. 1839 - d. 1924)
1887 - 1888                Sir Samuel Rowe (5th time)         (s.a.)
1888                       J.M. Maltby (acting)
1888 - 1889                Sir James Shaw Hay (2nd time)      (s.a.)
                            (acting to 24 Nov 1888)
1889                       Patchett (acting)
                           + Foster (acting)
1889 - 1890                J.M. Maltby
1890 - 1891                Sir James Shaw Hay (3rd time)      (s.a.)
1891 - 1892                J.J. Crooks (acting)
1892                       W.H.Q. Jones (acting) (1st time)
1892 - 1893                Francis Fleming (1st time)         (b. 1842 - d. 1922)
1893                       W.H.Q. Jones (acting) (2nd time)
1893 - 1894                Francis Fleming (2nd time)         (s.a.)
1894                       W.H.Q. Jones (acting) (3rd time)
1894 - 1895                Frederic Cardew (1st time)         (b. 1839 - d. 1921)
1895 - 24  Aug 1895        Caulfield (acting) (1st time)
24 Aug 1895 - 1897         Frederic Cardew (2nd time)         (s.a.)
                             (from 22 Jun 1897, Sir Frederic Cardew)
1897                       J.C. Gore (acting)
1897                       Caulfield (acting) (2nd time)
1897 - 1899                Sir Frederic Cardew (3rd time)     (s.a.)
1899                       Matthew Nathan (acting)
1899 - 1900                Sir Frederic Cardew (4th time)     (s.a )
1900 - 11 Dec 1900         Caulfield (acting) (3rd time)
11 Dec 1900 -  3 Oct 1904  Sir Charles Anthony King-Harman    (b. 1851 - d. 1939)
 3 Oct 1904 - 1910         Sir Leslie Probyn                  (b. 1862 - d. 1938)
1910 - 1913                Sir Edward Marsh Merewether        (b. 1858 - d. 1939)
                             (1st time)
1913                       Claude Hollis (acting)
1913 - 1916                Sir Edward Marsh Merewether        (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
 9 Mar 1916 - 1921         Sir Richard James Wilkinson        (b. 1867 - d. 1941)
                             (1st time)
1921                       John C. Maxwell (acting)           (b. 1875 - d. 1946)
1921 -  4 May 1922         Sir Richard James Wilkinson        (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
 4 May 1922 - 24 Sep 1927  Alexander Ransford Slater          (b. 1874 - d. 1940)
                             (from 1 Jan 1924, Sir Alexander Ransford Slater)
24 Sep 1927 - 1929         Sir Joseph Aloysius Byrne          (b. 1874 - d. 1942)
                             (1st time)
1929 - 1930                Mark Aitchison Young (acting)      (b. 1886 - d. 1874)
1930 - 23 May 1931         Sir Joseph Aloysius Byrne          (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
23 May 1931 - 17 Jul 1934  Sir Arnold Wienholt Hodson         (b. 1881 - d. 1944)
17 Jul 1934 - 21 May 1937  Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore        (b. 1887 - d. 1964)
21 May 1937 -  5 Jul 1941  Sir Douglas James Jardine          (b. 1888 - d. 1946)
 5 Jul 1941 - Sep 1947     Sir Hubert Craddock Stevenson      (b. 1888 - d. 1971)
Sep 1947 - Dec 1952        Sir George Beresford-Stooke        (b. 1897 - d. 1983)
Dec 1952 -  1 Sep 1956     Sir Robert de Zouche Hall          (b. 1904 - d. 1995)
 1 Sep 1956 - 27 Apr 1961  Maurice Henry Dorman               (b. 1902 - d. 1993)
                             (from 2 Jan 1957, Sir Maurice Henry Dorman) 
Queen¹
27 Apr 1961 - 19 Apr 1971  the Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
27 Apr 1961 -  5 May 1962  Sir Maurice Henry Dorman           (s.a.)
 5 May 1962 - 27 Mar 1967  Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston      (b. 1898 - d. 1969)
                             (from 6 Jul 1962, Sir Henry Josiah
                              Lightfoot Boston)
                             (acting to 27 Jul 1962)
27 Mar 1967 - 18 Apr 1968  Andrew Terence Juxon-Smith (acting)(b. 1933 - d. 1970)  Mil
18 Apr 1968 - 22 Apr 1968  John Amadu Bangura (acting)        (b. 1930 - d. 1971)
22 Apr 1968 - 31 Mar 1971  Banja Tejan-Sie                    (b. 1917 - d. 2000)
                             (from 21 Oct 1970, Sir Banja Tejan-Sie)
                             (acting to 1970)
31 Mar 1971 - 19 Apr 1971  Cristopher Okoro Eluathan Eustace  (b. 1921 - d.af.1990)
                             Cole (acting)
Presidents
19 Apr 1971 - 21 Apr 1971  Christopher Okoro Eluathan Eustace (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Cole                            
21 Apr 1971 - 28 Nov 1985  Siaka Probyn Stevens               (b. 1905 - d. 1988)  APC
28 Nov 1985 - 29 Apr 1992  Joseph Saidu Momoh                 (b. 1937 - d. 2003)  APC
Chairman of the National Provisional Defense Council 
30 Apr 1992 -  1 May 1992  James Yayah Kanu                   (b. 19.. - d. 1992)  Mil
Chairmen of the National Provisional Ruling Council
(from Jul 1992, Supreme Council of State)(from 6 May 1992 also Heads of State)
 1 May 1992 - 16 Jan 1996  Valentine Esegragbo Melvine        (b. 1965)            Mil 
                             Strasser 
17 Jan 1996 - 29 Mar 1996  Julius Maada Bio                   (b. 1964)            Mil
President
29 Mar 1996 - 25 May 1997  Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (1st time)      (b. 1932)            SLPP 
Head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
25 May 1997 - 12 Feb 1998  Johnny Paul Koroma                 (b. 1960 - d. 2003)  Mil
Presidents
10 Mar 1998 - 17 Sep 2007  Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (2nd time)      (s.a.)               SLPP 
Dec 2000 - 14 Jan 2002     Issa Sesay                                              RUF
                             (interim RUF leader, in rebellion)
17 Sep 2007 -              Ernest Bai Koroma                  (b. 1953)            APC

Chief minister
 9 Jul 1954 - 14 Aug 1958  Milton Augustus Strieby Margai     (b. 1895 - d. 1964)  SLNP
Prime ministers 
14 Aug 1958 - 28 Apr 1964  Milton Augustus Strieby Margai     (s.a.)               SLNP
                             (from 1 Jan 1959, Sir Milton Augustus Strieby Margai)
30 Apr 1964 - 21 Mar 1967  Albert Michael Margai              (b. 1910 - d. 1980)  SLPP
                             (from 1 Jan 1965, Sir Albert Michael Margai) 
21 Mar 1967  (minutes)     Siaka Probyn Stevens (1st time)    (s.a.)               APC
21 Mar 1967 - 23 Mar 1967  David Lansana (Army chief)         (b. 1922 - d. 1975)  Mil
23 Mar 1967 - 27 Mar 1967  Ambrose Patrick Genda              (b. 1927)            Mil
                             (chairman National Reformation Council)
27 Mar 1967 - 18 Apr 1968  Andrew Terence Juxon-Smith         (s.a.)               Mil
                             (chairman National Reformation Council)
18 Apr 1968 - 26 Apr 1968  Patrick Conteh                                          Mil
                             (chairman National Interim Council)
26 Apr 1968 - 21 Apr 1971  Siaka Probyn Stevens (2nd time)    (s.a.)               APC
21 Apr 1971 -  8 Jul 1975  Sorie Ibrahim Koroma               (b. 1930 - d. 199.)  APC
 8 Jul 1975 - 15 Jun 1978  Christian Alusine Kamara-Taylor    (b. 1917 - d. 1985)  APC
Chairmen of the Council of State Secretaries
Jul 1992 - Nov 1992        John Benjamin                      (b. 1952)            Mil
Nov 1992 -  5 Jul 1993     Solomon Anthony James Musa         (b. 1966 - d. 1999)  Mil
 5 Jul 1993 - 31 Mar 1995  Julius Maada Bio                   (s.a.)               Mil
31 Mar 1995 - 29 Mar 1996  Akim A. Gibril                     (b. 1946)            Mil

Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone (in rebellion, in the interior)

Commanders
23 Mar 1991 - 20 Aug 2000   Foday Saybana Sankoh              (b. 1937 - d. 2003)  RUF
                             (imprisoned in Nigeria, then Sierra Leone
                             2 Mar 1997 - 19 Apr 1999; imprisoned in
                             Sierra Leone from 17 May 2000)
Mar 1997 - Apr 1999        Sam Bockarie (acting for Sankoh)   (b. 1964 - d. 2003)  RUF
20 Aug 2000 - 18 Jan 2002  Issa Sesay (interim)               (b. 1970)            RUF

  ¹Full style 1961 - 19 Apr 1971: "Queen of Sierra Leone and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Territorial Disputes: As domestic fighting among disparate ethnic groups, rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone gradually abate, the number of refugees in border areas has begun to slowly dwindle; UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone since 1999; Sierra Leone considers excessive Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands including the hamlet of Yenga occupied since 1998.

Party abbreviations: APC = All People's Congress (socialist, only legal party 1978-91);
PDP = People's Democratic Party; SLPP = Sierra Leone People's Party (democratic); UPP = United National Peoples Party; Mil = Military;
- Former parties: RUF = Revolutionary United Front (Foday Sankoh personalist, armed militant to 2001, political party as Revolutionary United Front Party, merged Jul 2007 into APC)

                        1870 - 28 Nov 1888
 

Capital: Freetown (Sierra Leone)

Population: N/A