Kiribati
 

15 Apr 1884 - 28 Jun 1884 Abemama kingdom      28 Jun 1884 - 1889 Abemama kingdom        1889 - 27 May 1892 Abemama kingdom      1895 - 1937 British Gilbert Islands Resident's Flag                         1 May 1937 - 1 Oct 1975                       1 Oct 1975 - 12 Jul 1979                       Adopted 12 Jul 1979  Map of Kiribati  Hear National Anthem "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up 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) (from 1979); Australian Dollar (AUD)  National Holiday: 12 Jul (1979) Independence Day Population: 103,248 (2013) GDP: $698 million (2013) Exports: $119 million (2015) Imports: $161 million (2015) Ethnic groups: I-Kiribati 89.5%, I-Kiribati/mixed 9.7%, Tuvaluan 0.1%, other 0.8% (2010) Total Police Force: 458 (2012) Defense assistance is provided by Australia & New Zealand Merchant marine: 77 ships (2010) Religions: Roman Catholic 55.8%, Kempsville Presbyterian Church 33.5%, Mormon 4.7%, Baha'i 2.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 2%, other 1.5%, none 0.2%, unspecified 0.05% (2010) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APA, APM, C, CTBT, CWC, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IRENA, ISA, ITU, ITUC, KP, NPT, OPCW, PC, PIF, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-PA, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, 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.  4 Feb 1878                Under British jurisdiction by the British Western                              Pacific order (of 14 Aug 1877). 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 1941-20/23 Nov 1943 Japanese occupation (occupation: Makin 10 Dec                              1941-17 Aug 1942, from 30 Aug 1942, Butaritari                              19 Aug 1942, Ocean Island 26 Aug 1942 - 10 Oct                              1945; Abemama 31 Aug 1942 - 23 Nov 1943,                              Tarawa 9 Dec 1941 and Sep 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)
.... - ....                Mangkia
.... - ....                Mwea
.... - ....                Teannaki
.... - ....                Tetabo
.... - ....                Namoriki
.... - 1840                Karotu                             (b. 1791 - d. af.1840)
1840 - 1850                Tawaia                             (d. 1850)
1850 - 1878                Baiteke
1878 - 10 Nov 1891         Binoka                             (b. c.1838 - d. 1891)
10 Nov 1891 -  15 May 1892 Timon (Simon) -Regent              (b. c.1840 - d. 1892)
15 May 1892 - c.1895       Paul Bauro I                       (b. 1882 - d. 1895?)
c.1895 - 1911              John R. Tokatake
1911 - 1944                Tekinaiti
1944 - 19..                Taburimai
Chiefs of Butaritari (title Uea)
.... - ....                Atanga   
.... - ....                Kakiaba 
.... - ....                Tetabakea
.... - ....                Teauoki
.... - ....                Teatumateatata
.... - ....                Teitimaroroa
.... - ....                Kaiea I 
.... - ....                Teitei 
.... - ....                Bakatokia
.... - ....                Bureimoa
.... - 1912                Tabu                               (d. 1912)
1912 - 1954                Kaiea II                           (d. 1954)
1954 - 1959                Koriri                             (d. 1959)
1959 - 1963                Nan Uraura                         (d. 1963)
Resident Commissioners
1892 - 1901                Charles Richard Swayne             (b. 1843 - d. 1921)
1901 - 1909                William Telfer Campbell            (b. 1863 - d. 1929)
1909                       Arthur William Mahaffy (acting)    (b. 1866 - d. 1919)
1909 - 1913                John Quayle-Dickson                (b. 1860 - d. 1945)
1913 - 1920                Edward Carlyon Eliot               (b. 1879 - d. 1940)
May 1920 - May 1921        Thomas Dundas Hope Bruce (acting)  (b. 1885 - d. 1940)
1921 -  1 Jan 1926         Herbert Reginald McClure           (b. 1883 - d. 1926)
1926 - 1933                Arthur Francis Grimble             (b. 1888 - d. 1956)
1932 - 1933                Charles A. Swinbourne              (b. 1884 - d. 1956)    
                             (acting for Gimble)
18 Oct 1933 - 19 Dec 1941  Jack Charles Barley                (b. 1887 - d. 1956)
Japanese Commanders
 9 Dec 1941 - 1942         Shigetoshi Miyazaki                (d. 1942)
1942 - 17 Aug 1942         Kyuzaburo Kanemitsu
Sep 1942 - 22 Feb 1943     Keisuke Matsuo                     (b. 1890? - d. 1943)
22 Feb 1943 - Jul 1943     Saichirō Tomonari                  (b. 1887 - d. 1962)  
Sep 1943 - 20 Nov 1943     Keiji Shibazaki                    (b. 1894 - d. 1943)
Resident Commissioners
Dec 1941 - 1946            Vivian Fox-Strangways              (b. 1898 - d. 1974)
Dec 1941 - Aug 1942        Cyril George Fox Cartwright        (b. 1920 - d. 1943)
                             (acting for Fox-Strangways)   
1946 - 1949                Henry Evans Maude                  (b. 1906 - d. 2006)
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 - d. 2004)
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. 1928)
1978 - 12 Jul 1979         Reginald James Wallace             (b. 1919 - d. 2012)
Presidents (title 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 of 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 - d. 2016)  NPP
24 May 1994 - 28 May 1994  Tekiree Tamuera                    (b. 1940)            MTM
                             (chairman of Council of State)
28 May 1994 -  1 Oct 1994  Ata Teaotai
                             (chairman of Council of State)
 1 Oct 1994 - 28 Mar 2003  Teburoro Tito                      (b. 1953)            MTM
28 Mar 2003 - 10 Jul 2003  Tion Otang
                             (chairman of Council of State)
10 Jul 2003 - 11 Mar 2016  Anote Tong                         (b. 1952)            BTK
11 Mar 2016 -              Taneti Maamau                      (b. 1960)            TKP

Leader of Government Business
Apr 1971 - May 1974        Reuben Kiraua Uatioa               (b. 1924 - d. 1977)  GNP
Chief ministers
May 1974 - Mar 1978        Naboua Ratieta                     (b. 1938 - d. 1986)  NNP
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 formal platforms): BTK = Boutokaan Te Koaua (Pillars of Truth, split from NPP); TKP = Tobwaan Kiribati Party (Embracing Kiribati Party, BTK opposition, merger of KTK and Maurin Kiribati, est.19 Jan 2016);
- Former parties: CDP = Maneabau Te Mauri (Christian Democratic Party, 1985-1994, merged into MTM); GNP = Gilbertese National Party (supported Gilbert-Ellice separation, est.16 Oct 1965); KTK = Karikirakean Tei I-Kiribati (United Coalition Party, 2010-2016, merged into TKP); MTM = Maneaban Te Mauri (Protect the Maneaba, christian-democratic, conservative, merger of CDP and NPP, 2010 merged into KTK); NPP = National Progressive Party (merged 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.
19 May 1916                Included within the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.
26 Aug 1942 -  1 Oct 1945  Japanese occupation (renamed Oshiyan Jima).
1942                       Japanese deport most islanders to Nauru or Tarawa.
15 Dec 1945                Islanders are relocated to Rabi Island, in Fiji. 
 1 Oct 1975                Part of the Gilbert Islands.
1977                       Islanders begin to return.
12 Jul 1979                Part of independent Kiribati.
25 Nov 1979                Phosphate mining ends.
27 Jan 1980                Phosphate Commission's withdrawal completed.

District Officers
1907 - 1942                the Resident Commissioners
                           of Gilbert and Ellice Islands
24 Sep 1940 -  4 Jan 1941  Francis George Leopold Holland     (b. 1884 - d. 1952)
                             (acting)
 1 Sep 1942 -  1 Oct 1945  Suzuki Naoomi -Japanese Commander  (d. 1946)
1945 - 194.                R.F. Wakefield
194. - 195.                Paul B. Laxton
195. - 1955                R.G. Roberts
1955 - 19..                J.B. McCaig
1974 - 1975                Tupoa Samoa Leupena
c.1977 - 19..              Ian Richardson
Managers on Ocean Island of the British Phosphate Commission
1919 - 1925                W. McFarlane
1925 - 1931                A.A. McClintock
1931 - 1933                F.F. Christian
1933 - 1936                H.B. Maynard
1936 - 1942                George Joseph Bridges (1st time)
1942 - 1945                Japanese occupation
Sep 1945 - 1951            George Joseph Bridges (2nd time)
                             (from 7 Jun 1951, Sir George Joseph Bridges)
1951 - 1954                T.A. Adams
1954 - 1959                W.L. Verrier
1959 - 1966                Tom Muir
1966 - 1971                Len Withers
1971 - 1974                B.L. Blundell
1974 - 1976                E.B. Chapman
1976 - 1979                R. Elliott
1979 - 27 Jan 1980         J.W. Saggers

1823                       Enderbury discovered by U.K. Capt. James J. Coffin from the
                             ship Transit and named Enderby Island, after Samuel Enderby,
                             owner of a London whaling company. The version 'Enderbury' is a
                             misspelling.
 5 Aug 1824                Canton discovered, by two U.K. whaling ships: the Phoenix, Capt.
                             John Palmer; and the Mary, Capt. Edward Reed. The atoll was
                             initially named Mary Ballcout's Island after the shipowner's
                             wife. 
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, from which island got its name.
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                Phoenix Islands part of British Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.
 8 Jun 1937                U.S. National Geographic Society expedition on Canton and led by
                             astronomer Samuel Alfred Mitchell.
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.
 6 Mar 1938 -  7 Feb 1942  Enderbury colonized by U.S. (under Interior Department).
 7 Mar 1938 - 22 Mar 1940  Canton colonized by U.S. (under Interior Department).
 6 Apr 1939                Canton and Enderbury Islands become a joint Anglo-American
                             condominium for fifty years.
13 Sep 1943 - 14 Oct 1946  U.S. Naval Air Facility Canton Island
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 by U.S. as part of
                             Kiribati.

British District officers
c.1938                     Francis Ivor Fleming               (b. 1888 - d. 1968)
Sep 1940 - 27 Sep 1941     Gerald B. Gallagher                (d. 1941)
c.1951 - 1955              Douglas M. Freegard
c.195. - c.1962            Paul B. Laxton
c.1965                     Tabunawati Takoa
U.S. Resident administrators
(the Civil Aeronautics Administration island managers)
1938 - 1951/52             ....
1951/52                    Edwin A. Gillaspy
1951/52 - 1956             William J. Evans
1956 - 1960                George Avery
c.1959/c.1962              J. Victor Cox
c.1962 - 1968              ....

U.S. Island Leaders on Canton
 8 Jun 1937 - Jun 1937     Samuel Alfred Mitchell              (b. 1874 - d. 1960)
                             (expedition leader)
 7 Mar 1938 - 24 Mar 1939  James C. Kamakaiwi                  (b. 1886 - d. 19..)
24 Mar 1939 - 28 May 1939  Henry Fialkowski
28 May 1939 -  9 Oct 1939  Sam Kahelewai
 9 Oct 1939 - 12 Mar 1940  Maurice Paquette
12 Mar 1940 - 22 Mar 1940  Charles Stein
U.S. Military Commanders on Canton
13 Feb 1942 - 194.         Herbert D. Gibson
194. - 14 Oct 1946         ....

U.S. Island Leaders on Enderbury
 6 Mar 1938 -  3 Dec 1938  Harold Kim (1st time)
 3 Dec 1938 - 23 Mar 1939  Charles Braun
23 Mar 1939 -  7 Jun 1939  James Kinney
 7 Jun 1939 - 27 Jul 1940  Harold Kim (2nd time)
27 Jul 1940 - 23 Mar 1941  Mike McCorriston
23 Mar 1941 - Nov 1941     H.P. Jensen, Jr.
Nov 1941 -  7 Feb 1942     Joseph Kepoo

24 Dec 1774                Discovered by British Capt. James Cook,
                             named Christmas Island.
11 Mar 1857                Claimed for U.S.
Apr 1882                   Annexed by Britain by Capt. William Wiseman on HMS Caroline.
1902                       U.K. grants a 99-year lease to Lever Pacific Plantations.
1907 - 1932                Leased by Emmanuel Rougier of France.
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
1907 - 1932                Emmanuel Rougier                     (b. 1864 - d. 1932)