Governor of Fiji

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Governor of Fiji
Flag of the Governor of Fiji (1908-1970).svg
Style His Excellency The Right Honourable
Residence Government House, Suva
Appointer King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Formation10 October 1874
First holder Sir Hercules Robinson
Final holder Sir Robert Sidney Foster
Abolished10 October 1970
Succession Governor-General of Fiji

Fiji was a British Crown colony from 1874 to 1970, and an independent dominion in the Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987. During this period, the head of state was the British monarch, but in practice the functions of the crown were normally exercised locally by the governor prior to independence (on 10 October 1970), and by the governor-general prior to the proclamation of a republic on 7 October 1987.

Contents

From 1877 to 3 July 1952, governors of Fiji were also high commissioners for the Western Pacific.

List of governors of Fiji (1874–1970)

Following is a list of people who have served as governor of Fiji.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeMonarch
Took officeLeft office
Colony of Fiji
1 Sir Hercules Robinson
(1824–1897)
LordRosmead.jpg 10 October 1874June 1875 Queen Victoria by Bassano.jpg
Victoria
2 Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
(1829–1912)
Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon.jpg 19 August 18751880
3 Sir William Des Vœux
(1834–1909)
Sir G. William Des Voeux.jpg 20 December 188021 January 1885
John Bates Thurston
(1836–1897)
Acting Governor
John Bates Thurston.jpg 21 January 18851 January 1887
4 Sir Charles Mitchell
(1836–1899)
Charles Mitchell.jpg 1 January 1887February 1888
5 Sir John Bates Thurston
(1836–1897)
John Bates Thurston.jpg February 18887 February 1897
6 Sir George T. M. O'Brien
(1844–1906)
George Thomas Michael O'Brien.jpg March 18971901
Sir William Allardyce
(1861–1930)
Acting Governor
William Lamond Allardyce.jpg 190110 September 1902 Edward VII in coronation robes.jpg
Edward VII
7 Sir Henry Jackson
(1849–1908)
Henrymoorejackson.jpg 10 September 190211 October 1904
8 Sir Everard im Thurn
(1852–1932)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 11 October 19041910
Sir Charles Major
(1860–1933)
Acting Governor
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 191021 February 1911
Kinggeorgev1923.jpg
George V
9 Sir Francis May
(1860–1922)
Francis Henry May.gif 21 February 191125 July 1912
10 Sir Ernest Sweet-Escott
(1857–1941)
Sir (Ernest) Bickham Sweet-Escott.jpg 25 July 191210 October 1918
Sir Eyre Hutson
(1864–1936)
Acting for Sweet-Escott
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 19151916
11 Sir Cecil Hunter-Rodwell
(1874–1953)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 10 October 191825 April 1925
Sir Eyre Hutson
(1864–1936)
Acting for Hunter-Rodwell
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 19191919
12 Sir Eyre Hutson
(1864–1936)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 25 April 192522 November 1929
13 Sir Murchison Fletcher
(1878–1954)
Sir Murchison Fletcher.jpg 22 November 1929May 1936
HRH The Prince of Wales No 4 (HS85-10-36416).jpg
Edward VIII
Sir Juxon Barton
(1891–1980)
Acting Governor
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg May 1936November 1936
14 Sir Arthur Richards
(1885–1978)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 28 November 1936August 1938
King George VI of England, formal photo portrait, circa 1940-1946.jpg
George VI
Sir Juxon Barton
(1891–1980)
Acting Governor
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg August 1938September 1938
15 Sir Harry Luke
(1884–1969)
Sir HC Luke.jpg 16 September 193820 July 1942
Alexander Theodore Newboult
(1896–1964)
Acting Governor
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 20 July 194222 July 1942
16 Sir Philip Mitchell
(1890–1964)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 22 July 194212 January 1944
Sir John Rankine
(1907–1987)
Acting Governor
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 12 January 19444 May 1944
Sir John Nicoll
(1899–1981)
Acting Governor
John Fearns Nicoll2.jpg 4 May 194423 October 1944
Sir John Rankine
(1907–1987)
Acting Governor
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 23 October 19441 January 1945
17 Sir Alexander Grantham
(1899–1978)
Sir Alexander Grantham.jpg
1 January 194521 March 1947
Sir John Nicoll
(1899–1981)
Acting Governor
John Fearns Nicoll2.jpg 21 March 19478 October 1947
18 Sir Brian Freeston
(1892–1958)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 8 October 19476 October 1952
Her Majesty The Queen (1959).jpg
Elizabeth II
19 Sir Ronald Garvey
(1903–1991)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 6 October 195228 October 1958
20 Sir Kenneth Maddocks
(1907–2001)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg 28 October 19586 January 1964
21 Sir Derek Jakeway
(1915–1993)
Yang Berhormat Tuan Francis Derek Jakeway.jpg 6 January 1964December 1968
22 Sir Robert Sidney Foster
(1913–2005)
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg December 196810 October 1970

In 1970, Fiji gained independence from the United Kingdom. After independence, the viceroy in Fiji was the governor-general of Fiji.

Governor's flag

Further reading

See also