Governors of British Ceylon

Last updated
Governor of Ceylon
Flag of the Governor of Ceylon (1875-1948).svg
Flag of Governor of Ceylon
Sir Edward Barnes by William Salter.jpg
Longest serving
Edward Barnes

1 February 1820–2 February 1822
18 January 1824–13 October 1831
Style His Excellency
Residence Government House
Appointer Monarch of the United Kingdom
Precursor Governor of Ceylon
FormationAugust 1795
First holder Patrick Alexander Agnew
as Military Governor
Final holder Henry Monck-Mason Moore
Abolished4 February 1948
Succession Governor-General of Ceylon

The governor of Ceylon was the representative in Ceylon of the British Crown from 1795 to 1948. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in Ceylon. The governor was the head of the British colonial administration in Ceylon, reporting to the Colonial Office.

Contents

With Ceylon gaining self-rule and dominion status with the creation of Dominion of Ceylon in 1948, this office was replaced by the Governor-General, who represented the British monarch as the head of state. The office of Governor-General was itself abolished in 1972 and replaced by the post of President when Sri Lanka became a republic.

Appointment

The governor, appointed by the British monarch (on the advice of the prime minister and the secretary of state for the colonies), maintained executive power in Ceylon throughout British rule.

Powers and functions

The governor was the head of the executive administration in the island. Initially limited to the coastal regions, the authority of the governor was extended to the provinces of the Kingdom of Kandy following the Kandyan Convention in 1815. The governor had absolute power in the island deriving it from the traditional powers of the Dutch governors and the king of Kandy and reporting to the secretary of state for the colonies. it was in the Colebrooke Reforms which first defined the role of the governor as "the representative of the Sovereign the Monarch who rules over the Parliament of the United Kingdom". These reforms introduced the first legislator which was expanded over the next century in the reforms that took place. Upon independence in 1948, the office of the Governor was abolished and replaced with that of the Governor-General as the representative of the sovereign. [1]

The governor was the commander-in-chief of British Forces in Ceylon, except only during World War II, when Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ceylon with power exceeding that of the governor.

Ceremonial

In November each year, the governor would receive the annual tribute from the sultan of Maldives. The governor was the ex-officio Chancellor of the University of Ceylon and patron of the Royal College Colombo.

Council

Following the Colebrooke Reforms the Executive Council of Ceylon and the Legislative Council of Ceylon was established with the Governor chairing both these councils. In 1931, the Legislative Council was replaced by the State Council of Ceylon with limited self-government.

Style and title

The title of the position was "Governor of Ceylon" and was styled Excellency and enjoyed precedence over all other government officials in Ceylon. He was referred to as 'His Excellency' and addressed as 'Your Excellency'. This practice as constituted to the office of President.

Privileges

Residence

The governor's main residence and office was the King's House in Colombo and secondary residence was the King's Pavilion in Kandy. The vacationing residence of the governor, Queen's Cottage, was located in the hill station of Nuwara Eliya.

Guard

The Governor's Bodyguard was a mounted guard that functioned as a ceremonial guard for the governor when attending state functions. An ceremonial native regiment of Lascoreens was maintained by the office of the governor to provide a ceremonial guard on special occasions such as the Maldivian Tribute or royal visits.

Staff

The governor's office was housed at King's House and had a permanent staff. It consisted of the secretary to the governor, a private secretary, an aide-de-camp, the maha mudaliyar, an office assistant and support staff.

List of governors

  Acting governor
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeSovereignRef.
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Military Governors (1795–1798)
1 Patrick Alexander Agnew
(1765–1813)
(in Trincomalee)
August 17951 March 17967 months George III
2 James Stuart
(1741–1815)
1 March 17961 January 1797306 days George III
3 Welbore Ellis Doyle
(1758–1797)
1 January 17972 July 1797182 days George III
4 Peter Bonnevaux
(c.1752–1797)
2 July 179712 July 1797 †10 days George III
5 Pierre Frédéric de Meuron
(1788–1813)
12 July 179712 October 17981 year, 92 days George III
Resident and Superintendent (1796–1798)
1 Robert Andrews
(1763–1821)
12 February 179612 October 17982 years, 242 days George III
Governors (1798–1948)
1 5thEarlOfGuilford.jpg Frederick North
(1766–1827)
12 October 179819 July 18056 years, 280 days George III
2 John Hoppner (1758-1810) - Portrait of Sir Thomas Maitland (1760-1824).jpg Thomas Maitland
(1760–1824)
19 July 180519 March 18115 years, 243 days George III
John Wilson
(1780–1856)
Acting
19 March 181111 March 1812358 days George III
3 Robert Brownrigg.jpg Robert Brownrigg
(1759–1833)
11 March 18121 February 18207 years, 327 days George III
Sir Edward Barnes by William Salter.jpg Edward Barnes
(1776–1838)
Acting
1 February 18202 February 18222 years, 1 day George III
George IV
4 Sir Edward Paget by Martin Archer Shee 1810.jpg Edward Paget
(1775–1849)
2 February 18226 November 1822277 days George IV
James Campbell
(c.1773–1835)
Acting
6 November 182218 January 18241 year, 73 days George IV
5 Sir Edward Barnes by William Salter.jpg Edward Barnes
(1776–1838)
18 January 182413 October 18317 years, 268 days George IV
William IV
John Wilson
(1780–1856)
Acting
13 October 183123 October 183110 days William IV
6 SirRobertWilmotHorton.jpg Robert Wilmot-Horton
(1784–1841)
23 October 18317 November 18376 years, 15 days William IV
Queen Victoria
7 James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie.jpg James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie
(1784–1843)
7 November 183715 April 18413 years, 159 days Queen Victoria
8 Sir Colin Campbell by William Salter.jpg Colin Campbell
(1776–1847)
15 April 184119 April 18476 years, 4 days Queen Victoria
JamesEmersonTennent..jpg James Emerson Tennent
(1804–1869)
Acting
19 April 184729 May 184740 days Queen Victoria
9 George Byng, Vanity Fair, 1876-04-15.jpg The Viscount Torrington
(1812–1884)
29 May 184718 October 18503 years, 142 days Queen Victoria
Sir Charles J. MacCarthy (1811-1864).png Charles Justin MacCarthy
(1811–1864)
Acting
18 October 185027 November 185040 days Queen Victoria
10 George William Anderson
(1791–1857)
27 November 185018 January 18554 years, 52 days Queen Victoria
Sir Charles J. MacCarthy (1811-1864).png Charles Justin MacCarthy
(1811–1864)
Acting
18 January 185511 May 1855113 days Queen Victoria
11 Henry George Ward.jpg Henry George Ward
(1797–1860)
11 May 185530 June 18605 years, 50 days Queen Victoria
Major-General Henry Frederick Lockyer (1797-1860).png Henry Frederick Lockyer
(1797–1860)
Acting
30 June 186030 July 186030 days Queen Victoria
Charles Edmund Wilkinson
(1807–1870)
Acting
30 July 186022 October 186084 days Queen Victoria
12 Sir Charles J. MacCarthy (1811-1864).png Charles Justin MacCarthy
(1811–1864)
22 October 18601 December 18633 years, 40 days Queen Victoria
Sir John Terence Nicholls O'Brien (1830-1903).jpg Terence O'Brien
(1830–1903)
Acting
1 December 186321 March 18651 year, 110 days Queen Victoria
LordRosmead.jpg Hercules Robinson
(1824–1897)
Acting
21 March 186516 May 186556 days Queen Victoria
13 LordRosmead.jpg Hercules Robinson
(1824–1897)
16 May 18654 January 18726 years, 233 days Queen Victoria
Henry Turner Irving
(1833–1923)
Acting
4 January 18724 March 187260 days Queen Victoria
14 William Henry Gregory Vanity Fair 30 December 1871.jpg William Henry Gregory
(1817–1892)
4 March 18724 September 18775 years, 184 days Queen Victoria
15 James Robert Longden.png James Robert Longden
(1827–1891)
4 September 187710 July 18835 years, 309 days Queen Victoria
Sir John Douglas (1836-1885).png John Douglas
(1835–1885)
Acting
10 July 18833 December 1883146 days Queen Victoria
16 Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon.jpg Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
(1829–1912)
3 December 188328 May 18906 years, 176 days Queen Victoria
17 Arthur Havelock.jpg Arthur Elibank Havelock
(1844–1908)
28 May 189024 October 18955 years, 149 days Queen Victoria
Edward Noël Walker
(1842–1908)
Acting
24 October 189510 February 1896109 days Queen Victoria
18 Joseph West Ridgeway.tiff Joseph West Ridgeway
(1844–1930)
10 February 189619 November 19037 years, 282 days Queen Victoria
Edward VII
Sir Everard im Thurn
(1852–1932)
Acting
19 November 19033 December 190314 days Edward VII
19 Henry Arthur Blake.jpg Henry Arthur Blake
(1840–1918)
3 December 190311 July 19073 years, 220 days Edward VII
Hugh Charles Clifford (The Straits Times, 15 October 1929).jpg Hugh Clifford
(1866–1941)
Acting
11 July 190724 August 190744 days Edward VII
20 Sir Henry Edward McCallum (1852-1919).jpg Henry Edward McCallum
(1852–1919)
24 August 190724 January 19135 years, 153 days Edward VII
George V
SirReginaldStubbs.jpg Reginald Edward Stubbs
(1876–1947)
Acting
24 January 191318 October 1913267 days George V
21 1stLordChalmers.jpg Robert Chalmers
(1858–1938)
18 October 19134 December 19152 years, 47 days George V
SirReginaldStubbs.jpg Reginald Edward Stubbs
(1876–1947)
Acting
4 December 191515 April 1916133 days George V
22 Sir john anderson.gif John Anderson
(1858–1918)
15 April 191624 March 1918 †1 year, 343 days George V
SirReginaldStubbs.jpg Reginald Edward Stubbs
(1876–1947)
Acting
24 March 191810 September 1918170 days George V
23 The National Archives UK - CO 1069-111-7.jpg William Henry Manning
(1863–1932)
10 September 19181 April 19256 years, 203 days George V
SIRCECILCLEMENTIHKU.jpg Cecil Clementi
(1875–1947)
Acting
1 April 192518 October 1925200 days George V
Edward Bruce Alexander
(1872–1955)
Acting
18 October 192530 November 192543 days George V
24 Hugh Charles Clifford (The Straits Times, 15 October 1929).jpg Hugh Clifford
(1866–1941)
30 November 1925June 19271 year, 6 months George V
Sir Murchison Fletcher.jpg Arthur George Murchison Fletcher
(1878–1954)
Acting
June 192720 August 19281 year, 2 months George V
25 Sir Herbert James Stanley.jpg Herbert Stanley
(1872–1955)
20 August 192811 February 19312 years, 175 days George V
Bernard Henry Bourdillon
(1883–1948)
Acting
11 February 193111 April 193159 days George V
26 Graeme Thomson
(1875–1933)
11 April 193120 September 19332 years, 162 days George V
Graeme Tyrrell
(1876–1964)
Acting
20 September 193323 December 193394 days George V
27 SirReginaldStubbs.jpg Reginald Edward Stubbs
(1876–1947)
23 December 193330 June 19373 years, 189 days George V
Edward VIII
George VI
Maxwell MacLagan Wedderburn
(1883–1953)
Acting
30 June 193716 October 1937108 days George VI
28 Sir Andrew Caldecott.jpg Andrew Caldecott
(1884–1951)
16 October 193719 September 19446 years, 339 days George VI
29 Henry Monck-Mason Moore
(1887–1964)
19 September 19444 February 19483 years, 138 days George VI

See also

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References

Specific
  1. Evolution of Constitutional Governance in Sri Lanka.