List of head of the State of Punjab (British India)

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Governor of Punjab
Star of the Order of the Star of India (gold).svg
Star of India
Sir John Lewis Jenkins KCSI (1857-1912).jpg
Last holder
Evan Meredith Jenkins
8 April 1946 – 15 August 1947
Government of Punjab
Status Head of government
Member of Legislative Council
Appointer Monarch of the United Kingdom (1849–1876)
Emperor of India (1876–1947)
Term length Five years
Inaugural holder Henry Lawrence
Formation1 April 1849
Final holder Evan Meredith Jenkins
Abolished15 August 1947

The governor of the Punjab was head of the British administration in the province of the Punjab. In 1849 the East India Company defeated the Sikh Empire and annexed the Punjab region. The governor-general of India, Lord Dalhousie, implemented a three-member Board of Administration to govern the province. [1] The Board of Administration was abolished in 1853 and replaced by the office of chief commissioner. [2] Following the liquidation of the East India Company and the transfer of its assets to the British Crown, the office of lieutenant-governor was instituted in 1859. This lasted until it was replaced by the office of governor in the aftermath of the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms.

Contents

In 1947, the British Raj came to an end and India was partitioned and Pakistan was created. The Punjab was partitioned into West Punjab and East Punjab, with the former joining Pakistan and the latter India. In Pakistan, the first governor of West Punjab was Sir Francis Mudie. In 1955, West Punjab was dissolved, and became Punjab province. In 1966, East Punjab was divided into the present-day Indian states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

List of heads of the Punjab (1849–1947)

#Name
(birth–death)
Took officeLeft officeNotes
President of the Board of Administration
1 SirHenry Montgomery Lawrence
(1806–1857)
1 Apr 184917 January 1853
Chief Commissioners
1 John Laird Mair Lawrence
(1811–1879)
18 January 185331 Dec 1858
Lieutenant-Governors
1 SirJohn Laird Mair Lawrence, Bt
(1811–1879)
1 Jan 185925 Feb 1859
2 SirRobert Montgomery
(1809–1887)
25 Feb 185910 Jan 1865
3Sir Donald Friell McLeod
(1810–1872)
10 Jan 18651 Jun 1870
4 SirHenry Marion Durand
(1812–1871)
1 Jun 187020 Jan 1871
5Sir Robert Henry Davies
(1824–1902)
20 Jan 18712 Apr 1877
6 SirRobert Eyles Egerton
(1827–1912)
2 Apr 18773 Apr 1882
7 SirCharles Umpherston Aitchinson
(1832–1896)
3 Apr 18822 Apr 1887
8Sir James Broadwood Lyall
(1838–1916)
2 Apr 18875 Mar 1892
9 SirDennis Fitzpatrick
(1837–1920)
5 Mar 18926 Mar 1897
10 SirWilliam Mackworth Young
(1840–1924)
6 Mar 18976 Mar 1902
11 SirCharles Montgomery Rivaz
(1845–1926)
6 Mar 19026 Mar 1907
12 SirDenzil Charles Jelf Ibbetson
(1847–1908)
6 Mar 190726 May 1907
Thomas Gordon Walker
(1849–1917)
26 May 190712 Aug 1907
  • Acting Lieutenant-Governor
12 SirDenzil Charles Jelf Ibbetson
(1847–1908)
12 Aug 190722 Jan 1908
Thomas Gordon Walker
(1849–1917)
22 Jan 190825 May 1908
  • Acting Lieutenant-Governor
13 SirLouis William Dane
(1856–1946)
25 May 190828 Apr 1911
  • Anand Marriage Act, 1909
James McCrone Douie
(1854–1935)
28 Apr 19114 Aug 1911
  • Acting Lieutenant-Governor
13 SirLouis William Dane
(1856–1946)
4 Aug 191126 May 1913
14 SirMichael Francis O'Dwyer
(1864–1940)
26 May 191326 May 1919
15 SirEdward Douglas Maclagan
(1864–1952)
26 May 19193 Jan 1921
Governors
1 SirEdward Douglas Maclagan
(1864–1952)
3 Jan 192131 May 1924
2 SirWilliam Malcolm Hailey
(1872–1969)
31 May 19249 Aug 1928
  • Ministers: Manohar Lal (Education) (1927–1930), Joginder Singh (Agriculture) (1927–1930), Feroz Khan Noon (Local Self-government) (1927–1930)
3 SirGeoffrey Fitzhervey de Montmorency
(1876–1955)
9 Aug 192819 Jul 1932
Sikandar Hayat Khan
(1892–1942)
19 Jul 193219 Oct 1932
  • Acting Governor
3 SirGeoffrey Fitzhervey de Montmorency
(1876–1955)
19 Oct 193212 Apr 1933
4 SirHerbert William Emerson
(1881–1962)
12 Apr 19331 Feb 1934
SirSikandar Hayat Khan
(1892–1942)
15 Feb 19349 Jun 1934
  • Acting Governor
4 SirHerbert William Emerson
(1881–1962)
9 Jun 19344 Apr 1938
5 SirHenry Duffield Craik, Bt
(1876–1955)
4 Apr 19387 Apr 1941
6 SirBertrand James Glancy
(1882–1953)
7 Apr 19418 Apr 1946
7 SirEvan Meredith Jenkins
(1896–1985)
8 Apr 194615 Aug 1947

See also

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References

  1. Col. H. C. Wylly, History of the 5th Battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles: 1849–1926, Andrews UK Limited, 20 Dec 2011, p.1
  2. K. M. Sarkar, The Grand Trunk Road in the Punjab: 1849–1886, Atlantic Publishers & Distri, 1927, p.13
  3. Nijjar, Bakshish Singh. History of the United Panjab, Volume 1.
  4. Singh, Virinder. Dyarchy In Punjab. National Book Organisation.