| Colonial Secretary of the Gambia | |
|---|---|
| Gambia Colony and Protectorate | |
| Member of | Executive Council, Legislative Council |
| Reports to | Governor of the Gambia |
| Formation | 1831 |
| First holder | Andrew Hunter |
| Abolished | 1965 |
The Colonial Secretary of the Gambia was a key role in the colonial government of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate. Often seen as the deputy to the governor or colonial administrator, Colonial Secretaries often stepped in as acting governors through the Gambia's colonial history. The Colonial Secretary was in charge of administration, and was often a career Colonial Office official.
Role
In the British Empire, Colonial Secretaries served as the chief administrative officers of the colonies to which they were posted. They were responsible for conducting the business of the Governor with the various Government Departments and also with the colonists, collectively and individually. The Colonial Secretary was a member of both the Executive and Legislative Councils. Often, Colonial Secretaries became responsible for a variety of functions, including customs, post offices, shipping, harbours, prisons, and natives. The Colonial Secretary often also dealt directly with England.[1] The role was often quite flexible depending on the Governor, as the Colonial Office was reluctant to define the role precisely, fearing it would become redundant.[2]
List of colonial secretaries
| No. | Name | Governor served | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Hunter | 1831 | 1837 | ||
| 2 | Thomas Lewis Ingram | 1837 | 1849 | ||
| 3 | Daniel Robertson | 1849 | c. 1865 | ||
| 4 | Charles O'Brien | 1910 | 1912 | ||
| 5 | Herbert Henniker-Heaton | 1917 | 1921 | [3] | |
| 6 | Charles Rufus Marshall Workman CBE | 1921 | 1931 | [3] | |
| 7 | Godfrey C. B. Parish FRGS | 1931 | 1934 | [3] | |
| 8 | Captain Harris R. Oke CMG OBE | 1934 | 1941 | [3] | |
| 9 | Sir Kenneth W. Blackburne GCMG GBE | 1941 | 1943 | [3] | |
| 10 | George D. Chamberlain CMG | 1943 | 1947 | [3] | |
| 11 | Edward R. Ward CMG | 1947 | 1952 | [3] | |
| 12 | Sir Alexander N. A. Waddell KCMG DSC | 1952 | 1956 | [3] | |
| 13 | Kenneth G. S. Smith CMG | 1956 | 1962 | [3] |
References
- ^ "Colonial Secretary's Office Records". State Records Office of Western Australia. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ Laidlaw, Zoe (2006). Colonial Connections 1815-1845: Patronage, the Information Revolution and Colonial Government. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp. 100–101.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Gambia Colonial Governors since 1900" (PDF). Gulabin.com. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
This page was last edited on 3 November 2023, at 14:35