This is a list of colonial administrators in the Gold Coast

Gold Coast (British colony)

The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...

(modern Ghana

Ghana

Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...

) from the start of English presence in 1621 until Ghana's independence from the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 in 1957.

Governors of the Gold Coast (1621–1751)

• Sir William St. John, 1621–1623

• William Greenhill, 1660

• Henry Nurse, 1685

• John Bloome, 1691

• Baggs, 1697–1701
• Thomas Dalby, 1701–1708

Governors of the Committee of Merchants of the Gold Coast (1751–1822)

• Thomas Melvil, 23 June 1751–23 January 1756
• William Tymewell, 23 January 1756–17 February 1756
• Charles Bell, 17 February 1756–15 October 1757, first time
• Nassau Senior, 15 October 1757–10 May 1761, acting
• Charles Bell, 10 May 1761–15 August 1763, second time
• William Mutter, 15 August 1763–1 March 1766
• John Hippersley, 1 March 1766–11 August 1766
• Gilbert Petrie, 11 August 1766–21 April 1769
• John Crossle, 21 April 1769–11 August 1770
• David Mill, 11 August 1770–20 January 1777
• Richard Miles, 20 January 1777–25 March 1780, first time
• John Roberts, 25 March 1780–20 May 1781
• John B. Weuves, 20 May 1781–29 April 1782, acting
• Richard Miles, 29 April 1782–29 January 1784, second time
• James Morgue, 29 January 1784–24 January 1787
• Thomas Price, 24 January 1787–27 April 1787
• Thomas Morris, 27 April 1787–20 June 1789
• William Fielde, 20 June 1789–15 November 1791
• John Gordon, 15 November 1791–31 March 1792, first time
• Archibald Dalzel
  Archibald Dalzel
  Archibald Dalzel was a British adventurer and Governor of the Gold Coast .He went to Africa as a surgeon in 1763 and returned to England in 1770. During this time he served four years as governor of Whydah...
  
  , 31 March 1792–16 December 1798, first time
• Jacob Mould, 16 December 1798–4 January 1799, first time
• John Gordon, 4 January 1799–28 April 1800, second time
• Archibald Dalzel
  Archibald Dalzel
  Archibald Dalzel was a British adventurer and Governor of the Gold Coast .He went to Africa as a surgeon in 1763 and returned to England in 1770. During this time he served four years as governor of Whydah...
  
  , 28 April 1800–30 September 1802, second time
• Jacob Mould, 30 September 1802–8 February 1805, second time
• George Torrane, 8 February 1805–4 December 1807
• Edward White, 4 December 1807–21 April 1816
• Joseph Dawson, 21 April 1816–19 January 1817
• John Hope Smith
  John Hope Smith
  John Hope Smith was an English Colonial Head of the Gold Coast as Governor of the Committee of Merchants of the Gold Coast from 19 January 1817 until 27 March 1822....
  
  , 19 January 1817–27 March 1822

Governors of the Gold Coast (1822–1828)

• Sir Charles MacCarthy
  Charles MacCarthy (governor)
  Brigadier-General Sir Charles MacCarthy KCMG was an Irish-born soldier who served in the French, Dutch and British armies, and was a governor of various British territories in West Africa....
  
  , 27 March 1822–17 May 1822, first time
• James Chisholm, 17 May 1822–December 1822, first time
• Sir Charles MacCarthy
  Charles MacCarthy (governor)
  Brigadier-General Sir Charles MacCarthy KCMG was an Irish-born soldier who served in the French, Dutch and British armies, and was a governor of various British territories in West Africa....
  
  , December 1822–21 January 1824, second time
• James Chisholm, 21 January 1824–17 October 1824, second time
• Edward Purdon, 17 October 1824–22 March 1825
• Charles Turner, 22 March 1825–8 March 1826
• Sir Neil Campbell, 18 May 1826–15 November 1826
• Henry John Ricketts, 15 November 1826–11 October 1827, first time
• Hugh Lumley, 11 October 1827–10 March 1828
• George Hingston, 10 March 1828–5 June 1828
• Henry John Ricketts, 5 June 1828–25 June 1828, second time

Governors of the Committee of Merchants of the Gold Coast (1828–1843)

• John Jackson, 25 June 1828–19 February 1830
• George Maclean
  George Maclean
  George Maclean was Governor of Cape Coast from 1830 until 1844. Born in Keith, Banffshire, Scotland, Maclean was a member of the Royal African Colonial Corps and was stationed in British West Africa from 1826 until 1828. In 1830 he became the Governor of Cape Coast, a position he retained until 1844...
  
  , 19 February 1830–26 June 1836, first time
• William Topp, 26 June 1836–15 August 1838
• George Maclean
  George Maclean
  George Maclean was Governor of Cape Coast from 1830 until 1844. Born in Keith, Banffshire, Scotland, Maclean was a member of the Royal African Colonial Corps and was stationed in British West Africa from 1826 until 1828. In 1830 he became the Governor of Cape Coast, a position he retained until 1844...
  
  , 15 August 1838–1843, second time

Governors of the Gold Coast (1843–1960)

In 1843 a governor was appointed subordinate to the Governor of Sierra Leone until 1850. After the Ashanti Wars of 1873-74, the Gold Coast was formally declared a crown colony.

• Henry Worsley Hill, 1843–8 March 1845
• James Lelley, 8 March 1845–15 April 1846
• William Winniett, 15 April 1846–31 January 1849, first time
• James Coleman Fitzpatrick, 31 January 1849–13 January 1850
• Sir William Winniett, 13 January 1850–4 December 1850, second time
• James Bannerman
  James Bannerman
  James Bannerman was a Lieutenant and acting governor of the Gold Coast from December 4, 1850 to October 14, 1851.-Life:...
  
  , 4 December 1850–14 October 1851
• Stephen John Hill
  Stephen John Hill
  Sir Stephen John Hill, KCMG, CB was a colonial governor.Born in the West Indies, Hill began his colonial service in Africa, becoming governor of the Gold Coast in 1851. In 1854 he became governor of Sierra Leone. Then in 1863 he was appointed governor of the Leeward Islands and Antigua...
  
  , 14 October 1851–December 1854
• Henry Connor, December 1854–March 1857, acting
• Sir Benjamin Chilley Campbell Pine, March 1857–April 1858
• Henry Bird, April 1858–20 April 1860, acting
• Edward B. Andrews, 20 April 1860–14 April 1862
• William A. Ross, 14 April 1862–20 September 1862, acting
• Richard Pine, 20 September 1862–1865
• Rokeby Jones, 1865, acting
• W. E. Mockler, 1865, acting
• Edward Conran, April 1865–February 1867
• Herbert Taylor Ussher, February 1867–April 1872, first time
• John Pope Hennessy
  John Pope Hennessy
  Sir John Pope Hennessy, KCMG , was an Irish and British politician and colonial administrator who served as the eighth Governor of Hong Kong.-Early life:...
  
  , April 1872–1872
• Charles Spencer Salmon, 1872–September 1872, acting
• Robert William Keate
  Robert William Keate
  Robert William Keate was a career British colonial governor, serving as Commissioner of the Seychelles from 1850 to 1852, Governor of Trinidad from 1857 to 1864, of Natal from 1867 to 1872, and of Gold Coast from 7 March 1873 to 17 March 1873.-Early life and family:Keate was born in 1814 in...
  
   7 Mar 1873 - 17 Mar 1873
• Robert William Harley, September 1872–2 October 1873
• Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 2 October 1873–4 March 1874
• James Maxwell, 4 March 1874–30 March 1874, acting
• Charles Lees
  Charles Lees
  Sir Charles Cameron Lees KCMG was a British military officer and colonial administrator.He was born 11 March 1837. He was originally commissioned into the 1st West India Regiment, but transferred to the 76th Foot in 1854, was promoted Lieutenant, and transferred to the 23rd Foot as adjutant in 1858...
  
  , 30 March 1874–June 1874, acting, first time
• George Cumine Strahan, June 1874–7 April 1876
• Charles Lees
  Charles Lees
  Sir Charles Cameron Lees KCMG was a British military officer and colonial administrator.He was born 11 March 1837. He was originally commissioned into the 1st West India Regiment, but transferred to the 76th Foot in 1854, was promoted Lieutenant, and transferred to the 23rd Foot as adjutant in 1858...
  
  , 7 April 1876–December 1876, acting, second time
• Sanford Freeling, December 1876–13 May 1878, acting to 5 June 1877
• Charles Lees
  Charles Lees
  Sir Charles Cameron Lees KCMG was a British military officer and colonial administrator.He was born 11 March 1837. He was originally commissioned into the 1st West India Regiment, but transferred to the 76th Foot in 1854, was promoted Lieutenant, and transferred to the 23rd Foot as adjutant in 1858...
  
  , 13 May 1878–June 1879, acting, third time
• Herbert Taylor Ussher, June 1879–1 December 1880, second time
• William Brandford Griffith
  William Brandford Griffith (Governor)
  William Brandford Griffith, K.C.M.G. was a British administrative official, Governor of the Gold Coast from 1880 to 1881 and again from 1885 to 1895....
  
  , 1 December 1880–4 March 1881, acting, first time
• Sir Samuel Rowe, 4 March 1881–29 April 1884
• W. A. G. Young, 29 April 1884–24 April 1885
• William Brandford Griffith
  William Brandford Griffith (Governor)
  William Brandford Griffith, K.C.M.G. was a British administrative official, Governor of the Gold Coast from 1880 to 1881 and again from 1885 to 1895....
  
  , 24 April 1885–7 April 1895, second time
• William Edward Maxwell, 7 April 1895–6 December 1897
• Frederick Mitchell Hodgson
  Frederick Mitchell Hodgson
  Sir Frederick Mitchell Hodgson was a British colonial administrator who was Governor of the Gold Coast , Barbados and British Guiana .-Early years:...
  
  , 6 December 1897–29 August 1900, acting to 29 May 1898
• W. Low, 29 August 1900–17 December 1900, acting
• Sir Matthew Nathan
  Matthew Nathan
  Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan GCMG, PC was a British soldier and civil servant, who variously served as the Governor of Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Hong Kong, Natal and Queensland...
  
  , 17 December 1900–9 February 1904
• Herbert Bryan, 9 February 1904–3 March 1904, acting, first time
• John Pickersgill Rodger
  John Pickersgill Rodger
  Sir John Pickersgill Rodger, KCMG, CMG was born on 12 February 1851 in Marylebone, London and died on 19 September 1910 in Mayfair, Westminster, London.-Education and career:...
  
  , 3 March 1904–1 September 1910
• Herbert Bryan, 1 September 1910–20 November 1910, acting, second time
• James Jamieson Thorburn, 21 November 1910–29 June 1912
• Herbert Bryan, 29 June 1912–26 December 1912, acting, third time
• Sir Hugh Charles Clifford, 26 December 1912–1 April 1919
• Alexander Ransford Slater, 1 April 1919–8 October 1919, acting, first time
• Frederick Gordon Guggisberg, 9 October 1919–24 April 1927
• Sir James Crawford Maxwell, 24 April 1927–5 June 1927, acting
• John Maxwell, 5 June 1927–July 1927, acting
• Sir Alexander Ransford Slater, July 1927–5 April 1932, second time
• Geoffrey Northcote, 5 April 1932–29 November 1932, acting, first time
• Sir Shenton Thomas
  Shenton Thomas
  Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas, GCMG, GCStJ was the last Governor of the Straits Settlements, 1934–1942 during which time World War II began. He died at age 82...
  
  , 30 November 1932–13 May 1934
• Geoffrey Northcote, 13 May 1934–23 October 1934, acting, second time
• Sir Arnold Weinholt Hodson
  Arnold Weinholt Hodson
  Sir Arnold Wienholt Hodson , KCMG was a British colonial administrator who was Governor in turn of the Falkland Islands, Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast.-Background:Hodson was born in Bovey Tracey, Devonshire, in 1881...
  
  , 24 October 1934–24 October 1941
• George Ernest London, 24 October 1941–29 June 1942, acting
• Sir Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns, 29 June 1942–2 August 1947
• Sir Gerald Hallen Creasy, 12 January 1948–15 February 1949
• Sir Robert Scott
  Robert Scott (governor)
  Sir Robert Scott was the 27th Governor of Mauritius from 22 Mar 1954 - 10 Jul 1959. He wrote a history of the Islands called Limuria: The Lesser Dependencies of Mauritius...
  
  , 15 February 1949–28 March 1949, acting, first time
• Thorleif Rattray Orde Mangin, 28 March 1949–11 June 1949, acting
• Sir Robert Scott
  Robert Scott (governor)
  Sir Robert Scott was the 27th Governor of Mauritius from 22 Mar 1954 - 10 Jul 1959. He wrote a history of the Islands called Limuria: The Lesser Dependencies of Mauritius...
  
  , 11 June 1949–11 August 1949, acting, second time
• Sir Charles Noble Arden-Clarke
  Charles Noble Arden-Clarke
  Sir Charles Noble Arden-Clarke was a British colonial administrator.He was the Resident Commissioner of the Bechuanaland Protectorate between 1937 and 1942 , a time at which the ruling regent Tschekedi Khama was in violent conflict with the British authorities...
  
  , 11 August 1949–6 March 1957
• Lord Listowell, March 1957 - July 1960

In 1957, the Gold Coast and British Togoland

British Togoland

British Togoland was a League of Nations Class B mandate in West Africa, under the mandatory power of the United Kingdom. It was effectively formed in 1916 by the splitting of the occupied German protectorate of Togoland into two territories, French Togoland and British Togoland, during the First...

, became the independent country of Ghana. The viceroy in the new country was the Governor-General of Ghana.

See also

• History of Ghana
  History of Ghana
  The Republic of Ghana is named after the medieval West African Ghana Empire, known to the dominant ethnic group the Soninke, as Wagadugu, which roughly translates to "Land of Herds." The Empire became known in Europe and Arabia as the Ghana Empire by the title of its emperor, the Ghana. The Empire...
  
  
• List of heads of state of Ghana
• List of Ghana governments
• List of colonial heads of Sierra Leone
• Lists of incumbents