A
governor-general, also known as
governor general, is a
vice-regalA viceroy is a royal official who runs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. His province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty. The relative...
representative of a
monarchA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...
in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a governor-general can be a
governorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.
Current uses
Today, the title governor general is used in the independent
Commonwealth realmA Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 132 million; all but about two million live in the six most populous states, the United...
s (those Commonwealth countries which share
Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known informally as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,...
, as Sovereign), with the exception of the United Kingdom, which does not have a Governor-General, being the Sovereign's home realm.
In modern usage, the term "governor general" originated in those British
coloniesColonialism is the building and maintaining of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. Sovereignty over the colony is claimed by the metropole...
which became self-governing Dominions within the
British EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom, that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height it was...
(examples are
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
,
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
). With the exception of
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
, each of the previously constituent colonies of these federated colonies already had a
GovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, and the Crown's representative to the federated Dominion was therefore given the superior title of Governor-General. New Zealand was granted Dominion status in 1907, but as it had never been a federal state there was no pressing need to change the gubernatorial title. It was not until 28 June 1917 that the
Earl of LiverpoolArthur William de Brito Savile Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool GCB GCMG GBE MVO PC , known as Viscount Hawkesbury from 1905 to 1907, was a British Liberal politician and the first Governor-General of New Zealand....
was appointed the first Governor-
General of New Zealand. Another non-federal state,
NewfoundlandNewfoundland and Labrador is a province of Canada on the country's Atlantic coast in northeastern North America. This easternmost Canadian province comprises two main parts: the island of Newfoundland off the country's eastern coast, and Labrador on the mainland to the northwest of the island.A...
, was a Dominion for 16 years with the Kings's representative retaining the title of
GovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
throughout this time.
Since the 1950s, the title governor general has been given to all representatives of the sovereign in independent Commonwealth realms. In these cases, the former office of colonial governor was altered (sometimes for the same incumbent) to become governor general upon independence, as the nature of the office became an entirely independent constitutional representative of the monarch rather than a symbol of previous colonial rule. In these countries the governor general acts as the Monarch's representative, performing the ceremonial and constitutional functions of a Head of State.
The only other nation which uses the governor general designation is
IranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran is a country in Western Asia. The name Iran has been in use natively since the Sassanid period and came into international use from 1935, before which the country was known internationally as Persia...
, which has no connection with either the British (or any other) monarchy or the Commonwealth. In Iran, the provincial authority is headed by a governor general (
PersianPersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is widely spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and to some extent in Iraq and Bahrain, and has a status of official language in the first three countries under different names...
: استاندار
ostāndār), who is appointed by the Minister of the Interior.
British colonialism and the governor general
Until the 1920s, Governors-General were British subjects, appointed on the advice of the British Government, who acted as agents of the British Government in each Dominion, as well as being representatives of the monarch. As such they notionally held the prerogative powers of the monarch, and also held the executive power of the country to which they were assigned. The Governor-General could be instructed by the
Colonial SecretaryColonial Secretary may refer to:* Secretary of State for the Colonies, British Cabinet minister who headed the Colonial Office, commonly referred to as Colonial Secretary...
on the exercise of some of his functions and duties, such as the use or withholding of the
Royal AssentThe granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. While the power to withhold Royal Assent was once exercised often, it is exceedingly rare in the modern, democratic...
from legislation; history shows many examples of Governors-General using their prerogative and executive powers. The monarch or Imperial government could overrule any Governor-General, though this could often be cumbersome, due to remoteness of the territories from London.
The Governor-General was also the head of the armed forces in his or her territory and, because of the Governor-General's control of the military, the post was as much a military appointment as a civil one. Indeed, until the late 20th century, the Governor-General's official attire was the
court dressCourt dress comprises dress prescribed for courts of law.- Where court dress is worn :Court dress is worn at hearings in open court in all courts of the Supreme Court of Judicature and in county courts. However, court dress may be dispensed with at the option of the judge, e.g. in very hot...
,
Windsor uniformThe Windsor uniform is a type of dress worn by male members of the House of Windsor. The uniform was introduced by George III in 1779.The first Court Uniform was the Windsor Coat or Uniform, dating from c.1778. This is now an evening tail coat of dark blue cloth, lapelled, with scarlet collar and...
or other military uniform.
In some colonies, the title of the royal representative was never Governor-General. The King's representative in
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
, for instance, was simply titled Governor until after the country became a
DominionA dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of semi-autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, from the late 19th century. They included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the...
.
Independent Commonwealth realms
Following the Imperial Conference, and subsequent issuing of the
Balfour DeclarationThe Balfour Declaration of 1926, named after the British Lord President of the Council Arthur Balfour, Earl of Balfour, was the name given to a report resulting from the 1926 Imperial Conference of British Empire leaders in London...
in 1926, the role and responsibilities of the Governor-General began to shift, reflecting the increased independence of the
DominionA dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of semi-autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, from the late 19th century. They included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the...
s (Which were in 1952 renamed Realms; a term which includes the UK itself). As the sovereign came to be regarded as monarch of each territory independently, and, as such, advised only by the ministers of each country in regard to said country's national affairs (as opposed to a single British monarch ruling all the Dominions as a conglomerate and advised only by an imperial parliament), so too did the Governor-General become a direct representative of the national monarch only, who no longer answered to the British government. These concepts were entrenched in legislation with the enactment of the
Statute of WestminsterThe Statute of Westminster 1931 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which established a status of legislative equality between the self-governing dominions of the British Empire and the United Kingdom, with a few residual exceptions...
in 1931, and governmental relations with the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
were placed in the hands of a British
High CommissionerHigh Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
in each country.
In other words, the political reality of a self governing dominion within the British Empire with a governor-general answerable to the sovereign of Great Britain became clear. British interference in the dominion was not acceptable and independent country status was clearly displayed. Canada, Australia and New Zealand were clearly not controlled by the United Kingdom. The monarch of these countries (Elizabeth II) is in law Queen of Canada, Queen of Australia, Queen of New Zealand and only acts on the advice of the ministers in each country and is in no way influenced by the British government. The monarch appoints a governor-general as a personal representative only on the advice of the Prime Minister of the realm. The Governor-General of Canada is appointed by the Queen of Canada on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. The Governor-General of Australia is appointed by the Queen of Australia on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister and the Governor-General of New Zealand is appointed by the Queen of New Zealand on the advice of the New Zealand Prime Minister, etc.
Today, therefore, in former British colonies which are now independent
Commonwealth realmA Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 132 million; all but about two million live in the six most populous states, the United...
s, the Governor-General is constitutionally the representative of the monarch in his or her state, and may exercise the
reserve powerIn a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government, a reserve power is a power that may be exercised by the head of state without the approval of another branch of the government. Unlike a presidential system of government, the head of state is generally constrained by the cabinet or the...
s of the monarch according to their own constitutional authority. The Governor-General, however, is still appointed by the monarch, and takes an
oath of allegianceAn oath of allegiance is an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges his/her duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to his/her monarch or country. In many modern oaths of allegiance, allegiance is sworn to the Constitution. In particular, in the United States presidents, judges, and military...
to the monarch of their own country. Executive authority is also vested in the monarch, though it can be placed with the Governor-General on behalf of the sovereign of the independent realm.
Letters of CredenceA letter of credence is a formal letter sent by one head of state to another head of state that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
or Letters of Recall are now sometimes received or issued in the name of the monarch, though in some countries, such as
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
, the Letters of Credence and Recall are issued in the name of the Governor-General alone.
At diplomatic functions where the Governor-General is present, the visiting diplomat or head of state toasts "The King" or "The Queen" of the relevant realm, not the Governor-General, with any reference to the Governor-General being subsidiary in later toasts if featuring at all, and will involve a toast to them by name, not office. (E.g., "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," not "Her Excellency, the Governor-General." Sometimes a toast might be made using name and office, e.g., "Governor-General Smith.")
Except in rare cases, the Governor-General only acts in accordance with
constitutional conventionAlternative meaning: Constitutional convention A constitutional convention is an informal and uncodified procedural agreement that is followed by the institutions of a state...
and upon the
adviceAdvice, in constitutional law, is formal, usually binding, instruction given by one constitutional officer of state to another. Heads of state particularly often act on the basis of advice issued by prime ministers or other government ministers...
of the national
Prime MinisterA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. The position is usually held by, but need not always be held by, a politician. In many systems, the prime minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet, and...
. The Governor-General is still the local representative of the sovereign, and performs the same duties as they carried out historically, though their role is almost purely ceremonial. Rare and controversial exceptions occurred in 1926, when
Canadian Governor GeneralThe Governor General of Canada is the viceregal representative in the federal jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, who is equally shared with 15 other sovereign nations in a form of personal union, but resides predominantly in her oldest realm,...
Lord ByngField Marshal Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy was a British Army officer who, between 1921 and 1926, served as the Governor General of Canada. Known to friends as "Bungo", he was born to a noble family in Hertsmere, England, and educated at Eton College, along with his...
refused
Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government of Canada. The office is not outlined in any of the documents that constitute the written portion of the constitution of Canada; executive authority is formally vested in the...
Mackenzie King'sWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was a Canadian lawyer, economist, university professor, civil servant, journalist, fisherman, waiter, teacher and politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921, to June 28, 1926; September 25, 1926, to August 6, 1930;...
request for a dissolution of parliament; in 1953 and 1954 when the Governor-General of Pakistan, Ghulam Mohammad, staged a constitutional coup against the Prime Minister and then the Constituent Assembly; and in 1975, when the Governor-General of Australia, Sir John Kerr,
dismissed the Prime MinisterThe 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, commonly called The Dismissal, refers to the events that culminated with the removal of Australia's then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, by Governor-General Sir John Kerr and appointing the Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister...
,
Gough WhitlamEdward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , is a former Australian politician, representing the New South Wales seat of Werriwa, and 21st Prime Minister of Australia....
. In principle, the Crown could overrule a Governor-General, but this has not happened in modern times.
The term
de facto head of stateA de facto head of state is an office-holder who fulfills some, many, or all of the functions of a head of state. However, he or she is not considered a full head of state, but simply acts like a head of state in the absence of the state's legal and official, or de jure, head.-On the diplomatic...
, though having no constitutional status, has been used informally in
Commonwealth realmA Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 132 million; all but about two million live in the six most populous states, the United...
s to describe the role of a governor-general.
The Governor-General is usually a person with a distinguished record of public service, often a retired politician, judge or military commander; but some countries have also appointed prominent
academicsAcademia, Acadème, or the Academy are collective terms for the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research....
, members of the clergy, philanthropists, or figures from the news media to the office. The Governor-General is formally appointed by the Monarch, following the specific request of the
Prime MinisterA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. The position is usually held by, but need not always be held by, a politician. In many systems, the prime minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet, and...
of the country concerned;
Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and the
Solomon IslandsThe Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. Together they cover a land mass of 28,400 square kilometres . The capital is Honiara, located on the island of Guadalcanal.The Solomon Islands are believed to have been...
are the only realms that elect their Governors-General, in both cases by a parliamentary vote.
Traditionally, the Governor-General's official attire was military uniform, but this practice been abandoned except on occasions when it is appropriate to be worn. In
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.Modern...
, the
Governors-GeneralThe Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British and later South African Crown in the Union of South Africa between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961...
of the
UnionThe Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day state of the Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unity of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
nominated by the
AfrikanerAfrikaners are White Afrikaans speakers who have been established in Southern Africa since the 17th century. They are mainly of northwestern European descent , but their native tongue is Afrikaans, a purported close relative of Dutch...
NationalistThe National Party was the governing party of South Africa from June 4, 1948 until May 9, 1994, and was disbanded in 2005. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a republic, and the promotion of Afrikaner culture...
government chose not to wear uniform on any occasion. Most Governors-General continue to wear appropriate
medalA Medal is usually a coin-like sculpted object of metal or other material that has been die-struck with an insignia, portrait or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific, academic or some other kind of...
s on their clothing when required.
The Governor-General's official residence is usually called Government House. The
Governor-General of the Irish Free StateThe Governor-General was the representative of the King in the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Until 1927 he was also the agent of the British government in the Irish state. By convention the office of Governor-General was largely ceremonial...
resided in the then
Viceregal LodgeÁras an Uachtaráin , formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin.-Origins:...
in
Phoenix ParkPhoenix Park is the largest enclosed urban public park in Europe located 3 km to the north west of Dublin city centre in Ireland. It measures , with a walled circumference of 16 km that contains large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues. The park has been home to a herd of wild...
,
DublinDublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
, but the government of
Éamon de ValeraÉamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in 20th century Ireland...
sought to downgrade the office, and the last Governor-General,
Domhnall Ua BuachallaDomhnall Ua Buachalla was an Irish politician, shopkeeper and member of the First Dáil who served as third and final Governor-General of the Irish Free State and later served as a member of the Council of State....
, did not reside there. The office was abolished there in 1936.
In most Commonwealth realms, the flag of the Governor-General has been the standard pattern of a blue
fieldThe design and description of flags typically uses specialised flag terminology with precise and technical meanings, and is hence a form of jargon.-Description of standard flag parts and terms:...
with the Royal Crest (a lion standing on a crown) above a scroll with the name of the jurisdiction. In
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, however, this was replaced with a crowned lion clasping a maple leaf. In the
Solomon IslandsThe Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. Together they cover a land mass of 28,400 square kilometres . The capital is Honiara, located on the island of Guadalcanal.The Solomon Islands are believed to have been...
, the scroll was replaced with a two-headed frigate bird motif, while in
FijiFiji , officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands , is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. The country comprises an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited, and 522 islets...
, the former Governor-General's flag featured a
whaleWhale is the common name for marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale is sometimes used to refer to all cetaceans, but in more common English usage it generally excludes the members of the Delphinoidea superfamily, such as dolphins and porpoises...
's tooth. In New Zealand, the flag was replaced in 2008 with the shield of the
coat of arms of New ZealandThe Coat of Arms of New Zealand is the official symbol of New Zealand. The initial coat of arms was granted by King George V on the 26 August 1911, and the current version was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.-History and design:...
surmounted by a crown on a blue field.
Governors-General are accorded the style of
His/Her ExcellencyExcellency is a honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are counted amongst:*heads of state*heads of government*ambassadors*certain ecclesiastics*certain members of royalty...
. This style is also extended to their spouses, whether female or male (for an example of the latter, see
Jean-Daniel LafondJean-Daniel Lafond
CC is a French-born Canadian filmmaker, and the husband to Governor General Michaëlle Jean, making him the Viceregal Consort of Canada. He is entitled to be styled His Excellency while his wife is in office....
).
In former colonies which are now
Commonwealth republicA republic in the Commonwealth of Nations is any one of the 31 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations with a republican form of government. Though they are nearly all former British colonies, in contrast to the 16 Commonwealth realms they do not have Elizabeth II or any other monarch as...
s, the Governor-General and Monarch have been replaced by an elected or appointed (sometimes non-executive) Head of State.
Appointment
Until the 1920s, the Governors-General were British, and appointed on the advice of the British Government.
Following the changes to the structure of the Commonwealth in the late 1920s, in 1929, the Australian Prime Minister
James ScullinJames Henry Scullin , Australian Labor politician and ninth Prime Minister of Australia. Two days after he was sworn in as Prime Minister, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 occurred, marking the beginning of the Great Depression and subsequent Great Depression in Australia.-Early life:Scullin was born...
established the right of a
DominionA dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of semi-autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, from the late 19th century. They included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the...
Prime Minister to advise the Monarch directly on the appointment of a Governor-General, by insisting that his choice (Sir
Isaac IsaacsSir Isaac Alfred Isaacs GCB GCMG QC , Australian judge and politician, was the ninth Governor-General of Australia and the first born in Australia to occupy that post.-Early life:...
, an Australian) prevail over the recommendation of the British Government. The convention was gradually established throughout the Commonwealth that the Governor-General would be a citizen of the country concerned, and would be appointed on the advice of the government of that country, with no input from the British Government. Since 1931 as each former Dominion has patriated its constitution from the UK, the convention has become law—no government of any realm can advise the Monarch on any matter pertaining to another realm, including the appointment of a Governor-General; today a country's Governor-General is appointed by the Sovereign based solely on the advice of the prime minister of the country concerned.
Commonwealth countries with governors general
| Commonwealth realm |
From |
|
| Antigua and Barbuda |
1981 |
Website |
AustraliaThe Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia of the monarch of Australia . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
|
1901 |
Website |
| Bahamas |
1973 |
Website |
| Barbados |
1966 |
Website |
| Belize |
1981 |
Website |
CanadaThe Governor General of Canada is the viceregal representative in the federal jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, who is equally shared with 15 other sovereign nations in a form of personal union, but resides predominantly in her oldest realm,...
|
1867 |
Website |
| Grenada |
1974 |
| Jamaica The Governor-General of Jamaica represents the Jamaican monarch, and head of state, who holds the title of King or Queen of Jamaica ....
|
1962 |
Website |
New ZealandThe Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the Sovereign in right of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state.The Constitution Act 1986 provides that a "The Governor-General...
|
1917 |
Website |
Papua New GuineaThe Governor-General of Papua New Guinea is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, known in Tok Pisin as 'Missis Kwin', Papua New Guinea's head of state, performing the duties of the Queen in her absence...
|
1975 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis |
1983 |
| Saint Lucia |
1979 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
1979 |
Website |
| Solomon Islands The Governor-General of the Solomon Islands is the representative of the Queen of the Solomon Islands, Elizabeth II. The Queen does not reside in the islands, and so the Governor-General serves as the country's de facto head of state in her absence....
|
1978 |
| Tuvalu The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...
|
1978 |
Clicking on the country above will take you the relevant Governor-General article.
Other attributes
Different realms have different constitutional arrangements governing who acts in place of the Governor-General in the event of his or her death, resignation, or incapacity.
- In Australia, an Administrator of the Commonwealth
The title Administrator of the Government has several uses in Australia.-Administrator of the Commonwealth:At the Commonwealth level, Section 4 of the Australian Constitution provides that:...
may be appointed to perform the necessary official functions, pending a decision by the Sovereign, on the advice of the Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia, holding office on commission from the Governor-General. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful political office in Australia...
, about a permanent replacement as Governor-General. The Administrator has usually been the senior state governorThe Governors of the Australian states are the representatives in the six states of Australia of Australia's monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governors perform the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level...
. Each state governor normally holds what is known as a dormant commissionA dormant commission is a commission which lies dormant or sleeping until it is triggered by a particular event. The concept appears in the constitutional affairs of Commonwealth realm nations....
. There have been cases where a governor has fallen out of favour with the government, causing their dormant commission to be revoked. The most recent example was that of Sir Colin HannahAir Marshal Sir Colin Thomas Hannah KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force and a Governor of Queensland. Born in Western Australia, he served in the militia before joining the RAAF in 1935. During World War II he saw action as Commanding Officer of No. 6...
, Governor of Queensland, in 1975.
- In Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand, it is the Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of India, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Supreme...
.
- In Papua New Guinea, it is the Speaker of the House
Speaker of the House is a political term referring to a number of people:*In the United Kingdom and Canada, the Speaker of the House of Commons is the individual elected to preside over the elected House of Commons...
.
- Many Caribbean countries have a specific office of "Deputy Governor-General".
Former British colonies
The title has been used in many British colonial entities that either no longer exist or are now independent countries.
In the Americas
- The Federation of the West Indies (Antigua
Antigua is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after a church in Spain, Santa Maria La Antigua — St. Mary the Ancient...
, BarbadosBarbados , situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent West Indian Continental Island-nation in the western Atlantic Ocean. For over three centuries Barbados was a colony and protectorate of the United Kingdom; and still currently maintains Queen Elizabeth II as head of state...
, Cayman IslandsThe Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
, DominicaDominica, officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. To the north-northwest lies Guadeloupe, to the southeast Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth of Dominica has an...
, GrenadaGrenada is an island country and sovereign state consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Grenada is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela, and southwest of Saint Vincent and the...
, JamaicaJamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width, amounting to 11,100 km
2. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harboring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, MontserratMontserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. It measures approximately 16 km long and 11 km wide, giving of coastline...
, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. VincentSaint Vincent and the Grenadines is a nation in the Lesser Antilles chain, which lies at the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its territory consists of the main island of Saint Vincent and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines, which are a chain of...
and Turks and Caicos IslandsThe Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of sub-tropical islands in the West Indies, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and Caicos Islands are situated about ...
), less commonly referred to as the British Caribbean Federation, had a single governor-general during its short existence, 3 January 1958–31 May 1962: Governor-General Patrick George Thomas Buchan-Hepburn, Baron Hailes (b. 1901–d. 1974).
In Asia
- British India (the present Republic of India, Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
and Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and till 1937 Burma, the present MyanmarBurma, officially the Union of Myanmar, is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia or Indochina. The country is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest and the Bay of Bengal to the...
)—see also ViceroyA viceroy is a royal official who runs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. His province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty. The relative...
- The Dominion of India
The Union of India, sometimes also known as the Dominion of India, was an independent state congruent to modern-day India that existed between 15 August, 1947 and 26 January, 1950...
(present Republic of India) (1947-1950)
- Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
- The Dominion of Pakistan
The Dominion of Pakistan was a federal country in South Asia that was established in 1947 as a result of the partition of British India into two sovereign dominions: the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The Dominion of Pakistan, which included modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, was...
(present Islamic Republic of Pakistan) (1947-1956)
- Governor-General of Pakistan
The Governor-General of Pakistan was the resident representative of King George VI in Pakistan from 1947 to 1952 and then Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 until 1956 when Pakistan was proclaimed a republic....
- The Dominion of Ceylon
The Dominion of Ceylon, today known as Sri Lanka, was a dominion in the Commonwealth of Nations between 1948 and 1972.-Government:...
(present Sri LankaSri Lanka , officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka , is an island country in South Asia, located about off the southern coast of India...
) (1948-1972)
- The Governor-General of Ceylon
The Governor-General of Ceylon was the representative of the King of Ceylon and the Queen of Ceylon from 1948 when the country became independent as a Dominion until the country became the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972....
In Africa
- 1 August 1953–31 December 1963 The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former Self-Governing Colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia, and...
also called the Central African Federation) comprising Southern Rhodesia (now ZimbabweZimbabwe , is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers...
), Northern Rhodesia (now ZambiaThe Republic of Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west. The capital city is...
) and Nyasaland (now MalawiThe Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique, which surrounds it on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by...
).
- Sudan
Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa. It is the largest country in Africa and in the Arab World, and tenth largest in the world by area...
as Anglo-Egyptian SudanAnglo-Egyptian Sudan referred to the manner by which Sudan was administered between 1899 and 1956, when it was a condominium of Egypt and the United Kingdom.-Union with Egypt:...
between 1899 and 1 January 1956.
- Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger...
until independence on 1 October 1960.
Former Commonwealth realms
Most Commonwealth countries that are now
republicA republic is a form of government in which the head of state is not a monarch and the people have an impact on its government. The word 'republic' is derived from the Latin phrase res publica which can be translated as "a public affair".Both modern and ancient republics vary widely in their...
s, with the President as
head of stateHead of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state...
, were originally Commonwealth realms, with Governors-General. Some became parliamentary republics, like
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
, where the presidency is a ceremonial post, similar that of the British monarch, while others, like
GhanaThe Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa which borders Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, adopted a presidential system like the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
held a referendum on becoming a parliamentary
republicRepublicanism in Australia is a movement to change Australia's status as a constitutional monarchy to a republican form of government. Such sentiments have been expressed in Australia from before federation onward to the present, wherein modern arguments focus on abolishing the Australian...
in 1999, but this was rejected.
The current governments of
BarbadosBarbados , situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent West Indian Continental Island-nation in the western Atlantic Ocean. For over three centuries Barbados was a colony and protectorate of the United Kingdom; and still currently maintains Queen Elizabeth II as head of state...
and
JamaicaJamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width, amounting to 11,100 km
2. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harboring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
while having announced plans to hold referendums on becoming republics (in each case with a non-executive President replacing the Queen as
head of stateHead of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state...
, as occurred in
Trinidad and TobagoThe Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American country of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. It shares maritime boundaries with other nations including Barbados to the northeast, Guyana to the...
in 1976), have not proceeded any further.
In Africa
- Gambia, two incumbents:
- 18 February 1965–9 February 1966 Sir John Warburton Paul
Sir John Warburton Paul, GCMG, OBE, MC was a British government official, best known as a prolific administrator for 20 years of various British overseas territories around the world...
(b. 1916–d. 2004), formerly the last colonial Governor
- 9 February 1966–24 April 1970 Sir Farimang Mamadi Singateh
Alhaji Sir Farimang Mamadi Singateh was the second and last Governor General of The Gambia, representing Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. Succeeding Sir John Warburton Paul, who had previously been Governor before independence, Sir Farimang was the only Gambian citizen to hold that post,...
(b. 1912-d.- 1977); the country became a republic with Dawda JawaraSir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, GCMG was the first leader of The Gambia, serving first as Prime Minister from 1962 to 1970 and then as President from 1970 to 1994....
, formerly Prime Minister, as executive President.
- Ghana
The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa which borders Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
:
- 6 March 1957–24 June 1957 Sir Charles Noble Arden-Clarke (b. 1898–d. 1962), formerly the last colonial Governor
- 24 June 1957–1 July 1960 William Francis Hare, Earl of Listowel (b. 1906–d. 1997); the country became the first in Africa to become a republic within the Commonwealth, with Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah , was an influential 20th century advocate of Pan-Africanism, and the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966.-Early life and education:...
, formerly Prime Minister, as executive President.
- Kenya
The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying along the Indian Ocean, at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia , Somalia , Tanzania , Uganda plus Lake Victoria , and Sudan . The capital city is Nairobi. Kenya spans an area about 85% the size of France or Texas...
: 12 December 1963–12 December 1964 Malcolm John MacDonald (b. 1901–d. 1981), formerly the last colonial Governor; the country became a republic with Jomo KenyattaJomo Kenyatta[pron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya.He was succeeded by Daniel arap Moi after his death in August 1978....
, formerly Prime Minister, as executive President.
- Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique, which surrounds it on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by...
: 6 July 1964–6 July 1966 Sir Glyn Smallwood Jones (b. 1908–d. 1992), formerly the last colonial Governor (until 1963 of "Nyasaland") the country became a republic with Kamuzu Banda, formerly Prime Minister, as executive President.
- Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation off the coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the Republic includes the islands of Cargados Carajos, Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands...
: Sir John Shaw Rennie (12 March–3 September 1968) formerly the last colonial Governor. The country became a republic on 12 March 1992 with the last Governor General Veerasamy RingadooSir Veerasamy Ringadoo, QC ,GCMG,GCSK was the Governor General of Mauritius from 17 January 1986 to 12 March 1992, when it became a republic. Ringadoo then served as president until later in 1992. He is a Tamil by origin. He is founder of in 1937.-References:...
as the first ceremonial President.
- Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger...
:
- 1 October 1960–16 November 1960 Sir James Wilson Robertson
Sir James Wilson Robertson, KT, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, Order of the Nile , KStJ was the last British Head of Nigeria.He was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh and Balliol College, Oxford...
(b. 1899–d. 1983) Non-party (previously colonial Governor-General)
- 16 November 1960–1 October 1963 Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe (b. 1904–d. 1996) NCNC; became first ceremonial President of the Federal Republic
- Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the north, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has a population estimated at 6.4 million...
(See also Governor-General of Sierra Leone):
- 27 April 1961–27 April 1962 Sir Maurice Henry Dorman
Sir Maurice Henry Dorman, GCMG, GCVO was the representative of the British Monarchy in Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Sierra Leone, and Malta. He studied at Cambridge University. He served in Sierra Leone from 1956 until 1962, for which he was knighted in 1957...
(b. 1902–d. 1993), formerly the last colonial Governor
- 27 April 1962–April 1967 Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston
Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston was a Sierra Leonean diplomat and politician. He was the first indigenous Governor-General of Sierra Leone...
(b. 1898–d. 1969) (acting to 27 July 1962)
- April 1967–18 April 1968 Andrew Terence Juxon-Smith
Brigadier Andrew Terence Juxon-Smith was a politician and military official in Sierra Leone. He was briefly Chairman of the National Reformation Council and acting Governor-General, equivalent to head of the Sierra Leonean state...
(acting) (b. 1933–d. 1996)
- 18 April 1968–22 April 1968 John Amadu Bangura
Brigadier John Amadu Bangura was the acting Governor-General of Sierra Leone from 18 April 1968 until 22 April 1968. He led the Sargents Coup in 1968 that successfully re-instated civilian rule in Sierra Leone.- Early life :...
(acting) (b. 1930–d. 1971)
- 22 April 1968–31 March 1971 Banja Tejan-Sie
Sir Banja Tejan-Sie, GCMG was a politician and lawyer in Sierra Leone and one of the "founding fathers" of the Sierra Leone People's Party . Tejan-Sie was born in Moyamba District to a famous Muslim cleric and scholar from the Mende tribe...
(from 1970, Sir Banja Tejan-Sie) (b. 1917–d. 2000)
- 31 March 1971–19 April 1971 Christopher Cole
Christopher Okoro Cole was a botanist and former Governor-general and President of Sierra Leone.In a complicated process of constitutional change when the monarchy was abandoned in early 1971, it was provided that Siaka Stevens, then Prime Minister, would become the "second president", while Cole,...
(acting) (b. 1921–d. after 1990); briefly first President, before being succeeded by Prime Minister Siaka StevensSiaka Probyn Stevens was the 3rd prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967-1971 and the 1st president of Sierra Leone from 1971-1985...
, who became executive President.
- South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.Modern...
from 31 May 1910 when Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal united as a dominion (Union of South AfricaThe Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day state of the Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unity of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
) until the 31 May 1961 declaration of the Republic of South Africa. The last Governor-General of the Union of South AfricaThe Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British and later South African Crown in the Union of South Africa between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961...
, Charles Robberts SwartCharles Robberts Swart served as the last Governor-General of Union of South Africa from 1960 to 1961 and the first State President of the Republic of South Africa from 1961 to 1967.-Early life:...
, became the first State President of South AfricaState President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was South Africa's head of state from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1961, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state...
.
- Tanganyika
Tanganyika was an East African territory lying between the Indian Ocean and the largest of the African great lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika. From 9 December 1961 to 26 April 1964 it was also an independent nation. Once part of the colony of German East Africa , it comprised...
(now TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in central East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.The United...
): 9 December 1961–9 December 1962 Sir Richard Gordon Turnbull (b. 1909–d. 1998), formerly the last colonial Governor; the country became a republic with Julius NyerereJulius Kambarage Nyerere served as the first President of Tanzania and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1961 until his retirement in 1985....
, formerly Prime Minister, as executive President.
- Uganda
The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania...
: 9 October 1962–9 October 1963 Sir Walter Fleming Coutts (b. 1912–d. 1988), formerly the last colonial Governor; the country became a republic with Edward MutesaMajor General Sir Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Mutesa II KBE , was Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda from November 22, 1939 until his death. He was the thirty fifth Kabaka of Buganda....
, KabakaKabaka may refer to:*Kabaka: the title of the king of Buganda*Kabaka: a village in the state of Karnataka, India...
of BugandaBuganda is the kingdom of the Baganda people, the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda. The 5.5 million Baganda make up the largest Ugandan ethnic group, representing approximately 16.9% of Uganda's population...
, as ceremonial President.
- In Rhodesia
When the former colony of Northern Rhodesia changed its name to Zambia on independence in 1964, the colony of Southern Rhodesia changed its name to just plain 'Rhodesia'. The change had not yet been officialy ratified when Rhodesia declared itself independent on 11 November 1965...
(now ZimbabweZimbabwe , is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers...
), a unique situation arose following the Unilateral Declaration of IndependenceThe Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965 by the administration of Ian Smith, whose Rhodesian Front party opposed black majority rule in the then British colony. Although it declared independence from the United Kingdom it...
in 1965, unrecognised by the United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
. The Rhodesian FrontThe Rhodesian Front was a political party in Southern Rhodesia when the country was under white minority rule. Led first by Winston Field, and, from 1964, by Ian Smith, the Rhodesian Front was the successor to the Dominion Party, which was the main opposition party in Southern Rhodesia during the...
government of Ian SmithIan Douglas Smith GCLM ID served as the Prime Minister of the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 11 November 1965 and as the first Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 11 November 1965 to 1 June 1979 during white minority rule. Smith unilaterally declared...
recognised Queen Elizabeth II as "Queen of Rhodesia", but refused to recognise the authority of her Governor Sir Humphrey GibbsSir Humphrey Vicary Gibbs, GCVO, KCMG, was the penultimate Governor of the colony of Southern Rhodesia who served through, and opposed, the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965.-Early history:...
, whose duties were performed by an Officer Administering the Government, Clifford DupontClifford Walter Dupont served in the internationally unrecognized positions as Officer Administrating the Government from 1965 until 1970 and President of Rhodesia from 1970 until 1975...
(b. 1905–d. 1978). Dupont served in the post until 2 March 1970, when Rhodesia was declared a republicA republic is a form of government in which the head of state is not a monarch and the people have an impact on its government. The word 'republic' is derived from the Latin phrase res publica which can be translated as "a public affair".Both modern and ancient republics vary widely in their...
(an act also unrecognised internationally) and he became PresidentThe position of President of Rhodesia was the nominal head of state of Rhodesia from 1970 to 1979. As with Rhodesia itself, the position lacked international recognition for the entire period. The position of president, however, was mostly symbolic, and Rhodesia never had a presidential system of...
. The country became an independent republic within the Commonwealth as Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980.
ZambiaThe Republic of Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west. The capital city is...
and the
SeychellesSeychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an archipelago nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar...
became republics within the Commonwealth on independence.
In the Americas
- Guyana
Guyana officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is a state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean.Guyana was discovered in 1498 by the Europeans,Guyana's past is punctuated by battles fought and won,...
:
- 26 May 1966–16 December 1966 Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt (b. 1915–d. 1994), formerly the last colonial Governor
- 16 December 1966–10 November 1969 Sir David James Gardiner Rose (b. 1923–d. 1969)
- 10 November 1969–22 February 1970 Sir Edward Victor Luckhoo (acting) (b. 1912–d. 1998); succeeded by the first President
- Trinidad and Tobago
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American country of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. It shares maritime boundaries with other nations including Barbados to the northeast, Guyana to the...
:
- 31 August 1962–15 September 1972 Sir Solomon Hochoy
Sir Solomon Hochoy TC, GCMG, GCVO, OBE was the last British Governor of Trinidad and Tobago, the first non-white Governor and the first Governor General after independence and the first British viceroy of non-European descent.Of Hakka Chinese background, his family emigrated to Trinidad when he...
(b. 1905–d. 1983), formerly the last colonial Governor
- 15 September 1972–1 August 1976 Sir Ellis Clarke
Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke, TC, GCMG was the second and last Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago and the first President of Trinidad and Tobago. Clarke was one of the main architects of Trinidad and Tobago's 1962 Independence constitution.Clarke attended Saint Mary's College, winning...
(b. 1917)
DominicaDominica, officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. To the north-northwest lies Guadeloupe, to the southeast Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth of Dominica has an...
became a republic on independence in 1978, with a ceremonial President as head of state.
In Asia
- India
India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
- 15 August 1947–21 June 1948 Louis Francis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma (s.a.), formerly the last colonial Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. His province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty. The relative...
- 21 June 1948–26 January 1950 Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (b. 1878–d. 1972); became the first republic within the Commonwealth
- Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
- 15 August 1947–11 September 1948 Mohammad Ali Jinnah (b. 1876–d. 1948) ML
- 14 September 1948–17 October 1951 Khwaja Nazimuddin (b. 1894–d. 1964) ML
- 17 October 1951–6 October 1955 Ghulam Mohammad (b. 1895–d. 1956) ML
- 6 October 1955–23 March 1956 Sikandar Ali Mirza (b. 1899–d. 1969) Mil; since then a republic
- Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka , officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka , is an island country in South Asia, located about off the southern coast of India...
):
- 4 February 1948–6 July 1949 Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore (b. 1887–d. 1964), previously the last colonial Governor)
- 6 July 1949–17 July 1954 Herwald Ramsbotham, Baron Soulbury (b. 1887–d. 1971)
- 17 July 1954–2 March 1962 Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke (b. 1892–d. 1978)
- 2 March 1962–22 May 1972 William Gopallawa
William Gopallawa, MBE was the last Governor General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and became the first President of Sri Lanka when Ceylon declared it self a republic in 1972 and changed its name to Sri Lanka. Until 1972, Ceylon was an Commonwealth realm with the Queen Elizabeth II as the head of...
(b. 1897–d. 1981)); became the first President of the republic of Sri Lanka
In Europe
- Ireland
Ireland is a country in north-western Europe. The modern sovereign state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned on 3 May 1921. It is a parliamentary democracy and a republic...
Governor-General of the Irish Free StateThe Governor-General was the representative of the King in the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Until 1927 he was also the agent of the British government in the Irish state. By convention the office of Governor-General was largely ceremonial...
dominion 6 December 1922 until 29 December 1937.
- Malta
Malta , officially the Republic of Malta , is a densely populated developed European country in the European Union. The Southern European island nation is an archipelago that includes the inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, along with a number of smaller, uninhabited islands...
:
- 21 September 1964–4 July 1971 Sir Maurice Henry Dorman
Sir Maurice Henry Dorman, GCMG, GCVO was the representative of the British Monarchy in Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Sierra Leone, and Malta. He studied at Cambridge University. He served in Sierra Leone from 1956 until 1962, for which he was knighted in 1957...
(b. 1902–d. 1993), formerly the last colonial Governor
- 4 July 1971–13 December 1974 Sir Anthony Joseph Mamo (b. 1909-d. 2008); became first President of Malta
The President of Malta is the constitutional head of state of the Republic of Malta. The President is elected by the Resolution of the unicameral House of Representatives for a five year term. The President of Malta is the guardian of the Constitution of Malta being himself the only one who takes...
CyprusCyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon....
became a republic on independence.
In Oceania
- Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands , is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. The country comprises an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited, and 522 islets...
:
- 10 October 1970–13 January 1973 Sir Robert Sidney Foster (b. 1913–d. 2005), formerly the last colonial Governor
- 13 January 1973–12 February 1983 Ratu Sir George Cakobau (b. 1912–d. 1989)
- 12 February 1983–6 October 1987 Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau (b. 1918–d. 1993); it became a republic under a President on 5 December 1987
French
The equivalent word in French is
gouverneur général, used in the following colonies:
- From 1887 to 1945 the French appointed a Governor-General to govern French Indo-China (now Vietnam
Vietnam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east...
, LaosLaos , officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and People's Republic of China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and CambodiaThe Kingdom of Cambodia , formerly known as Kampuchea , is a country in South East Asia with a population of over 14 million people. The kingdom's capital and largest city is Phnom Penh...
); the function of High commissioner in the Pacific Ocean, from 22 March 1907 held by the Governors of New CaledoniaNew Caledonia , is a "sui generis collectivity" of France located in the region of Melanesia in the southwest Pacific. It comprises a main island , the Loyalty Islands, and several smaller islands...
, was used to coordinate that colony, the other French Settlements in Oceania and the governors-general of French Indochina and the Resident commissionerResident Commissioner is the title of several, quite different types of Commissioner in overseas possession or protectorate of the British Crown or of the United States.-British English:...
s of the New HebridesNew Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
and the ResidentA Resident, or in full Resident Minister, is a state official of certain representative -diplomatic and/or colonial- types, required to take up permanent residency abroad officially.-Resident Ministers:...
s of Wallis and FutunaWallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands , is a Polynesian French island territory in the South Pacific between Fiji and Samoa...
were subordinated to him.
- From 1699–1947, the French appointed a Governor-General to administer French India
French India is a general name for the former French possessions in India. These included Pondichéry , Karikal and Yanaon on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar coast, and Chandannagar in Bengal...
(including PondichéryThe History of Puducherry can be traced back to 1st century.-Early period:The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, of the 1st century, mentions a marketplace named Poduke or Poduca that G.W.B. Huntingford identified as possibly being Arikamedu , about from the modern Pondicherry...
).
- Governors-general of the Mascarene Islands
The Mascarene Islands is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar comprising Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, Cargados Carajos shoals, plus the former islands of the Saya de Malha, Nazareth and Soudan banks. The collective title is derived from the Portuguese navigator Pedro...
(under control of the chartered Compagnie des Indes to 14 July 1767) from 4 June 1735 (succeeding to governors), and after its split-up of MauritiusMauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation off the coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the Republic includes the islands of Cargados Carajos, Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands...
(Réunion and the Seychelles got lower-styled CommandantCommandant is a military or police title or rank. In the French, Spanish and Irish militaries it is a rank equivalent to Major. In anglophone nations it is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy.-India:In the British Indian Army, the...
s or Governors) , till 25 September 1803
- Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Creole- and French-speaking Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago...
January 1714 - 31 December 1803; last incumbent Jean-Jacques DessalinesJean-Jacques Dessalines was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1801 constitution. He was autocratic in his rule and crowned himself Emperor of Haïti in 1805....
shortly maintained the title after the January I, 1804 independence before proclaiming himself 'emperor' Jacques I
- Since its creation on 16 June 1895 in French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger. It was formed from individual coastal colonies which the French had first seized as trading posts in the 17th...
(AOF), until 4 April 1957; the last stayed on as first of two High commissionerHigh Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
s
- Madagascar
Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to...
- From 28 June 1908 (previously it had a Commissaire général, i.e. Commissioner general) to 4 April 1957 (the last stayed on as first of three High commissioners) in French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa or the AEF was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara Desert....
(AEF); during several periods he also acted as Governor of the constitutive colony Congo Brazzaville.
Furthermore, in Napoleonic Europe successive French Governors-general were appointed by Napoleon I in:
- the German states of Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
(various other got 'mere' Governors), two incumbents during the 27 October 1806 - 10 December 1808 French occupation
- Province of Courland
Courland is one of the cultural and historical regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
under the French occupation (from 1 August 1812, Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and District of Pilten nominally re-established under joint French-Saxon protectorate 8 October 1812 - 20 December 1812) : Jacques David Martin, baron de Campredon (b. 1761 - d. 1837)
- Parma and Piacenza under occupation, (after a Commissioner) 15 February 1804 - 23 July 1808, later annexed as département under a Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of TaroTaro is a tropical plant grown primarily as a vegetable food for its edible corm, and secondarily as a leaf vegetable. It is considered a staple in Oceanic cultures. It is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants...
- principality of Piombino
Piombino is a town and commune in the province of Livorno , Italy, on the border between the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, in front of Elba Island and at the northern side of Maremma....
May 1806 - 1811 : Adolphe Beauvais (d. 1811)
- annexed Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in North-Central Italy. It has an area of and a population of about 3.6 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence.Tuscany is known for its landscapes and its artistic legacy...
, two incumbents, over prefects for Arno, MéditerranéeMéditerranée was the name of a département of the First French Empire in present-day Italy. It was named after the Mediterranean Sea. It was formed in 1808, when Tuscany was annexed by France. Its capital was Livorno...
[Mediterranean] and OmbroneThe Ombrone is a 160 km long river in Tuscany, central Italy.The Ombrone's source is located near Castelnuovo Berardenga, on the south-eastern side of the Monti del Chianti...
:
- May 1808 - 3 March 1809 Jacques François de Boussay, baron de Menou (b. 1750 - d. 1810)
- 3 March 1809 - 1 February 1814 Elisa Baciocchi Bonaparte (with courtesy style of Grand Duchess of Tuscany) (b. 1777 - d. 1820)
- the Illyrian provinces
The Illyrian Provinces was an autonomous province of the Napoleonic French Empire on the north and east coasts of the Adriatic Sea between 1809 and 1816...
(comprising present CroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a country in southeast Europe, at the crossroads of the Pannonian Plain, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital is Zagreb...
, SloveniaSlovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central Europe bordering Italy to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north...
and even adjacent parts of AustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.3 million people in Central Europe. It borders both Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west...
and Italy), annexed as part of the French Empire proper, 14 October 1809 - August 1813
Netherlands
From 1691 to 1948 the Dutch appointed a
Gouverneur-generaalThe Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies represented the Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the independence of Indonesia in 1949.The first Governors-General were appointed by the Dutch East India Company...
("Governor-General") to govern the Netherlands East Indies, now
IndonesiaThe Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands. With an estimated population of around 237 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, with the world's largest population of Muslims.Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
While in the Caribbean, various other titles were used, Curaçao had three Governors-General between 1816 and 1820:
- 1816–1819 Albert Kikkert
- 1819–1820 Petrus Bernardus van Starkenborgh
- 1820 Isaäk Johannes Rammelman Elsevier
Spanish
- From 21 November 1564 the Spanish colony Islas Filipinas
Spanish East Indies was a term used to describe Spanish territories in Asia-Pacific which lasted over three centuries...
had a Governor-GeneralThe Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed by Spain and the United States from 1565 to 1946.-Spanish Colonial Government :...
, subordinated to the Viceroy of New Spain in Mexico until the latter's independenceThe Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The Mexican War of Independence movement was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought independence from Spain...
in 1821. Thereafter, the Governor-general reported directly to Spain.
Portuguese
The equivalent word in Portuguese is
Governador-Geral, but this style was only used in a few major colonies, other colonies lower titles, mainly
Governador (Governor) or
Captain-majorCaptain-major is the English rendering of the Portuguese title Capitão-mor for colonial officers, put in charge of a capitania, Portuguese possession deemed not important enough to have its own colonial Governor.Due to the impossibility of exercising direct control and sovereignty over islands,...
, prevailed
- In the overseas province of Portuguese India
Portuguese India was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de Almeida, then settled at Kochi...
(Estado da Índia, capital Goa) the style was changed repeatedly for another, mostly ViceroyA viceroy is a royal official who runs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. His province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty. The relative...
, or a commission
- In Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...
, after a few Governors, from 1578 till its promotion on 13 Jul 1714 to Viceroyalty
- in Africa, from 1837 Portugal appointed a Governor-general to govern the colony of Portuguese West Africa
Angola is the common name by which the Portuguese Empire's territorial expansion in South-West Africa was known across different periods of time...
(later AngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean. The exclave province of Cabinda has a border with the Republic of the...
), and another in MozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest. It was explored by Vasco da Gama in 1498...
(Portuguese East Africa); both offices were restyled in full High CommissionerHigh Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
and Governor-general in 1921, and both existed until their 1975 decolonisation.
U.S.
- From 1905 to 1935 the Philippines
The Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
(since 13 August 1898 a U.S territory; first under three Military and two ordinary Governors) was administered by a series of Governors GeneralThe Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed by Spain and the United States from 1565 to 1946.-Spanish Colonial Government :...
appointed by the United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Other Western usages
- Governor-General in the Swedish Realm
- From 1636 to 1815, the Governors-General of Sweden
A Governor-General, or generalguvernör, was appointed by the Swedish monarch as his permanent representative, with both civil and military jurisdiction, over parts of Sweden, from the 17th century to the early 19th century, when constitutional changes made the office obsolete...
typically were appointed for the Swedish DominionsThe Dominions of Sweden or Svenska besittningar were territories that historically came under control of the Swedish Crown, but never became fully integrated with Sweden. This generally meant that they were ruled by Governors-General under the Swedish monarch, but within certain limits retained...
on the eastern side of the Baltic and in northern Germany, but occasionally also for Scania.
- From 1809 to 1918 there were Russia
Russia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Governor-General of FinlandGovernor-General of Finland was the military commander and the highest administrator of Finland sporadically under Swedish rule in the 17th and 18th centuries and continuously in the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland between 1808 and 1917....
in the Grand Duchy of FinlandThe Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland that existed in its territory 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire.- History :...
; Governors-General of PolandNamestnik of the Kingdom of Poland was the title of the deputy of the King of Poland—i.e., of the deputy of the Tsar of Russia, who styled himself "King of Poland" under Congress Poland...
in Congress PolandCongress Poland , officially and formally Kingdom of Poland and informally known as Russian Poland was a constitutional personal union of the Russian Empire created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna, replaced by the Central Powers in 1915 with the Kingdom of Poland...
and in various other Governorates-GeneralA guberniya was a major administrative subdivision of Imperial Russia, usually translated as government, governorate, or province. A guberniya was ruled by a governor , a word borrowed from Latin , in turn from Greek...
.
- From 1939 to 1944, during the German occupation of Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, part of the country was designated the General GovernmentThe General Government refers to a part of the territories of Poland under German military occupation during World War II and that were a separate part of "Greater Germany"...
and the Nazi official Hans FrankHans Michael Frank was a German lawyer who worked for the Nazi party during the 1920s and 1930s and later became a high-ranking official in Nazi Germany. He was prosecuted during the Nuremberg trials for his role in perpetrating the Holocaust during his tenure as Governor-General of occupied Poland...
had the title Governor-General (Generalgouverneur für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete).
- the kingdom of Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a federal state of Germany, located in the southeastern part of present-day Germany. It is the tenth-largest German state in area and the sixth largest in population , of Germany's sixteen states.Long in the heart of German-speaking Europe, Saxony became one of the new...
had a Governor general twice, under Allied control after French emperor Napoleon I's defeat:
- 28 October 1813 - 8 November 1814 Prince Nikolay Grigorievich Repnin-Volkonsky (Russia) (b. 1778 - d. 1845)
- 8 November 1814 - 8 June 1815 Eberhard Friedrich Christoph Ludwig, Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding the names of people, or later , before family names...
von der Recke (Prussia) (b. 1744 - d. 1826)
- during the occupation of Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a country located in both Central and Southeastern Europe. Its territory covers the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and central part of the Balkans...
by Austria-HungaryAustria–Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the k.u.k. Monarchy, or Dual State, was a monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in Central Europe...
and Bulgaria, the former (Habsburg empire) appointed three consecutive governors-general:
- 1 January 1916 - July 1916 Johan Ulrich Graf von Salis-Seewis (b. 1862 - d. 1940)
- July 1916 - October 1918 Adolf Freiherr von Rhemen zu Barensfeld (b. 1855 - d. 1932)
- October 1918 - 1 November 1918 Herman Freiherr Kövess von Kövessháza (b. 1854 - d. 1924; a former military commander in northern Serbia)
Asian counterparts
- From 1644 to 1911, in Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty , also known as the Manchu Dynasty, was the last ruling dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912...
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
, a Governor General or zongduZǒngdū, usually translated as Governor-General or Viceroy, governed one or more provinces of Qing-dynasty China. One of the most important was the Viceroy of Zhili, since it emcompassed the imperial capital. Yuan Shikai, later president of the Republic of China, held this office...
(Chinese: 总督) was the highest official of joint military and civil affairs in one or several provinces (alternately translated as ViceroyA viceroy is a royal official who runs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. His province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty. The relative...
)
- Imperial Japan
is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
:
- From 1895 to 1945, Taiwan
Taiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...
was administered by the Japanese Governor-General of TaiwanThe position of Governor-General of Taiwan existed when Taiwan and the Pescadores were part of the Empire of Japan, from 1895 to 1945.The Japanese Governor-Generals were members of the Diet, civilian officials, Japanese nobles or generals...
.
- From 1910 to 1945, Korea
Korea is a civilization and formerly unified nation currently divided into two states. Located on the Korean Peninsula, it borders China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait....
was administered by the Japanese Governor-General of KoreaThe post of Governor-General of Korea served as the chief administrator of the Japanese government in Korea while it was held as the Japanese colony of Chōsen from 1910 to 1945...
.
- Islamic Republic of Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran is a country in Western Asia. The name Iran has been in use natively since the Sassanid period and came into international use from 1935, before which the country was known internationally as Persia...
- The provincial authority is headed by a Governor-General (Persian
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is widely spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and to some extent in Iraq and Bahrain, and has a status of official language in the first three countries under different names...
: استاندار ostāndār).
See also
- Administrator of the Government
An Administrator in the constitutional practice of some countries in the Commonwealth is a person who fulfills a role similar to that of a Governor or a Governor-General...
- Governor-in-chief
Governor-in-chief is a British colonial title for governing offices with a jurisdiction that comprises — unlike an ordinary governor, but like certain governors-general — several colonies.-History:...
- Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
- Lieutenant-Governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor - a "second-in-command." In many Commonwealth of Nations states, lieutenant governors are usually deputy heads...
- High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
- Governor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed by Spain and the United States from 1565 to 1946.-Spanish Colonial Government :...
- Aruba
Aruba is a -long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, north of the Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcón State, Venezuela. Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles.An...
and the Netherlands AntillesThe Netherlands Antilles , previously known as the Netherlands West Indies or Dutch Antilles/West Indies, is part of the Lesser Antilles and consists of two groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea: Curaçao and Bonaire, just off the Venezuelan coast, and Sint Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten, located...
; territories of the Dutch MonarchyThe Netherlands has been an independent monarchy since 16 March 1815, and has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since.-History:The first king of the Netherlands, from 1806 until 1810, was French...
- Guberniya
A guberniya was a major administrative subdivision of Imperial Russia, usually translated as government, governorate, or province. A guberniya was ruled by a governor , a word borrowed from Latin , in turn from Greek...
; an administrative sub-division of Imperial Russia headed by the equivalent of a governor-general
- Each current Commonwealth realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 132 million; all but about two million live in the six most populous states, the United...
's Governor-General has his/her own article:
- List of Governors-General of Antigua and Barbuda
- List of Governors-General of Australia
- List of Governors-General of the Bahamas
- List of Governors-General of Barbados
- List of Governors-General of Belize
- Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the viceregal representative in the federal jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, who is equally shared with 15 other sovereign nations in a form of personal union, but resides predominantly in her oldest realm,...
- List of Governors-General of Grenada
- List of Governors-General of Jamaica
- List of Governors-General of New Zealand
- Governor-General of Papua New Guinea
The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, known in Tok Pisin as 'Missis Kwin', Papua New Guinea's head of state, performing the duties of the Queen in her absence...
- List of Governors-General of Saint Lucia
- List of Governors-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- List of Governors-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Governor-General of the Solomon Islands
The Governor-General of the Solomon Islands is the representative of the Queen of the Solomon Islands, Elizabeth II. The Queen does not reside in the islands, and so the Governor-General serves as the country's de facto head of state in her absence....
- Governor-General of Tuvalu
The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...
- Some defunct political entities: Governor-General of the Irish Free State
The Governor-General was the representative of the King in the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Until 1927 he was also the agent of the British government in the Irish state. By convention the office of Governor-General was largely ceremonial...
, Governor-General of the Federation of the West IndiesThis is a list of the Governors-General of the West Indies Federation , consisting of Antigua , Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks & Caicos Islands...
, Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and NyasalandThis is a list of the men who served as Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland . The Federation was formed on 1 August 1953 from the former colonies of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and was formally dissolved on 31 December 1963.-Governors-General:*John...
, Governor of Southern Rhodesia, Governor-General of French Indochina-List of Colonial Heads of French Indochina:-External links:*...
- Some former Commonwealth realms in the Americas Governor-General of Guyana, Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago
- Some former Commonwealth realms in Africa: Governor-General of Nigeria, Governor-General of Sierra Leone, Governor-General of Tanzania, Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
The Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British and later South African Crown in the Union of South Africa between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961...
, Governor-General of Uganda, Governor-General of Gambia, Governor-General of KenyaThis page contains a list of Governors-General of Kenya during the period when it was a monarchy from 1963 to 1964.See also lists of incumbents, list of Presidents of Kenya-Governors-General of Kenya, 1963-1964:...
, Governor-General of Ghana, Governor-General of Malawi
- Some former Commonwealth realms in Asia Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
, Governor-General of PakistanThe Governor-General of Pakistan was the resident representative of King George VI in Pakistan from 1947 to 1952 and then Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 until 1956 when Pakistan was proclaimed a republic....
, Governor-General of Sri Lanka
- Some former Commonwealth realms in Europe Governor-General of Malta
-Governors of Malta, 1813-1964:*Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Maitland *General Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings *Major-General Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby *Lieut.-General Sir Henry Bouverie *Lieut.-General Sir Patrick Stuart *Right...
- Some former Commonwealth realms in Oceania Governor-General of Fiji
Fiji became a British Crown Colony in 1874, and an independent dominion in the Commonwealth in 1970. Queen Elizabeth II remained the Head of State, holding the title of Queen of Fiji until 1987, when she formally abdicated following two military coups...
Note
In
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
the title "Governor General" is always used unhyphenated. In
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
, the term is always hyphenated.
External links