The Bahamas
 

to 1706	1706 - 1718 Pirate rule	1718 - 1869
1869 - 1904	1904 - 22 Sep 1923	22 Sep 1923 - 1953
1953 - 12 May 1964	12 May 1964 - 10 Jul 1973	Adopted 10 Jul 1973

Map of The Bahamas Hear National Anthem "March on, Bahamaland" Text of National Anthem  Adopted 10 Jul 1973 Constitution  (10 Jul 1973) Capital: Nassau (Charles Town 1660's-1694) Currencies: Bahamian Dollar  (BSD); SandDollar (from 20 Oct 2020); 1869-1966 Bahama Pound (BSP) National Holiday: 10 Jul (1973) Independence Day Population: 332,634 (2018) GDP: $12.06 billion (2017) Exports: $550 million (2017) Imports: $3.18 billion (2017) Ethnic groups: black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010) Total Active Armed Forces: 1,300 (2018) Merchant marine: 1,440 ships (2017) Religions: Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican  13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist  3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Brethren 1.6%), Roman Catholic 12%,  other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, APM, BTWC, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, CTBT, CWC, ESCR, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OST, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) The Bahamas Chronology 12 Oct 1492                Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón)(b. 1451 -                              d. 1506), sailing for Spain on his first voyage,                              sights San Salvador (known as Watling's Island                              1680's-1925) as the first land sighted.  27 Oct 1492                The Spanish fleet leaves the islands, inhabited by                              the Lucayan Arawaks, from the Islas de Arena                             (Ragged Islands) after visiting Fernandina (Long                              Island), Santa María de la Concepción (Rum Cay),                              and Isabela (Crooked Island). The Spanish                              eventually depopulate the islanders to Hispaniola. Mar 1513 - Apr 1513        Juan Ponce de León (b. 1460? - d. 1521), in search                              of the legendary 'Fountain of Youth', traverses                              most of the Islas Lucayos (Bahamas). 1565                       French colonists sent to Lucayoneque (Abaco), but                              disappear within the year. 11 Jun 1578                Presumably included in the lands granted by England                              to Sir Humphrey Gilbert (b. c.1535 - d. 1583)                              (not effected) 30 Oct 1629                England granted to Sir Robert Heath (b. 1575 - d.                              1649) territories in America which specifically                              included the Bahamas (not effected). 28 Jan 1633                A barony of five islands (Abaco, Inaugua, Mariguana,                              Guanahani, and Gilatur) and the title Baron des                              Bahamas granted to Guillaume de Caën (d. af.1642)                              by France (not effected). 1647/48                    First English settlement on Eleutheriah (now named                              Eleuthera) by the settlers of the Company of                              Eleutheran Adventurers.  9 Jul 1647                Company of Eleutheran Adventurers agreed to Articles                              and Orders of Incorporation. 31 Aug 1649                An "Act for Settling the Islands in the West Indies                              betwixt the Degrees of Twenty-four and Twenty-nine                              North Latitude" passed by the English Parliament. 1662                       King Louis XIV of France grants Bertrand d'Ogeron                              (b. 1613 - d. 1676) a concession over the Lucayan                              (Bahama) and Caicos Islands "from 20th to 28th                              degree North latitude" (Les Isles Lucayes et                              Caïques)(not effected).  11 Jul 1668                Six of the eight Carolina Proprietors were granted                              the "islands of Bahama, Elutheriah, Ventris,                              Providence, Inagua and all other islands within 22                              degrees to 27 degrees north latitude commonly                              called the Bahama Islands or the Lucayos."  1 Nov 1670                British proprietary colony (the Proprietors grant is                              officially recorded in the "Patent Roll"). 1682                       Spanish sack New Providence. 19 Jan 1684                Spanish sack New Providence, and again in Nov 1684. Nov 1684 - Dec 1686        Abandoned. Oct 1703                   Spanish-French forces destroy Nassau. Oct 1703 - 1706            Abandoned 1706 - 26 Jul 1718         Pirate rule. 28 Oct 1717                Lord Proprietors surrender civil and military                              government to the Crown . 26 Jul 1718                British crown colony (Bahama Islands).  3 Mar 1776 - 17 Mar 1776  American occupation (of Fort Montagu, and Nassau on                              4 Mar 1776). 27 Jan 1778 - 29 Jan 1778  Brief American occupation of Fort Nassau under Capt.                              John Rathburn (b. 1746 - d. 1828) on the U.S.S.                              Providence.  8 May 1782 - 18 Apr 1783  Spanish occupation.  3 Sep 1783                British possession is confirmed by Spain. 14 Mar 1787                Crown completed final conveyance of all remaining                              rights of the heirs and claimants of the original                              Lord Proprietors for £12,000. 1799 - 25 Dec 1848         Turks and Caicos Islands annexed to the Bahamas.  1 Aug 1834                Abolition of slavery (by Abolition of Slavery Act                              of 28 Aug 1833; apprenticeship ended 1 Aug 1838).  7 Jan 1964                Self-government (Bahama Islands). 10 May 1969                Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands 10 Jul 1973                Independence (Commonwealth of The Bahamas).

Lords Proprietors of the Bahama Islands in America
 1 Nov 1670 - 28 Oct 1717  the Lords Proprietors of Carolina

Governors
c.1647 - Mar 1657          William Sayle (on Eleuthera)       (b. c.1593 - d. 1671)
Mar 1657 - c.1665          Nathaniel Sayle (acting)
                             (on Eleuthera)
24 Apr 1671 - 1671         Hugh Wentworth                     (b. 1625 - d. 1671)
                             (died before arrival)                
26 Dec 1671 - 1676         John Wentworth
 1 Jul 1676 - 1677         Charles Chillingworth
1677 - Jul 1682            Robert Clarke                      (d. 1682)
1682 - Nov 1684            Richard Lilburne (Lilborn)
1684                       Juan de Alarcón (Larcon)
                             (Spanish commander)
Nov 1684 - Dec 1686        Abandoned
 1 Dec 1686 - Jun 1690     Thomas Bridges
                             (Moderator to 12 Jul 1688)
19 Jun 1690 - Apr 1694     Cadwallader Jones                  (b. c.1652 - d. 1704)
Apr 1694 - Mar 1697        Nicholas Trott, Sr.                (b. 1658 - d. c.1730)
Mar 1697 - 1699            Nicholas Webb                      (d. 1699)
1699 - May 1701            Read Elding (acting)               (b. c.1670 - d. 1742)
May 1701 -  5 Oct 1701     Elias Haskett                      (b. 1670 - d. 1739)
 5 Oct 1701 - 1704         Ellis Lightwood (acting)
                             (Spanish prisoner from Oct 1703)
Oct 1703                   Blas Moreno Mondragón              (d. 1713)
                           + Claude Le Chesnaye
                           (Spanish and French commanders)
Oct 1703 -  1 Jan 1704     Abandoned
 1 Jan 1704 - bf.Jun 1704  Edward Birch (Byrch) (acting)
                             (returned to England)
1704 - 1706                Abandoned
1706                       Thomas Walker (acting)             (b. 1659 - d. 1722)
                             (acting de facto to 1717)
1706 - 26 Jul 1718         Pirate rule
                           - Thomas Barrow                    (d. 1726)
                             (in 1716 declared himself governor of New Providence)
                           - Benjamin Hornigold               (b. c.1680 - d. 1719?)
                           - Edward Teach "Blackbeard"        (b. 1680? - d. 1718)
                           - "Calico" Jack Rackham            (b. 1682 - d. 1720)
                           - Charles Vane                     (b. c.1680 - d. 1721)
                           - Henry Jennings                   (d. c.1745)
                           - Stede Bonnet                     (b. 1688 - d. 1718)
                           - Samuel Bellamy "Black Sam"       (b. 1689 - d. 1717)
                               (to 26 Apr 1717)
                           - et al.
26 Mar 1716 - 1716         Roger Mostyn                       (b. 1673 - d. 1739)
                             (did not take office)
27 Jul 1718 - Feb 1721     Woodes Rogers (1st time)           (b. 1679? - d. 1732)
Feb 1721 - 26 Dec 1721     William Fairfax (acting)           (b. 1691 - d. 1757)
26 Dec 1721 - 25 Aug 1729  George Phenney                     (d. 1737)
25 Aug 1729 - 15 Jul 1732  Woodes Rogers (2nd time)           (s.a.)
Jul 1732 - Jun 1734        Richard Thompson, Sr. (acting)
Jun 1734 - 1738            Richard Fitzwilliam                (d. 1744)
1738 - 21 Apr 1741         James Howell (acting)
21 Apr 1741 - 10 Jul 1758  John Tinker                        (b. 1700 - d. 1758)
10 Jul 1758 - 30 Dec 1759  John Gambier (1st time) (acting)   (b. 1723 - d. 1782)
30 Dec 1759 - 28 Nov 1768  William Shirley                    (b. 1694 - d. 1771)
28 Nov 1768 - Oct 1774     Sir Thomas Shirley                 (b. 1727 - d. 1780)
Oct 1774 -  4 Mar 1776     Montfort Browne (1st time)         (b. c.1730 - d. 1780)
                             (American prisoner 4 Mar - 23 Sep 1776)
 3 Mar 1776 - 17 Mar 1776  Samuel Nicholas                    (b. 1744 - d. 1790)
                             (American commander)
15 Mar 1776 - Jul 1778     John Gambier (2nd time) (acting)   (s.a.)
Jul 1778 - 28 Mar 1780     Montfort Browne (2nd time)         (s.a.)
28 Mar 1780 -  8 May 1782  John Robert Maxwell (1st time)     (b. c.1730 - d. 1791)
                             (Spanish prisoner 8 May 1782 - 18 Apr 1783)
 8 May 1782 - 18 Apr 1783  Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid        (b. 1746 - d. 1786)
                             (Spanish commander)
 8 May 1782 - 18 Apr 1783  Antonio Claraco y Sanz (acting)
                             (Spanish governor; British prisoner 18 Apr - Sep 1783)
18 Apr 1783 - Sep 1783     Andrew Deveaux, Jr. (acting)       (b. 1758 - d. 1812)
Sep 1783 - 27 Mar 1784     Robert Hunt (1st time)(acting)     (b. c.1745 - d. 1814)
27 Mar 1784 - 21 Mar 1785  John Robert Maxwell (2nd time)     (s.a.)
22 Mar 1785 -  6 Feb 1786  James Edward Powell (acting)       (b. 1717? - d. 1786)
                             (lieutenant governor)
 7 Feb 1786 - 26 Oct 1787  John Brown (acting)                (b. 1724? - d. 1796)
26 Oct 1787 - Apr 1796     John Murray, Earl of Dunmore       (b. 1732 - d. 1809)
Apr 1796 - 13 Nov 1796     Robert Hunt (2nd time)(acting)     (s.a.)
13 Nov 1796 -  3 Jun 1797  John Forbes (acting)               (b. 1750 - d. 1797)
                             (lieutenant governor from 14 Feb 1797)
 6 Jun 1797 - 13 Mar 1798  Robert Hunt (3rd time)(acting)     (s.a.)
13 Mar 1798 -  2 Apr 1801  William Dowdeswell                 (b. 1761 - d. 1828)
 2 Apr 1801 - 28 Jan 1802  Robert Hunt (4th time)(acting)     (s.a.)
29 Jan 1802 -  2 Jun 1804  John Halkett                       (b. 1768 - d. 1852)
 2 Jun 1804 - 25 Sep 1804  Henry Morton Dyer (acting)         (b. 1775 - d. 1841)
25 Sep 1804 - 25 Sep 1808  Charles Cameron (1st time)         (b. 1766 - d. 1828)
25 Sep 1808 -  2 Dec 1812  William Vesey Munnings (1st time)  (b. 1774 - d. 1830)
                             (acting)
 3 Dec 1812 - 18 Apr 1818  Charles Cameron (2nd time)         (s.a.)
18 Apr 1818 - 28 Sep 1820  William Vesey Munnings (2nd time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
28 Sep 1820 - 17 May 1825  Lewis Grant (1st time)             (b. 1778 - d. 1852)
17 May 1825 - May 1827     William Vesey Munnings (3rd time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
May 1827 - 17 Dec 1828     Lewis Grant (2nd time)             (s.a.)     
17 Dec 1828 -  9 Nov 1829  William Vesey Munnings (4th time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
 9 Nov 1829 -  1 Jun 1833  James Carmichael Smyth             (b. 1779 - d. 1838)
 1 Jun 1833 - 19 Feb 1835  Blayney Townley Balfour            (b. 1799 - d. 1882)
19 Feb 1835 - 26 Feb 1835  Joseph Hunter (1st time) (acting)  (b. 17.. - d. 1838)
26 Feb 1835 - Feb 1837     William MacBean George Colebrooke  (b. 1787 - d. 1870)
Feb 1837 - 15 Aug 1837     Joseph Hunter (2nd time) (acting)  (s.a.)
15 Aug 1837 - 19 May 1842  Francis Cockburn (1st time)        (b. 1780 - d. 1868)
                             (from 8 Sep 1841, Sir Francis Cockburn)
19 May 1842 - 27 Mar 1843  Charles Rogers Nesbitt (1st time)  (b. 1799 - d. 1876)
                             (acting)
27 Mar 1843 - 13 Jun 1844  Sir Francis Cockburn (2nd time)    (s.a.)    
13 Jun 1844 - 20 Jun 1844  Charles Rogers Nesbitt (2nd time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
20 Jun 1844 - 17 Apr 1847  George Benvenuto Mathew (1st time) (b. 1807 - d. 1879)
17 Apr 1847 - 23 Jan 1848  Charles Rogers Nesbitt (3rd time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
23 Jan 1848 -  3 Mar 1849  George Benvenuto Mathew (2nd time) (s.a.)
 3 Mar 1849 - 29 Jul 1853  John Gregory                       (b. 1795 - d. 1853)
29 Jul 1853 - 10 Oct 1854  Charles Rogers Nesbitt (4th time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
10 Oct 1854 - 18 Apr 1857  Sir Alexander Bannerman            (b. 1783 - d. 1864)
18 Apr 1857 -  6 Jun 1864  Charles John Bayley                (b. 1817? - d. 1873)
 6 Jun 1864 -  9 Dec 1864  Charles Rogers Nesbitt (5th time)  (b. 1799 - d. 1875)
                             (acting)
 9 Dec 1864 - 11 Jan 1869  Rawson William Rawson              (s.a.)
12 Jan 1869 -  5 Apr 1871  Sir James Walker                   (b. 1809 - d. 1885)
                             (from 13 Feb 1869, Sir James Walker)
                             (administrator to 15 Apr 1869)
 5 Apr 1871 - 27 May 1873  George Cumine Strahan (acting)     (b. 1838 - d. 1889)
27 May 1873 - 22 Jun 1874  Sir John Pope Hennessy             (b. 1834 - d. 1891)
22 Jun 1874 -  2 Dec 1874  John d'Auvergne Dumaresq (acting)  (b. 1830 - d. 1878)
 2 Dec 1874 - 18 Jun 1880  William Robinson (1st time)        (b. 1836 - d. 1912)
18 Jun 1879 - 17 Dec 1879  Edward Barnett Anderson Taylor     (b. 1826 - d. 1904)
                             (1st time)(acting)
17 Dec 1879 - 18 Jun 1880  William Robinson (2nd time)        (s.a.)
18 Jun 1880 -  1 Feb 1881  Edward Barnett Anderson Taylor     (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)(acting)
 1 Feb 1881 -  4 Jul 1881  Jeremiah Thomas Fitzgerald         (b. 1827 - d. 1881)
                             Callaghan
 4 Jul 1881 - 30 Jan 1882  Edward Barnett Anderson Taylor     (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)(acting)
30 Jan 1882 -  7 Jan 1884  Charles Cameron Lees               (b. 1837 - d. 1898)
                             (from 24 May 1883, Sir Charles Cameron Lees)
 7 Jan 1884 - 18 Feb 1884  Edward Barnett Anderson Taylor     (s.a.)
                             (4th time)(acting)
18 Feb 1884 -  4 Aug 1887  Sir Henry Arthur Blake             (b. 1840 - d. 1918)
 4 Aug 1887 -  1 Nov 1887  Edward Barnett Anderson Taylor     (s.a.)
                             (5th time)(acting)
 1 Nov 1887 - 25 Jun 1888  Sir Ambrose Shea (1st time)        (b. 1816 - d. 1905)
25 Jun 1888 - 29 Oct 1888  Edward Barnett Anderson Taylor     (s.a.)
                             (6th time)(acting)
29 Oct 1888 - 23 Jul 1889  Sir Ambrose Shea (2nd time)        (s.a.)
23 Jul 1889 -  7 Jul 1890  Edward Barnett Anderson Taylor     (s.a.)
                             (7th time)(acting)
 8 Jul 1890 -  8 Jun 1891  Sir Ambrose Shea (3rd time)        (s.a.)
 9 Jun 1891 - 28 Sep 1891  Henry Moore Jackson (1st time)     (b. 1849 - d. 1908)
                             (acting)
28 Sep 1891 - 23 Nov 1891  Sir Ambrose Shea (4th time)        (s.a.)
24 Nov 1891 - 21 Dec 1891  Henry Moore Jackson (2nd time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting)
21 Dec 1891 - 18 Jul 1892  Sir Ambrose Shea (5th time)        (s.a.)
18 Jul 1892 - 10 Oct 1892  Henry Moore Jackson (1st time)     (b. 1849 - d. 1908)
                             (acting)
10 Oct 1892 - 27 Jun 1893  Sir Ambrose Shea (6th time)        (s.a.)
28 Jun 1893 - Oct 1893     Henry Moore Jackson (2nd time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting)
Oct 1893 - 24 Dec 1894     Sir Ambrose Shea (7th time)        (s.a.)
24 Dec 1894 - 17 Jun 1895  George Melville (acting)           (b. 1842 - d. 1924)
17 Jun 1895                Ormond Drimmie Malcolm (acting)    (b. 1839 - d. 1912)
17 Jun 1895 -  9 Jul 1895  John Kemyos Spencer-Churchill      (b. 1835 - d. 1913)
                             (1st time) (acting)
 9 Jul 1895 - 27 Jan 1898  Sir William Frederick Haynes Smith (b. 1839 - d. 1928)
27 Jan 1898 -  6 Mar 1898  John Kemyos Spencer-Churchill      (s.a.)
                             (2nd time) (acting)
 6 Mar 1898 - 29 Nov 1904  Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter          (b. 1848 - d. 1927)
29 Nov 1904 - 24 May 1912  Sir William Grey-Wilson            (b. 1852 - d. 1926)
29 Oct 1912 - 17 Dec 1914  Sir George Basil Haddon-Smith      (b. 1861 - d. 1931)
17 Dec 1914 - 18 Dec 1914  Thomas Evan Duggan Brace (acting)  (b. 1863 - d. 1919)
18 Dec 1914 - 15 Jun 1915  William Hart-Bennett (acting)      (b. 1861 - d. 1918)
15 Jun 1915 - 22 Feb 1920  William Lamond Allardyce           (b. 1861 - d. 1930)
                             (from 1 Jan 1916, Sir William Lamond Allardyce)                   
Apr 1919 - Oct 1919        Henry Eugene Walter Grant          (b. 1855 - d. 1936)
                             (acting for Allardyce)
 3 Feb 1920 -  8 Apr 1920  Frederick Chester Wells Durrant    (b. 1864 - d. 1934)
                             (acting [for Allardyce to 22 Feb 1920])
 9 Apr 1920 -  8 Dec 1920  Henry Eugene Walter Grant (acting) (s.a.)
 8 Dec 1920 - Sep 1926     Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux      (b. 1870 - d. 1943)
                             (from 1 Jan 1921, Sir Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux)
 6 Aug 1922 -  5 Nov 1922  Henry Eugene Walter Grant          (s.a.)
                             (acting for Cordeaux)
May 1924 - Oct 1924        Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns        (b. 1887 - d. 1980)
                             (acting for Cordeaux)
Sep 1925 - Nov 1925        Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns        (s.a.)
                             (acting for Cordeaux)
Sep 1926 - 15 Mar 1927     Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns        (s.a.)
                             (acting)
15 Mar 1927 - Jan 1932     Charles William James Orr          (b. 1870 - d. 1945)
                             (from 2 Jan 1928, Sir Charles William James Orr)
Jun 1928 - Sep 1928        Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns        (s.a.)
                             (acting for Orr)
10 Jan 1932 - 23 Jul 1937  Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford          (b. 1890 - d. 1969)
                             (from 3 Jun 1933, Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford)
23 Jul 1937 - 27 Nov 1937  James Henry Jarrett (acting)       (b. 1895 - d. 1943)
27 Nov 1937 -  6 Aug 1940  Charles Cecil Farquharson Dundas   (b. 1884 - d. 1956)
                             (from 9 Jun 1938, Sir Charles Cecil Farquharson Dundas)
                             (acting to 3 Aug 1937)
 6 Aug 1940 - 18 Aug 1940  William Leslie Heape (acting)      (b. 1896 - d. 1969)
18 Aug 1940 -  2 May 1945  Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor     (b. 1894 - d. 1972)
                             (formerly King Edward VIII of U.K.)
 2 May 1945 - 28 Jul 1945  Duncan George Stewart (acting)     (b. 1904 - d. 1949)
28 Jul 1945 - 21 Jul 1949  William Lindsay Murphy             (b. 1887 - d. 1965)
                             (from 1 Jan 1946, Sir William Lindsay Murphy)
21 Jul 1949 - 17 Feb 1950  Frederick Anthony Evans (1st time) (b. 1907 - d. 1999)
                             (acting)
17 Feb 1950 - 17 Sep 1950  Sir George Ritchie Sandford        (b. 1892 - d. 1950)
17 Sep 1950 - 27 Sep 1950  Charles Percival Bethel (acting)   (b. 1891 - d. 1978)
27 Sep 1950 -  7 Dec 1950  Frederick Anthony Evans (2nd time) (s.a.)
                             (acting)
 7 Dec 1950 - 11 Oct 1953  Robert Arthur Ross Neville         (b. 1896 - d. 1987)
                             (from 5 Jun 1952, Sir Robert Arthur Ross Neville)
11 Oct 1953 - 21 Dec 1953  Anthony Geoffrey Hopwood Gardner-  (b. 1913 - d. 1978)
                             Brown (acting)
21 Dec 1953 - 19 Dec 1956  Thomas David Knox, Earl of         (b. 1913 - d. 1988)
                             Ranfurly
19 Dec 1956 -  1 Apr 1957  Kenneth Maurice Walmsley (acting)  (b. 1914 - d. 2000)
 1 Apr 1957 - 14 Jun 1960  Sir Oswald Raynor Arthur           (b. 1905 - d. 1973)
14 Jun 1960 - 18 Jul 1960  Anthony Gordon Knox Johnston       (b. 1909 - d. 1972)
                             (acting)
18 Jul 1960 - 23 Apr 1964  Sir Robert de Stapledon Stapledon  (b. 1909 - d. 1975)
23 Apr 1964 -  5 Nov 1964  William Hart Sweeting (acting)     (b. 1909 - d. 1964)
 5 Nov 1964 - Sep 1968     Sir Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey     (b. 1910 - d. 1999)
                             (from 17 Sep 1968, Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey,
                             Baron Grey of Naunton, of Naunton in
                             the County of Gloucestershire)
Sep 1968 - Mar 1972        Sir Francis Edward Hovell-Thurlow  (b. 1912 - d. 2013)
                             -Cumming-Bruce (from 29 May 1971,
                             Francis Edward Hovell-Thurlow-
                             Cumming-Bruce, Baron Thurlow)
Mar 1972 - 14 Apr 1972     Lewis Mervyn Davies (acting)       (b. 1922 - d. 2011)
14 Apr 1972 - 10 Jul 1973  Sir John Warburton Paul            (b. 1916 - d. 2004)
King/Queen¹
10 Jul 1973 -              the King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
10 Jul 1973 - 31 Jul 1973  Sir John Warburton Paul            (s.a.)
 1 Aug 1973 - 22 Jan 1979  Sir Milo Boughton Butler           (b. 1906 - d. 1979)
                             (incapacitated from 2 Sep 1976)
22 Jan 1979 - 25 Jun 1988  Sir Gerald Christopher Cash        (b. 1917 - d. 2003)
                             (acting [for Butler from 2 Sep 1976] to 23 Sep 1979)
26 Jun 1988 -  1 Jan 1992  Sir Henry Milton Taylor            (b. 1903 - d. 1994)
                             (acting to 28 Feb 1991)
 2 Jan 1992 -  2 Jan 1995  Sir Clifford Darling               (b. 1922 - d. 2011)
 3 Jan 1995 - 13 Nov 2001  Orville Alton Turnquest            (b. 1929)
                             (from 22 Feb 1995, Sir Orville Alton Turnquest)      
13 Nov 2001 - 30 Nov 2005  Dame Ivy Leona Dumont (f)          (b. 1930)
                             (acting to 1 Jan 2002)
 1 Dec 2005 -  1 Feb 2006  Paul Lawrence Adderley (acting)    (b. 1928 - d. 2012)
 1 Feb 2006 - 14 Apr 2010  Arthur Dion Hanna                  (b. 1928 - d. 2021)
14 Apr 2010 -  8 Jul 2014  Sir Arthur Alexander Foulkes       (b. 1928)
 8 Jul 2014 - 28 Jun 2019  Dame Marguerite Matilda Pindling(f)(b. 1932)
28 Jun 2019 - 31 Aug 2023  Cornelius Alvin Smith              (b. 1937)
                             (from 10 Sep 2019, Sir Cornelius Alvin Smith)
 1 Sep 2023 -              Cynthia Alexandria "Mother" Pratt  (b. 1945)

Leader of the Government (Chief minister)
1955 -  7 Jan 1964         Roland Theodore Symonette          (b. 1898 - d. 1980)  UBP
                             (from 1 Jan 1959, Sir Roland Theodore Symonette) 
Premiers 
 7 Jan 1964 - 16 Jan 1967  Sir Roland Theodore Symonette      (s.a.)               UBP
16 Jan 1967 - 10 May 1969  Lynden Oscar Pindling              (b. 1930 - d. 2000)  PLP
Prime ministers
10 May 1969 - 21 Aug 1992  Lynden Oscar Pindling              (s.a.)               PLP
                             (from 1 Jan 1983, Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling)
21 Aug 1992 -  3 May 2002  Hubert Alexander Ingraham          (b. 1947)            FNM
                             (1st time)
 3 May 2002 -  4 May 2007  Perry Gladstone Christie (1st time)(b. 1943)            PLP
 4 May 2005 - 22 Jun 2005  Cynthia Moxey Pratt (f)            (b. 1945)            PLP
                             (acting for Christie)
 4 May 2007 -  8 May 2012  Hubert Alexander Ingraham          (s.a.)               FNM
                             (2nd time)
 8 May 2012 - 11 May 2017  Perry Gladstone Christie (2nd time)(s.a.)               PLP
11 May 2017 - 17 Sep 2021  Hubert Alexander Minnis            (b. 1954)            FNM
17 Sep 2021 -              Philip Edward "Brave" Davis        (b. 1951)            PLP

Territorial Dispute: Disagrees with the U.S. on the alignment the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary.

Party abbreviations: FNM = Free National Movement (conservative, center-right, split from PLP, est.1971); PLP = Progressive Liberal Party (populist, social liberal, center-left, est.1953);
- Former parties: UBP = United Bahamian Party (conservative, mainly white, 1955-1971)