The Gambia
 

1713 - 1779, 1815 - 1870   1870 - 1889   1889 - 18 Feb 1965   Adopted 18 Feb 1965 Map of Gambia Hear National Anthem  "For The Gambia, Our Homeland" Text of National Anthem  Adopted 18 Feb 1965 Constitution (24 Apr 1970; suspended Jul 1994 - Jan 1997) Capital: Banjul (Bathurst 1816-14 Apr 1973; St Andrew's 1651-1661; Fort James 1661-95, 1699-1709, and 1713-1779; Senegambia -  Dakar 1 Feb 1982-30 Sep 1989) Currency: Dalasi (GMD); 1964-1971 Gambia Pound (GMP); 1913-1964 British West Africa Pound (XWAP) National Holiday: 18 Feb (1965) Independence Day Population: 2,092,731 (2018) GDP: $5.55 billion (2017) Exports: $72.9 million (2017) Imports: $376.9 million (2017)  Ethnic groups: Mandinka/Jahanka 34%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo  22.4%, Wolof 12.6%, Jola/Karoninka 10.7%, Serahuleh 6.6%, Serer 3.2%, Manjago 2.1%, Bambara 1%, Creole/Aku Marabout 0.7%, other 0.9%, non-Gambian 5.2%,  no answer 0.6% (2013) Total Active Armed Forces: 800 (2018) Merchant marine: 9 ships (2018)  Religions: Muslim 95.7%, Christian 4.2%, none 0.1%, no response 0.1% (2013) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfCFTA, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, C, CCM, CEN-SAD, CTBT, CWC, ECOWAS, ESCR, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISESCO, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OST (signatory), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WAMZ, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO The Gambia Index Chronology 1455                       First European expedition to Senegal and Gambia                         by Alvise da Cadamosto and Antoniotto Usodimare                         on behalf of Portugal.  1456                       A second expedition led by Cadamosto reaches James                              Island, which he names St. Andrew's Island                              (Ilha de Santo André). 1587                       First English ships reach the Gambia River under                              the command of Francisco Ferreira. Aug 1618                   Royal charter granted to the Company of Adventurers                              of London Trading into Africa by King James I. Sep 1618                   First English expedition to the Gambia led by George                              Thompson of the Company of Adventurers. 26 Oct 1651                Duchy of Courland (now Latvia) colony (Courlander                              Gambia) established, includes St. Andrew's Island,                              St. Mary Island (now Banjul, with Fort                              Bayona), and Fort Jillifree (now Juffurreh,                              on the northern bank of the Gambia river).  4 Feb 1659 - 10 Jun 1660  Dutch occupation (Dutch Gambia), under West India                               Company (administered from Goree).  3 Jul 1660 -  2 Aug 1660  Dutch occupation, under West India Company                              (administered from Goree). 18 Dec 1660                Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading to                         Africa receives a charter from King Charles II. 19 Mar 1661                English occupy St. Andrew's Island and other                               Courlander possessions, renaming the island                               James Island and the fort as Fort James                              (administered by the Royal Adventurers in                              Africa Company). 17 Nov 1664                Gambia formally ceded by Courland to England.  1 Aug 1669                Administration sublet to Gambia Adventurers. 27 Sep 1672                Royal African Company formed and granted monopoly                         of trade in West Africa by England. c.May 1681                 French purchase Albreda from the King of Barra. 1684                       Administration taken over by the Royal African                               Company. 27 Jul 1695 - Apr 1699     French rule (French Gambia), James island deserted. Nov 1702                   French briefly recapture and ransom James Island. 1704                       French briefly recapture and ransom James Island.  8 Sep 1708                French briefly recapture and ransom James Island.   20 May 1709 - 13 Nov 1713  James Island abandoned by the English. 11 Apr 1713                France recognizes British claim to James Island. c.Jun 1719                 James Island sacked by pirates. 13 Jun 1750                Administration taken over by the Company of                               Merchants Trading in Africa (Fort James). 25 May 1765 - 11 Feb 1779  Part of British Senegambia (former French                              Senegal and British Gambia settlements)                              (see Senegal). Apr 1766                   British crown colony of Senegambia. 11 Feb 1779 -  3 Sep 1783  French occupation, part of French Senegal                               (see Senegal).  3 Sep 1783                Gambia formally restored to Britain. 1806                       St. Mary's Island purchased by U.K. 20 Nov 1815                British rule of Fort James confirmed by France. 23 Aug 1816                Banjul Island purchased from the King of Kombo                              by the British, renaming it St. Mary's; Bathurst                              founded (Bathurst colony). 17 Oct 1821                British colony (subordinated to Sierra Leone                              to 1843 and 1866-88). 14 Apr 1823                McCarthy's (Lemaine) Island ceded to U.K. by the                              King of Kataba.  9 Jun 1826                Ceded Mile (south bank below McCarthy's Island)                              annexed. Cession of Gambia River by King of Barra. 12 Dec 1829                Bathurst Settlement and Dependencies in the                              Gambia. 22 Aug 1831 - 11 Nov 1831  Fort Bullen occupied by the King of Barra. 18 Jul 1840                Part of Kombo ceded to British by the King of Kombo. 24 Jun 1843                Gambia crown colony 24 May 1853                Upper Kombo ceded to British by the King of Kombo. 19 May 1857                France cedes its last settlement in the area                               (Albreda) to the British. 19 Feb 1866 - 17 Dec 1874  Part of British West African Settlements                               (see Sierra Leone). 17 Dec 1874 - 24 Nov 1888  Part of smaller British West Africa Settlements                               (see Sierra Leone). 28 Nov 1888                Gambia a separate colony. 10 Aug 1889                British-French boundary agreement for the                              Senegambia. Apr 1894                   Foreign Combo annexed to Gambia. 28 Dec 1894                British protectorate proclaimed over the                               interior. 11 Jan 1901                Gambia Colony and Protectorate 14 Mar 1961                Granted semi-responsible government.  4 Oct 1963                Self-government granted. 18 Feb 1965                Independence from U.K. (The Gambia). 24 Apr 1970                Republic of The Gambia  1 Feb 1982 - 30 Sep 1989  With Senegal part of Senegambia (Senegambia                              Confederation). 18 Oct 1996                The Gambia¹ 10 Dec 2015 - 28 Jan 2017  Islamic Republic of The Gambia (style in limited                              official use, but never formalized). Traditional States Gambia Protectorate (1893-1965) Historical Maps of The Gambia

English Agents of Company of Adventurers of London Trading into Africa
Sep 1618 - 1619            George Thompson                    (d. 1619)
Oct 1620 - 1623?           Richard Jobson
16.. - 16..                .... [unknown]
Courlander Governors of St Andrew's Island
26 Oct 1651 – 12 Mar 1652  Pieter Schulte                     (d. af.1653)
12 Mar 1652 – 1653         Heinrich Fock (1st time) (acting)  (d. 1654)
1653 – 1654                Friedrich Wilhelm von Trotta,      (d. 1654)
                             gen. Treiden                        
1654 – Aug 1654            Heinrich Fock (2nd time) (acting)  (s.a.)
Aug 1654 – 1655            Wilhelm Philipp von Seitz          (d. af.1656)
1655 – Feb 1657            Otto Stiel (1st time) (acting)     (d. 1670s?)
Feb 1657 – 1657            Joachim Deninger von Olinda        (b. c.1600 - d. 1658)
1657 –  4 Feb 1659         Otto Stiel (2nd time)              (s.a.)
                             (acting to 1658)
 4 Feb 1659 – 10 Jun 1660  Dutch occupation
10 Jun 1660 -  3 Jul 1660  Otto Stiel (3rd time)              (s.a.)
 3 Jul 1660 -  2 Aug 1660  Dutch occupation
 2 Aug 1660 – 19 Mar 1661  Otto Stiel (4th time)              (s.a.)

English Agents at Fort James of Royal Adventurers in Africa Company

(Gambia Adventurers 1669-1698; from 1684, Royal African Company)

19 Mar 1661 - 1661         Francis Kerby                      (d. 1661)

1661 -  2 Oct 1662         Morgan Facey

  2 Oct 1662 - 26 Jan 1664  Stephen Ustick

26 Jan 1664 - 1666         John Ladd

1666 - 1672                ....

1672 - 1674                Rice Wight

1674 - 1677                ....

1677 - 1680                Thomas Thurloe                     (b. 1650/51 - d. 1680)

1680 - 1681                Thomas Forde 

1681 - 1684                John Kastell

1684 - 1688                Alexander Cleeve

1688 -  8 Jun 1693         John Booker                        (d. 1693)

 8 Jun 1693 - 1695         William Heath

1695 - 27 Jul 1695         John Hanbury

27 Jul 1695 - Apr 1699     French rule, but deserted

Apr 1699 - 1700            Thomas Corker                      (b. 16.. - d. 1700)

1700                       Paul Pindar                        (d. 1700)

1700 - 1701                Thomas Gresham                     (d. 1701)

1701 - Nov 1702            Henry Bradshaw

Nov 1702 -  7 Dec 1703     Humphrey Chishull

 7 Dec 1703 -  4 Sep 1704  Thomas Weaver                      (b. c.1641 - d. 1704)

 4 Sep 1704 - 22 Jun 1706  John Chidley

22 Jun 1706 - Aug 1706     Joseph Dankins (acting)

Aug 1706 -  2 Dec 1706     John Tozer

 2 Dec 1706 - 20 May 1709  John Snow

20 May 1709 - 13 Nov 1713  Abandoned

13 Nov 1713 - Dec 1714     William Cooke

Dec 1714 -  9 Oct 1717     David Francis                      (d. 1717)

 9 Oct 1717 -  4 Feb 1721  Charles Orfeur                     (b. 1688? - d. 1745)

Governors at Fort James of Royal African Company

(from 13 Jun 1750, Company of Merchants Trading in Africa)

 4 Feb 1721 -  6 Oct 1721  Thomas Whitney                     (b. c.1660 - d. 1728)

 6 Oct 1721 - 13 Apr 1723  Henry Glynne                       (d. 1723)

13 Apr 1723 - 28 Oct 1723  Joseph Willey

28 Oct 1713 -  2 Nov 1725  Robert Plunkett                    (d. 1725)

 2 Nov 1725 - 1728         Anthony Rogers

1728                       Richard Hull (1st time)            (d. 1737)

1728 - 1729                Charles Cornewall                  (d. 1729)

1729 - 29 Nov 1729         Daniel Pepper (acting)

29 Nov 1729 -  7 Feb 1733  Anthony Rogers

 7 Feb 1733 - 16 Jan 1737  Richard Hull (2nd time)            (s.a.)

16 Jan 1737 - 1745         Charles Orfeur                     (s.a.)

1745 - 13 Jun 1750         John Gootheridge

13 Jun 1750 - 1752         James Alison (acting)

1752 - 1754                James Skinner

1754 - 1755                Robert Lawrie

1755 - 1758                Tobias Lisle                       (d. 1760)

1758 - 25 May 1765         Joseph Debat

                             (from 1760, superintendent of the Gambia trade)

25 May 1765 - 11 Feb 1779  part of British Senegambia (see Senegal)

11 Feb 1779 -  3 Sep 1783  part of French Senegal

Commandants of Bathurst

 3 Sep 1783 - 23 Apr 1816  None

23 Apr 1816 -  1 Aug 1826  Alexander Grant                    (b. 1775 - d. 1827)

 1 Aug 1826 -  8 Mar 1829  Alexander Findlay, Jr.             (b. 1784? - d. 1851)

 8 Mar 1829 -  8 Aug 1829  William Hutton (acting)            (b. 1797 - d. 1860)

 8 Aug 1829 - 28 Jan 1830  James Jackson (acting)

Lieutenant governors

28 Jan 1830 -  3 Apr 1830  Alexander Findlay, Jr.             (s.a.)

 3 Apr 1830 - 20 Sep 1837  George Rendall                     (b. c.1791 - d. 1837)

20 Sep 1837 - Oct 1838     Anthony Clogstoun (acting)         (b. 1815 - d. 1851)

Oct 1838 - 17 Sep 1839     William Mackie                     (d. 1839)

17 Sep 1839 - 10 Apr 1840  Thomas Lewis Ingram (1st time)     (b. 1807 - d. 1869)

                             (acting)

10 Apr 1840 - 31 May 1841  Sir Henry Vere Huntley             (b. 1795 - d. 1864)

31 May 1841 -  1 Apr 1843  Thomas Lewis Ingram (2nd time)     (s.a.)

                             (acting)

 1 Apr 1843 - 24 Jun 1843  Henry Frowd Seagram                (b. c.1802 - d. 1843)

Governors

24 Jun 1843 - 26 Aug 1843  Henry Frowd Seagram                (s.a.)

26 Aug 1843 -  7 Apr 1844  Thomas Lewis Ingram (3rd time)     (s.a.)

                             (acting)

30 Oct 1843 - 15 Mar 1844  Edmund Nash Norcott                (b. 1794 - d. 1874)

                             (did not take office)

 7 Aug 1844 -  9 Dec 1844  John Isles Mantell (acting)        (b. 1813 - d. 1893)

 9 Dec 1844 - 18 Apr 1847  Charles Fitzgerald                 (b. 1792 - d. 1887)

18 Apr 1847 - 21 Dec 1847  Thomas Lewis Ingram (4th time)     (s.a.)

                             (acting)

21 Dec 1847 - 11 Aug 1851  Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell      (b. 1814 - d. 1881)

                             (1st time)

11 Aug 1851 - 12 Mar 1852  Daniel Robertson (1st time)(acting)(b. 1813 - d. 1892)

12 Mar 1852 - 18 Aug 1852  Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell      (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)

May 1852                   Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy          (b. 1810 - d. 1883)

                             (did not take office)

18 Aug 1852 - 21 Oct 1852  Daniel Robertson (2nd time)(acting)(s.a.)

21 Oct 1852 - 23 Apr 1859  Luke Smythe O'Connor               (b. 1806 - d. 1873)

23 Apr 1859 -  6 Sep 1859  Daniel Robertson (3rd time)(acting)(s.a.)

 6 Sep 1859 - 19 Feb 1866  George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy          (b. 1819 - d. 1885)

Administrators

19 Feb 1866 - Dec 1866     George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy          (s.a.)

18 Dec 1866 - 21 Apr 1869  Charles George Edward Patey        (b. 1813 - d. 1881)

21 Apr 1869 - 12 Sep 1870  Alexander Bravo (acting)           (b. 1829 - d. 1902)

12 Sep 1870 - Aug 1871     Henry Anton (acting)               (b. 1824 - d. 1871)

 7 Aug 1871 - 21 Apr 1872  Jeremiah Thomas Fitzgerald         (b. 1827 - d. 1881)
                             Callaghan

21 Apr 1872 -  7 Oct 1872  Henry William John Fowler (acting) (b. 1842 - d. 1893)

 7 Oct 1872 -  2 Oct 1873  Henry Towry Miles Cooper (1st time)(b. 1838 - d. 1877)

                             (acting)

 2 Oct 1873 - 12 Feb 1875  Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright    (b. 1817 - d. 1899)

12 Feb 1875 -  2 Jul 1875  Henry Towry Miles Cooper (2nd time)(s.a.)
                             (acting)

 2 Jul 1875 -  3 Jul 1875  Sir Samuel Rowe (1st time)         (b. 1835 - d. 1888)

 3 Jul 1875 -  9 Jan 1877  Henry Towry Miles Cooper (3rd time)(s.a.)

                             (acting)

 9 Jan 1877 - 30 Mar 1877  William Hamilton Berkeley, Jr.    

                             (acting)

30 Mar 1877 -  3 Mar 1884  Valesius Skipton Gouldsbury        (b. 1839 - d. 1896)

10 Mar 1884 - Dec 1885     Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney       (b. 1848 - d. 1913)

Dec 1885 -  8 Feb 1886     Gilbert Thomas Carter (1st time)   (b. 1848 - d. 1927)

                             (acting)

 8 Feb 1886 - 12 Jun 1886  Sir James Shaw Hay                 (b. 1839 - d. 1924)

12 Jun 1886 - 29 Apr 1887  Gilbert Thomas Carter (2nd time)   (s.a.)
                             (acting)

29 Apr 1887 - 27 Nov 1887  Sir Samuel Rowe (2nd time)         (s.a.)

27 Nov 1887 -  6 Jun 1888  Thomas Risely Griffith (acting)    (b. 1848 - d. ....)

 6 Jun 1888 -  2 Mar 1891  Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter          (b. 1848 - d. 1927)

                             (3rd time)(acting to 29 Nov 1888) 

16 Mar 1891 - 19 Apr 1891  Charles Herbert Harley Moseley     (b. 1857 - d. 1933)

                             (acting)

19 Apr 1891 - 21 Mar 1900  Robert Baxter Llewelyn             (b. 1845 - d. 1919) 

                             (from 1 Jan 1898, Sir Robert Baxter Llewelyn)

21 Mar 1900 - 10 Jan 1901  Horace Major Brandford Griffith    (b. 1863 - d. 1909)

                             (acting)

10 Jan 1901 -  4 Mar 1901  Sir George Chardin Denton          (b. 1851 - d. 1928)

Governors

 4 Mar 1901 - 21 Dec 1911  Sir George Chardin Denton          (s.a.)

21 Dec 1911 - 30 Jan 1914  Sir Henry Lionel Galway            (b. 1859 - d. 1949)
                             (to 9 Nov 1911, Henry Lionel Gallwey) 

30 Jan 1914 - 10 Apr 1914  Cecil Gwyn (acting)                (b. 1867 - d. 19..)

10 Apr 1914 - Jul 1920     Edward John Cameron                (b. 1858 - d. 1947)

                             (from 5 Jun 1916, Sir Edward John Cameron)

Jul 1920 -  3 Jan 1921     Herbert Henniker-Heaton (acting)   (b. 1880 - d. 1961)

 3 Jan 1921 - 10 Mar 1927  Cecil Hamilton Armitage            (b. 1868 - d. 1933)

                             (from 3 Jul 1926, Sir Cecil Hamilton Armitage)                     

10 Mar 1927 - Oct 1928     Sir John Middleton                 (b. 1870 - d. 1954)

Oct 1928 - 29 Nov 1928     Charles Rufus Marshall Workman     (b. 1874 - d. 1942)
                             (1st time)(acting)

29 Nov 1928 - 13 Jan 1930  Sir Edward Brandis Denham          (b. 1876 - d. 1938)

13 Jan 1930 - 11 Sep 1930  Charles Rufus Marshall Workman     (s.a.)

                             (2nd time)(acting)

11 Sep 1930 - 12 Apr 1933  Herbert Richmond Palmer            (b. 1877 - d. 1958)

                             (from 2 Jan 1933, Sir Richmond Palmer)  

12 Apr 1933 - 12 Apr 1934  Godfrey Charles Brian Parish       (b. 1897 - d. 1934)

                             (acting)

12 Apr 1934 - 30 May 1936  Arthur Frederick Richards          (b. 1885 - d. 1978)

                             (from 3 Jun 1935, Sir Arthur Frederick Richards)

30 May 1936 - 22 Oct 1936  Harris Rendell Oke (acting)        (b. 1891 - d. 1940)

22 Oct 1936 - 23 Mar 1942  Sir Wilfred Thomas Southorn        (b. 1879 - d. 1957)

23 Mar 1942 - Oct 1946     Hilary Rudolph Robert Blood        (b. 1893 - d. 1967)

                             (from 1 Jan 1944, Sir Hilary Rudolph Robert Blood)

Oct 1946 - 29 Mar 1947     George Digby Chamberlain (acting)  (b. 1898 - d. 1994)

29 Mar 1947 - May 1949     Andrew Barkworth Wright            (b. 1895 - d. 1971)

                             (from 1 Jan 1948, Sir Andrew Barkworth Wright) 

May 1949 -  1 Dec 1949     Edward Rex Ward (acting)           (b. 1902 - d. 1984)

 1 Dec 1949 -  9 Apr 1958  Percy Wyn-Harris                   (b. 1903 - d. 1979)

                             (from 4 Jan 1952, Sir Percy Wyn-Harris) 

 9 Apr 1958 - 19 Jun 1958  Alexander Nicol Anton Waddell      (b. 1913 - d. 1999)

                             (acting)

19 Jun 1958 - 28 Feb 1962  Sir Edward Henry Windley           (b. 1909 - d. 1972)

28 Feb 1962 - 29 Mar 1962  Kenneth G.S. Smith (acting)        (b. 1918 - d. 2001)

29 Mar 1962 - 18 Feb 1965  John Warburton Paul                (b. 1916 - d. 2004)

                             (from 2 Jun 1962, Sir John Warburton Paul)  

Queen²

18 Feb 1965 - 24 Apr 1970  the Queen of the United Kingdom

Governors-General and Commanders-in-Chief of The Gambia

(representing the British monarch as head of state)

18 Feb 1965 -  9 Feb 1966  Sir John Warburton Paul            (s.a.)

 9 Feb 1966 - 24 Apr 1970  Farimang Mamadi Singhateh          (b. 1912 - d. 1977)

                            (from 12 Sep 1966, Sir Farimang Mamadi Singhateh)

                            (acting to 11 Aug 1966 [retroactive to 4 Jul 1966])

Jan 1970 - 24 Apr 1970     Sir Alieu Sulayman Jack            (b. 1922 - d. 2010)  PPP

                             (acting for Singhateh)

Presidents

24 Apr 1970 - 22 Jul 1994  Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara           (b. 1924 - d. 2019)  PPP

30 Jul 1981 -  5 Aug 1981  Kukoi Samba Sanyang                (b. 1952 - d. 2013)  Mil

                            (chairman of National Revolutionary Council, in rebellion)

22 Jul 1994 - 21 Jan 2017  Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung    (b. 1965)          Mil;1996 APRC

                             Jammeh (from May 2009, Sheikh Alhaji

                             Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh)

                            (chairman of Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council 

                             to 26 Jul 1996; Head of State to 18 Oct 1996;

                             left the country 21 Jan 2017)

19 Jan 2017 -              Adama Barrow                       (b. 1965)          CGG16;2019 NPP
                             (in Dakar, Senegal exile to 26 Jan 2017)

Chief minister

14 Mar 1961 -  4 Jun 1962  Pierre Sarr N'Jie                  (b. 1909 - d. 1993)  UP

Premier
 4 Jun 1962 -  4 Oct 1963  David Kairaba Jawara               (s.a.)               PPP

Prime minister

 4 Oct 1963 - 24 Apr 1970  David Kairaba Jawara               (s.a.)               PPP

                             (from 1965, Dawda Kairaba Jawara;

                             from 1 Jan 1966, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara)

 

 ¹referred to as "The Second Republic of The Gambia" in the preface to the Constitution of 1997 and in the Constitution's Schedule 2, section 2.

 ²Full style:

(a) 18 Feb 1965 - 18 Jun 1965: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith";

(b) 18 Jun 1965 - 24 Apr 1970: "Queen of The Gambia and all Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Territorial Disputes: Attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region as well as from conflicts in other west African states.

Note: British Gambia was divided into the Colony (a small area containing present-day Banjul [then Bathurst], and Kombo Saint Mary located next to it) and the Protectorate. The Protectorate originally had two divisions North Bank and South Bank, and from 1935, five divisions.

21 Jan 1893                First British Traveling Commissioners appointed.
28 Dec 1894                Gambia Protectorate formed.
11 Jan 1901                Gambia Colony and Protectorate
1935                       Partitioned into five divisions (Kombo Saint Mary, MacCarthy
                             Island, North Bank, South Bank, and Upper River); subordinated
                             to the Senior Commissioner at Bathurst until 1959. 
18 Feb 1965                Part of independent Gambia.

Traveling Commissioners of the North Bank of the Gambia River
21 Jan 1893 - 28 Feb 1902  John Henry Ozanne                  (b. 1851 - d. 1902)
1902 - 1920                Howard Lloyd Pryce                 (b. 18.. - d. 1932)
1920? - af.1928            Emilius R. Hopkinson (1st time)    (b. 1896 - d. 1951)
bf.1930? - af.1931         R.W. Macklin (1st time)
c.1932                     A.R. Clark
c.1933                     Emilius R. Hopkinson (2nd time)    (s.a.)
c.1934                     R.W. Macklin (2nd time)
c.1935                     Kenneth Cecil Tours                (b. 1908 - d. 1987)
c.1936 - c.1939            A.J. Knott
c.1940 - c.1941            F.A. Evans
c.1941 - c.1942            George Lorimer
c.1944                     Nicholas Master Assheton           (b. 1905 - d. 1994)
Traveling Commissioners of the Upper River
c.1922 - c.1925            George Edward Wannell              (b. 1882 - d. 1933)
c.1926 - c.1935            P. Jeffs
Traveling Commissioners of the MacCarthy Island Division
c.1935                     A.J. Knott
c.1936                     Nicholas Master Assheton           (s.a.)
Traveling Commissioners of the South Bank of the Gambia River
21 Jan 1893 - 1895?        Cecil Frederick Sitwell            (b. 1860 - d. 1900)
1895? - 1896?              A.A. Hammill
 4 Nov 1896 - Nov 1897     Percy Errington Wainewright        (b. 1865 - d. 1901)
1898? - 1899?              Howard Lloyd Pryce                 (s.a.)
1899 - 14 Jun 1900         Frederic Edgar Silva               (b. 1872 - d. 1900)
c.1903                     A.K. Withers
1904? - 1905?              W.B. Stanley
28 Sep 1905 - 1911         Hugh Francis Sproston
1911? - 1920?              Emilius R. Hopkinson               (s.a.)
1921? - 1924?              R.W. Macklin (1st time)
1924? - 1925?              L.A.W. Brooks
1925? - 1929?              R.W. Macklin (2nd time)
1929 - 1932?               Ernest Benjamin Leese              (b. 1877 - d. 1951)
1932? - 1933?              Harris Rendell Oke                 (b. 1891 - d. 1940)
1933? - 1936?              Ronald Henry Gretton               (b. 1907 - d. 1975)
1936 - 1937?               Ronald Graham Syme                 (b. 1906 - d. 1989)
1937? - af.1939            R.G. Biddulph
c.1942 - 1944?             Wilson Plant
Senior Commissioners (at Bathurst)
1944 - 1950                Neil Archibald Campbell Weir       (b. 1895 - d. 1967)
1950 - 1956                Gerald Humphrey Smith              (b. 1911 - d. 19..)
May? 1956 - 1959           Kenneth John Frazer                (b. 1914 - d. 2012)
1959                       M.H. Orde
1959                       Post abolished

1892                       Extinguished by British colonial authorities.

Rulers
16.. - 1826                .... [64 kings unknown]
1826 - 1832                Burungai Djirayandi Sonko
1832 - 1862                Demba Adam Sonko
1862 - 1892                Demba Sonko

1867 - 1887                Part of N'Gabu (see under Guinea-Bissau).

Head Chiefs
1887 - 1901                Alfa Musa Molo                       (d. 1931)
1901 - 1918                Dembo Dansone
1918 - 1919                Sanneh Bayo
1919 - 1922                Musa Jatte
1922 - 1924                Hansumana Dansoe
1925 - 1951                Cherno Kady Naldeh  
1952 - 1964                Koba Leigh
1964 - 1997                Laning Baldeh
1997 -                     Farli Baldeh

Rulers
1851 - 1855                'Umar
1851 - 1892                Fodi Kabba (in Jarra)
1861 - 1866                Maba Almami (in Badibbu)             (d. 1867)
1867 - 1885                Manimadu N'Dare (in Badibbu)
1877 - 1887                Bayram Sis (in rebellion) 
1885 - 1887                Sa'id Mattin (in Badibbu)