Palau
 

1875 - 12 Oct 1899   12 Oct 1899 - 8 Oct 1914   8 Oct 1914 - 15 Sep 1944   15 Sep 1944 - 1 Oct 1994   18 Jul 1947 - 3 Oct 1962 Pacific Is.Trust Terr.   3 Oct 1962 - 31 Dec 1980 Pacific Is.Trust Terr.   Adopted 1 Jan 1981 Map of Palau Hear National Anthem "Belau Rekid" (Our Palau)  Text of National Anthem Adopted 25 Dec 1980 Constitution (1 Jan 1981) Capital: Melekeok (Koror 1921-7 Oct 2006; Malakal 1905-1921) Currency: US Dollar (USD); 1914-1944  Japanese Yen  (JPY) National Holiday: 9 Jul (1979) Constitution Day Population: 19,417 (2020) GDP: $264 million (2017) Exports: $23.17 billion (2017) Imports: $4.71 billion (2017) Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 73%, Carolinian 2%, Asian 21.7%, Caucasian 1.2%, other 2.1% (2015) Total Police Force: 75 (2012) Defense is the Responsibility of the U.S. Merchant marine: None (2018) Religions: Roman Catholic 45.3%, Protestant 34.9% (includes  Evangelical 26.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.9%, Assembly of God 0.9%, Baptist 0.7%), Modekngei 5.7% (indigenous to  Palau), Muslim 3%, Mormon 1.5%, other 9.7% (2015) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APA, APM, BTWC, CCM, CTBT, CWC, ESCR (signatory), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA (signatory), ISA, MIGA, NPT, OPCW, PC, PIF (withdrawing), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNWTO, WHO, WMO (observer) Palau Index Chronology 1543                       Discovered by the Spanish explorer Rui López                              de Villalobos. 11 Dec 1710                Re-discovered by and claimed for Spain by                               Francisco de Padilla (Islas Palaos). 10 Aug 1783 - 12 Nov 1783  British Capt. Henry Wilson and crew of Antelope                              are shipwrecked on Palau. 1874                       Spain reasserts its claim to the islands, but                              does not begin settlement. 1880                       German trading firm the Hernsheim Company                              establishes a trading station on Palau. 19 Sep 1885                Annexed by Germany (Pelew). 22 Oct 1885                Spanish possession is confirmed by the arbitration                              of Pope Leo XIII (signed 17 Dec 1885). 12 Oct 1899                Part of German New Guinea (see Papua New Guinea)                              (Palau [Pelew]-Inseln). 1905                       Regierungsstation Korror established. 1910                       Regierungsstation Angaur established.  8 Oct 1914                Japanese occupation (see under Marshall Islands)                              from 28 Dec 1914 [see below).  8 Oct 1914 - Mar 1922     Japanese military (naval) administration, from Jul                              1918, with civil administration department                              subordinate under the navy. Dec 1914, Palau                              district created (from the Caroline Islands west                              of 137 E). 28 Jun 1919                Germany formally renounces claim to the islands by                              the Treaty of Versailles. 17 Dec 1920                League of Nations mandate (South Seas Islands)                              under Japan. Jul 1921                   Japanese transfer civil administration from                              Chuuk in Caroline Islands to Koror in Palau.  1 Apr 1922                South Seas Government (Nanyō Chō Guntō) created                             (includes Marshall, Palau, Caroline [Micronesia]                              and Northern Mariana islands; it is composed of                              six administrative districts - Palau, Saipan, Yap,                              Truk, Ponape, and Jaluit Atoll). 27 Mar 1933                Japan withdraws from the League of Nations. 1935                       Japan declares that the mandated islands are an                              "integral part of the Japanese Empire." Dec 1941                   Martial law declared.  5 Nov 1943                Reorganization, the Palau district becomes the                              Western Area (Palau and Yap), headquarters Palau. 15 Sep 1944                U.S. invasion begins as Peleliu. 14 Aug 1945                Japan deprived of Nanyō Chō by Potsdam agreement                              (recognized 28 Apr 1952 by peace of San Francisco)  2 Sep 1945                U.S. occupies Palau.  2 Sep 1945 - 30 Jun 1951  U.S. Navy military administration. 18 Jul 1947                Palau District of the of United Nations Trust                              Territory of the Pacific Islands (see Micronesia)  1 Jul 1951 - 31 Dec 1980  Administered by U.S. Department of Interior.  1 Jan 1981                Republic of Palau  10 Jul 1987                Trust territory effectively dissolved; Palau remains                              trusteeship under the administrative                              responsibility of the U.S. Interior Department.  1 Oct 1994                Independence, Compact of Free Association with                              the U.S. effective. States (since 1981) Traditional Chiefs

Governors 
12 Oct 1899 -  8 Oct 1914  the governors of German New Guinea
Bezirksamtleute (District magistrates)
12 Oct 1899 -  7 Oct 1914  the District magistrates of the 
                           Western Caroline Islands
                           (see under Micronesia)
Stationsleiter (Station chief) Westkarolinen (in Palau)
Feb 1901 -  8 Feb 1904     James Gibbon                    (b. 1828 - d. 1904)
Stationsleiter (Station chief) Korror
Jan 1905 - 1914            Wilhelm Winkler
Stationsleiter (Station chiefs) Angaur
1910 - 1911                Georg Eberhard von Heynitz      (b. 1878 - d. 1935)
1911 - 1913                Hans Adolf Rodatz               (b. 1873 - d. 1927)
1913 - 1914                Völz
1914                       Eckert
Japanese Commanders of the Interim Southern Islands Defense Unit
(in charge of administration the Caroline, Marshall, 
Northern Mariana, and Palau islands)
28 Dec 1914 -  6 Aug 1915  Tatsuo Matsumura                (b. 1868 - d. 1932)
 6 Aug 1915 -  1 Dec 1916  Tōgō Kichitarō                  (b. 1867 - d. 1942) 
 1 Dec 1916 -  1 Dec 1917  Yoshida Masujirō                (b. 1867 - d. 1942) 
 1 Dec 1917 -  1 Dec 1919  Nagata Yasujirō                 (b. 1867 - d. 1923)
 1 Dec 1919 -  1 Apr 1922  Kojūrō Nozaki                   (b. 1872 - d. 1946)
Director of the Department of Civil Affairs of the South Sea Agency
 1 Jul 1918 -  1 Apr 1922  Toshirō Tezuka                  (b. 1873 - d. 1933)
Directors of the South Seas Government
 1 Apr 1922 -  4 Apr 1923  Toshirō Tezuka                  (s.a.)
 4 Apr 1923 - 11 Oct 1931  Gōsuke Yokota                   (b. 1880 - d. 1931)
12 Oct 1931 - 21 Nov 1931  Mitsusada Horiguchi (interim)   (b. 1881 - d. 19..)
21 Nov 1931 -  5 Feb 1932  Kazuo Tawara                    (b. 1887 - d. 1955)
 5 Feb 1932 -  4 Aug 1933  Baron Masayuki Matsuda          (b. 1892 - d. 1976)
 4 Aug 1933 - 19 Sep 1936  Hisao Hayashi                   (b. 1881 - d. 1963)
19 Sep 1936 -  9 Apr 1940  Kenjirō Kitajima                (b. 1893 - d. 1957)
 9 Apr 1940 -  5 Nov 1943  Shunsuke Kondō                  (b. 1890 - d. 1966)
 5 Nov 1943 -  2 Sep 1945  Boshirō Hosogaya                (b. 1888 - d. 1964)
                             (nominally to 12 Mar 1946)
Chiefs of the Palau Branch of South Seas Government
 1 Apr 1922 - 30 May 1922  Ryosaku Wachi
30 May 1922 -  4 Apr 1928  Yoshiyoshi Fujisaki
23 May 1928 - 1932?        Yasaburō Fushida
1932 - 1936?               Masaharu Mukai
1936 - 1938                Naotarō Mori
1938 - 1941?               Kiichi Kōsaka
1941 - 1942                Seiichi Itō                     (b. 1890 - d. 1945)
Jun 1942 - 1943?           Yūzaburō Yamaguchi   
Chiefs, Western Area Branch, South Seas Government (in Palau)
 5 Nov 1943 - 1944?        Sadaichi Domoto
22 May 1944 -  2 Sep 1945  Kenji Takeoka                   (b. 1899 - d. 1974)
U.S. Military Governors       
 2 Sep 1945 - 18 Jul 1947  the Commanders of U.S. Naval Forces
                           Mariana Islands (see Northern Marianas)
Commanders, Western Carolines Subarea
Sep 1944 - 27 Jan 1945     John Walter Reeves, Jr.         (b. 1888 - d. 1967)
27 Jan 1945 - 15 Aug 1945  Elliott Buckmaster              (b. 1889 - d. 1976)
15 Aug 1945 - 22 Aug 1945  George Dominic Murray           (b. 1889 - d. 1956)
22 Aug 1945 - 1947         the Commanders of U.S. Naval Forces Marianas Area
Officers in Charge, Military Government Palaus
Oct 1946 - Apr 1946        Alfred Jensen Byrholdt          (b. 1892 - d. 1952)
May 1946 - Sep 1946        Carroll Darsie Anderson         (b. 1905 - d. 19..)
Oct 1946 - Sep 1947        William C. Ball                 (b. 1901 - d. ....)
Civil Administrators Palaus (Belau)
Sep 1947 - 1947            William C. Ball                 (s.a.)
Dec 1947 - Mar 1949        Chesley Marshall Hardison       (b. 1903 - d. 1954)
Mar 1949 - Jun 1949        Thomas E. Quillman, Jr. (acting)(b. 1907 - d. 1988)
Jun 1949 - 30 Jun 1951     Alan D. Curtis                  (b. 1902 - d. ....)
District Administrators, Palau (Belau)
 1 Jul 1951 - 1952         ....
1952 - 1953                Sidney Burnett                  (b. 1889 - d. 1961) 
Oct 1953 - Oct 1958        David Donald Heron              (b. 1903 – d. 1964)
1958 - 24 Aug 1962         Francis B. Mahoney              (b. 1922 - d. 1981)
                             (acting to 1959)
1962 - 1966                Manuel Godinez                  (b. 1914 - d. 1990)
1966 - 1969                James Boyd MacKenzie            (b. 1918 – d. 1978) 
Mar 1969 - Oct 1969        James C. Flannery               (b. 1918 - d. 1978)
 1 Nov 1969 - 28 Jan 1979  Thomas Ongelibel Remengesau, Sr.(b. 1929 - d. 2019)
                             (acting to 1970)
28 Jan 1979 - 31 Dec 1980  Kim Brian Batcheller (acting)   (b. 1939)
U.S. Resident representatives
 1 Jan 1981 - 16 Dec 1990  ....
Director of the Palau Office of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
(Resident representative of the U.S. Interior Department)
16 Dec 1990 -  1 Oct 1994  J. Victor Hobson, Jr.
Presidents
 1 Jan 1981 -  2 Mar 1981  Ngirngetpak Tosiwo Nakamura     (b. 1938 - d. 2003)  Non-party
                             (Speaker of the Legislature)
                             (acting)
 2 Mar 1981 - 30 Jun 1985  Haruo Ignacio Remeliik          (b. 1934 - d. 1985)  Non-party
30 Jun 1985 -  2 Jul 1985  Thomas Ongelibel Remengesau, Sr.(s.a.)               Non-party
                             (1st time) (acting)
 2 Jul 1985 - 25 Oct 1985  Alfonso Rehobong Oiterong       (b. 1924 - d. 1994)  Non-party
25 Oct 1985 - 20 Aug 1988  Lazarus Eitaro Salii            (b. 1935 - d. 1988)  Non-party
20 Aug 1988 -  1 Jan 1989  Thomas Ongelibel Remengesau, Sr.(s.a.)               Non-party
                             (2nd time) 
 1 Jan 1989 -  1 Jan 1993  Ngiratkel Etpison               (b. 1925 - d. 1997)  Non-party
 1 Jan 1993 -  1 Jan 2001  Kuniwo Nakamura                 (b. 1943 - d. 2020)  Non-party
 1 Jan 2001 - 15 Jan 2009  Thomas Esang "Tommy"            (b. 1956)            Non-party
                             Remengesau, Jr. (1st time)
15 Jan 2009 - 15 Jan 2013  Johnson Toribiong               (b. 1946)            Non-party
15 Jan 2013 - 21 Jan 2021  Thomas Esang "Tommy"            (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Remengesau, Jr. (2nd time) 
21 Jan 2021 -              Surangel Whipps, Jr.            (b. 1968)            Non-party

No Political Parties Exist

Territorial Disputes: Maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia.

Note: Palau is divided into two regions, Eoueldaob and Babeldaob (Babelthuap; dominated by one big island). The highest chief in Eoueldaob (and in his own estimation in all Palau) is the Ibedul, the chief of Oreor (Koror)(ritual name Ngerekldeu); the highest chief in Babeldoab is the Reklai, the chief of Melekeok (ritual name Ngetelngal), following an earlier line of chiefs with the style Tmekei.

Chiefs (title Ibedul)
c.1710                     Mlad ra ulekadei "ibedul re kerel"
17.. - 17..                Kemangel ibedul
17.. - 17..                Mlad reksom "mlad raksong"
17.. - 17..                Bokelolom ngiragolival
1783? - Sep 1791           Ngiraidid Chorot "mlad er a burek) (b. 17.. - d. 1791)
1791 - ....                Kingsos "King George" 
.... - ....                Ngiratachadong
.... - ....                Meang Merikl "meringel a kemedil"
.... - 12 Apr 1867         Ngirachosarech "mlad er a soldau"  (d. 1867)
1867 - 1872                Meresou
1872 - 18..                Ngirchokebai                       (b. c.1830 - d. 1911)
1883? - c.1900             Ilengelekei
.... - 1911                ....
1911 - 1917                Louch Semelemoch                   (d. 1917)
1917 - 29 Jan 1939         Tem
1939 - 19..                Ngiraked
1950? - 1956               Mariur                             (d. 1956)
1956 - Sep 1972            Ngoriakl                           (b. 1917? - d. 1972)
1972 -  4 Nov 2021         Yutaka Miller Gibbons              (b. 1944 - d. 2021)
1972 - 1973                Takeo Yano (acting for Gibbons)
1973                       Gloria Gibbons (f)                 (b. 1950)
                             (acting for Gibbons)

Chiefs (title Reklai)
.... - ....                Tangesechel [not the first Reklai]
.... - ....                Orakiruu
.... - ....                Omekerall
.... - ....                Busechesuch
18.. - 18..                Cheltuk
18.. - 1862                Okerangel                          (d. 1862)
1880? - 1890?              Temol
.... - ....                Ngirachermang
.... - ....                Soilokel
.... - ....                Ngiratrang
.... - 1914                Ruluked (Rrull)
1914 - 1934                Tellei
1934 - 1960?               Rekewis Brel
1968 - 1973?               Ngiratelbadel Lomisang             (b. 18.. - d. 197.)
1974? - 1980?              Eusevio Nguakl Termeteet (acting)  (b. 1914? - d. 1989)
1983? - 1992               Siangeldeb Basilius                (b. 1918 - d. 1992)
17 Nov 1993 -              Raphael Bao Ngirmang               (b. 1932)