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Trinidad and Tobago
 
[Flag of the United Kingdom]
18 Feb 1797 - 1 Jan 1889
 
[Trinidad and Tobago colonial flag, 1889-1958]
1 Jan 1889 - 13 Oct 1958
 
[Trinidad and Tobago colonial flag, 1958-1962]
13 Oct 1958 - 31 Aug 1962
 
[Trinidad and Tobago]
Adopted 31 Aug 1962

Map of Trinidad
and Tobago
Hear National Anthem
 "Forged from the
Love of Liberty"
Text of National Anthem
Adopted 31 Aug 1962
Constitution
(1 Aug 1976)
Capital: Port-of-Spain
Currency: Trinidad and
Tobago Dollar (TTD); 1935-1965
 British West Indies Dollar
 (XBWD); 1899-1951 Trinidad
 and Tobago Dollar (TTO)
National Holiday: 31 Aug (1962)
Independence Day
Population: 1,408,966 (2024)
GDP: $43.35 billion (2023)
Exports: $11.5 billion (2023)
Imports: $8.77 billion (2023)
 Ethnic groups: East Indian 35.4%, African 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%,
unspecified 6.2% (2011)
Total Active Armed Forces: 4,050 (2024)
Merchant marine: 102 ships (2023)
Religions: Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congregational 2.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011)
International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, APM, BTWC, C, Caricom, CCM, CDB, CELAC, CTBT, CWC, EITI,  ESCR, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OST (signatory), PA (observer), Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Trinidad and
Tobago Index
Chronology

31 Jul 1498                Trinidad discovered and claimed for Spain by
                             Columbus, named Isla La Santissima Trinidad.
15 Dec 1521                Trinidad a Spanish colony; subordinated 
                             to Audiencia of Santo Domingo (to 1739).
1592                       Permanent settlement of Trinidad begun, part
                              of the province of Guayana y Trinidad.
 27 May 1717                Trinidad part of the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada.
                             (see Colombia). 
 11 May 1724 - 20 Aug 1739  Trinidad subject to Santo Domingo.
1731                       Trinidad made a separate province of Venezuela.
 20 Aug 1739 -  8 Sep 1777  Trinidad part of Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada. 
  4 Jun 1762                Trinidad a Comandancia general (part of Venezuela).
10 Feb 1763                Tobago a British colony (French rule 1781-93 and
                             1802-03).
10 Feb 1763                Tobago ceded to Britain by France.
  8 Sep 1777 - 1797         Trinidad a province of Venezuela Captaincy-general.
 18 Feb 1797                Trinidad occupied by Britain (Spanish surrender
                             21 Feb 1797).
27 Mar 1802                Spain formally cedes Trinidad to Britain;
                             Trinidad a British colony.
 1 Jan 1889                Colony of Trinidad and Tobago
 18 Sep 1950                Granted semi-responsible government.
 28 Oct 1956                Self-government
  3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Part of the Federation of the West Indies
                            (with Antigua, Barbados, Cayman Islands,
                             Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, 
                             St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia,
                             St. Vincent, and Turks and Caicos Islands)
31 Aug 1962                Independence from Britain (Trinidad and Tobago).
 1 Aug 1976                Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and
Tobago
(from 1899)
Trinidad
(1530-1899)
Tobago
(1628-1899)
West Indies
Federation
(1958-1962)
 
 
 
 
 
 

Trinidad
 
[Spanish War Ensign 1785-1931]
to 18 Sep 1797
[Flag of the United Kingdom]
18 Sep 1797 - 1875
[Trinidad colonial flag 1875-1889]
1875 - 1 Jan 1889
Map of Trinidad
 Capital: Port-of-Spain
(Puerto de España 1783-1797;
San José de Oruña 1592-1783)
Population: 196,000 (1889 est.)

Governors of Guayana and Trinidad
1521 - 1526                Diego Colón Moniz                  (b. 1479/80 - d. 1526)
12 Jul 1530 - 1538         Antonío Sedeño
1571 - 1591                Juan Ponce de León  
1580 - 1597                Antonio de Berrío y Oruña          (d. 1597)
 1597 - 1612                Fernando de Berrío (1st time)  
1615 - 1618                Diego Palomeque de Acuña
1619 - 1622                Fernando de Berrío (2nd time)
1624 - 1631                Luís de Monsalve y Saavedra 
1631 - 1636                Cristóval de Aranda
1636 - 1641                Diego Lopez de Escobar
1642 - 1657                Martín de Mendoza de la Hoy
                             y Berrío
1657 - 1664                Juan de Viedma
1665 - 1668                José de Haspe y Zuñiga
1670 - 1677                Diego Ximenes de Aldana
1678 - 1682                Tiburcio de Haspe y Zuñiga
 1682 - 1684                Diego Suárez Ponce de León (1st time)
 1684 - 1690                Sebastian de Roseta
1693 - 1696                Diego Suárez Ponce de León (2nd time)
 1696 - 1698                Francisco de Menez
1698 - Dec 1699            José de León y Echales             (d. 1699) 
1699 - 1701                .... (acting)
 1701 - 1705                Francisco Ruíz de Aguirre
1705 - 1711                Felipe de Artieda
1711 - 1716                Cristóbal Félix de Guzmán
1716 - 1721                Pedro de Jara
1721                       Juan de Orvay (acting)
1721 - 1726                Martín Pérez de Anda y Salazar 
1726 - 1730                Agustín de Arredondo
1730 - 1731                Bartolomé de Aldunate y Rada       (b. 1679 - d. 1733)
Governors of Trinidad
 1731 - 1733                Bartolomé de Aldunate y Rada       (s.a.)
1733 - 11 Oct 1735         José Orbale 
                           + Pedro Ximenes
                           (alcaldes ordinarios; acting)
11 Oct 1735 - 1745         Esteban Simón de Liñan y Vera
 1745 -  4 Dec 1745         alcaldes (in rebellion)
 4 Dec 1745 - 19 Jun 1746  Félix Espinosa de los Monteros     (b. 1720 - d. 1778)
                             (provisional)
19 Jun 1746 -  7 Jan 1752  Juan José Salcedo
 7 Jan 1752 - 17 Jan 1757  Francisco Manclares
17 Jan 1757 -  6 Apr 1760  Pedro de la Moneda
 6 Apr 1760 - 1762         Jacinto San Juan
1762 - 1765                José Antonio Gil-Knight
19 Jun 1765 - 1766         Juan de Bruno (acting)
  5 Apr 1766 - 31 Mar 1773  José de Flores
31 Mar 1773 - 30 Nov 1776  Juan de Dios Valdés de Yarza y     (b. c.1716 - d. 1783)
                             Gaspar
 30 Nov 1776 - 11 Jul 1779  Manuel Falquez                     (d. 1779) 
Aug 1779 - 31 Mar 1781     Rafael Delgar
                              (military governor)
 21 Aug 1779 - 31 Mar 1781  Martín de Salaverría
                             (civil governor)
31 Mar 1781 - 23 Jan 1784  Juan Francisco Machado
23 Jan 1784 - 18 Oct 1784  Antonio Barreto (acting)
18 Oct 1784 - 18 Feb 1797  José María Chacón y Sánchez de Soto(b. 1747 - d. 1833)
18 Feb 1797 - Mar 1797     Sir Ralph Abercromby               (b. 1734 - d. 1801)
Mar 1797 - Jul 1802        Thomas Picton                      (b. 1758 - d. 1815)
                              (military governor to 29 Jun 1801)
 Jul 1802 - 20 Jul 1803     Civil Commission
                           - William Fullarton                (b. 1754 - d. 1808)
                           - Thomas Picton (to May 1803)      (s.a.)
                           - Samuel Hood                      (b. 1762 - d. 1814)
 20 Jul 1803 -  9 Jan 1810  Sir Thomas Hislop                  (b. 1764 - d. 1843)
 9 Jan 1810 - 25 Apr 1811  Henry Dunbar Tolley (acting)       (b. 1784 - d. 1837)
25 Apr 1811 - 14 Jun 1813  Hector William Munro (acting)      (b. 1769 - d. 1821)
 14 Jun 1813 - 12 Apr 1821  Sir Ralph James Woodford (1st time)(b. 1784 - d. 1828)
12 Apr 1821 - 18 Feb 1823  Aretas William Young (acting)      (b. 1777 - d. 1835)
 18 Feb 1823 -  1 Apr 1828  Sir Ralph James Woodford (2nd time)(s.a.)
  1 Apr 1828 - 17 Apr 1828  Henry Capadose (acting)            (b. 1778 - d. 1848)
 18 Apr 1828 - 26 Jul 1828  Sir Charles Felix Smith (1st time) (b. 1786 - d. 1858)
26 Jul 1828 - 10 Mar 1829  James Alexander Farquharson        (b. 1775 - d. 1834)
                             (acting)
 10 Mar 1829 - 20 Nov 1829  Lewis Grant (1st time)             (b. 1778 - d. 1852)
 20 Nov 1829 - 15 Feb 1830  Richard Doherty (1st time)(acting) (b. 1785 - d. 1862)
 15 Feb 1830 - 15 May 1830  Lewis Grant (2nd time)             (s.a.)
                             (from 13 Sep 1831, Sir Lewis Grant)
15 May 1830 -  3 Jun 1830  Richard Doherty (2nd time)(acting) (s.a.)
 3 Jun 1830 -  5 Dec 1831  Sir Charles Felix Smith (2nd time) (s.a.)
                             (acting)
 5 Dec 1831 -  9 Jun 1833  Sir Lewis Grant (3rd time)         (s.a.)
 9 Jun 1833 -  8 Mar 1839  Sir George Fitzgerald Hill         (b. 1763 - d. 1839)
 8 Mar 1839 - 24 Mar 1839  John Alexander Mein (1st time)     (b. 1786 - d. 1841)
                             (acting)
 24 Mar 1839 - 28 Mar 1839  Sir Evan John Murray McGregor      (b. 1785 - d. 1841)
                             (governor-general)
28 Mar 1839 - 13 Apr 1840  John Alexander Mein (2nd time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting)
13 Apr 1840 - 21 Nov 1840  Sir Henry George Macleod (1st time)(b. 1791 - d. 1847)
21 Nov 1840 - 14 Dec 1840  Maurice Barlow (acting)            (b. 1795 - d. 1875)
 14 Dec 1840 - 25 Sep 1841  John Tyler (acting)
25 Sep 1841 -  9 May 1842  Sir Charles Chichester (1st time)  (b. 1795 - d. 1847)
                             (acting)
 9 May 1842 - 29 Jun 1842  Sir Henry George Macleod (2nd time)(s.a.)
29 Jun 1842 -  8 Aug 1842  Francis Fuller (acting)
 8 Aug 1842 -  3 May 1843  Sir Charles Chichester (2nd time)  (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
 3 May 1843 - 29 Apr 1846  Sir Henry George Macleod (3rd time)(s.a.)
 8 Feb 1845 -  2 Jul 1845  E.C. Archer (acting)
 2 Jul 1845 - 21 Apr 1846  Sir Henry George Macleod (4th time)(s.a.)
21 Apr 1846 - 22 Apr 1846  Nicholas R. Brown (acting)
22 Apr 1846 - 11 Feb 1853  George Francis Robert Harris,      (b. 1810 - d. 1872)
                             Baron Harris (1st time)
 11 Feb 1853 - 25 Feb 1853  Halliday (acting)
25 Feb 1853 - 26 Jan 1854  George Francis Robert Harris,      (s.a.)
                             Baron Harris (2nd time)
26 Jan 1854 - 10 Mar 1854  Legendre Charles Bourchier (acting)(b. 1815 - d. 1866)
 10 Mar 1854 - 27 Oct 1856  Sir Charles Elliot                 (b. 1801 - d. 1875)
27 Oct 1856 - 26 Jan 1857  B. Brooks (acting)
 26 Jan 1857 -  7 Apr 1860  Robert William Keate (1st time)    (b. 1814 - d. 1873)
  7 Apr 1860 - 25 Mar 1861  James Walker (acting)              (b. 1809 - d. 1885)
 25 Mar 1861 - May 1861     Edward John Holworthy (acting)     (b. 1817? - d. 1864)
 May 1861 - 25 Jul 1864     Robert William Keate (2nd time)    (s.a.)
25 Jul 1864 -  6 Sep 1864  Thompson (acting)
  6 Sep 1864 - 24 Apr 1866  Sir John Henry Thomas Manners-     (b. 1814 - d. 1877)
                             Sutton
24 Apr 1866 -  7 Nov 1866  Edward Everard Rushworth (acting)  (b. 1818 - d. 1877)
  7 Nov 1866 -  8 Apr 1868  Sir Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon (b. 1829 - d. 1912) 
                             (1st time)
  8 Apr 1868 - 20 Apr 1868  James William Bostock (acting)     (b. 1825 - d. 1901)
 20 Apr 1868 - 25 Jun 1868  Sir Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon (s.a.)
                              (2nd time)
 25 Jun 1868 - 21 Dec 1868  Cornelius Hendericksen Kortright   (b. 1817 - d. 1899)
                              (acting)
 21 Dec 1868 - 25 Jun 1870  Sir Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon (s.a.)
25 Jun 1870 - 11 Jul 1872  James Robert Longden (1st time)    (b. 1827 - d. 1891)
 11 Jul 1872 - 21 May 1873  William Hepburn Rennie (acting)    (b. 1829 - d. 1874)
 21 May 1873 - 27 Apr 1874  James Robert Longden (2nd time)    (s.a.)
27 Apr 1874 - 27 May 1874  John Scott Bushe (1st time)(acting)(b. 1826 - d. 1887)
  2 May 1874 - 26 Apr 1874  William Wellington Cairns          (b. 1828 - d. 1888)
26 Apr 1874 - 20 Nov 1874  John Scott Bushe (2nd time)(acting)(s.a.)
20 Nov 1874 -  8 Dec 1876  Henry Turner Irving (1st time)     (b. 1833 - d. 1923)
 8 Dec 1876 -  3 Feb 1877  John Scott Bushe (3rd time)(acting)(s.a.)
 3 Feb 1877 -  2 Feb 1878  George William Des Voeux (acting)  (b. 1834 - d. 1909) 
 2 Feb 1878 - 27 Jul 1880  Henry Turner Irving (2nd time)     (s.a.)
                             (from 25 May 1878, Sir Henry Turner Irving)
27 Jul 1880 - 27 Aug 1880  William Rowland Pyne (acting)      (b. 1838 - d. 1885)
27 Aug 1880 -  2 Nov 1880  William Alexander George Young     (b. 1827 - d. 1885)
                             (acting)
  2 Nov 1880 - 28 Jun 1882  Sir Sanford Freeling (1st time)    (b. 1828 - d. 1894)
28 Jun 1882 -  1 Sep 1882  John Scott Bushe (3rd time)(acting)(s.a.)
 1 Sep 1882 - 27 Mar 1884  Sir Sanford Freeling (2nd time)    (s.a.)
28 Mar 1884 - 19 Jun 1884  John Scott Bushe (4th time)(acting)(s.a.)
19 Jun 1884 -  8 Aug 1884  Sir Frederick Palgrave Barlee      (b. 1827 - d. 1884)
 8 Aug 1884 - 24 Jan 1885  John Scott Bushe (5th time)(acting)(s.a.)
24 Jan 1885 -  2 Oct 1885  Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock        (b. 1844 - d. 1908)
 2 Oct 1885 -  9 Oct 1885  David Wilson (acting)              (b. 1838 - d. 1924)
  9 Oct 1885 - 29 May 1886  Sir William Robinson (1st time)    (b. 1836 - d. 1912)
29 May 1886 - 16 Jul 1886  John Scott Bushe (6th time)(acting)(s.a.)
16 Jul 1886 - 15 Sep 1888  Sir William Robinson (2nd time)    (s.a.)
15 Sep 1888 -  4 Nov 1888  Henry William John Fowler (acting) (b. 1842 - d. 1893)
 4 Nov 1888 - 31 Dec 1888  Sir William Robinson (3rd time)    (s.a.)

Tobago
 
[Flag of the United Kingdom]
12 Nov 1764 - 2 Jun 1781, 15 Apr 1793 - 1877
[Tobago colonial flag 1877-1889 (Trinidad and Tobago)]
1877 - 6 Apr 1889
 [Tobago House of Assembly (Trinidad and Tobago)]
Tobago House of Assembly Flag
Map of Tobago
 Capital: Scarborough
(Port Louis 1781-1793;
George Town 1764-1769)
Tobago Assembly Act
(23 Sep 1980/1996)
Population: 60,874 (2011)
18,353 (1890)

 4 Aug 1498                Possibly discovered and claimed for Spain by Columbus,
                             named Isla de la Asunción.
1502                       Named Isla La Magdalena by Alonzo de Ojeda and Juan de la Cosa;
                             later it is known as Tavaco, then Tabagua, finally as Tobago.
1580                       English claim Tobago for England (no settlement). 
Jan 1614 – 16 May 1614     Brief Spanish settlement.
1627                       Failed English attempted settlement from Barbados.
 25 Feb 1628                King Charles I of England, grants Tobago to Philip Herbert, Earl
                              of Montgomery (later Earl of Pembroke)(b. 1584 - d. 1650).
 Apr 1628 – Dec 1636        Dutch colony (Nieuw Walcheren) by the Dutch West-India Company,
                              patented to Jan de Moor (abandoned 1630 – Feb 1634).
  1 Jan 1637                Dutch colony destroyed by the Spanish.
 9 Oct 1639 – Aug 1640     English settlement, organized by Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, a
                              successor to the Earl of Pembroke (repeatedly 1642–1643).
 1646                       Duke of Courland (in modern Latvia) acquires the grant from
                              Earl of Warwick, not consented to by the King of England
                            (grant of 1642 by king to duke is common, but fake tale created
                             by Courlanders to justify colonization).
 1649 - 1650                Brief Courlander attempted settlement.
20 May 1654                Courlander colony (Neu Kurland) established on the north-west
                              coast at Jacobstadt (now Plymouth).
Sep 1654                   Dutch colony (Nieuw Walcheren) re-established by the Dutch
                              West India Company, patented to the Lampsins brothers, on the
                              south-west coast.
11 Dec 1659                Courlander colony occupied by the Dutch, the entire island united
                             united under Dutch administration, Jacobstadt is renamed Fort
                              Beveren.
 28 Aug 1662                Proprietorship (barony of Tobago) given to Cornelis Lampsins
                              by French King Louis XIV (in 30 Sep 1664 the retention of the
                              Dutch colonial status specified by the Dutch General Estates).
 Jan 1666 - Sep 1666        English occupation, administered from Barbados, nominally
                              in the name of Courland under the Treaty of 17 Nov 1664.
 Sep 1666 - Mar 1667        French occupation, subordinate to Grenada (abandoned Mar 1667 –
                             17 Apr 1667).
 17 Apr 1667 - 18 Dec 1672  Dutch colony (Tobago) re-established, under the West India
                             Company administration, subordinated to Dutch Guiana.
 17 Feb 1669 – 20 Feb 1669  Courlanders land on the island, but are soon captured by the Dutch.
 18 Dec 1672 - 21 Dec 1672  English occupation (abandoned 21 Dec 1672 - 1 Sep 1676).
 19 Feb 1674                Tobago restored to the Dutch by Treaty of Westminster.
  1 Sep 1676 - 12 Dec 1677  Dutch colony re-established by the Holland Province of Netherlands.
 12 Dec 1677 – 27 Dec 1677  French destroy the Dutch colony, the colony remains abandoned
                             until Jun 1680.
10 Aug 1678                Dutch cede the island to France by the Treaty of Nijmegen,
                              but the French do not assert their rights (in 15 Dec 1683 the
                              English Privy Council declares neutrality of Tobago against
                              French and Courlander claims).
Jun 1680 - 1693            Courlander colony re-established (abandoned Mar 1683 – 13 Jun 1686
                              and 2 Mar 1687 - 5 Oct 1687), titular governors appointed by the
                              Duke of Courland until 1786: 1690-99 Adolph Esmit (b. 1625/30 –
                             d. 1699); c.1710 Edward Cowley; 1726–27? von Brincken; and 1737-
                              1786? Ewald von Klopmann (d. 1786?) (after Courlander withdrawal
                              the island not permanently settled by the Europeans until 1764). 
Apr 1732 –  4 May 1732     Sweden fails in attempt to settle on northern coast of Tobago
                              (named Fort Frederick).
 18 Oct 1748                Neutral territory as recognized by the United Kingdom and
                              France in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
 Dec 1748 - 1749            French settlement, subordinate to Martinique, abandoned upon
                              ratification of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
 1762                       British claim Tobago, but no settlement.
 10 Feb 1763                Tobago ceded to Britain by France in Treaty of Paris (British take
                              possession on Nov 1763). Part of South Caribbean Islands colony
                             until 1802 (see Grenada).
 12 Nov 1764                Tobago a separate British colony, permanent settlement begun.
 2 Jun 1781 - 15 Apr 1793  French colony.
15 Apr 1793                British occupation of Tobago.
 25 Oct 1797 - 19 Apr 1801  Nominally part of Lucie département of France (Saint Lucia
                             and Tobago; not effected due to British occupation).
 7 Oct 1802 - 30 Jun 1803  French colony.
30 Jun 1803                British colony.
 1 Apr 1833 -  1 Jan 1889  Part of the Windward Islands (see under Grenada).
1877                       British crown colony.
 1 Jan 1889                Tobago annexed to Trinidad (Colony of Trindad and Tobago).
 1 Jan 1899                Tobago a ward of Colony of Trinidad and Tobago.
1959 - 1964                Department of Tobago Affairs headed by a non-resident permanent 
                             secretary.
1964 - 1977                Ministry for Tobago Affairs, part of Trinidad and Tobago government,
                             replaces the Department of Tobago Affairs.
 1977 - 1980                Central Administrative Services Tobago Affairs replaces the Ministry
                             for Tobago Affairs.
23 Sep 1980                Autonomy; Tobago House of Assembly is established by Act No. 37
                             of 1980.

Spanish Commander
Jan 1614 – 16 May 1614     Juan Rodriguez
 Dutch Governors
Apr 1628 – Dec 1636        Jan de Moor (proprietor)           (d. 1642)
Apr 1628 – 1630            Jacob Maerszoon (Maertsen)
1630 - Feb 1634            abandoned
Feb 1634 – Oct 1636        Willem Gayner
Oct 1636 – Dec 1636        Cornelis de Moor
English Commanders
 9 Oct 1639 – Aug 1640     Robert Marsham                     (d. 1640)
1640 - 1642                abandoned
1642 - 1643                Edward Marshall
Courlander Commander
1649 - 1650                Cornelis Caron                     (d. af.1666)
Courlander Governors (in the north west)
20 May 1654 – Jan 1657     Willem Mollens                     (d. 1659)
1657 – 1658                Wolfrat von Brederow, gen. Clottring
1658 – 11 Nov 1659         Christian Holtzbruch (acting)      (d. af.1661)
11 Nov 1659 – 11 Dec 1659  Christoffel Kysseling (acting)     (d. af.1660)
                             (self-proclaimed)
Dutch Commanders (in the south west, from 11 Dec 1659 the whole island)
Sep 1654 – Jan 1666        Cornelis Lampsins                  (b. 1600 - d. 1664)
                             (from 28 Aug 1662, baron de Tobago)
                           + Adriaen Lampsins                 (b. c.1598 - d. 1666)
                           (proprietors; jointly to 2 Sep 1664)
Sep 1654 – 1656            Pieter Becquart
1656 – Jan 1666            Hubert de Beveren
Jan 1666 - Sep 1666        John Scott -English commander      (b. c.1634? - d. 1696)
Sep 1666 – Mar 1667        sieur de Vincent -French commander (d. af.1670)
Mar 1667 – 17 Apr 1667     abandoned
17 Apr 1667 -  4 May 1667  Pieter Constant (1st time)(acting) (d. af.1683)
 4 May 1667 – 22 Apr 1668  Jan Lansman (acting)         
22 Apr 1668 - 1672         Abel Thisso                        (d. af.1678)
17 Feb 1669 - 20 Feb 1669  Hans Jurgen Waltmann
                             (Courlander governor; in opposition to Dutch)
1672 - 18 Dec 1672         Pieter Constant (2nd time)         (s.a.)
18 Dec 1672 – 21 Dec 1672  Tobias Bridge –English commander   (d. af.1674)
21 Dec 1672 -  1 Sep 1676  abandoned
 1 Sep 1676 - 12 Dec 1677  Jacob Binckes                      (b. 1637 - d. 1677)
 1 Sep 1676 - 12 Dec 1677  Heinrich Karloff (Henrik Carloff)  (b. 1621/22 - d. c.1694)
                             (commissioner-general)
12 Dec 1677 – 27 Dec 1677  Jean d'Estrees -French commander   (b. 1624 – d. 1707)
Courlander Governors
Jun 1680 - 1681            Robert Bennett (acting)
1681 – Dec 1681            Andreas Hamelton (acting)          (d. 1681)
Dec 1681 – Mar 1683        Franz Monck                        (d. af.1686)
Mar 1683 – 13 Jun 1686     abandoned
13 Jun 1686 –  2 Mar 1687  Berthold Otto Schmoll (acting)     (b. 1657 – d. 1719)
 2 Mar 1687 -  5 Oct 1687  abandoned
 5 Oct 1687 – Oct 1687     Dietrich von Altenbockum           (d. 1687)
Oct 1687 – 30 Jun 1688     Abraham Marin (1st time)(acting)   (d. 1689)
30 Jun 1688 -  8 Dec 1688  Jan Cornelson (1st time)(acting)   (d. 1689)
 8 Dec 1688 – 1689         Abraham Marin (2nd time)(acting)   (s.a.)
1689 – Nov 1689            Jan Cornelson (2nd time)(acting)   (s.a.)
Nov 1689 –  5 Jun 1690     Jan Anton Vanton (acting)
 5 Jun 1690 – 1693         .... [name not recorded](acting)
Swedish Commander
Apr 1732 -  4 May 1732     Laurentz (Lorentz) Brander till
                             Barima
French Commander
Dec 1748 - 1749            de Montalais (or Hurault)
1749 - Nov 1763            abandoned
British Commandants
Nov 1763 - Jun 1764        ....
                             [name of officer commanding first garrison detachment unknown]
Jun 1764 - 12 Nov 1764     Richard Legge
Lieutenant governors
12 Nov 1764 - 19 Jul 1766  Alexander Browne                   (d. 1766)
19 Jul 1766 - 29 Jun 1768  Richard Legge (acting)(commandant)
 2 Dec 1766 - 16 Oct 1767  William Hill
29 Jun 1768 - Apr 1769     Robert Stewart (1st time) (acting) (d. 1773)
                             (president of council) 
Apr 1769 - 10 Jun 1769     Roderick Gwynne (Gwyne)            (b. 1735 - d. 1769)
10 Jun 1769 - Sep 1769     Benjamin Brown (1st time)(acting)
Sep 1769 - Jul 1770        Robert Stewart (2nd time) (acting) (s.a.)
                             (president of council) 
Jul 1770 - Nov 1770        Benjamin Brown (2nd time)(acting)
Nov 1770 -  9 Apr 1771     Robert Stewart (3rd time) (acting) (s.a.)
                             (president of council) 
 9 Apr 1771 - 16 Apr 1775  William Young (1st time)           (b. 1725 - d. 1788)
16 Apr 1775 - Jan 1775     Peter Campbell (1st time)(acting)  (d. 1779)
                             (president of council) 
Jan 1775 - 17 Feb 1777     William Young (1st time)           (s.a.)
17 Feb 1777 - Jan 1779     Peter Campbell (2nd time)(acting)  (s.a.)
                             (president of council) 
Jan 1779 - 23 Feb 1780     John Graham (acting)               (d. 1788)
                              (president of council) 
23 Feb 1780 -  2 Jun 1781  George Ferguson                    (b. 1748 - d. 1820)
 Governors
 2 Jun 1781 -  8 Nov 1782  Philibert François Rouxel de       (b. 1735 - d. 1793) 
                             Blanchelande 
Nov 1782 - 1786            René Marie, vicomte d'Arrot        (b. 1754 - d. 1821)
                              (de Darrot)
 6 Dec 1786 - 14 May 1789  Arthur, comte Dillon               (b. 1750 - d. 1794)
14 May 1789 - May 1792     Antoine de Jobal de Poigny (acting)(b. 1747 - d. 1817)
May 1792 - Jun 1792        Louis-François Félix Roger de la
                             Sauvagère (acting)
Jun 1792 - Jan 1793        Jacques Philippe de Marguenat      (b. 1741 - d. 1794)
  3 Feb 1793 - 15 Apr 1793  Pierre Jacques Fulcrand de la      (b. 1740 - d. 1822)
                              Roque de Montels   
Captains-General and Governors-in-chief
15 Apr 1793 -  6 May 1793  Cornelius Cuyler (commander)       (b. c.1740 - d. 1819)
 6 May 1793 -  6 Jan 1794  William Myers (acting)             (b. 1750 - d. 1805)
 6 Jan 1794 - 20 May 1794  George Poyntz Ricketts             (b. 1749 - d. 1800)
20 May 1794 -  2 Apr 1795  Joseph Robley (1st time) (acting)  (b. 1742 - d. 1807) 
 2 Apr 1795 - 22 Mar 1796  William Lindsay (1st time)         (b. 17.. - d. 1796)
22 Mar 1796    5 Apr 1796  James Campbell (1st time)(acting)  (b. 1736 - d. 1805)
 5 Apr 1796 - 22 May 1796  William Lindsay (2nd time)         (s.a.)
23 May 1796 - 17 Jun 1797  James Campbell (2nd time)(acting)  (s.a.)
 17 Jun 1797 - l3 Jul 1797  Thomas Wilson (acting)             (b. 17.. - d. 1801)
 13 Jul 1797 - 16 Oct 1798  Stephen de Lancey                  (b. 1748 - d. 1799)
16 Oct 1798 - 28 Jan 1800  Joseph Robley (2nd time) (acting)  (s.a.)
28 Jan 1800 - 26 Oct 1800  Richard Master                     (b. 17.. - d. 1800)
26 Oct 1800 -  2 Oct 1802  Joseph Robley (3rd time) (acting)  (s.a.)
 2 Oct 1802 -  7 Oct 1802  Hugh Lyle Carmichael (acting)      (b. 1764 - d. 1813)
 7 Oct 1802 - 26 Dec 1802  Jean-Joseph François Léonard de    (b. 1756 - d. 1802)
                             Sahuguet d'Amarzit de La Roche
26 Dec 1802 - 30 May 1803  de Muguetot (president) (acting)
 2 Jun 1802 - 14 Jun 1803  Louis Maurice Taupin de Magnytot   (b. 1757 - d. 1823)
                             (Magnitot) -Prefect
30 May 1803 - 30 Jun 1803  Louis César Gabriel de Berluy,     (b. 1765 - d. 1819)
                              comte Berthier   
30 Jun 1803 - 21 Jul 1803  Thomas Picton (acting)             (b. 1758 - d. 1815)
21 Jul 1803 -  9 Aug 1803  William Johnstone (acting)
 9 Aug 1803 -  1 Jun 1804  Donald MacDonald (acting)          (b. 17.. - d. 1804)
 1 Jun 1804 - 16 Jul 1804  James Montgomerie (acting)         (b. 1756 - d. 1829)
 16 Jul 1804 - 1805         John Halkett                       (b. 1768 - d. 1852)
 4 Aug 1804 - 13 Oct 1805  James Campbell (acting)            (b. 17.. - d. 1805)
 13 Oct 1805 - 27 May 1806  Robert Mitchell (acting)
 27 May 1806 - 23 Apr 1807  John Balfour (1st time)(acting)
 23 Apr 1807 - 10 Jan 1815  Sir William Young                  (b. 1747 - d. 1815)
10 Jan 1815 -  1 Jul 1816  John Balfour (2nd time)(acting)
 1 Jul 1816 - 13 Nov 1816  John Campbell (acting)
13 Nov 1816 - 1819         Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson    (b. 1763 - d. 1862)
                             (1st time)
 1819                       George Cumine (acting)
1819 - 1820                Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson    (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
1820                       John Robley (acting)               (b. 1775 - d. 1821)
1820 - 1823                Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson    (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)
1823                       J.W. Nichol (acting)
1823 -  5 Jul 1826         Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson    (s.a.)
                             (4th time)
 5 Jul 1826 - 1827         William Bransell (acting)          (d. 1829?)
1827 -  1 Aug 1828         Elphinstone Pigott (acting)        (b. 1761 - d. 1828)
 1 Aug 1828 - 28 Dec 1829  Nathaniel Shepherd Blackwell       (b. 1778 - d. 1833)
                             (1st time)
 28 Dec 1829 - 13 Jan 1830  Alexander Gairdner (1st time)      (d. 1849)
                             (acting)
13 Jan 1830 - 12 Apr 1833  Nathaniel Shepherd Blackwell       (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
12 Apr 1833 - 26 Jun 1833  Alexander Gairdner (2nd time)      (s.a.)
                             (acting)
 Lieutenant-Governors
 26 Jun 1833 - 27 Jun 1841  Henry Charles Darling (1st time)   (b. 1780 - d. 1845)
 27 Jun 1841 - 15 Mar 1842  Joseph Scott (1st time)(acting)
 15 Mar 1842 - 11 Feb 1845  Henry Charles Darling (2nd time)   (s.a.)
 12 Feb 1845 -  1 Apr 1845  Joseph Scott (2nd time)(acting)
  1 Apr 1845 - 21 Sep 1845  Henry Yeates (1st time (acting)    (b. 1791? - d. 1854)
 26 Sep 1845 - 14 Dec 1850  Laurence Graeme                    (b. 1797 - d. 1850) 
15 Dec 1850 - 16 Apr 1851  Henry Yeates (2nd time)(acting)    (s.a.)
 16 Apr 1851 - 28 Jun 1851  David Robert Ross                  (b. 1797 - d. 1851)
29 Jun 1851 - 14 Jan 1852  Henry Yeates (3rd time)(acting     (s.a.)
14 Jan 1852 - 25 Jul 1852  Dominick Daly                      (b. 1798 - d. 1868)
25 Jul 1852 - 27 Feb 1854  Henry Yeates (4th time)(acting)    (s.a.)
 27 Feb 1854 - 10 Jul 1856  Willoughby Shortland               (b. 1804 - d. 1869)
10 Jul 1856 -  9 Aug 1856  James Kirk (acting)                (b. 1800 - d. 1874)
  9 Aug 1856 -  8 Jun 1857  James Henry Keens (acting)         (b. 1809? - d. 1878)
  8 Jun 1857 - 23 May 1860  James Vickery Drysdale (1st time)
24 May 1860 - 26 Dec 1860  Edwin Donald Baynes (acting)       (b. 1828 - d. 1884)
 26 Dec 1860 - 1864         James Vickery Drysdale (2nd time)
14 Oct 1864 - 1872         Cornelius Hendericksen Kortright   (b. 1817 - d. 1899)
                             (acting to 1865)
12 Sep 1872 - 1875         Herbert Taylor Ussher              (b. 1836 - d. 1880)
 9 Aug 1875 - 1877         Robert William Harley              (b. 1829 - d. 1892) 
1877                       John Henry Keens (acting)          (b. 1805 - d. 1888)
29 Sep 1877 - 1880         Augustus Frederick Gore            (b. 1826 - d. 1887)
 Administrators
Jul 1880 - 1882            Edward Daniel Laborde              (b. 1826 - d. 1898)
1882 - 1883                .... (acting)
 1 May 1883 - Jun 1885     John Worrell Carrington            (b. 1847 - d. 1913)
1885                       Loraine Geddes Hay (1st time)      (b. 1847 - d. 1904)
 19 Sep 1885 - 1888         Robert Baxter Llewellyn            (b. 1845 - d. 1919)
29 Jun 1886 - 16 Jul 1886  John Scott Bushe                   (b. 1825 - d. 1887)
                             (acting for Llewellyn)
Commissioners
 20 Dec 1888 - 1892         Loraine Geddes Hay (2nd time)      (s.a.)
 1892                       David Barnes Horsford (acting)     (b. 1841 - d. 1907)
1892                       Thomas Crossley Rayner (acting)    (b. 1860 - d. 1914)
Dec 1892 - 1893            William Low (1st time)
1893                       Herbert Hamilton Sealy (acting)    (b. 1856 - d. 1901)
 1893 - 1897                William Low (2nd time)
1897                       Samuel William Snaggs (acting)     (b. 1856 - d. 1924)
 1897 -  1 Jan 1899         Joseph Clanfergael O'Halloran      (b. 1846 - d. 1920)
                             (acting)
Wardens (magistrates)
Jan 1899 - 1903            James Todd Rousseau (1st time)     (b. 1860 - d. 1910)
 Jun 1903 - Jun 1904        William Charles Nock (acting)      (b. 1862 - d. 19..)
 1904 - 28 Oct 1910         James Todd Rousseau (2nd time)     (s.a.)
 Oct 1910 - Feb 1911        William Louis Joseph Kernahan      (b. 1860 - d. 19..)
                             (acting)
 Feb 1911 - May 1913        Edward Carlyon Eliot               (b. 1879 - d. 1940)
1913 - 1919                Hubert Pinckeney Cother Strange    (b. 1863 - d. 1949)
Jan 1919 - 1926            Leonardo Joseph Sorzano            (b. 1863 - d. 1945)
 1 Apr 1926 - 1937         Henry Meaden                       (b. 1882 - d. 19..)
1937 - 1938                Beaumont Webster Celestain (acting)(b. 1896 - d. 19..)
Aug 1938 - 1944            Joseph Henry Maingot               (b. 1893 - d. 19..)
1944 - 1956                Thomas Charles Cambridge           (b. 1906 - d. 1967)
1956 - 1958                Vincente J. "Monty" de Montbrun    (b. 1908 - d. 2001)
Commissioners for Tobago Affairs
10 Mar 1958 - 1959         G.W. Gordon
                            (Permanent Secretary, Tobago Affairs)
1959 - 1964                Victor Edward Bruce                (b. 1920 - d. 1986)
                            (from 1964, permanent secretary, Ministry of Tobago Affairs)
Minister for Tobago Affairs
1964 - Sep 1976            Eric Eustace Williams              (b. 1911 - d. 1981)  PNM
1977                       post abolished
Permanent Secretary of Central Administrative Services Tobago Affairs
1977 - 1980                Harold Englehardt Leacock          (b. 1913 - d. 1993)  Non-party
Chairmen of the House of Assembly
 4 Dec 1980 - 16 Dec 1986  Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson   (b. 1926 - d. 2014) DAC;1986 NAR
16 Dec 1986 - 31 Oct 1989  Jefferson "Jeff" G. Davidson       (b. 1928 - d. 2023)  NAR
 1 Nov 1989 - Dec 1996     Lennox Alcindor Denoon             (b. 1930 - d. 2007)  NAR
Chief Secretaries of the House of Assembly
Dec 1996 - 31 Jan 2001     Hochoy Charles                                          NAR 
 1 Feb 2001 - 26 Jan 2017  Orville Delano London              (b. 1945)            PNM
26 Jan 2017 - 30 Apr 2020  Kelvin V. Charles                  (b. 1957)            PNM
30 Apr 2020 -  6 May 2020  Joel Jack (acting)                                      PNM
 6 May 2020 -  9 Dec 2021  Ancil K. Dennis                    (b. 1987)            PNM
 9 Dec 2021 -              Farley Chavez Augustine            (b. 1985)            PDP

Party abbreviations: NAR = National Alliance for Reconstruction (A.N.R. Robinson personalist, aims to be multi-ethnic, est.1986); PDP = Progressive Democratic Patriots (Tobago autonomist, est.Jun 2016); PNM = People's National Movement (social liberal, center-left, mainly Black, est.1955);
- Former parties: DAC = Democratic Action Congress (Tobago autonomist, merged into NAR, 1971-1986 and 2003-2012)


Trinidad and Tobago

 1 Jan 1889                Colony of Trinidad and Tobago
  3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Part of the Federation of the West Indies (with Antigua,
                             Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica,
                             Montserrat, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia,
                             St. Vincent, and Turks and Caicos Islands).
 31 Aug 1962                Independence
 1 Aug 1976                Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Governors
 1 Jan 1889 - 20 May 1889  Sir William Robinson (1st time)      (b. 1836 - d. 1912)
20 May 1889 -  5 Dec 1889  Henry William John Fowler (1st time) (b. 1842 - d. 1893)
                             (acting)
 5 Dec 1889 - 31 Jul 1891  Sir William Robinson (2nd time)      (s.a.)
31 Jul 1891 - 19 Aug 1891  Henry William John Fowler (2nd time) (s.a.)
                             (acting)
19 Aug 1891 - 25 Sep 1891  Sir Frederick Napier Broome          (b. 1842 - d. 1896)
                             (1st time)
25 Sep 1891 - 11 Nov 1891  Henry William John Fowler (3rd time) (s.a.)
                             (acting)
11 Nov 1891 - 22 Sep 1892  Sir Frederick Napier Broome          (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
22 Sep 1892 -  9 Nov 1892  Henry William John Fowler (4th time) (s.a.)
                             (acting)
 9 Nov 1892 - 19 May 1893  Sir Frederick Napier Broome          (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)
19 May 1893 - 20 Oct 1893  Henry William John Fowler (4th time) (s.a.)
                             (acting)
20 Oct 1893 - 26 Nov 1896  Sir Frederick Napier Broome          (s.a.)
                             (4th time)
 2 Jun 1897 - 23 Apr 1898  Sir Hubert Edward Henry Jerningham   (b. 1842 - d. 1914)
                             (1st time)
 23 Apr 1898 - 21 Sep 1898  Sir Clement Courtenay Knollys        (b. 1849 - d. 1905)
                             (1st time)(acting)
21 Sep 1898 - 11 May 1899  Sir Hubert Edward Henry Jerningham   (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
11 May 1899 - 27 Sep 1899  Sir Clement Courtenay Knollys        (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)(acting)
27 Sep 1899 -  6 Jul 1900  Sir Hubert Edward Henry Jerningham   (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)
 6 Jul 1900 -  4 Dec 1900  Sir Clement Courtenay Knollys        (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)(acting)
 4 Dec 1900 -  3 Jul 1902  Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney         (b. 1848 - d. 1913)
                             (1st time)
 3 Jul 1902 -  9 Jun 1903  Sir Clement Courtenay Knollys        (s.a.)
                             (4th time)(acting)
 9 Jun 1903 - 25 Mar 1904  Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney         (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
25 Mar 1904 - 30 Aug 1904  Hugh Clifford (acting)               (b. 1866 - d. 1941)
30 Aug 1904 -  8 May 1907  Sir Henry Moore Jackson (1st time)   (b. 1849 - d. 1908)
 8 May 1907 -  4 Nov 1907  Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter (acting)   (b. 1848 - d. 1927)
 4 Nov 1907 - 27 Nov 1907  Samuel William Knaggs (1st time)     (b. 1856 - d. 1924)
                             (acting)
27 Nov 1907 - 10 Mar 1908  Sir Henry Moore Jackson (2nd time)   (s.a.)
10 Mar 1908 - 12 May 1909  Samuel William Knaggs (2nd time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting)
12 May 1909 -  8 Aug 1910  Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte          (b. 1852 - d. 1925)
                             (1st time)
 8 Aug 1910 - 22 Nov 1910  Samuel William Knaggs (3rd time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting)
22 Nov 1910 - 30 Jun 1911  Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte          (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
30 Jun 1911 -  3 Jul 1911  Robert Gervase Bushee (acting)       (b. 1851 - d. 1927)
 3 Jul 1911 -  6 Aug 1912  Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte          (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)
 6 Aug 1912 -  3 Dec 1912  Samuel William Knaggs (4th time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting) 
 3 Dec 1912 - 29 Jan 1913  Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte          (s.a.)
                             (4th time)
29 Jan 1913 - 17 Feb 1913  Samuel William Knaggs (5th time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting) 
17 Feb 1913 - 23 Jul 1913  Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte          (s.a.)
                             (5th time)
23 Jul 1913 -  9 Sep 1913  Samuel William Knaggs (6th time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting)   
 9 Sep 1913 - 19 Oct 1915  Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte          (s.a.)
                             (6th time)
19 Oct 1915 -  1 Jun 1916  Samuel William Knaggs (7th time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting) 
 1 Jun 1916 - 31 Mar 1919  Sir John Robert Chancellor (1st time)(b. 1870 - d. 1952)
31 Mar 1919 - 16 Oct 1919  William Montgomerie Gordon (acting)  (b. 1855 - d. 1929)
16 Oct 1919 - 31 Dec 1921  Sir John Robert Chancellor (2nd time)(s.a.)
 1 Jan 1922 - 1924         Sir Samuel Herbert Wilson            (b. 1873 - d. 1950)
Aug 1924 - Nov 1924        Sir Thomas Alexander Best (acting)   (b. 1870 - d. 1941)
22 Nov 1924 - 1929         Sir Horace Archer Byatt              (b. 1875 - d. 1933)
1929 - 22 Mar 1930         Selwyn MacGregor Grier (acting)      (b. 1878 - d. 1946)
22 Mar 1930 - 1936         Sir Alfred Claud Hollis              (b. 1874 - d. 1961)
1936 - 17 Sep 1936         Alfred Wallace Seymour (acting)      (b. 1881 - d. 1960)
17 Sep 1936 - 10 Jan 1938  Sir Arthur George Murchison Fletcher (b. 1878 - d. 1954)
Jan 1938 -  8 Jul 1938     Sir John Huggins (1st time) (acting) (b. 1891 - d. 1971)
 8 Jul 1938 - 1942         Sir Hubert Winthrop Young            (b. 1885 - d. 1950)
1942 -  8 Jun 1942         Sir John Huggins (2nd time) (acting) (s.a.)
 8 Jun 1942 -  3 Feb 1947  Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford        (b. 1890 - d. 1969)
 7 Mar 1947 - Mar 1950     Sir John Valentine Wistar Shaw       (b. 1894 - d. 1982)
20 Sep 1949 - 19 Apr 1950  Patrick Muir Renison                 (b. 1911 - d. 1965)
                             (acting [for Shaw to Mar 1950])
19 Apr 1950 -  1 Apr 1954  Sir Hubert Elvin Rance               (b. 1898 - d. 1974)
Apr 1954 - 23 Jun 1955     Maurice Henry Dorman (acting)        (b. 1912 - d. 1993)
23 Jun 1955 - Jun 1959     Sir Edward Betham Beetham            (b. 1905 - d. 1979)
Jun 1959 -  4 Jul 1960     Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke       (b. 1917 - d. 2010)
                             (acting)
 4 Jul 1960 - 31 Aug 1962  Sir Solomon Hochoy                   (b. 1905 - d. 1983)
Queen¹
31 Aug 1962 -  1 Aug 1976  the Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
31 Aug 1962 - 15 Sep 1972  Sir Solomon Hochoy                   (s.a.)
15 Sep 1972 - 31 Jan 1973  Sir Arthur Hugh McShine (acting)     (b. 1906 - d. 1983)
31 Jan 1973 -  1 Aug 1976  Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke   (s.a.)
Presidents
 1 Aug 1976 - 13 Mar 1987  Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke       (s.a.)           PNM/Non-party
                              (acting to 28 Jan 1977) 
13 Mar 1987 - 18 Mar 1987  Michael Jay Williams (acting)        (b. 1929)            NAR
18 Mar 1987 - 18 Mar 1997  Noor Mohamed Hassanali               (b. 1918 - d. 2006)  Non-party
 18 Mar 1997 - 17 Mar 2003  Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson     (b. 1926 - d. 2014)  NAR/None
 17 Mar 2003 - 18 Mar 2013  George Maxwell Richards              (b. 1931 - d. 2018)  PNM/None
18 Mar 2013 - 19 Mar 2018  Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona       (b. 1953)            Non-party
19 Mar 2018 - 20 Mar 2023  Paula-Mae Weekes (f)                 (b. 1958)            Non-party
20 Mar 2023 -              Christine Carla Kangaloo (f)         (b. 1961)            Non-party


Leader of Government Business
18 Sep 1950 - 28 Oct 1956  Albert Maria Gomes                   (b. 1911 - d. 1978)  PPG
Chief minister
28 Oct 1956 -  9 Jul 1959  Eric Eustace Williams                (b. 1911 - d. 1981)  PNM
Premier
 9 Jul 1959 - Dec 1961     Eric Eustace Williams                (s.a.)               PNM
Prime ministers
Dec 1961 - 29 Mar 1981     Eric Eustace Williams                (s.a.)               PNM
30 Mar 1981 - 18 Dec 1986  George Michael Chambers              (b. 1928 - d. 1997)  PNM
18 Dec 1986 - 17 Dec 1991  Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson     (s.a.)               NAR
                             (Jamaat al-Muslimeen hostage 27 Jul - 1 Aug 1990)
17 Dec 1991 -  9 Nov 1995  Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning      (b. 1946 - d. 2016)  PNM
                             (1st time) 
 9 Nov 1995 - 24 Dec 2001  Basdeo Panday                        (b. 1933 - d. 2024)  UNC
24 Dec 2001 - 26 May 2010  Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning      (s.a.)               PNM
                             (2nd time) 
26 May 2010 -  9 Sep 2015  Kamla Persad-Bissessar (f)(1st time) (b. 1952)            UNC
 9 Sep 2015 - 17 Mar 2025  Keith Christopher Rowley             (b. 1949)            PNM
17 Mar 2025 -  1 May 2025  Stuart Richard Young                 (b. 1975)            PNM
 1 May 2025 -              Kamla Persad-Bissessar (f)(2nd time) (s.a.)               UNC

  ¹Full style
(a) 31 Aug 1962 - 2 Nov 1962: "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) 2 Nov 1962 - 1 Aug 1976: "By the Grace of God, Queen of Trinidad and Tobago and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Territorial Disputes: Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the Apr 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's EEZ; n 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its waters.

Party abbreviations: NAR = National Alliance for Reconstruction (A.N.R. Robinson personalist, aims to be multi-ethnic, est.1986); PNM = People's National Movement (social liberal, center-left, mainly Black, est.1955); UNC = United National Congress (democratic socialist, center-left, mainly ethnic East Indian, split from NAR, est.1988);
- Former parties: PPG = Party of Political Progress Groups (moderate, 1950-1957, merged into Democratic Labour Party)


Federation of the West Indies
 

[Federation of the West Indies flag, 1958-1962]
21 Feb 1958 - 31 May 1962

[West Indies Federation Variant flag (Colours according to the West Indies Federal Archives Centre)]
Flag Variant

Map of the West Indies
Federation
Hear National Anthem
 "God Save the Queen" 
Proposed Local Anthem
"A Song for Federation"
(same tune as modern
Trinidad anthem)
(not adopted)
Constitution of the
West Indies
(3 Jan 1958)
--------------------------------
British Caribbean
Federation Act
(3 Jan 1958)
Capital: Port-of-Spain
(de facto)
Currency: British West
Indies Dollar (XBWD)
(1949-1965)
Federation Holidays:
3 Jan (1958)
Inception of the Federation
-----------------------------------
23 Feb (1956)
Federation Day
Population: 3,264,600 (1962)
GDP: N/A
Exports: $580.6 million (1960)
Imports: $474.4 million (1960)
Ethnic groups: mostly Black, with European, East Indian, 
mixed race, Chinese, Carib, and others
Federal Defense Forces: 900 (1961)
Defense was the Responsibility of U.K.
Religions: mostly Protestant, some Roman Catholic,
Hindus and Muslims
International Organizations/Treaties: C, IOC, ITU (associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO

23 Feb 1956                Representatives of the U.K. government and the British West Indies
                             reach an agreement in London, which provided for the
                             establishment of a West Indies federation within the British
                             Commonwealth.
 2 Aug 1956                British Caribbean Federation Act 1956 (date of formation 3 Jan
                             1958 set by an Order-in-Council proclaimed on 13 Dec 1957).
31 Jul 1957                Constitution of the West Indies, annexed to the West Indies
                             (Federation) Order in Council, 1957, SI 57 No. 1364 (effective
                             3 Jan 1958).
 3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Federation of the West Indies (Antigua [with Barbuda], Barbados,
                             Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica [with the Cayman Islands and the
                             Turks and Caicos], Montserrat, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla,
                             St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, were the provinces
                             of the federation)(less commonly referred to as the British
                             Caribbean Federation).
19 Sep 1961                Jamaica referendum votes 54.1% to 45.9% to exit the Federation.
16 Jan 1962                Trinidad's ruling party (the People's National Movement)
                             recommends that Trinidad take no part in a truncated federation.
31 May 1962                Federation dissolved.

Queen¹
 3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  the Queen of the United Kingdom

Governor-general
 3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Patrick George Thomas              (b. 1901 - d. 1974)
                             Buchan-Hepburn, Baron Hailes
21 Feb 1958 -  4 Mar 1958  John Stanley Mordecai              (b. 1903 - d. 1986)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
 9 Oct 1958 - 31 Oct 1958  John Stanley Mordecai              (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
 4 Mar 1959 - 11 Mar 1959  Louis Nathaniel Blache-Fraser      (b. 1904 - d. 1987)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
 6 Apr 1959 - 18 Apr 1959  Louis Nathaniel Blache-Fraser      (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
21 Jun 1959 - 24 Jun 1959  Louis Nathaniel Blache-Fraser      (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
10 Jul 1959 - Sep 1959     Sir Robert Duncan Harris Arundell  (b. 1904 - d. 1989)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
26 Oct 1959 -  7 Nov 1959  John Stanley Mordecai              (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
31 Dec 1959 -  3 Jan 1960  John Stanley Mordecai              (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
24 Feb 1961 - 12 Mar 1961  John Stanley Mordecai              (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
 3 Apr 1961 -  6 Apr 1961  John Stanley Mordecai              (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
 2 Jul 1961 -  8 Aug 1961  Sir Alfred Baillie Rennie          (b. 1896 - d. 1987)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
 8 Aug 1961 - 11 Aug 1961  Louis Nathaniel Blache-Fraser      (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
11 Aug 1961 - 15 Oct 1961  John Stanley Mordecai              (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
13 Nov 1961 - 17 Nov 1961  John Stanley Mordecai              (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
 9 Apr 1962 - 15 Apr 1962  John Stanley Mordecai              (s.a.)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)
15 Apr 1962 -  6 May 1962  Harvey Lloyd da Costa              (b. 1914 - d. 2000)
                             (acting for Lord Hailes)

Prime minister
18 Apr 1958 - 31 May 1962  Sir Grantley Herbert Adams         (b. 1898 - d. 1971)  WIFLP

Interim Commissioner for (Dissolution of) The West Indies
29 May 1961 - 31 May 1961  Sir Stephen Elliot Vyvyan Luke     (b. 1905 - d. 1988)

 ¹Full style 3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962: "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."

Party abbreviation: WIFLP = West Indies Federal Labour Party ("Federalists", democratic socialist, federalist, pro-Commonwealth, party a confederation of local parties from each of the constituent territories [Antigua Labour Party, Barbados Labour Party, Dominica Labour Party, Grenada United Labour Party, Jamaican People's National Party, Montserrat Trade and Labour Union, Saint Kitts Workers' League, Saint Lucia Labour Party, Saint Vincent Labour Party, Trinidad and Tobago People's National Movement], until 1 Sep 1956 named Federation of Labour Parties of the British Caribbean then Caribbean Federal Labour Party, Jun 1956-31 May 1962)





 © Ben Cahoon