Governor of Fiji

Fiji was a British Crown colony from 1874 to 1970, and an independent dominion in the Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987. During this period, the head of state was the British monarch, but in practice the functions of the crown were normally exercised locally by the governor prior to independence (on 10 October 1970), and by the governor-general prior to the proclamation of a republic on 7 October 1987.

From 1877 to 3 July 1952, governors of Fiji were also high commissioners for the Western Pacific.

List of governors of Fiji (1874–1970) Following is a list of people who have served as governor of Fiji.

Portrait Name Term of office Monarch Took office Left officeColony of Fiji 1 Sir Hercules Robinson 10 October 1874 June 1875 Victoria 2 Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon 19 August 1875 1880 3 Sir William Des Vœux 20 December 1880 21 January 1885 — John Bates Thurston 21 January 1885 1 January 1887 4 Sir Charles Mitchell 1 January 1887 February 1888 5 Sir John Bates Thurston February 1888 7 February 1897 6 Sir George T. M. O'Brien March 1897 1901 — Sir William Allardyce 1901 10 September 1902 Edward VII 7 Sir Henry Jackson 10 September 1902 11 October 1904 8 Sir Everard im Thurn 11 October 1904 1910 — Sir Charles Major 1910 21 February 1911 George V 9 Sir Francis May 21 February 1911 25 July 1912 10 Sir Ernest Sweet-Escott 25 July 1912 10 October 1918 — Sir Eyre Hutson 1915 1916 11 Sir Cecil Hunter-Rodwell 10 October 1918 25 April 1925 — Sir Eyre Hutson 1919 1919 12 Sir Eyre Hutson 25 April 1925 22 November 1929 13 Sir Murchison Fletcher 22 November 1929 May 1936 Edward VIII — Sir Juxon Barton May 1936 November 1936 14 Sir Arthur Richards 28 November 1936 August 1938 George VI — Sir Juxon Barton August 1938 September 1938 15 Sir Harry Luke 16 September 1938 20 July 1942 — Alexander Theodore Newboult 20 July 1942 22 July 1942 16 Sir Philip Mitchell 22 July 1942 12 January 1944 — Sir John Rankine 12 January 1944 4 May 1944 — Sir John Nicoll 4 May 1944 23 October 1944 — Sir John Rankine 23 October 1944 1 January 1945 17 Sir Alexander Grantham 1 January 1945 21 March 1947 — Sir John Nicoll 21 March 1947 8 October 1947 18 Sir Brian Freeston 8 October 1947 6 October 1952 Elizabeth II 19 Sir Ronald Garvey 6 October 1952 28 October 1958 20 Sir Kenneth Maddocks 28 October 1958 6 January 1964 21 Sir Derek Jakeway 6 January 1964 December 1968 22 Sir Robert Sidney Foster December 1968 10 October 1970

In 1970, Fiji gained independence from the United Kingdom. After independence, the viceroy in Fiji was the governor-general of Fiji.

Governor's flag

Further reading Paul Knaplund, "Sir Arthur Gordon and Fiji: Some Gordon-Gladstone Letters." Historical Studies: Australia and New Zealand 8#31 (1958) pp 281–296.

See also Governor-General of Fiji List of heads of state of Fiji