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| Colonial Long Name: | Colony and Protectorate of Sierra Leone (1 January 1808 – 27 April, 1961) |
| Current Name: | Sierra Leone |
| Empire: | British Empire |
| Event1: | Establishment as a Protectorate (31 August 1896) |
| Capital: | Freetown |
| Colonial National Motto: | Latin: Auspice Britannia liber (Latin: “Free under the protection of Britain”) |
| Colonial National Anthem: | God Save the King (1808–1837; 1901–1952) God Save the Queen (1837–1901; 1952–1961) |
| Official Languages: | English |
| National Languages: | Krio |
| Religion(s): | Christianity, Islam |
| Colonial Currency: | Pound sterling (1808–1912) British West African pound (1912–1961) |
| Colonial Political Leaders | George III (1808–1820); Elizabeth II (1952–1961) |
| Colonial Governors | Thomas Ludlam (1808); Maurice Dorman (1956–1961) |
| Legislature: | Legislative Council (1863–1954); House of Representatives (after 1954) |
| Tidbit: | The official name for head of government of Sierra Leone was “Chief Minister of Sierra Leone” from 1954 until 1958 and “Prime Minister of Sierra Leone” from 1958 until 1961. |
SUMMARY OF THE SIERRA LEONE COLONY AND PROTECTORATE (1808–1961)
The Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate, part of the British Empire from 1808 to 1961, transitioned from an abolitionist initiative to a decolonized nation. The Crown colony, centered around Freetown, was established in 1808, while the protectorate, covering the interior, was formed in 1896. Its motto, “Auspice Britannia liber” (“Free under the protection of Britain”), reflected its origins in resettling freed slaves.
Origins: In the 1780s, the British government, supported by humanitarians like Granville Sharp, initiated the Sierra Leone Resettlement Scheme to relocate London’s destitute Black Poor, many of whom were freed slaves and Black Pioneers from the American Revolutionary War. In 1787, 411 settlers arrived on the coast, establishing Granville Town after an agreement with a Temne chief. Harsh conditions, disease, and conflicts with local leaders led to high mortality and the colony’s destruction by 1789. A new settlement, Freetown, was founded in 1792, bolstered by 1,200 Nova Scotian settlers and 551 Jamaican Maroons, forming the Sierra Leone Creole ethnicity.
19th to Mid-20th Century: The British abolished the slave trade in 1807 and took direct control of Sierra Leone in 1808, making it a Crown colony. In 1821, it became part of British West Africa, with Freetown as the capital. The protectorate was established in 1896, delineating boundaries with French Guinea and Liberia. Domestic slavery was abolished in 1928, and British companies began mining iron ore (1930) and diamonds (1932). A “Native Administration” system was introduced in 1937, and political activism grew, notably through Wallace Johnson’s West African Youth League in 1938. During World War II, emergency powers were used to suppress dissent.
Road to Independence: Post-World War II, Sierra Leoneans, led by Sir Milton Margai, pushed for independence. In the 1950s, Margai’s Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) gained prominence, winning the 1957 parliamentary election. Constitutional talks in London in 1960, led by Margai and British officials, set the stage for independence. A referendum confirmed public support, and on April 27, 1961, Sierra Leone gained independence as a dominion, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and Margai as prime minister. The transition was peaceful, despite brief tensions with opposition leader Siaka Stevens. Sierra Leone remained a dominion until becoming a republic in 1971.
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CONNECTED WEBSITES
Sierra Leone Legal Information Institute
The Parliament of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Investment & Export Promotion Agency (SLIEB) Law Publications