GAMBIA: COUNTRY SERVED BY THE WEST AFRICAN COURT OF APPEAL AND THE PRIVY COUNCIL
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| Colonial Long Name: | Gambia Colony and Protectorate |
| Common Name: | British Gambia |
| Colonial Status: | Crown colony |
| Empire: | British Empire |
| Government Type: | Crown colony |
| Period of Colonialism | 17 October, 1816 – 18 February, 1965 |
| Post-Independence Name | The Gambia |
| Capital: | Bathurst |
| Common Languages: | English (official), Mandinka, Fula, Wolof widely spoken |
| Religion(s): | Christianity, Sunni Islam, Serer |
| Demonym: | Gambian |
| Colonial Currency: | Pound sterling (to 1912); British West African pound (1912–65) |
| Post-colonial Currency | Dalasi |
| Colonial Administrators | Alexander Grant (1816–1829); Alexander Findlay (1826-1829); William Hutton (1829); James Jackson (1829-1830); |
| Lt. Governors | Alexander Findlay (1830); George Rendall (1930-1837); Anthony Clogstoun (1837-1838); William Mackie (1838-1839); Thomas Lewis Ingram (1839-1840); Henry Vere Huntley (1840-1841); Thomas Lewis Ingram (1841-1843) |
| Colonial Governors (1843-1866) | Henry Froude Seagram (1843); Thomas Lewis Ingram (1843-1844); Edmund Nash Norcott (1843-1844); John Iles Mantell (1844); Charles Fitzgerald (1844-1847); Thomas Lewis Ingram (1847); Richard Graves MacDonnell (1847-1852); Daniel Robertson (1851-1852); Arthur Kennedy (May, 1852); Daniel Robertson (18 August-21 October, 1852); Luke Smythe O’Connor (1852-1859); Daniel Robertson (1859); George Abbas Kooli D’Arcy (1859-1866) |
| Colonial Administrators (1843-1866) | 19 Feb. – 18 Dec. 1866); Charles George Edward Patey (1866 – 1869); Alexander Bravo (1869 – 1870); Henry Anton (1870 – 1871); Thomas F. Callaghan (1871 – 1872); Henry William Fowler (21 Apr. – 7 Oct., 1872); Henry T. M. Cooper (1872 – 1873); Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright (1873 – 1875); Henry T. M. Cooper 12 Feb. – 2 July 1875); Samuel Rowe 2 -3 July, 1875); Henry T. M. Cooper (3 July 1875 – 9 January, 1877); William Hamilton Berkeley 9 Jan. – 30 Mar. 1877); Valesius Skipton Gouldsbury (1877 – 1884); Cornelius Alfred Moloney (3 Mar. 1884 – 1885); Gilbert Thomas Carter (1885 – 1886); James Shaw Hay (8 Feb. – 12 June, 1886); Gilbert Thomas Carter 1886 – 1887); Samuel Rowe (29 Apr. – 27 Nov. 1887) ; Thomas Risely Griffith (1887 – 1888); Gilbert Thomas Carter (1888 – 1891); Charles Herbert Harley Moseley (16 Mar. – 19 Apr. 1891); Robert Baxter Llewelyn (1891 – 1900); Horace Major Brandford Griffith (1900 – 1901); George Chardin Denton (10 Jan. – 4 Mar. 1901) |
| Colonial Governors (1901 – 1965) | George Chardin Denton (1901 – 1911); Henry Galway (1911 – 1914); Cecil Gwyn (30 Jan. – 10 Apr. 1914); Edward John Cameron (1914 – 1920); Herbert Henniker-Heaton (1920 – 1921); Cecil Hamilton Armitage (1921 – 1927); John Middleton (1927 – 1928); Charles Rufus Marshall Workman (Oct. 1928 – 29 Nov. 1928); Edward Brandis Denham (1928 – 1930); Charles Rufus Marshall Workman (13 Jan. – 11 Sept. 1930); Richmond Palmer (1930 – 1933); Godfrey Charles Brian Parishh (1933 – 1934); Arthur Richards (1934 – 1936); Harris Rendell Oke (30 May – 22 Oct. 1936); Thomas Southorn (1936 – 1942); Hilary Blood (1942 – 1946); George D. Chamberlain (1946 – 1947); Andrew Barkworth Wright (1947 – 1949); Edward Rex Ward (May – Dec., 1949); Percy Wyn-Harris (1949 – 1958); Alexander Nicol Anton Waddell (9 Apr. – 19 June, 1958); Edward Henry Windley (1958 – 1962); Kenneth Graeme Stewart Smith 28 Feb. – 29 March, 1962); John Paul (1962 – 1965) |
| Legislature: | Legislative Council (1844–1866; 1880–1960); House of Representatives (1960–1965) |
THE GAMBIA COLONY AND PROTECTORATE
Overview: The Gambia Colony and Protectorate was a British colonial administration from 1821 to 1965, part of the British Empire during the New Imperialism era. The colony centered around Bathurst (now Banjul), while the protectorate covered inland areas along the Gambia River, formalized in 1894.
History: British presence began with Fort James (1815) and Bathurst (1816). Initially subordinate to Sierra Leone, The Gambia became a standalone colony by 1888. Boundary disputes with French Senegal led to an 1889 agreement setting borders 10 km north and south of the Gambia River, finalized by a joint Anglo-French Boundary Commission in 1891, which faced local resistance suppressed by British naval power. The Gambia gained independence on February 18, 1965, as a Commonwealth state with Dawda Jawara as Prime Minister.
Economy: The economy heavily relied on groundnut exports, which dominated trade but made it vulnerable, with smuggling to French Senegal common due to export duties. The Gambian Poultry Scheme, aimed at diversifying exports, failed due to typhoid outbreaks and unsuitable conditions.
Transport: The Gambia River was the primary transport route, with a port at Bathurst. Roads were mostly concentrated around Bathurst, with dirt roads elsewhere. Yundum Airport, built during World War II, served post-war passenger flights and was rebuilt in 1963.
Government: By the early 20th century, the colony had a structured government with roles like Attorney General and Director of Public Works, led by British officials. The Executive Council governed, while the Legislative Council handled legislation. A 1919 scandal involved Travelling Commissioner J.K. McCallum delegating authority to his illiterate Wolof partner, Fatou Khan.
Independence: Preparations for independence included the 1960 Constitution, creating a partly elected House of Representatives. After a tied election, constitutional reforms led to 1962 elections, where Jawara’s Progressive Party won a majority. The Gambia achieved full independence in 1965.
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