List of colonial governors of Sierra Leone


This is a list of colonial administrators in Sierra Leone from the establishment of the Province of Freedom Colony by the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor which lasted between 1787 and 1789 and the list of colonial administrators of the Colony of Sierra Leone and the settlement of Freetown established by the Sierra Leone Company in March 1792 until Sierra Leone's independence in 1961.

Administrator (1787) of the Granville Town Settlement

On 14 May 1787, the Province of Freedom was founded by the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor for freed slaves.
  • B. Thompson

Governor (1787–1789) of the Granville Town Settlement

On 22 August 1788, the Province of Freedom and land along the Freetown peninsula was granted to Captain John Taylor of. In 1789, it was abandoned.
  • John Taylor

Agent (1791–1792) of the new Granville Town Settlement

In January 1791, the Granville Town was restored by the St. George Bay Company.

Superintendent (1792) of the Colony of Sierra Leone and settlement of Freetown

In 1792, Freetown was founded as the main town of the newly established Colony of Sierra Leone

Governors (1792–1827) of the Colony of Sierra Leone

On 5 July 1799, the Province of Freedom was renamed Sierra Leone.
  • Thomas Ludlam '
  • John Gray '
  • William Dawes '
  • William Day '
  • Thomas Ludlam '
  • William Day '
On 1 January 1808, Sierra Leone becomes Crown colony of the United Kingdom, and Sierra Leone Company rule was ended.
On 17 October 1821, Sierra Leone territory becomes part of British West African Territories. Its Governorship was held simultaneously by Governor of Sierra Leone.

Lieutenant governors (1827–1837) of the Colony of Sierra Leone

Governors (1837–1961) of the Colony of Sierra Leone

On 13 January 1850, the British West African Territories was dissolved and Sierra Leone again becomes a separate crown colony.
On 19 February 1866, Sierra Leone territory becomes part of the British West African Settlements. Its Governorship was held simultaneously by Governor of Sierra Leone.
On 17 December 1874, British West African Settlements was renamed British West Africa Settlements.
On 28 November 1888, the British West Africa Settlements was dissolved and Sierra Leone again becomes a separate crown colony.
On 24 August 1895, hinterland of Sierra Leone becomes British protectorate, and crown colony was renamed Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate.
In 1961, Sierra Leone achieved independence from the United Kingdom. After independence, the viceroy in Sierra Leone was the Governor-General of Sierra Leone.