Colonial Secretary of the Gambia

The Colonial Secretary of the Gambia was a key role in the colonial government of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate. Often seen as the deputy to the governor or colonial administrator, Colonial Secretaries often stepped in as acting governors through the Gambia's colonial history. The Colonial Secretary was in charge of administration, and was often a career Colonial Office official.

Colonial Secretary of the Gambia
Gambia Colony and Protectorate
Member of	Executive Council, Legislative Council
Reports to	Governor of the Gambia
Formation	1831
First holder	Andrew Hunter
Abolished	1965

Role

In the British Empire, Colonial Secretaries served as the chief administrative officers of the colonies to which they were posted. They were responsible for conducting the business of the Governor with the various Government Departments and also with the colonists, collectively and individually. The Colonial Secretary was a member of both the Executive and Legislative Councils. Often, Colonial Secretaries became responsible for a variety of functions, including customs, post offices, shipping, harbours, prisons, and natives. The Colonial Secretary often also dealt directly with England. The role was often quite flexible depending on the Governor, as the Colonial Office was reluctant to define the role precisely, fearing it would become redundant.

List of colonial secretaries

No.	Name	Governor served	Took office	Left office	Ref.
1	Andrew Hunter		1831	1837
2	Thomas Lewis Ingram		1837	1849
3	Daniel Robertson		1849	c. 1865
4	Charles O'Brien		1910	1912
5	Herbert Henniker-Heaton		1917	1921
6	Charles Rufus Marshall Workman CBE		1921	1931
7	Godfrey C. B. Parish FRGS		1931	1934
8	Captain Harris R. Oke CMG OBE		1934	1941
9	Sir Kenneth W. Blackburne GCMG GBE		1941	1943
10	George D. Chamberlain CMG		1943	1947
11	Edward R. Ward CMG		1947	1952
12	Sir Alexander N. A. Waddell KCMG DSC		1952	1956
13	Kenneth G. S. Smith CMG		1956	1962