Gambia Colony and Protectorate

Gambia Colony and Protectorate
1816–1965
Coat of arms of British Gambia
Coat of arms
StatusCrown colony
CapitalBathurst
Common languagesEnglish (official), Mandinka, Fula, Wolof widely spoken
Religion
Christianity, Sunni Islam, Serer
Demonym(s)Gambian
GovernmentCrown colony
Monarch 
• 1816–1820
George III (first)
• 1952–1965
Elizabeth II (last)
Governor 
• 1816–1829
Alexander Grant
• 1962–1965
Sir John Paul (last)
Prime Minister 
• 1962–1965
Dawda Jawara
LegislatureLegislative Council (1844–1866; 1880–1960)
House of Representatives (1960–1965)
Historical eraNew Imperialism
• Establishment
17 October 1816
• Independence as The Gambia
18 February 1965
CurrencyPound sterling (to 1912)
British West African pound (1912–65)
Succeeded by
The Gambia (1965–1970)
Today part ofGambia

The Gambia Colony and Protectorate was the British colonial administration of The Gambia from 1821 to 1965, part of the British Empire in the New Imperialism era. The colony was the immediate area surrounding Bathurst (now Banjul), and the protectorate was the inland territory situated around the Gambia River, which was declared in 1894.


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