Global political history

Global political history from 3000 BC to the 21st century – political leaders, elections, and more.

The British Empire

Placeholder text

Africa

Governor of the Cape Colony
Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, 1st Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1815; d. May 29 1884

1877 – 1880

Alfred Milner

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 23 1854; d. May 13 1925

Noble titles: Baron Milner (1901 – 1925); Viscount Milner (1902 – 1925)

1897 – 1901


Governor of Kenya
Malcolm John MacDonald

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 17 1901; d. January 11 1981

1963


Governor of the Orange River Colony
William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 17 1859; d. February 26 1942

Titles of nobility: Earl of Selborne in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1895 – 1942)

1905 – 1907

High Commissioner for Southern Africa
Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, 1st Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1815; d. May 29 1884

1877 – 1880

Alfred Milner

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 23 1854; d. May 13 1925

Noble titles: Baron Milner (1901 – 1925); Viscount Milner (1902 – 1925)

1897 – 1901

William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 17 1859; d. February 26 1942

Titles of nobility: Earl of Selborne in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1895 – 1942)

1905 – 1910

Administrator of Southern Rhodesia
Sir Leander Starr Jameson

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 9 1853; d. November 26 1917

1894 – 1896

Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 28 1851; d. August 29 1917

Titles of nobility: Earl Grey in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1894 – 1917)

1896 – 1898

Governor-General of the Sudan
Major-General Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 24 1850; d. June 5 1916

Titles of nobility: Baron Kitchener of Khartoum in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1898 – 1916); Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum (1902 – 1916); Earl Kitchener (1914 – 1916).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1896. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1900. Promoted to general, 1902. Promoted to field marshal, 1909.

1899

Governor of the Transvaal
William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 17 1859; d. February 26 1942

Titles of nobility: Earl of Selborne in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1895 – 1942)

1905 – 1910


Uganda

Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 25 1848; d. March 19 1930

Titles of nobility: Earl of Balfour in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1922 – 1930)

1919 – 1930



The Americas

The Bahamas

Governor of the Bahamas
Edward, Duke of Windsor

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 23 1894; d. May 28 1972

Spouse: Wallis Simpson (b. June 19 1896; d. April 24 1986)

Children: None

Royal titles: Prince of Wales (1910 – 1936); Duke of Cornwall (1910 – 1936); Duke of Rothesay (1910 – 1936)

1940 – 1945


Canada

Governor General of British North America
General Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 3 1724; d. November 10 1808.

Titles of nobility: Baron Dorchester in the Peerage of Great Britain (1786 – 1808).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1772. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1777. Promoted to general, ??.

1786 – 1796

Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, 1st Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1767; d. January 5 1816.

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1805. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1808.

1812 – 1815


Governor General of the Province of Canada
John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 12 1792; d. July 28 1840.

1838 – 1839

James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, 12th Earl of Kincardine

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 20 1811; d. November 20 1863.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Elgin in the Peerage of Scotland (1841 – 1863); Earl of Kincardine in the Peerage of Scotland (1841 – 1863); Baron Elgin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1849 – 1863).

1847 – 1854

Sir Edmund Walker Head, 8th Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 16 1805; d. January 28 1868.

1854 – 1861

Charles Stanley Monck, 4th Viscount Monck

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 10 1819; d. November 29 1894

Other offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1852 – 1857); Governor General of the Province of Canada (1861 – 1867)

1861 – 1867


Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
Edmund Walker Head, 8th Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 16 1805; d. January 28 1868.

1848 – 1854


Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, 1st Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1767; d. January 5 1816.

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1805. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1808.

1808 – 1811

George Augustus Constantine Phipps, Earl of Mulgrave

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1819; d. April 3 1890.

1858 – 1863


Governor of the Province of Quebec
General Sir Guy Carleton

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 3 1724; d. November 10 1808.

Titles of nobility: Baron Dorchester in the Peerage of Great Britain (1786 – 1808).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1772. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1777. Promoted to general, ??.

1768 – 1778


Lieutenant Governor of Lower Canada
John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 12 1792; d. July 28 1840.

1838 – 1839


Jamaica

Governor of Jamaica
James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, 12th Earl of Kincardine

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 20 1811; d. November 20 1863.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Elgin in the Peerage of Scotland (1841 – 1863); Earl of Kincardine in the Peerage of Scotland (1841 – 1863); Baron Elgin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1849 – 1863).

1842 – 1846




Australia and Oceania

New South Wales

Placeholder text

Sir John Young, 2nd Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 31 1807; d. October 6 1876

Also known as: John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar (1870 – 1876)

Other offices held: Governor General of Canada (1869 – 1872); Chief Secretary for Ireland (1853 – 1855); Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1831 – 1855)

1861 – 1867


Governor of Queensland
George Augustus Constantine Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1819; d. April 3 1890.

1871 – 1874


Governor of Victoria
George Augustus Constantine Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1819; d. April 3 1890.

1879 – 1884

Thomas Brassey, 1st Baron Brassey

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 11 1836; d. February 23 1918

Noble titles: Baron Brassey in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1886 – 1918); Earl Brassey in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1911 – 1918).

1895 – 1900


New Zealand

Governor of New Zealand
George Augustus Constantine Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1819; d. April 3 1890.

1874 – 1879




East Asia and the Pacific

China

Commissioner of Weihaiwei
Reginald Fleming Johnston

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 13 1874; d. March 6 1938

1927 – 1930




Europe and the Mediterranean

Cyprus

Governor of Cyprus
Field Marshal Sir Allan Francis “John” Harding

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 10 1896; d. January 20 1989

Titles of nobility: Baron Harding of Petherton in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1958 – 1989).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1944. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1946. Promoted to general, 1949. Promoted to field marshal, 1953.

1955 – 1957


Gibraltar

Governor of Gibraltar
General Sir William Edmund Ironside

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 6 1880; d. September 22 1959

Titles of nobility: Baron Ironside in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1941 – 1959).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1919. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1931. Promoted to general, 1936. Promoted to field marshal, 1940.

1938 – 1939

General Sir Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 25 1891; d. April 29 1959

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1940. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1942. Promoted to general, 1949.

1947 – 1952


Ireland

Placeholder text

Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 6 1766; d. October 20 1839

Titles of nobility: Duke of Bedford in the Peerage of England (1802 – 1839)

1806 – 1807

George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 12 1800; d. June 27 1870

Noble titles: Earl of Clarendon in the Peerage of Great Britain (1838 – 1870)

1847 – 1852

James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 21 1811; d. October 31 1885

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Abercorn in the Peerage of Great Britain (1818 – 1885); Duke of Abercorn in the Peerage of Ireland (1868 – 1885)

1866 – 1868

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 21 1811; d. October 31 1885

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Abercorn in the Peerage of Great Britain (1818 – 1885); Duke of Abercorn in the Peerage of Ireland (1868 – 1885)

1874 – 1876

John Morley

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 24 1838; d. September 23 1923

Titles of nobility: Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1908 – 1923)

1886

John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, 7th Earl of Aberdeen

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1847; d. March 7 1934

Titles of nobility: Earl of Aberdeen in the Peerage of Scotland (1870 – 1934); Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1916 – 1934)

1886

John Morley

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 24 1838; d. September 23 1923

Titles of nobility: Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1908 – 1923)

1892 – 1895

John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, 7th Earl of Aberdeen

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1847; d. March 7 1934

Titles of nobility: Earl of Aberdeen in the Peerage of Scotland (1870 – 1934); Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1916 – 1934)

1905 – 1915

Ivor Churchill Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 16 1873; d. June 14 1939

Noble titles: Baron Ashby St Ledgers (1910 – 1939); Baron Wimborne (1914 – 1939); Viscount Wimborne (1918 – 1939)

1915 – 1918

Chief Secretary for Ireland

Placeholder text

Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1769; d. September 14 1852

Noble titles: Viscount Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1809 – 1852); Count of Vimeiro in the nobility of Portugal (1811 – 1852); Earl of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Marquess of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Duke of Vitória in the nobility of Portugal (1812 – 1852); Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo in the nobility of Spain (1812 – 1852); Duke of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1814 – 1852); Prince of Waterloo in the nobility of the Netherlands (1815 – 1852)

Military ranks: Major-General (1802 – 1808); Lieutenant-General (1808 – 1811); General (1811 – 1813); Field Marshal (1813 – 1852)

1807 – 1809

Sir Robert Peel

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 5 1788; d. July 2 1850

Also known as: Robert Peel (1788 – 1815); Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet (1830 – 1850)

1812 – 1818

Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1799; d. October 23 1869

Titles of nobility: Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1844 – 1869); Earl of Derby in the Peerage of England (1851 – 1869)

1830 – 1833

Sir John Young, 2nd Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 31 1807; d. October 6 1876

Also known as: John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar (1870 – 1876)

Other offices held: Governor General of Canada (1869 – 1872); Governor of New South Wales (1861 – 1867); Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1831 – 1855)

1853 – 1855

Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1833; d. March 24 1908

Noble titles: Duke of Devonshire in the Peerage of England (1891 – 1908)

1871 – 1874

Lord Frederick Charles Cavendish

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 30 1836; d. May 6 1882

1882

Arthur James Balfour

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 25 1848; d. March 19 1930

Titles of nobility: Earl of Balfour in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1922 – 1930)

1887 – 1891


Middle East

Chief Administrator of Palestine
General Sir Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 23 1861; d. May 14 1936

Titles of nobility: Viscount Allenby in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1919 – 1936).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1909. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1916. Promoted to general, 1917. Promoted to field marshal, 1919.

1917 – 1918


South Asia

India

Viceroy of India
James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, 12th Earl of Kincardine

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 20 1811; d. November 20 1863.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Elgin in the Peerage of Scotland (1841 – 1863); Earl of Kincardine in the Peerage of Scotland (1841 – 1863); Baron Elgin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1849 – 1863).

1862 – 1863

Edward Robert Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Baron Lytton

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 8 1831; d. November 24 1891

Noble titles: Baron Lytton (1873 – 1891); Earl of Lytton (1880 – 1891)

1876 – 1880

George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 24 1827; d. July 9 1909

Noble titles: Earl of Ripon (1859 – 1909); Marquess of Ripon (1871 – 1909)

1880 – 1884

Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Earl of Dufferin

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 21 1826; d. February 12 1902

Other titles: Baron Dufferin and Claneboyne (1850 – 1902); Marquess of Dufferin and Ava (1888 – 1902)

1884 – 1888

Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 14 1845; d. June 3 1927

Noble titles: Marquess of Lansdowne (1866 – 1927)

1888 – 1894

Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 9 1845; d. March 1 1914

Noble titles: Earl of Minto in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1891 – 1914)

1905 – 1910

Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Baron Irwin

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 16 1881; d. December 23 1959

Titles of nobility: Baron Irwin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1959); Viscount Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1934 – 1959); Earl of Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1944 – 1959).

1926 – 1931

Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Earl of Willingdon

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 12 1866; d. August 12 1941

Titles of nobility: Baron Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1910 – 1941); Viscount Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1924 – 1941); Earl of Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1931 – 1941); Marquess of Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1936 – 1941)

1931 – 1936

Victor Alexander John Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 24 1887; d. January 5 1952

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Linlithgow in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1908 – 1952).

1936 – 1943

Governor of Bombay
Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1815; d. May 29 1884

1862 – 1867

George Sydenham Clarke

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 4 1848; d. February 7 1933

Noble titles: Baron Sydenham of Combe in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1913 – 1933).

1907 – 1913

Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Baron Willingdon

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 12 1866; d. August 12 1941

Titles of nobility: Baron Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1910 – 1941); Viscount Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1924 – 1941); Earl of Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1931 – 1941); Marquess of Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1936 – 1941)

1913 – 1918

Governor of Madras
John Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 7 1860; d. January 11 1925

Noble titles: Baron Pentland in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1909 – 1925)

1912 – 1919

Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Baron Willingdon

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 12 1866; d. August 12 1941

Titles of nobility: Baron Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1910 – 1941); Viscount Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1924 – 1941); Earl of Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1931 – 1941); Marquess of Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1936 – 1941)

1919 – 1924

Sir George Frederick Stanley

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 14 1872; d. July 1 1938

1929 – 1934