# Governors of British Somaliland and the northern coast, 1830 to 1960

> Every holder of the office, with dates and a source on each row: Sayyid Muhammad al-Barr, Haji Sharmarke Ali Salih, Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad, Ahmad Rashid Husni Pasha, Abdirahman Bey, Muhammad Ra'uf Pasha and others.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/governors-of-british-somaliland/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

Zeila was under Ottoman rule from 1548 and under the Sharifs of Mecca from 1630. From 1830 local hereditary governors ran it. Egypt occupied Berbera and Zeila in 1870 and left in October 1884. Britain signed treaties with Somali clans from 1884 and proclaimed the protectorate on 20 July 1887. Italy occupied it from 19 August 1940 to 16 March 1941. It became independent as the [State of Somaliland](/en/states/state-of-somaliland-1960/) on 26 June 1960 and joined Somalia on 1 July 1960. ([World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland))

Each row below gives the holder's name in English and Somali spelling, dates in office and the source for that row. Dates are from [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland); where sources give different dates, the note says so. How we source: [How we check facts](/en/about/how-we-check-facts/).

## Governors of Zeila and Berbera, 1830 to 1884

| Name | In office | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sayyid Muhammad al-Barr | 1830 to 1841 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Haji Sharmarke Ali Salih (Xaaji Sharmaarke Cali Saalax) | 1841 to 1855 | first time | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad | 1855 to 1857 | first time | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Haji Sharmarke Ali Salih (Xaaji Sharmaarke Cali Saalax) | 1857 to 1861 | second time | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad | 1861 to 1874 | second time | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Ahmad Rashid Husni Pasha | 1869 to 1870 | Egyptian commander | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Abdirahman Bey | 1870 to 1874 | Egyptian governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Muhammad Ra'uf Pasha | 1874 to 1878 | Egyptian governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Radwan Pasha | 1878 to 1880 | Egyptian governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Muhammad Nadi Pasha | 1880 to December 1882 | Egyptian governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Rida Pasha | December 1882 to 1884 | Egyptian governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Firhad Bey Muhhib | 1883 to 1883 | Governor of Berbera under Harar | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |
| Abdul Rahman Bey Fa'iz | 1883 to 1884 | Governor of Berbera under Harar | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html) |

## British political agents, consuls and commissioners, 1884 to 1919

| Name | In office | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Mercer Hunter | February 1884 to February 1889 | Political Agent | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Langton Prendergast Walsh | August 1884 to February 1889 | acting for Hunter | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Edward Vincent Stace | February 1889 to August 1893 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Charles William Henry Sealy | August 1893 to 18 November 1896 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| William Butler Ferris | March 1895 to 18 November 1895 | acting for Sealy | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| William Butler Ferris | 18 November 1896 to 12 February 1897 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| James Hayes Sadler | February 1897 to 11 September 1901 | Consul-General from 1 October 1898 | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux | 11 September 1901 to 18 March 1902 | acting | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Eric John Eagles Swayne | 18 March 1902 to March 1906 | Commissioner and Consul-General | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux | March 1906 to July 1907 | Commissioner | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| William Southern Malcolm Jones | July 1907 to January 1908 | acting | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux | January 1908 to January 1910 | Commissioner | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| William Henry Manning | January 1910 to June 1910 | Commissioner | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Horace Archer Byatt | June 1910 to May 1914 | Commissioner; Robert Edward Salkeld, Geoffrey Archer and others acted in between | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Geoffrey Francis Archer | 22 May 1914 to October 1919 | Commissioner; Thomas Astley Cubitt and Gerald Henry Summers acted in between | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |

## Governors, 1919 to 1940

| Name | In office | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoffrey Francis Archer | 23 October 1919 to 17 August 1922 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Gerald Henry Summers | 6 September 1922 to 29 November 1925 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Harold Baxter Kittermaster | 29 November 1925 to 18 June 1932 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Arthur Salisbury Lawrance | 21 June 1932 to 2 March 1939 | Commissioner, then Governor from 10 May 1935 | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Vincent Goncalves Glenday | 2 March 1939 to 18 August 1940 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |

## Italian occupation, 1940 to 1941

| Name | In office | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guglielmo Nasi | 19 August 1940 to 27 August 1940 | military governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Carlo De Simone | 27 August 1940 to 16 March 1941 | military governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |

## British military governors and governors, 1941 to 1960

| Name | In office | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Ranald Macfarlane Reid | 16 March 1941 to 23 March 1941 | military governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Ferdinand Lindley Augustus Buchanan | 23 March 1941 to 8 April 1941 | acting military governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Arthur Reginald Chater | 8 April 1941 to 3 March 1943 | military governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Gerald Thomas Fisher | 3 March 1943 to 7 April 1948 | military governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Edward Barry | 7 April 1948 to 15 June 1948 | acting | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Gerald Reece | 15 June 1948 to 5 February 1954 | military governor, then Governor from 15 November 1948 | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Theodore Ouseley Pike | 5 February 1954 to 24 June 1959 |  | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Philip Carrel | 24 June 1959 to 11 July 1959 | acting | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| Douglas Basil Hall | 13 July 1959 to 25 June 1960 | last governor | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |
| [Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal](/en/people/mohamed-haji-ibrahim-egal/) (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal) | 26 June 1960 to 1 July 1960 | Prime Minister of the independent State of Somaliland | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland) |

## Related pages

- [British Somaliland, 1884 to 1960](/en/history/british-somaliland-1884-1960/)
- [Colonial treaties, 1884 to 1897](/en/history/colonial-treaties-1884-1897/)
- [Presidents of Somaliland](/en/institutions/presidents-of-somaliland/)

## Sources

- [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html)
- [Wikipedia, List of colonial governors of British Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_British_Somaliland)

We also publish every row of every office-holder list as one open data file: [office-holders.csv](/data/institutions/office-holders.csv).

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