In 1816 a British garrison was placed on the island of Tristan da Cunha in
order to prevent any escape of Napoleon I from the neighbouring island of St
Helena.
When it was withdrawn in 1817, some men elected to stay, becoming the nucleus
of a small, isolated, selfgoverning community which slowly grow in the course
of the century.
In 1938 Tristan da Cunha, together with the neighbouring islands of Gough,
Inaccessible and Nightingale, was formally annexed by the United Kingdom and
made a dependency of St Helena. (1)
In 1942 a strong British naval base was established on the island and a
military British administration was briefly set up.
(1) The island was considered as British since 1876 when an order
of annexation - wich was however not carried out - was issued.
The minor dependent islands were uninhabited, only being
visited on occasion by sealhunters or scientists.
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ADMINISTRATORS
Head Men/Chiefs of the Island Community
1865 - 1902 Peter Green (Pieter Groen) 1836 - 1902
1902 - 1932 none
1932 - 1970 William Repetto
Priests
The Priests of the Anglican Church - members of the United Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel - are listed as they often were the real leaders
of the community.
This leading position was formally recognised when, in 1932, the Priest was
named "Honorary Commissioner and Magistrate".
1857 - 1881 none
1881 - 1884 Charles Dodgson 18.. - 1918
1884 - 1886 none
1886 - 1889 Charles Dodgson (2x)
1889 - 1906 none
1906 - 1909 J. G. Barrow
1909 - 1921 none
1921 - 1927 H. Martin Rogers
1927 - 1929 R. A. C. Pooley
1929 - 1932 A. G. Partridge
1932 - 1934 none
1934 - 1940 Harold Wilde
1940 - 1942 none
1942 - 1944 C. P. Lawrence
1944 - 1946 D. I. Luard
British Naval Officers in Charge
1942 - 1944 C. J. S. Wooley
1944 - 1946 H. S. COrfield
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