Gambia Colony and ProtectorateW
Gambia Colony and Protectorate

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, and the protectorate was the inland territory situated around the Gambia River, which was declared in 1894. The foundation of the colony was Fort James and Bathurst, where British presence was established in 1815 and 1816, respectively. For various periods in its existence it was subordinate to the Sierra Leone Colony, however by 1888 it was a colony in its own right with a permanently appointed Governor.

1947 Gambian legislative electionW
1947 Gambian legislative election

An election for the one elected seat on the Legislative Council was held in the Gambia in 1947. It was the first time that the Council had had a directly elected representative.

1951 Gambian legislative electionW
1951 Gambian legislative election

Legislative elections were held in the Gambia in 1951. They were the first election to feature political parties, as the Democratic Party and the Muslim Congress Party had been founded earlier in the year.

1954 Gambian legislative electionW
1954 Gambian legislative election

General elections were held in the Gambia in 1954 following constitutional amendments, which increased the number of elected members on the Legislative Council from three to four, with an additional seven non-elected members. The seven unelected members were the Colonial Secretary, Financial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Senior Commissioner, Dr. S.H.O Jones, and two members appointed by the Governor-general from a list of nine names submitted by the Bathurst Town Council and the Kombo Rural Authority after consultation with members of the council.

1960 Gambian legislative electionW
1960 Gambian legislative election

General elections were held in the Gambia in 1960, following the implementation of a new constitution, which created a House of Representatives. The new legislature had 19 elected seats, twelve seats were elected in the protectorate and seven in the colony. Eight seats were reserved for chiefs. In addition, the Governor-general, the Speaker, the Civil Secretary, the Financial Secretary, the Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government and up to three nominated members were also members of the House.

1962 Gambian legislative electionW
1962 Gambian legislative election

General elections were held in the Gambia between 22 and 31 May 1962. The result was a victory for the People's Progressive Party, which won 18 of the 32 elected seats. A further eight members were appointed by the Governor-general and protectorate chiefs.

British West African poundW
British West African pound

The British West African Pound was the currency of British West Africa, a group of British colonies, protectorates and mandate territories. It was equal to the pound sterling and was similarly subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.