Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate
Colony and Protectorate of Sierra Leone | |||||||||||
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1808[1][2]–1961 | |||||||||||
Motto: Auspice Britannia liber (Latin: "Free under the protection of Britain") | |||||||||||
Anthem: God Save the King (1808–1837; 1901–1952) God Save the Queen (1837–1901; 1952–1961) | |||||||||||
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Status | British Crown Colony | ||||||||||
Capital | Freetown | ||||||||||
Common languages | English (official), Temne, Mende, Krio widely spoken | ||||||||||
Government | Crown colony | ||||||||||
Monarch | |||||||||||
• 1808–1820 | George III (first) | ||||||||||
• 1952–1961 | Elizabeth II (last) | ||||||||||
Governor | |||||||||||
• 1808 | Thomas Ludlam (first) | ||||||||||
• 1956–1961 | Maurice Henry Dorman (last) | ||||||||||
Prime Ministera | |||||||||||
• 1954–1961 | Milton Margai | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
• Colony established | 1 January[1] 1808[1][2] | ||||||||||
• Protectorate established | 31 August[3] 1896[2][3] | ||||||||||
• Independence as Sierra Leone | 27 April 1961 | ||||||||||
Area | |||||||||||
1924 | 81,999 km2 (31,660 sq mi) | ||||||||||
Population | |||||||||||
• 1808 | 2,000[4] | ||||||||||
• 1924 | 1,541,311 | ||||||||||
• 1955 | 2,051,845[5] | ||||||||||
• 1960 | 2,181,701[5] | ||||||||||
Currency | Pound sterling (until 1912) British West African pound (from 1912) | ||||||||||
ISO 3166 code | SL | ||||||||||
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Today part of | ![]() | ||||||||||
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Source for 1924 area and population: [6] |
The Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate was the British colonial administration in Sierra Leone from 1808[1][2] to 1961,[1][2][7] part of the British Empire in the New Imperialism era. The Crown colony, which included the area surrounding Freetown, was established in 1808. The protectorate was established in 1896[2][3] and included the interior of what is today known as Sierra Leone.[2] Freetown served as the capital of British West Africa from 1821 until 1874.[8]
The motto of the colony and protectorate was Auspice Britannia liber (Latin for "Free under the protection of Britain"). This motto was included on Sierra Leone's later flag and coat of arms.[9]
The colony and protectorate lasted until 1961 when Sierra Leone gained independence from the United Kingdom, with Elizabeth II as Queen of Sierra Leone. It retained her as head of state for a decade until 1971, when the country became a republic.[2]
See also
References
Bibliography
- Fyle, Magbaily C. (2006). Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. pp. XVIII–XXII. ISBN 978-0-8108-5339-3.
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Notes
- ^ a b c d "Sierra Leone". WorldStatesmen.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "History of Sierra Leone". HistoryWorld. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
- ^ a b c Fyle 2006, p. XX.
- ^ Fyle 2006, p. XVIII.
- ^ a b "Sierra Leone Population". Worldometers. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ "The British Empire in 1924". The British Empire. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ Fyle 2006, p. XXII.
- ^ "Freetown – national capital, Sierra Leone". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ "Flag of Sierra Leone". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
External links
Media related to Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate at Wikimedia Commons
- 1808 establishments in Africa
- 1896 establishments in Africa
- 1961 disestablishments in Africa
- British West Africa
- Former British colonies
- Former British protectorates
- Former British colonies and protectorates in Africa
- Former countries in Africa
- History of Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate
- States and territories disestablished in 1961
- States and territories established in 1808
- States and territories established in 1896
- 19th-century establishments in Sierra Leone
- 20th-century disestablishments in Sierra Leone