List of governors of São Tomé and Príncipe

The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were discovered and claimed by Portugal in the 1470s. Government structures were set up in 1485. Each island was governed as a separate entity until 1753, when they were united as a single colony. In 1951, the islands became an overseas province of Portugal. Autonomy was granted in 1974 and independence was granted on 12 July 1975.

1 São Tomé
2 Príncipe
3 São Tomé and Príncipe
4 See also

São Tomé

Portuguese Colony (1485-1522)

24 September 1485 – 3 February 1490 João da Paiva, Captain
3 February 1490 – 29 July 1493 João Pereira, Captain
29 July 1493 – 28 April 1499 Álvaro de Caminha, Captain
11 December 1499 - c.1510 Fernão de Melo, Captain
c.1510 - c.1516 ....
c.1516 - c.1517 Diogo de Alcáçova, Captain
c.1517–1522 João de Melo, Captain

Portuguese Crown Colony (1522-1641)

1522 - 15.. Vasco Estevens, Captain
15.. – 1531 ....
1531 - c.1535 Henrique Pereira, Captain
c.1535–1541 ....
1541–1545 Diogo Botelho Pereira, Captain
1546 - c.1554 Francisco de Barros de Paiva, Captain
c.1558 - 15.. Pedro Botelho, Captain
15.. – 1560 ....
1560–1564 Cristóvão Dória de Sousa, Captain
1564–1569 Francisco de Gouveia, Captain
1569–1571 Francisco de Pavia Teles, Captain
1571–1575 Diogo Salema, Captain
1575 - c.1582 António Monteiro Maciel, Captain
c.1582 - c.1584 ....
c.1584–1587 Francisco Fernandes de Figueiredo, Captain (from 1586, Governor)
1587–1591 Miguel Teles de Moura, Governor
1591–1592 Duarte Peixoto da Silva, Governor
1592–1593 Francisco de Vila Nova, Acting Governor
1593–1597 Fernandes de Meneses, Governor
1597 - c.1598 Vasco de Carvalho, Governor
c.1598–1601 João Barbosa da Cunha, Acting Governor
1601–1604 António Maciel Monteiro, Acting Governor
1604 - 160. Pedro de Andrade, Governor
160. – 1609 João Barbosa da Cunha, Acting Governor
1609 Fernando de Noronha, Governor
1609–1611 Constantino Távares, Governor
1611 João Barbosa da Cunha, Acting Governor
1611 Francisco Teles de Meneses, Governor
1611–1613 Luís Dias de Abreu, Governor
1613–1614 Feliciano Carvalho, Governor
1614–1616 Luís Dias de Abreu, Governor
1616–1620 Miguel Correi Baharem, Governor
1620–1621 Pedro da Cunha, Governor
1621–1623 Félix Pereira, Governor
1623–1627 Jerónimo de Melo Fernando, Governor
1627–1628 André Gonçalves Maracote, Governor
1628–1632 Lourenço Pires de Távora, Acting Governor
1632 Francisco Barreto de Meneses, Governor
1632–1636 Lourenço Pires de Távora, Acting Governor
1636 António de Carvalho, Governor
1636–1640 Lourenço Pires de Távora, Acting Governor
1640 Manuel Quaresma Carneiro, Governor
1640–1641 Miguel Pereira de Melo e Albuquerque, Acting Governor

Dutch Occupation

3 October 1641–1648 .... (Dutch commander)

Portuguese Crown Colony (1648-1709)

1641–1642 Paulo da Ponte, Acting Governor
1642 - c.1650 Lourenço Pires de Távora, Governor
c.1650–1656 ....
1656 - c.1657 Cristóvão de Barros do Rêgo, Governor
c.1657 - c.1661 ....
c.1661 - 166. Pedro da Silva, Governor
166. – 1669 ....
1669–1671 Paulo Ferreira de Noronha, Governor
1671–1673 Chamber Senate
1673–1677 Julião de Campos Barreto, Governor
1677–1680 Bernardim Freire de Andrade, Governor
1680–1683 Jacinto de Figueiredo e Abreu, Governor
1683–1686 João Álvares da Cunha, Acting Governor
1686 António Pereira de Brito Lemos, Governor
1686–1689 Bento de Sousa Lima, Governor
1689–1693 António Pereira de Lacerda, Governor
1693–1694 Antonio de Barredo, Governor
1695–1696 José Pereira Sodré, Governor
1696–1697 João da Costa Matos, Governor
1697–1702 Manuel António Pinheiro da Câmara, Governor
1702–1709 José Correia de Castro, Governor
1709 Vicente Dinís Pinheiro, Governor

French Occupation (1709-1715)

1709–1715 Junta

Portuguese Crown Colony (1715-1753)

1715–1716 Bartolomeu da Costa Ponte , Governor
1716–1717 Chamber Senate
1717–1720 António Furtado Mendonça , Governor
1720–1722 Junta
1722–1727 José Pinheiro da Câmara , Governor
1727–1734 Serafim Teixeira Sarmento , Governor
1734–1736 Lopo de Sousa Coutinho , Governor
1736–1741 José Caetano Soto Maior , Governor
1741 António Ferrão de Castelo Branco , Governor
1741–1744 Chamber Senate
1744 Francisco Luís da Conceição , Governor
1744–1745 Francisco de Alva Brandão, Acting Governor
1747–1748 Francisco Luís das Chagas , Governor
1748–1751 Chamber Senate
1751 António Rodrigues Neves , Governor
1751–1753 Chamber Senate

Príncipe

1500–1753 ....

São Tomé and Príncipe

Portuguese Crown Colony (1753-1951)

1753–1755 Chamber Senate
1755 Lopo de Sousa Coutinho, Governor
1755–1758 Chamber Senate
1758–1761 Luís Henrique da Mota e Mele, Governor
1761–1767 Chamber Senate
1767–1768 Lourenço Lôbo de Almeida Palha, Governor
1768–1770 Chamber Senate
1770–1778 Vincente Gomes Ferreira, Governor
1778–1782 João Manuel de Azambuja, Governor
1782–1788 Cristóvão Xavier de Sá, Governor
1788–1797 João Resende Tavares Leote, Governor
1797 Inácio Francisco de Nóbrega Sousa Coutinho, Governor
1797 Manuel Monteiro de Carvalho, Acting Governor
1797–1798 Varela Borca, Governor
1798–1799 Manuel Francisco Joaquim da Mota, Governor
1799 Francisco Rafael de Castelo de Vide, Governor
1799–1802 João Baptista de Silva, Governor
1802–1805 Gabriel António Franco de Castro, Governor
1805–1817 Luís Joaquim Lisboa, Governor
1817–1824 Felipe de Freitas, Governor
1824–1830 João Maria Xavier de Brito, Governor
1830–1834 Joaquim Bento da Fonseca, Governor
1834–1836 Provisional government
1836–1837 Fernando Correia Henriques de Noronha, Acting Governor
1837–1838 Leandro José da Costa, Governor
1838–1839 José Joaquim de Urbanski, Governor
1839–1843 Bernardo José de Sousa Soares de Andréa, Governor
5 February 1843 – 2 March 1843 Leandro José da Costa, Governor
2 March 1843 – 1 May 1846 José Maria Marquês, Governor
1 May 1846 – 30 September 1847 Chamber Senate
30 September 1847 – 20 November 1847 Carlos Augusto de Morais e Almeida, Governor
20 November 1847 – 20 July 1848 Chamber Senate
20 July 1848 – 30 June 1849 José Caetano René Vimont Pessôa, Governor
12 December 1849 – 9 March 1851 Leandro José da Costa, Governor
9 March 1851 – 20 March 1853 José Maria Marquês, Governor
20 March 1853 – 28 July 1855 Francisco José da Pina Rolo, Governor
28 July 1855 – 21 March 1857 Adriano Maria Passaláqua, Governor
21 March 1857 – 15 January 1858 Chamber Senate
15 January 1858 – 29 May 1858 Francisco António Correia, Governor
29 May 1858–1859 Chamber Senate
1859 – 21 November 1860 Luis José Pereira e Horta, Governor
21 November 1860 – 8 July 1862 José Pedro de Melo, Governor
8 July 1862 – 17 November 1862 Chamber Senate
17 November 1862 – 30 March 1863 José Eduardo da Costa Moura, Governor
30 March 1863 – 8 January 1864 João Baptista Brunachy, Governor
8 January 1864 – 2 August 1865 Estanislau Xavier de Assunção e Almeida, Governor
2 August 1865 – 30 July 1867 João Baptista Brunachy, Governor
30 July 1867 – 30 September 1867 António Joaquim da Fonseca, Governor
30 September 1867 – 30 May 1869 Estanislau Xavier de Assunção e Almeida, Governor
30 May 1869 – 7 October 1872 Pedro Carlos de Aguiar Craveiro Lopes, Governor
7 October 1872 – July 1873 João Clímaco de Carvalho, Governor
28 October 1873 – 1 November 1876 Gregório José Ribeiro, Governor
1 November 1876 – 28 September 1879 Estanislau Xavier de Assunção e Almeida, Governor
28 September 1879 – 28 November 1879 Francisco Joaquim Ferreira do Amaral, Governor
28 November 1879 – 3 January 1880 Custódio Miguel de Borja, Acting Governor, Governor
3 January 1880 – 30 December 1881 Vinente Pinheiro Lôbo Machado de Melo e Almada, Governor
30 December 1881 – 26 January 1882 Augusto Maria Leão, Acting Governor
26 January 1882– 24 May 1884 Francisco Teixeira da Silva, Governor
24 May 1884 – 25 August 1886 Custódio Miguel de Borja, Governor
25 August 1886 – 9 March 1890 Augusto César Rodrigues Sarmento, Governor
9 March 1890 – 26 June 1891 Firmino José da Costa, Governor
26 June 1891 – 8 December 1894 Francisco Eugénio Pereira de Miranda, Governor
8 December 1894 – 8 April 1895 Jaime Lobo Brito Godins, Acting Governor
8 April 1895 – 5 April 1897 Cipriano Leite Pereira Jardim, Governor
5 April 1897 – 5 April 1899 Joaquim da Graça Correia e Lança, Governor
5 April 1899 – 3 January 1901 Amâncio de Alpoim Cerqueira Borges Cabral, Governor
3 January 1901 – 8 May 1901 Francisco Maria Peixoto Vieira, Acting Governor
8 May 1901 – 8 October 1902 Joaquim Xavier de Brito, Governor
8 October 1902 – 7 June 1903 João Abel Antunes Mesquita Guimarães, Governor
7 June 1903 – 14 December 1903 João Gregório Duarte Ferreira, Acting Governor
14 December 1903 – 13 April 1907 Francisco de Paula Cid, Governor
13 April 1907 – 24 June 1907 Vitor Augusto Chaves Lemos e Melo, Acting Governor
24 June 1907 – 24 October 1908 Pedro Berquó, Governor
24 October 1908 – 13 March 1909 Vitor Augusto Chaves Lemos e Mel, Acting Governor
13 March 1909 – 13 June 1910 José Augusto Vieira da Fonseca, Governor
13 June 1910 – 7 August 1910 Jaime Daniel Leote do Rego, Governor
7 August 1910 – 11 November 1910 Fernando Augusto de Carvalho, Governor
12 November 1910 – 28 November 1910 Carlos de Mendonça Pimentel e Melo, Acting Governor
28 November 1910 – 14 June 1911 António Pinto Miranda Guedes, Governor
14 June 1911 – 24 December 1911 Jaime Daniel Leote do Rego, Governor
24 December 1911 - 13 May 1913 Mariano Martins, Governor
13 May 1913 - 31 May 1915 Pedro do Amaral Boto Machado, Governor
31 May 1915 –6 June 1915 José Dionisio Carneiro de Sousa e Faroo, Governor
6 June 1915 – 28 July 1918 Rafael dos Santos Oliveira, Acting Governor
28 July 1918 – 11 June 1919 João Gregório Duarte Ferreira, Governor
11 June 1919 – 25 September 1920 Avelino Augusto de Oliveira Leite, Governor
25 September 1920 – 22 October 1920 José Augusto de Coceição Alves Vélez, Acting Governor
22 October 1920 – 2 July 1921 Eduardo Nogueira de Lemos, Acting Governor
2 July 1921 – 23 January 1924 António José Pereira, Governor
23 January 1924 – 8 July 1926 Eugénio de Barros Soares Branco, Governor
8 July 1926 - 31 August 1928 José Duarte Junqueira Rato, Governor
31 August 1928 – 30 January 1929 Sebastião José Barbosa, Acting Governor
30 January 1929 – 31 August 1929 Francisco Penteado, Governor
31 August 1929 – 17 December 1933 Luís Augusto Vieira Fernandes, Governor
17 December 1933 – 8 May 1941 Ricardo Vaz Monteiro, Governor
8 May 1941 – 5 April 1945 Amadeu Gomes de Figueiredo, Governor
5 April 1945 – July 1948 Carlos de Sousa Gorgulho, Governor
July 1948 – 8 October 1950 Afonso Manuel Machado de Sousa, Acting Governor
8 October 1950 – 11 June 1951 Mario José Cabral Oliveira Castro, Acting Governor

Overseas Province of Portugal (1951-1974)

11 June 1951 – 28 June 1952 Mario José Cabral Oliveira Castro, Acting Governor
28 June 1952 – 18 April 1953 Guilherme António Amaral Abranches Pinto, Acting Governor
18 April 1953 – 19 May 1953 Fernando Augusto Rodrigues, Acting Governor
19 May 1953 – July 1953 Afonso Manuel Machado de Sousa, Acting Governor
July 1953 – August 1954 Francisco António Pires Barata, Governor
August 1954 – 15 June 1955 Luís da Câmara Leme Faria, Acting Governor
15 June 1955 – 5 December 1956 José Machado, Acting Governor
5 December 1956 – 13 October 1957 Octavio Ferreira Gonçalves, Acting Governor
13 October 1957 – August 1963 Manuel Marques de Abrantes Amaral, Governor
August 1963 – 30 October 1963 Alberto Monteiro de Sousa Campos, Acting Governor
30 October 1963–1972 António Jorge da Silva Sebastião, Governor
1973–1974 João Cecilio Gonçalves, Governor
29 July 1974 – 18 December 1974 António Elísio Capelo Pires Veloso, Governor

Autonomous Province of Portugal (1974-1975)

18 December 1974 – 12 July 1975 António Elísio Capelo Pires Veloso, High Commissioner