List of heads of state of Trinidad and Tobago
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This is a list of the heads of state of Trinidad and Tobago from the independence of Trinidad and Tobago in 1962 to the present day.
From 1962 to 1976 the head of state under the Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act 1962 was the Monarch, who was the same person as the Monarch of the United Kingdom and of the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Trinidad and Tobago by a Governor-General. Trinidad and Tobago became a republic under the Constitution of 1976 and the monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President.
Monarch (1962–1976)
The succession to the throne of Trinidad and Tobago was the same as the succession to the throne of the United Kingdom, governed by the Act of Settlement 1701.
| Monarch | Reign | Royal House | Prime Minister(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Portrait | Name | Reign start | Reign end | Duration | ||
| 1 |  |
Queen Elizabeth II (1926–) |
31 August 1962 | 1 August 1976 | 13 years, 336 days | House of Windsor | Williams |
Governors-General
The Governor-General was the representative of the monarch in Trinidad and Tobago and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. Michael tom The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.
- Status
| Governor-General | Term of office | Monarch(s) | Prime Minister(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | ||
| 1 |  |
Sir Solomon Hochoy (1905–1983) |
31 August 1962 | 15 September 1972 | 10 years, 15 days | Elizabeth II | Williams |
| 2 |  |
Sir Ellis Clarke (1917–2010) |
15 September 1972 | 1 August 1976 | 3 years, 321 days | Elizabeth II | Williams |
President of Trinidad and Tobago
Under the 1976 Constitution, the constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the President replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The President was elected by Parliament for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the President of the Senate served as Acting President.
- Status
| President | Term of office | Political party (at time of election) |
Prime Minister(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | ||
| 1 | |
Sir Ellis Clarke (1917–2010) |
1 August 1976 | 13 March 1987 | 10 years, 224 days | Independent | Williams Chambers Robinson |
 |
Michael J. Williams (1929–) |
13 March 1987 | 18 March 1987 | 5 days | Independent | Robinson | |
| 2 | |
Noor Hassanali (1918–2006) |
18 March 1987 | 17 March 1997 | 9 years, 364 days | Independent | Robinson Manning Panaday |
| 3 | |
A. N. R. Robinson (1926–) |
17 March 1997 | 18 March 2003 | 6 years, 1 day | Independent | Panday Manning |
| 4 |  |
George Maxwell Richards (1931–) |
18 March 2003 | 18 March 2013 | 10 years | Independent | Manning Persad-Bissessar |
| 5 | |
Anthony Carmona (1953–) |
18 March 2013 | Incumbent | 2 years, 43 days (as of 30 April 2015) |
Independent | Persad-Bissessar |
Living former heads of state
| Name | Term/Reign | Office | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth II | 1962–1976 | Queen of Trinidad and Tobago | 21 April 1926 |
| George Maxwell Richards | 2003–2013 | President of Triniad and Tobago | 1 December 1931 |
| Michael J. Williams | 1987 | Acting President | 16 October 1929 |
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