List of colonial governors of Samoa
The following is a list of colonial governors of Samoa. The Independent State of Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in Polynesia, Savai'i. The 1960 Constitution, which formally came into force with independence from New Zealand in 1962, is based on the British pattern of parliamentary democracy. Samoa's first Prime Minister was Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II, one of the four highest ranking paramount chiefs in the country. Two other paramount chiefs at the time of independence were appointed joint heads of state for life. Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole, who died in 1963, leaving Malietoa Tanumafili II sole head of state until his death on 11 May 2007, upon which Samoa transitioned from a constitutional monarchy to a Parliamentary republic.
List of Colonial Heads of Samoa
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| German Samoa | ||
| Archipelago annexed by German Empire (except for the part that is to become American Samoa) | ||
| 1 March 1900 to 19 December 1911 | Wilhelm Heinrich Solf, Governor | |
| 19 December 1911 to 29 August 1914 | Erich Schultz-Ewerth, Governor | Acting to 19 June 1912 |
| Occupation of German Samoa by New Zealand | ||
| 29 August 1914 to 28 January 1919 | Robert Logan, Administrator | |
| 28 January 1919 to 17 December 1920 | Robert Ward Tate, Administrator | |
| Western Samoa | ||
| League of Nations Mandate (administered by New Zealand) | ||
| 17 December 1920 to 16 March 1923 | Robert Ward Tate, Administrator | |
| 16 March 1923 to 8 April 1928 | George Spafford Richardson, Administrator | From 3 June 1925, Sir George Spafford Richardson |
| 5 May 1928 to 3 April 1931 | Stephen Shepherd Allen, Administrator | |
| 18 April 1931 to 1935 | Herbert Ernest Hart, Administrator | |
| 25 July 1935 to 1946 | Alfred Clarke Turnbull, Administrator | From 1942, Sir Alfred Clarke Turnbull; acting to 1943 |
| 1946 to 25 January 1947 | Francis William Voelcker, Administrator | |
| United Nations Trust Territory (administered by New Zealand) | ||
| 25 January 1947 to 1948 | Francis William Voelcker, Administrator | |
| 1948 to 1949 | Francis William Voelcker, High Commissioner | |
| March 1949 to February 1960 | Guy Richardson Powles, High Commissioner | |
| February 1960 to 31 December 1961 | John Bird Wright, High Commissioner | |
| 1 January 1962 | Independence as Independent State of Western Samoa | |
For continuation after independence, see: O le Ao o le Malo