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Territorial evolution of the British Empire

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The territorial evolution of the British Empire is considered to have begun with the foundation of the English colonial empire in the late 16th century. Since then, many territories around the world have been under the control of the United Kingdom or its predecessor states. When the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707 by the union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England, the latter country's colonial possessions passed to the new state. Similarly, when Great Britain was united with the Kingdom of Ireland in 1801 to form the United Kingdom, control over its colonial possessions passed to the latter state. Collectively, these territories are referred to as the British Empire. When much of Ireland gained independence in 1922 as the Irish Free State, the other territories of the empire remained under the control of the United Kingdom.

The territories that were, at one time, part of the British Empire. The United Kingdom and its accompanying British Overseas Territories are underlined in red.
The flag of the United Kingdom.

From 1714 to 1837, the British throne was held by a series of kings who were also the rulers of the German state of Hanover. However, this was purely a personal union, with Hanover maintaining its political independence otherwise, and so it is not usually considered to have formed part of the British Empire.

The nature of the territories (and peoples) ruled as part of the British Empire varied enormously. In legal terms the territories included those formally under the sovereignty of the British monarch (who held the additional title of Emperor/Empress of India from 1876 to 1947); various "foreign" territories controlled as protectorates; territories transferred to British administration under the authority of the League of Nations or the United Nations; and miscellaneous other territories, such as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, a condominium with Egypt. No uniform system of government was applied to any of these.

Several countries (dominions) within the British Empire gained independence in stages during the earlier part of the 20th century. Much of the rest of the empire was dismantled in the twenty years following the end of the Second World War, starting with the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, and continued until the handover of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997. There remain, however, fourteen territories around the world known as the British Overseas Territories which remain under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom.

Many of the former territories of the British Empire are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Fourteen of these (known, with the United Kingdom, as the 15 Commonwealth realms) retain the British monarch (currently Charles III) as head of state. The British monarch is also Head of the Commonwealth, but this is a purely symbolic and personal title; members of the Commonwealth (including the Commonwealth realms) are fully sovereign states.

From the 16th to the 20th centuries, the British Empire stretched from a total area at its peak in 1920 to over 35,500,000 km2 (13,700,000 sq mi), the largest empire in the world.[1] In terms of population, on the eve of World War II, Britain and her colonial possessions totaled 500 million inhabitants. The British Empire had an enormous impact on world history. The United Kingdom had about 120 colonies throughout its history, the most colonies in the world, the French colonial empire came second, which had about 80 colonies.[2] Around 54 countries gained independence from the United Kingdom throughout its history, the most in the world, ahead of the French colonial empire, which 40 countries gained independence from France.[3]

Governance

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The British Empire refers to the possessions, dominions, and dependencies under the control of the Crown. In addition to the areas formally under the sovereignty of the British monarch, various "foreign" territories were controlled as protectorates; territories transferred to British administration under the authority of the League of Nations or the United Nations; and miscellaneous other territories, such as the condominium of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The natures of the administration of the Empire changed both by time and place, and there was no uniform system of government in the Empire.[4][5]

Colonies

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Colonies were territories that were intended to be places of permanent settlement, providing land for their settlers. The Crown claimed absolute sovereignty over them, although they were not formally part of the United Kingdom itself. Generally, their law was the common law of England together with whatever British Acts of Parliament were also applied to them. Over time, a number of colonies were granted "responsible government", making them largely self-governing.

Crown Colony

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Main article: Crown colony

A Crown colony: a type of colonial administration of the English and later the British Empire, whose legislature and administration was controlled by the Crown.[6][7]

 
Lord Ranfurly reads the Cook Islands annexation proclamation to Queen Makea on 7 October 1900.

Crown colonies were ruled by a governor appointed by the monarch. By the middle of the 19th century, the sovereign appointed royal governors on the advice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This became the main method of creating and governing colonies.[8] Most Crown colonies, especially the white settler colonies had a bicameral legislature, consisting of an upper house usually called the Legislative council, which members were appointed and served a similar purpose as the British House of Lords. There also existed lower houses which were usually named the Legislative Assembly or House of Assembly. The lower house was usually elected, but suffrage was restricted to free white men only, usually with property ownership restrictions. Since land ownership was widespread, most white men could vote.[9] The governor also often had an Executive Council which had a similar function to the Cabinet in England but was not responsible to the colonial lower house. They held a consultative position, however, and did not serve in administrative offices as cabinet ministers do. Members of the Executive Council were not necessarily members of the lower house but were usually members of the upper house.[10] Later as the white colonies gained more internal responsible government, the lower house began to supersede the (usually unelected) upper house as the colonial legislature, and the position of Premier emerged.[11]

 
The British Empire in 1897, marked in traditional pink.

Charter colony

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Main article: Charter colony

Charter colony is one of the three classes of colonial government established in the 17th-century English colonies in North America. In a charter colony, the King granted a royal charter to the colonial government establishing the rules under which the colony was to be governed and charter colonies elected their own governors based on rules spelled out in the charter or other colonial legislation.[12]

Proprietary colony

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Main article: Proprietary colony

A number of colonies in the 16th and 17th centuries were granted to a particular individual; these were known as proprietary colonies. Proprietary colonies in America were governed by a Lord Proprietor, who, holding authority by virtue of a royal charter, usually exercised that authority almost as an independent sovereign. Eventually these were converted to Crown colonies.[13][14]

Chartered company

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Main article: Chartered company

A chartered company is an association formed by investors or shareholders for the purpose of trade, exploration and colonization. Chartered companies were usually formed, incorporated and legitimized under a royal charter. This document set out the terms under which the company could trade, defined its boundaries of influence, and described its rights and responsibilities. Groups of investors formed companies to underwrite and profit from the exploration of Africa, India, Asia, the Caribbean and North America, under the patronage of the state. Some companies like the East India Company (the most famous), the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Royal African Company ruled large colonial possessions (especially in India), but the Hudson's Bay Company took control of the Hudson Bay drainage basin in Canada as Rupert's Land, and the Royal African Company started to ship slaves from West Africa to the Americas in the Atlantic slave trade.[15][16]

Protectorates and protected states

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Main article: British protectorate
 
Following the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War in 1896, the British proclaimed a protectorate over the Ashanti Kingdom.

A protectorate is a territory which is not formally annexed but in which, by treaty, grant or other lawful means, the Crown has power and jurisdiction. A protectorate differs from a "protected state". A protected state is a territory under a foreign ruler which enjoys British protection, over whose foreign affairs she exercises control, but in respect of whose internal affairs she does not exercise jurisdiction.[5]

Dominions

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Main article: Dominion

Dominions were semi-independent polities that were nominally under the Crown, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the later part of the 19th century.[17][18] The dominions had been previously Crown colonies, and some of the colonies had been united to form dominions such as Union of South Africa and Commonwealth of Australia. The Balfour Declaration of 1926 clarified the status of the dominions, recognizing them as "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations." The Statute of Westminster 1931 converted this status into legal reality, making them essentially independent members of what was then called the British Commonwealth. Initially, the Dominions conducted their own trade policy, some limited foreign relations, and had autonomous armed forces, although the British government claimed and exercised the exclusive power to declare wars. However, after the passage of the Statute of Westminster, the language of dependency on the Crown of the United Kingdom ceased, and the Crown itself was no longer referred to as the Crown of any place in particular but simply as "the Crown". Arthur Berriedale Keith, in Speeches and Documents on the British Dominions 1918–1931, stated that "the Dominions are sovereign international States in the sense that the King in respect of each of His Dominions (Newfoundland excepted) is such a State in the eyes of international law". After then, those countries that were previously referred to as "Dominions" became Commonwealth realms where the sovereign reigns no longer as the British monarch, but as monarch of each nation in its own right, and are considered equal to the United Kingdom and one another.[19]

Mandates

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Main article: League of Nations mandate

Mandates were forms of territory created after the end of the First World War. A number of German colonies and protectorates and Ottoman provinces were held as mandates by the United Kingdom (Tanganyika, British Cameroons, Togoland, Palestine and Mesopotamia); and its dominions of Australia (New Guinea, Nauru), New Zealand (Western Samoa), and South Africa (South West Africa). These territories were governed on behalf of the League of Nations for the benefit of their inhabitants. Most converted to United Nations Trust Territories in 1946.[20]

Indian Empire

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Main article: British Raj

The Indian Empire was the imperial political structure in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947, comprising British India (a Crown colony: presidencies and provinces directly governed by the British Crown through the Viceroy and Governor-General of India) and Princely States, governed by Indian princes, under the suzerainty of the British Crown exercised through the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.[21]

British Overseas territories

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Main article: British Overseas Territories
 
The Rise and Fall of the British Empire, graph starting in 1861

Within twenty years of the partition and independence in 1947 of India (considered to be the most important colonial possession), most of the Empire's territories had achieved full independence. Today 14 former colonies (since 2002 known as British Overseas Territories) remain under British rule; the term "colonies" is no longer officially used to describe these, although some parts of UK legislation still refer to the term "colony" (see for instance the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988, s.255(2), which explicitly reads that "Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that this Part shall extend (...) to (a) any of the Channel Islands, (b) the Isle of Man, or (c) any colony").

Almost all of the British Overseas Territories are islands (or groups of islands) with a small population; some are in very remote areas of the world. Of the territories with a permanent population, all have at least some degree of internal self-government, with the United Kingdom retaining responsibility for defence and external relations.

The fourteen British Overseas Territories are:

List of territories that were once a part of the British Empire

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Legend

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!±! Crown dependency   Part of the United Kingdom
:±: Commonwealth realm, with King Charles III as head of state   Overseas territories
£IMP Currency pegged to the GBP CYP Pound sterling derived currency
!T! Common law legal system to various extent [X] Westminster style parliamentary system
abc English as a dominant or an official language /\\/ Left-hand traffic

Colour-coding

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Colour Description
Present-day members of the Commonwealth
Present-day British Overseas Territories
Crown dependencies

Africa

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Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Ashanti 1901–1957 Colony Became a part of the dominion of Ghana
Basutoland 1868 Protectorate Wanted to join the Cape Colony, but was authorized to join the Colony of Natal instead. Eventually was placed under direct authority of the High Commissioner for South Africa.
1871 Annexed to Cape Colony
1884 Colony
1965 Self-governing colony
1966 Independent as Lesotho
Bechuanaland Protectorate 1884–1965 Protectorate Resident Commissioner assigned 1884, but Protectorate status declared after treaties with several chiefs were signed in 1885
1965–66 Self-governing protectorate
1966 Independent as Botswana
Bight of Benin 1852–1861 Protectorate
1861 United with Bight of Biafra
Bight of Biafra 1849–1861 Protectorate
1861 United with Bight of Benin
Bights of Biafra and Benin 1861–1891 Protectorate
British Bechuanaland
(see also under "Bechuanaland") 		1885–1895 Crown colony
1895 Incorporated into Cape Colony Now a part of the Northern Cape and North West provinces of South Africa
British Cameroons 1916–1919 Occupation
1919–1946 League of Nations mandated territory
1946–1961 United Nations Trust Territory
1961 Northern part merged into Nigeria, southern part into the Republic of Cameroon
British East Africa 1888–1895 Territory leased to the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) by the Sultan of Zanzibar
1895–1920 Protectorate Territory included former IBEAC territories and the strip of Sultan of Zanizbar's dominions on the coast of Kenya which fell within the British sphere of influence
1920 Became the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya Lands of Sultan of Zanzibar on coast administered with the Colony as one unit
British Somaliland 1884–1960 Protectorate
1960 Independent as State of Somaliland After 5 days merged with the Trust Territory of Somaliland as Somali Republic, in 1991 independent as Somaliland (unrecognised)
Cape Colony 1806–1910 Colony Became a province of the Union of South Africa as the "Cape of Good Hope"
Egypt 1801–03 Occupation
1882–1914 Occupation
1914–1922 Protectorate
1922 Independence
Bioko 1827–1855 Leased territory Island leased from Spain so that Royal Navy could undertake anti-slavery operations on West Coast of Africa. Main settlement was Port Clarence now known as Malabo
Gambia Colony and Protectorate 1816–1965 Colony Protectorate declared over hinterland of Gambia River in 1894
1965 Independence
Gold Coast 1874–1957 Colony
1957 Independent as Ghana Also incorporated British Togoland by plebiscite
Kenya, Colony & Protectorate of 1920–1963 Colony Previously part of British East Africa
1963 Independence
Lagos Protectorate 1887–1906 Protectorate, governed from the Lagos Colony
1906 Incorporated into the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria
Southern Nigeria Protectorate 1900–1906 Protectorate, created from Niger Coast Protectorate and territories of the Royal Niger Company
1906 Incorporated the Lagos Colony to be the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria
Libya, regions of Cyrenicia & Tripolitania only 1942–1946 British Military administration in Cyrenicia & Tripolitania
1946–1951 Italian forces expelled, UN trusteeship of Cyrenicia & Tripolitania, administered by Britain Fezzan region administered by France under trusteeship
1951 Independent as the Kingdom of Libya
Natal 1843–1910 Colony
1910 Became a province of the Union of South Africa Now part of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Niger Districts 1885–1899 Protectorate under the Royal Niger Company
1900 Became part of Northern Nigeria
Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria 1914–1954 Created from the Colony & Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria
1954 Became the self-governing Federation of Nigeria
Federation of Nigeria 1954–1960 Autonomous federation Formed from the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria
1960 Independence
Northern Nigeria 1900–1914 Protectorate governed by the Colony of Southern Nigeria
1914 Merged with Protectorate of Southern Nigeria to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria
Northern Territories of the Gold Coast 1901–1957 Protectorate Annexed to form part of Her Majesty's dominions as part of the dominion of Ghana
Nyasaland
known as the Nyasaland Districts until 1893, and then British Central Africa until 1907 		1891–1964 Protectorate
1964 Independent as Malawi
Orange River Colony 1900–1910 Colony
1907 Granted responsible government
1910 Became the Province of the Orange Free State in the Union of South Africa
Rhodesia 1964-1965 Now Zimbabwe
 Matabeleland 1888–1894 Protectorate under British South Africa Company (BSAC)
1894 United with Mashonaland as South Zambezia in 1894
 Mashonaland 1889–1894 Protectorate under BSAC
1894 United with Matabeleland as South Zambezia in 1894
 South Zambezia 1894–95 Protectorate under BSAC
1895 United with North Zambezia as Rhodesia
 Rhodesia 1895–1901 Protectorate under BSAC
1901 Mashonaland and Matabeleland united as Southern Rhodesia
 Northern Rhodesia 1911–1924 Protectorate under BSAC Amalgamation of Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia
1924–1953 Protectorate
1953–1963 Part of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
1964 Independent as Zambia
 Southern Rhodesia 1901–1923 Protectorate under BSAC
1923—1953 Self-governing colony
1953–1963 Part of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
1964–65 Self-governing colony
Rhodesia 1965–1970 Unilateral declaration of independence, with Elizabeth II as head of state Not internationally recognised
1970–1979 Republic Not internationally recognised
 Zimbabwe-Rhodesia 1979 Interim state
1979–80 Crown colony
1980 Independent as Zimbabwe
Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate 1787–1808 Freed slave colony organised by Sierra Leone Company
1808–1821 Crown colony
1821–1850 Part of British West African Settlements
1850–1866 Crown colony
1866–1888 Part of British West African Settlements
1888–1895 Colony
1896–1961 Colony and protectorate
1961 Independence
South Africa, Union of 1910–1961 Dominion Formed by the federation of the Cape, Natal, Orange River, and Transvaal colonies
1961 Republic Not a member of the Commonwealth between 1961 and 1994
Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian 1899–1952 Condominium with Egypt
1952–1956 Self-rule
1956 Independent as Republic of Sudan
Swaziland 1902–67 Protectorate
1967–68 Protected State
1968 Independence
Tangier 1661 Ceded to England by Portugal
1684 Abandoned by England
Tangier International Zone 1924 Established as condominium between UK, France and Spain (later also Portugal, US, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands)
1940–1945 Spanish occupation
1956 Zone dissolved, Tangier returned to Morocco
German East Africa 1916–1922 Occupation
Tanganyika Territory 1922–1946 League of Nations mandated territory
1946–1961 United Nations Trust Territory under Britain
1961 Independence Merged with Zanzibar in 1964 to form Tanzania
Tati Concessions Land 1872–1893 Concession
1893 Detached from Matabeleland
1893–1911 Under protectorate of Bechuanaland
1911 Annexed to Bechuanaland
British Togoland 1914–1916 Occupation Western half of erstwhile German Togoland occupied by both British and French forces 1914–16
1916–1922 Administered by British only
1922–1946 League of Nations Mandate under Britain
1946–1957 United Nations Trust Territory under Britain
1957 Independence Merged with Ghana upon independence after plebiscite
(French) Togoland 1914–16 occupation Eastern half of erstwhile German Togoland occupied by both British and French forces, then after 1916 administered by France only. In 1922, became LoN Mandate, then UN Trust Territory in 1946, also under France. Now the Republic of Togo since independence in 1960.
Transvaal 1877–1884 Colony
1884–1900 Independent as South African Republic
1900–1906 Colony
1906–1910 Self-governing colony
1910 Part of Union of South Africa Now divided between the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West in South Africa
Uganda 1890–1893 Occupied by British East Africa Company
1893–94 Provisional protectorate
1894–1962 Protectorate
1962 Self-government
1962 Independence
Walvis Bay 1795–1878 Occupation
1878–1884 Protectorate
1884 Part of Cape Colony Now part of Namibia
Zanzibar 1890–1963 Protectorate
1963 Independence Merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form Tanzania
Zululand 1887–1897 Crown colony
1897 Incorporation into Colony of Natal Now part of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

North America

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Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Assiniboia 1812–1836 Colony
1836 Reverted to control of the Hudson's Bay Company Now part of the province of Manitoba, Canada
Avalon 1623–1637 Palatinate
1637 Incorporated into Newfoundland
Bristol's Hope 1618–1631 Colony
1631 Abandoned and later as Newfoundland
British Columbia 1858–1871 Colony
1871 Incorporated into Canada
Canada, Dominion of Dominion (1867–1931) Formed by the federation of the provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia
  • 1982 – Constitution Act, 1982, updating Canada's relationship with the United Kingdom
  • Several provinces and territories have joined since Confederation.
Canada, Lower 1791–1841 Province (colony) Now the southern half of the province of Quebec, Canada
1841 Merged with Upper Canada to form the Province of Canada Re-established within the Dominion of Canada as the province of Quebec in 1867
Canada, Province of 1841–1867 Colony Formed by the amalgamation of the provinces of Lower and Upper Canada
1867 Joined the Dominion of Canada as the provinces of Ontario and Quebec (Now the southern halves of Ontario and Quebec)
Upper Canada 1791–1841 Province (colony) Ontario, Canada
1841 Merged with Lower Canada to form the Province of Canada Re-established within the Dominion of Canada as the province of Ontario in 1867
Cape Breton Island 1763 Incorporated into Nova Scotia Previously under French sovereignty
1784 Colony Separated from Nova Scotia
1820 Re-incorporated into Nova Scotia
Carolina 1663 Proprietary colony
1729 Formally divided into Crown colonies of North & South Carolina
Carolina, North 1729 Crown colony
1776 Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of North Carolina
1783 Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain
Carolina, South 1729 Crown colony
1776 Declared independent as the state of South Carolina
1783 Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain
Connecticut 1636 Colony Later incorporated the unchartered Saybrook Colony (1635–44) and New Haven Colony (1638–65)
1776 Declared independent as the state of Connecticut
1783 Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain
Cuper's Cove 1610–1621 Colony
1621 Abandoned and later as Newfoundland
East Florida 1763–1783 Colony
1783 Returned to Spanish sovereignty Now part of the state of Florida, United States
Georgia 1732 Proprietary colony
1755 Crown colony
1776 Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of Georgia
1783 Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain
Massachusetts Bay 1629 Colony
1691 United with Plymouth Colony
New Brunswick 1784 Colony Separated from Nova Scotia
1867 Became a province of Canada
New Hampshire 1641 Became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony
1679 Separate colony
1686 Became a province of Dominion of New England
1691 Separate colony
1776 Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of New Hampshire
1783 Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain
New Jersey 1664–1673 Proprietary Colony Formed from portions of New Netherland and New Sweden
1673–1702 Divided into separate colonies of East and West Jersey
1702 Royal colony East & West Jersey re-unified
1776 Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of New Jersey
1783 Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain
New York 1664–1685 Proprietary colony Formed after conquest of New Netherland
1685–1776 Royal Province
1776 Signed unilateral Declaration of Independence as the state of New York
1783 Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain
Newfoundland 1497–1583 Claimed by England
1583–1818 Colony
1818–1907 Crown colony
1907–1949 Dominion
1934–1949 Commission of Government Self-rule suspended, de jure Dominion by Royal prerogative
1949 Became a province of Canada Now known as Newfoundland and Labrador
North-Western Territory 1859–1871
1870 Incorporated into the Northwest Territories of Canada Now divided between the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan and territories of Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon
Nova Scotia 1621–1632 Scottish colony
1654–1670 English occupation
1713 Colony
1848 Granted responsible government
1867 Became a province of Canada
Prince Edward Island
known as New Ireland until 1769, and as St. John's Island until 1799 		1744–1748 Occupation
1758–1763 Occupation
1763–1769 Part of Nova Scotia
1769–1873 Colony
1873 Became a province of Canada
Quebec 1763–1791 Province (colony) Nominally included territory that is now part of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and (until 1783) the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin in the United States
1791 Divided into the provinces of Lower Canada and Upper Canada
Renews 1610–1623 Colony Abandoned and later became part of Newfoundland
Rupert's Land 1670–1870 possession of Hudson's Bay Company Nominally included territory that is now part of the Canadian territories and provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec, and (until 1818) parts of the US states of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota
1870 Incorporated into Canada
South Falkland 1623–1626 Colony Abandoned and later became part of Newfoundland
Stikine Territory 1862–1863 Now divided between British Columbia and Yukon, Canada
Vancouver Island 1849–1866 Crown colony
1866 Merged into the colony of British Columbia Now part of the province of British Columbia, Canada
Virginia 1607 Proprietary colony
1624 Crown colony
1776 Declared independent as the state of Virginia
1783 Sovereignty formally relinquished by Great Britain
West Florida 1763–1783 Colony
1783 Southern part returned to Spanish sovereignty; sovereignty of northern part formally relinquished by Great Britain Now part of the states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, United States

Central America and the Caribbean

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Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Anguilla 1650–1696 Colony under St. Christopher
1696–1816 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1816–1832 Part of colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands
1832–1871 Part of colony of Leeward Islands as colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands
1871–1882 Part of the presidency of Saint Christopher (within the Leeward Islands)
1882–1956 Part of the presidency of Saint Christopher and Nevis (within the Leeward Islands)
1956–1967 Part of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
1967–1969 Unilateral declaration of independence as Republic of Anguilla
1969–1980 Part of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
1980–1982 Self-governing colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Antigua
(incl. Barbuda from 1860) 		1632–1671 Colony
1671–72 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1672–1816 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1816–1832 Part of colony of Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat
1832–33 Colony
1833–1871 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1871–1956 Presidency within the Leeward Islands
1956–1958 Colony
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1967 Colony
1967–1981 Associated state
1981 Independent as Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat 1816–1832 Colony
1832 Dissolved
Bahamas 1670–1684 Proprietary colony
1684 Occupied by Spain
1718–1964 Crown colony
1964–1969 Self-government
1969–1973 Commonwealth
1973 Independence
Barbados 1624–1627 Claimed by England
1627–1652 Proprietary colony
1652–1663 Colony
1663–1833 Crown colony
1833–1885 Part of colony of Windward Islands
1885–1958 Colony
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1966 Colony
1966 Independence
Barbuda 1628–1832 Colony
1632–1671 Dependency of Antigua
1671–1816 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1816–1832 Part of colony of Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat
1832–33 Colony
1833–1860 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1860 Annexed to Antigua
1976–1980 Autonomous
1980 Unilateral declaration of independence[citation needed] –
1981 Independence as part of Antigua and Barbuda
Bay Islands[22] 1643–early 18th century Sporadic, short-lived settlements
1742–1748 Colony of Port Royal (Roatan). Spanish sovereignty recognized in 1748
1749–1782 Illegal but well-established English settlements. Spanish occupation and expulsion of settlers in 1782
1852–1860 Colony of the Bay Islands. Surrendered to Honduras in 1860
Belize – see under "British Honduras"
British Honduras 1665–1742 Settlement
1742–1840 Settlement subordinated to Jamaica
1840–1862 Colony subordinated to Jamaica
1862–1884 Crown colony subordinated to Jamaica
1884–1954 Crown colony
1954–1964 Autonomy
1964–1981 Self-governing colony
1973 Renamed "Belize"
1981 Independence
British Virgin Islands 1666–1672 Occupation
1672–1713 Part of colony of Leeward Islands as part of Antigua
1713–1816 Crown colony part of colony of Leeward Islands
1816–1832 Part of colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands
1832–1871 Part of colony of Leeward Islands as colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands
1871–1956 Presidency within the Leeward Islands
1956–1960 Part of territory of Leeward Islands
1960–1967 Colony
1967–1982 Self-governing colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Cayman Islands 1670–1958 Colony; administered from Jamaica
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1982 Crown colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Dominica 1763–1778 Occupation
1778 Ceded to France
1784–1871 Colony
1871–1939 Presidency within the Leeward Islands
1940–1958 Colony within the Windward Islands
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1967 Colony
1967–1978 Associated state
1978 Independence
Grenada 1762–63 Occupation
1763–1779 Part of colony of South Caribbean Islands
1779 Occupied by France
1783–1802 Part of colony of South Caribbean Islands
1802–1833 Colony
1833–1958 Part of Windward Islands
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1967 Colony
1967–1974 Associated state
1974 Independence
Old Providence 1628–1630 Initial settlement by English colonists
1630–1641 Chartered colony under the Providence Island Company
1641 Captured by Spain, became part of New Granada
Jamaica 1655–1670 Occupation
1670–1953 Colony
1953–1958 Self-governing colony
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962 Independence
Leeward Islands 1671–1816 Colony
1833–1871 Colony
1871–1956 Federal colony Comprised the presidencies of Antigua (incl. Barbuda), Dominica (to 1939), Montserrat, Nevis, Saint Kitts (incl. Anguilla, and combined with Nevis in 1883), and the Virgin Islands
1956–1960 Territory
1960 Dissolved
Montserrat 1632–1667 Colony part of Antigua
1667 Occupied by France
1668–1782 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1784–1816 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1816–1832 Part of colony of Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat
1832–33 Colony part of Antigua
1833–1871 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1871–1956 Presidency within the Leeward Islands
1956–1958 Colony
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1982 Colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Mosquito Coast 1668–1786 Protectorate
1787–1861 Protectorate
1861 Incorporated into Nicaragua and Honduras
Nevis 1628–1671 Colony subordinated to Barbados
1671–1701 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1701–1704 Part of colony of Leeward Islands under Antigua
1704–1816 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1816–1833 Part of colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands
1833–1871 Part of Leeward Islands as colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands
1871–1883 Presidency within the Leeward Islands
1883 Amalgamated with Saint Kitts to form the presidency of Saint Christopher and Nevis (within the Leeward Islands)
Redonda 1860s–1967 British possession
1967 Dependency of Antigua
St. Christopher
(Saint Kitts) 		1623–1666 Colony
1666 Occupied by France
1671–1701 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1701–1704 Part of colony of Leeward Islands under Antigua
1704–1782 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1782 Occupied by France
1783–1816 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1816–1833 Part of colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands
1833–1871 Part of Leeward Islands as colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands
1871–1882 Part of colony of Leeward Islands
1882 Amalgamated with Nevis to form the presidency of Saint Christopher-Nevis (within the Leeward Islands)
St. Christopher and Nevis 1882–1958 Presidency within the Leeward Islands
1958–1962 Part of province of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla of West Indies Federation
1962–1967 Part of colony of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
1967–1980 Part of associated state of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
1980–1983 Associated state
1983 Independence :±:
St. John 1801–02 Occupation
1807–1815 Occupation Now part of the United States Virgin Islands
St. Lucia 1605–1640 Settlement
1640 Abandoned
1664–1667 Occupation
1762–63 Occupation
1781–1783 Occupation
1794–95 Occupation
1796–1802 Occupation
1803–1838 Colony
1838–1958 Crown colony part of colony of Windward Islands
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1967 Crown colony
1967–1979 Associated state
1979 Independence
Saint Martin 1690–1699 Occupation
1801–02 Occupation
St. Thomas 1801–02 Occupation
1807–1815 Occupation Now part of the United States Virgin Islands
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1627–1636 Claimed
1672 Claimed
1762–63 Occupation
1763–1776 Colony
1776–1779 Crown colony
1779 Occupied by France
1783–1833 Crown colony
1833–1958 Part of colony of Windward Islands
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1969 Colony
1969–1979 Associated state
1979 Independence
South Caribbean Islands 1763–1802 Colony
1802 Dissolved Included the present-day countries of Dominica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the island of Tobago
Tobago 1762–1764 Part of colony of Windward Islands
1764–1781 Colony
1781 Colony of France
1793–1802 Occupation
1802 Colony of France
1803–1833 Crown colony
1833–1888 Part of colony of Windward Islands
1889 Amalgamated with Trinidad
Tortuga 1631–1635 Colony
1635 French possession Now part of Haiti
Trinidad 1802–1888 Colony
1889 Amalgamated with Tobago as "Trinidad and Tobago"
Trinidad and Tobago 1889–1958 Colony
1958–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962 Independence
Turks and Caicos Islands 1799–1848 Colony part of Bahamas
1848–1874 Colony
1874–1959 Colony part of Jamaica
1959–1962 Province of West Indies Federation
1962–1982 Colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Virgin Islands – see under "British Virgin Islands"
West Indies Federation 1958–1962 Federation of colonies
1962 Dissolution Included the present-day countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados; Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, and the British Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos Islands
Windward Islands 1833–1956 Colony
1956–1960 Territory
1960 Dissolution Included the present-day countries of Barbados (to 1885), Grenada, Dominica (from 1940), St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and (until 1889) the island of Tobago

South America

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Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Berbice 1781–82 Subordinated to Barbados
1782 Occupied by France
1796–1802 Occupied
1802 Restored to the Netherlands
1803–1814 Occupied
1814–1831 Colony
1831 United with Demerara-Essequibo to form British Guiana Now part of Guyana
British Guiana 1831–1961 Colony Formed by the merger of the colonies of Berbice and Demerara-Essequibo
1961–1966 Self-rule
1966 Independent as Guyana
Demerara 1781–82 Subordinated to Barbados
1782 French occupation
1796–1802 Occupied
1802 Restored to Netherlands
1803–1814 Occupied
1814 Merged with Essequibo to form Demerara-Essequibo
Demerara-Essequibo 1814–1831 Colony Formed by the merger of the separate colonies of Demerara and Essequibo
1831 United with Berbice to form British Guiana
Essequibo 1781–82 Subordinated to Barbados
1782 French occupation
1796–1802 Occupied
1802 Restored to the Netherlands
1803–1814 Occupied
1814 Merged with Demerara to form Demerara-Essequibo
Oyapoc 1620 Settlement Now in Guyana
Pomeroon 1666–67 Occupied
1689 Occupation
1689 Incorporated into Essequibo Now in Guyana
Willoughby 1652–1688 Settlement
1688 Dutch occupation Now Paramaribo, in Suriname

Asia

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Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Aden 1839 Colony subordinate to Bombay Presidency British India
1932 Separate province of British India
1937 Separate Crown colony
1963 Part of Federation of South Arabia
Afghanistan 1879 Protected state[23]
1919 Independence
Assam 1874–1905 Province of British India
1905–1912 Incorporated into the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam
1912–1947 Province of British India Now a state of the Republic of India
Bahrain 1880 Protectorate
1961–1971 Autonomous
1971 Independence Invited to join the Trucial States, but declined
Baluchistan 1877–1896 Province
1896–1947 Province of British India
1947 Part of Pakistan Now part of Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, in Pakistan
Bantam 1603–1609 Station
1609–1617 Factory
1617–1621 Presidency
1621 Expelled by the Dutch
1630–1634 Subordinated to Surat
1634–1652 Presidency
1652–1682 Subordinated to Surat
1682 Expelled by the Dutch Now in Indonesia
Bencoolen
("Fort York", later "Fort Marlborough") 		1685–1760 Coastal settlements of southwestern Sumatra, subordinated to Madras
1760–1785 Presidency
1785–1825 Subordinated to Bengal Presidency
1825 Part of Dutch East Indies Now Bengkulu, in Indonesia
Bengal
("Fort William") 		1634–1658 Factories
1658–1681 Subordinated to Madras
1681–82 Agency
1682–1694 Presidency of Coromandel and Bengal Settlements
1694–1698 Subordinated to Madras
1698–1700 Presidency of Coromandel and Bengal Settlements
1700–1774 Presidency
1774–1905 Presidency of British India
1905–1912 Partitioned between [West] Bengal and Eastern Bengal and Assam
1912–1937 Presidency of British India
1937–1947 Province of British India
1947 Divided between India (West Bengal) and Pakistan (East Bengal) Now Bangladesh, and part of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand, in India
Brunei 1888 Protectorate
1967 Protected state
1984 Independence
Burma (now called Myanmar) 1824–1852 Arakan, Tenasserim
1852–1886 Lower Burma
1885–1886 Upper Burma
1886 Lower and Upper Burma United as province of British India
1937 Separate Crown Colony
1948 Independence Name changed to Myanmar after a military junta in 1989.
Eastern Bengal and Assam 1905–1912 Province of British India Established upon the partition of Bengal (1905)
1912 Partition reversed Split between the re-established province of Assam and the re-constituted presidency of Bengal
Ceylon 1795 Ceded by the Dutch and subordinated to the Madras presidency of British India
1798 Separate Crown colony
1948 Independence Now the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Dansborg 1801–02 Occupied
1808–1815 Occupied
1845 purchased and incorporated into British India Now in Tamil Nadu state, India
Frederiksnagore 1801–02 Occupied
1808–1815 Occupied
1845 Purchased and incorporated into British India Now in West Bengal state, India
Hong Kong 1841 Hong Kong Island occupied
1843–1982 Crown colony
1860 Kowloon and Stonecutters Island ceded by China
1898 New Territories leased from China for 99 years
1942–1945 Occupied by Japan
1945–1946 Military administration
1983–1997 Dependent territory
1997 Handover to China as a special administrative region
Kuwait 1899 Protectorate
1961 Independence
Indian Empire (British Raj) 1613 Company rule in India
1858 Crown rule over the Indian Princely states, the Presidencies and provinces of British India
1947 Independent as India & Pakistan after partition
Mandatory Iraq 1920–1932 League of Nations mandate never passed, replaced by Anglo-Iraqi treaty with the Kingdom of Iraq
Java and the Spice Islands 1811–1816 Occupied restored to the Netherlands
Malaya 1824 Transferred following Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824
1824–1867 Territory of British East India Company
1867–1946 Straits Settlements, Crown colony
1895–1946 Federated Malay States, protectorate
1885–1946 Johor, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States)
1909–1946 Kedah, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States)
1909–1946 Kelantan, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States)
1909–1946 Perlis, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States)
1909–1946 Terengganu, protectorate (part of Unfederated Malay States)
1942–1945 Japanese occupation
1945–1946 Military Administration
1946–1948 Malayan Union
1948–1957 Federation of Malaya
1957–1963 Independent state
1963 Annex North Borneo and Sarawak forming the renamed federation of Malaysia
North Borneo 1882–1946 Protectorate
1945–1946 Military administration Labuan to British N. Borneo on 15 July 1946
1946–1963 Crown colony Labuan to British N. Borneo on 15 July 1946
1963 Self-government
1963 Annexed by Malaya into Malaysia
Palestine 1920 Mandate
1948 British mandate dissolved; proposed partition plans never materialized; Israel established immediately after British withdrawal, with the short-lived All-Palestine government following six months later, and later the partially recognised State of Palestine ongoing territorial dispute, see Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Pulo Condore Island (Côn Đảo) 1702 Possession of British East India Company
1705 Abandoned Now Côn Đảo, in Vietnam
Sarawak 1888–1946 Protected States
1945–1946 Military administration
1946–1963 Crown colony
1963 Self-government
1963 Annexed by Malaya into Malaysia
Straits Settlements 1826–1858 Possession under British East India Company Now divided between Malacca and Penang, in Malaysia, and Singapore
1858–1867 Subordinated to British India
1867–1946 Crown colony
1942–1945 Occupied by Japan
1946 Dissolved
Qatar 1916–1971 Protectorate
1971 Independence Invited to join the Trucial States, but declined
Surat 1612–1658 Factory
1658–1668 Presidency
1668–1685 Possession under British East India Company
1685–1703 Subordinated to Bombay
1703 Incorporated into Bombay Now in India
Singapore 1824 Purchased
1824 Part of Straits Settlements (as residency of the Presidency of Bengal)
1867–1946 Part of Straits Settlements (crown colony)
1946–1955 Crown colony
1955–1959 self-governing colony
1959–1963 State of Singapore
1963–1965 Part of Malaysia
1965 Independence
Transjordan 1920 Part of Palestine Mandate Now known as Jordan
1923 Formally separated from Palestine
1928 Emirate independent, except military and finance control
1946 Formal independence as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Trucial States 1892 Protectorate
1971 Formation of Federation of Arab Emirates Now part of the United Arab Emirates
Weihaiwei 1898–1930 Leased from China
1930 Returned to the Republic of China Now part of the People's Republic of China
West Bengal
("Bengal") 		1905–1912 Province of British India Established by the partition of Bengal. Abolished with the reversal of the partition and the creation of the new province of Bihar and Orissa.

Europe

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Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Akrotiri and Dhekelia 1960–present Sovereign Base Areas
Alderney 1198–1204 Lordship
1204 Fiefdom
1205 Fiefdom
1206–1279 Fiefdom
1279 Briefly occupied by France
1279–1660 Part of bailiwick of Guernsey
1660–1825 Seigneurie
1825 Subordinated to Guernsey
1940–1945 Occupied by Germany
1945 Restored to Britain
Cyprus 1878 Administration while nominally remaining part of the Ottoman Empire
1914 Annexation
1925 Crown colony
1960 Independence Two sovereign base areas remain under British sovereignty; see under "Akrotiri and Dhekelia"
Dunkirk 1658–1662 Town and surrounding hinterland
1662 Incorporated into France
England 927 Kingdom formed
1282 Conquest of principality of Gwynedd (last remaining independent Welsh principality)
1536 Annexation of Principality of Wales and Marcher Lordships into England
1603 Personal union with Scotland
1649 Republic as the Commonwealth of England. Scotland and Ireland united with England
1660 End of Republic. Scotland independent again but in personal union with England
1707 Political union with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain   Treaty of Union 1706 and Acts of Union 1707
Gibraltar 1704 Captured by Britain
1713 Colony Ceded by Spain Treaty of Utrecht 1713
1983 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory   Sovereignty claimed by Spain
Great Britain, Kingdom of 1707 Formed by union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland
1801 Union of Great Britain with Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Guernsey
(incl. islands of Brecqhou, Herm, Jethou, Lihou, and Sark) 		1198–1204 Lordship
1204–1205 Fiefdom
1206–1279 Fiefdom
1279–1940 Bailiwick
1940–1945 Occupied by Germany
1945–present Bailiwick
Heligoland 1807–1814 Occupied
1814–1890 Colony
1890 Incorporated into Germany
1945–1952 Occupied
United States of the Ionian Islands 1809–1815 Occupied
1815–1864 United States of Ionian Islands, under British protection
1864 Incorporated into Greece
Ireland 1172 Lordship Papal Bull Laudabiliter 1155
1541 Kingdom subordinated to the English (later British) Crown
1801 Merged with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Act of Union 1800
Irish Free State 1922 Independence from the United Kingdom Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921
1949 Declared a Republic
Isle of Man 1266–1290 Fiefdom under Scotland
1313–1317 Fiefdom under Scotland
1328–1333 Fiefdom under Scotland
1333–1504 Fiefdom
1504–1594 Lordship
1594–1610 Direct Crown rule
1610–1649 Lordship
1649–1660 Commonwealth and protectorate
1660–1765 Lordship
1765–1827 Possession
1827–present Crown dependency
Jersey 1204 Fiefdom subordinated to Guernsey
1204–1205 Fiefdom subordinated to Guernsey
1206–1279 Fiefdom subordinated to Guernsey
1279–1380 Bailiwick subordinated to Guernsey
1382–1461 Bailiwick subordinated to Guernsey
1468–1487 Bailiwick subordinated to Guernsey
1487–1940 Bailiwick
1940–1945 Occupied by Germany
1945–present Bailiwick
Malta 1800–1813 Protectorate
1813–1921 Crown colony
1921–1933 Self-governing colony
1933–1947 Crown colony
1947–1958 Self-governing colony
1958–1961 Crown colony
1961–1964 Self-governing colony
1964 Independence
Menorca 1708–1713 Occupied
1713 Ceded to Britain
1714–1756 Colony
1756 Occupied by France
1798–1802 Colony
1802 Restored to Spain
Rockall 1955 Annexed as the latest territorial addition to the United Kingdom.
1972 Made part of Scotland under Island of Rockall Act 1972.  
Sicily 1806–1815 Protectorate
1816 creation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Scotland 1603 Personal union with England
1649 United with England and Ireland as the Commonwealth of England.
1660 Independent again but in personal union with England
1707 Political union with England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain   Treaty of Union 1706 and Acts of Union 1707
United Kingdom 1801 Formed by the union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland
1922 Secession of the Irish Free State
1927 Formal name changed from "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" to "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"  
Wales (Cymru) 1282 Occupied
1535 Annexed into England by Act of English Parliament
1999 Devolved National Assembly established (renamed to Senedd (Parliament) in 2020)

Antarctic Region

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(Territories south of 60° S)

Name of territory Dates Status Comments
British Antarctic Territory 1962–1982 Colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Enderby Land 1930–1933 Claimed
1933 Transferred to Australia Now part of the Australian Antarctic Territory
Graham Land 1832 Annexed
1908–1962 Dependency of Falkland Islands
1962–present Part of the British Antarctic Territory
South Orkney 1821–1908 Claimed
1908–1962 Dependency of the Falkland Islands
1962–present Part of the British Antarctic Territory
South Shetland 1819–1908 Claimed
1908–1962 Dependency of the Falkland Islands
1962–present Part of the British Antarctic Territory
Victoria Land 1841–1933 Claimed
1933 Transferred to Australia Now part of the Australian Antarctic Territory

Atlantic

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(Islands in the Atlantic Ocean)

Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Ascension Island 1815–1922 Possession
1922–2009 Dependency of St Helena
2009–present Part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Bermuda 1612–1684 Colony
1684–1968 Crown colony
1968–1982 Self-governing colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Falkland Islands 1766 West Falkland settled
1774 Settlement withdrawn
1774–1833 Claimed
1833 Settlement re-established
1841–1892 Crown colony
1892–1908 Colony
1908–1962 Colony
1962 The Falkland Islands Dependencies of South Shetland, South Orkney, and Graham Land are established as the separate colony of British Antarctic Territory
1962–1982 Colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
(formerly known as "St. Helena and its Dependencies") 		1588–1673 St Helena claimed
1673–1815 Possession of the East India Company
1815–1821 Crown colony
1821–1834 Possession of British East India Company
1834–1982 Crown colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands 1775–1908 Claimed
1908–1985 Dependency of the Falkland Islands
1985–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Tristan da Cunha (1816–1938) Dependency of the Cape Colony
1938–2009 Dependency of St. Helena
2009–present Part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Indian Ocean

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(Islands in the Indian Ocean)

Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Andaman and Nicobar Islands 1789 British take possession of the Andaman Islands
1848 British take possession of the Nicobar Islands
1942–1945 Japanese occupation
1947 Became part of India upon its independence Now a union territory of India
Ashmore Island 1878 Annexed
1931 Transferred to Australia Now administered as part of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Cartier Island 1909–1931 Annexed
1931 Transferred to Australia Now administered as part of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands
British Indian Ocean Territory 1810–1814 Occupied
1814 Ceded to the United Kingdom by the Treaty of Paris
1814–1903 Part of the colony of Seychelles
1903–1965 Part of colony of Mauritius
1965–1982 Colony
1976 The Aldabra Group, the Des Roches islands, and the Farquhar Group/Des Roches are restored to the Seychelles
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Christmas Island 1888 Annexed
1889–90 Leased
1900–1942 Dependency of the colony of Straits Settlement
1942–1945 Japanese occupation
1945–46 Military administration
1946–1958 Dependency of the colony of Singapore
1958 Crown colony
1958 Transferred to Australia
Cocos Islands 1825;
1826–1831 		Settlement
1831–1857 Fiefdom
1857–1878 Crown colony
1878–1886 Part of Ceylon
1886–1942 Part of the colony of the Straits Settlements
1942–1946 Part of Ceylon
1946–1955 Dependency of the Colony of Singapore
1955 transferred to Australia Now the Australian territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Heard Island and McDonald Islands 1833–1947 Claimed
1947 Transferred to Australia Now the Australian territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Maldives 1796–1953 Protectorate
1953–54 Republic
1954–1965 Protectorate See also the United Suvadive Republic (1959–1963)
1965 Independence
Mauritius 1809 Occupation of Rodrigues
1810–1968 Colony
1814 Formal cession by the Treaty of Paris
1965 The Chagos Archipelago is transferred to the British Indian Ocean Territory
1968 Independence
Seychelles 1794–1810 Occupied
1810–1814 Colony subordinated to Mauritius
1814 Formal cession by the Treaty of Paris
1814–1903 Colony
1903–1970 Crown colony
1970–1975 Self-governing colony
1975–76 Self-rule
1976 Independence

Australasia and the Pacific

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Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Australia 1901–1942 Dominion
1942 Adopted the Statute of Westminster into domestic law
Baker Island 1886–1934 Claimed Now a territory of the United States
Bonin Islands 1827–1876 Claimed
1876 Annexed by Japan
British New Guinea 1884–1886 Protectorate
1886–1906 Colony
1906 Transferred to Australia Now part of Papua New Guinea
Cook Islands 1888–1891 Protectorate
1891–1900 Federation
1900 Annexed by New Zealand
1965 Self-governance
Coral Sea Islands 1879–1969 Part of Queensland, Australia
1969 Became an Australian external territory
Fiji 1874–1877 Colony
1877–1952 Colony administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories
1952–1970 Colony
1970 Independence
Friendly Islands
(Tonga) 		1889–1900 Tripartite protectorate
1900–1952 Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories
1952–1970 Protectorate
1970 Independence
Gilbert and Ellice Islands 1892–1916 Protectorate
1916–1975 Crown colony administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories until 1971
1975 The Gilbert and Ellice Islands are split into the two separate colonies of the Gilbert Islands and Tuvalu (formally in 1976)
Gilbert Islands 1975–76 Crown colony (with the same Governor of the Tuvalu colony)
1976–1979 Colony
1979 Independent as "Kiribati"
Howland Island 1886–1935 Claimed Now a territory of the United States
Jarvis Island 1889–1935 Annexed Now a territory of the United States
Lord Howe Island 1788–1834 Claimed
1834–1855 Settlement Now part of New South Wales
Macquarie Island 1810–1890 Part of the colony of New South Wales
1890–present Part of Tasmania
Nauru
1920–1942 League of Nations mandate (Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom)
1942–1945 Japanese occupation (de jure League of Nations mandate)
1945–1947 League of Nations mandate (Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom)
1947–1968 United Nations Trust Territory (Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom)
1968 Independence
New Hebrides 1824–1878 Protectorate
1878–1887 Neutral territory
1887–1906 Joint naval commission
1906–1976 Condominium with France, administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories
1976–1980 Condominium
1980 Independent as "Vanuatu"
New South Wales 1788–1900 Colony
1901–present State of Australia
New Zealand 1769–1788 Claimed
1788–1835 Part of New South Wales
1835 Declared independence
1835–1840 Protectorate
1840–41 Part of New South Wales
1841–1907 Colony
1907–1947 Dominion of New Zealand
1947 Adopted the Statute of Westminster into domestic law
Niue 1889–1900 Tripartite protectorate
1900–01 Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories
1901 Annexed to New Zealand (as part of the Cook Islands)
Norfolk Island 1788–1844 Part of New South Wales
1844–1856 Part of Van Diemen's Land (later Tasmania)
1856–1897 Subordinated to New South Wales
1897 Dependency of New South Wales
Palmyra Atoll 1889 Annexed
1898 Annexed by the United States
Pitcairn Islands 1838–1887 Protectorate
1887–1898 Colony
1898–1970 Colony administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories
1970–1982 Colony
1983–2002 Dependent territory
2002–present British Overseas Territory  
Queensland 1824–1859 Part of the colony of New South Wales
1859–1900 Colony
1901–present State of Australia
Samoan Islands 1889–1900 Tripartite protectorate
Sandwich Islands 1794 – 10 February 1843 Protectorate
10 February 1843 – 31 July 1843 Ceded to Britain
Solomon Islands 1889–1893 Tripartite protectorate
1893–1942 Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories
1942–1943 Japanese occupation
1943–1971 Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories
1971–1973 protectorate
1973–1976 Autonomy
1975 Renamed from "British Solomon Islands" to "Solomon Islands"
1976–1978 Self-government
1978 Independence
South Australia 1788–1836 Part of the colony of New South Wales
1836–1900 Province (colony)
1901–present State of Australia
Tasmania
(Van Diemen's Land) 		1803–1825 Part of New South Wales
1825–1900 Colony
1856 Renamed as "Tasmania"
1901–present State of Australia
Tokelau
(Union Islands) 		1889–1898 Protectorate
1898–1916 Protectorate administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories
1916–1949 Part of colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands Transferred to New Zealand
1949 Transferred to New Zealand
Torres Strait Islands 1879–present Part of Queensland
Tuvalu 1975–76 Colony administered with the same Governor of Gilbert Islands colony
1976–1978 Colony
1978 Independence
Victoria 1839–1851 Part of colony of New South Wales
1851–1900 Colony
1901–present State of Australia
Western Australia 1791–1829 King George Sound settled
1829–1832 Swan River Colony
1832–1900 Colony
1901–present State of Australia

Treaties and Acts of Parliament, etc.

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This is a listing of the more important treaties, Acts of Parliament, and other legal instruments and events affecting the nature and territorial extent of the British Empire.

Effective date Name of treaty, etc. Territorial effect
1536/1543 Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 Wales annexed to the Kingdom of England
1606 First Virginia Charter Granted the Virginia Company the right to colonize the modern-day East Coast of the United States, with the London Company establishing the Colony of Virginia at Jamestown and the Plymouth Company receiving the right to colonize what would become New England
1613–1753 Covenant Chain Series of treaties and alliances between Native American tribes such as the Iroquois Confederacy and British America
1621 Mayflower Compact Established the legal and constitutional system of the Plymouth Colony
1628 Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company Established the Massachusetts Bay Company to colonize the region
1639 Fundamental Orders of Connecticut Established English towns in the Connecticut River Valley as the Connecticut Colony
1651–1696 Navigation Acts Regulated trade between England (and later Great Britain) and its overseas colonies through mercantilist policies, prohibiting them each from importing certain commodities to countries outside the British Empire and from producing certain products imported by the other
1663 Rhode Island Royal Charter Granted legal recognition to the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
1664 Articles of Surrender of New Netherland Annexed the Dutch colony of New Netherland to England as the Province of New York
1652 1652 Articles of Peace and Friendship Ceded Susquehannock land at the mouth of the Susquehanna River to white settlers from the Province of Maryland
1682 Frame of Government of Pennsylvania Established political and constitutional system of Province of Pennsylvania
1669 Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina Established political and constitutional system of Province of Carolina
1691 Massachusetts Charter Established the Massachusetts Bay Colony
1701 Nanfan Treaty Granted British recognition of Iroquois control of land seized in Beaver Wars
1707 Acts of Union 1707 Scotland and England unite as the Kingdom of Great Britain
1713 Treaty of Utrecht Spain cedes Gibraltar to Britain. France cedes Newfoundland, Hudson Bay and Acadie to Britain.
1749–1764 New Hampshire Grants Allowed for colonization in what would become Vermont
1758 Treaty of Easton Returned Ohio Country to undisputed Native American control in exchange for assistance in French and Indian War
1763 Treaty of Paris France cedes all its territories in America to Britain except Saint Pierre and Miquelon Islands.
1763 Royal Proclamation of 1763 Established trans-Appalachia as an "Indian Reserve" and prohibited white colonization west of the Appalachian Mountains
1765 Stamp Act Issued direct tax on stamped paper in British America, led to the beginning of the American Revolution due to opposition to "taxation without representation"
1766 Declaratory Act Repealed the stamp tax but declared that the Parliament of Great Britain virtually represented colonies and could pass legally biding legislation and taxes on their behalf
1767–1768 Townshend Acts Series of legislation introducing taxes on British America
1768 Treaty of Fort Stanwix Established Line of Property dividing the Indian Reserve from the Thirteen Colonies, as well as adding modern-day Kentucky and West Virginia to it
1773 Regulating Act of 1773 Reformed Company rule in India
1774 Intolerable Acts Series of laws to punish the Thirteen Colonies for the Boston Tea Party protest during the American Revolution, major cause of the American Revolutionary War
1776 Declaration of Independence of the United States The Thirteen Colonies (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia) assert independence
1783 Second Treaty of Paris Great Britain formally recognises the independence of the United States. End of the American Revolution.
1784 Pitt's India Act Established Crown political control over Company rule in India
1788 New South Wales is established by settlement as a penal colony
1791 Constitution Act The Province of Quebec is divided in two sections Upper Canada (now Ontario) and Lower Canada (now Quebec).
1801 Act of Union 1800 Ireland unites with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
1813 Charter Act of 1813 Renewed the British East India Company's royal charter but discontinued its commercial monopoly over India with the exception of tea, opium, and trade with China
1814 Third Treaty of Paris France cedes the Seychelles to Britain and Malta officially becomes a colony
1835 Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand Asserted the sovereign independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand
1840 Treaty of Waitangi New Zealand becomes a British colony
1850 Australian Constitutions Act 1850 Separated Port Phillip District from Colony of New South Wales to form the Colony of Victoria, and provided for similar processes to occur in Van Diemen's Land and South Australia
1852 New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 Granted responsible government to the Colony of New Zealand
1858 Government of India Act 1858 Ended Company rule in India by transferring political authority over the presidencies and provinces of British India from the British East India Company directly to the British Crown, creating the British Raj
1865 Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865 Allowed all colonial legislation to have full effect in the colonies as long as it did not interfere with Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom extending to the colony, preventing colonial statutes from being judicially overruled under English law
1867 British North America Act 1867 (known in Canada as the Constitution Act, 1867) The Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia federate as Canada
1870 Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory are annexed to Canada
1871 British Columbia becomes a province of Canada
1876 Proclamation under the Royal Titles Act 1876 Queen Victoria adopts the title "Empress of India"
1899 Joint British-Egyptian condominium established over Sudan
1901 Proclamation under the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (1900) The Commonwealth of Australia is formed by the federation of the colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania
1910 Proclamation under the South Africa Act 1909 Union of South Africa formed by the federation of the colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Transvaal, and the Orange River Colony
1912 Government of India Act, 1912 Issued political reforms in the aftermath of the partition of Bengal
1914 Government of Ireland Act 1920 Granted Irish Home Rule, with autonomous devolved government to take control of Ireland
1914 Suspensory Act 1914 Delayed Irish Home Rule until the end of World War I
1914 Cyprus (Annexation) Order in Council 1914 Cyprus formally annexed
1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic The Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army, and Irish Republican Brotherhood proclaim the Irish Republic.
1919 Irish Declaration of Independence The Dáil Éireann declares the independence of the Irish Republic, which is not recognized by the British government and begins the Irish War of Independence.
1919 Government of India Act 1919 Granted limited responsible government for India, including a reformed Imperial Legislative Council and Provincial Councils
1920 Kenya (Annexation) Order in Council 1920 Most of the East Africa Protectorate is annexed as the Colony of Kenya
1920 Government of Ireland Act 1920 Partitioned Ireland into autonomous regions of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland due to Irish War of Independence
1922 Anglo-Irish Treaty Southern Ireland is separated from the United Kingdom as the Irish Free State
Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence Egypt becomes independent
1926 Balfour Declaration of 1926 Declared the Dominions to be "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status" and established the Commonwealth of Nations
1930 Purna Swaraj The Indian National Congress declared the Indian subcontinent's right to independence.
1931 Statute of Westminster Canada, the Irish Free State, and the Union of South Africa obtain effective sovereignty
1934 Financial difficulties result in Newfoundland losing its status as a dominion
1935 Government of India Act 1935 Permitted limited provincial autonomy and autonomous institutions for India incl. the princely states, as well as separating Burma from India
1942 Australia adopts the Statute of Westminster, backdated to 1939
1947 New Zealand Constitution Amendment (Request and Consent) Act 1947 New Zealand adopts the Statute of Westminster
Indian Independence Act 1947 India is partitioned into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan
1948 Republic of Ireland Act 1948 Abolished the Irish monarchy and replaced it with a democratically elected President of Ireland, severing final constitutional links between the United Kingdom and Ireland
1948 King George VI relinquishes the title "Emperor of India"
1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence The Jewish community of Mandatory Palestine declares independence as the State of Israel
1949 Ireland Act 1949 British Parliament recognizes the Republic of Ireland Act 1948
1949 Newfoundland Act Newfoundland becomes a province of Canada
1949 London Declaration Allowed continued Indian membership in the Commonwealth of Nations after the abolition of the Indian monarchy
1955 Buganda Agreement (1955) Reestablished Mutesa II as constitutional monarch of Kingdom of Buganda after the Kabaka crisis
1957 Malayan Declaration of Independence The Federation of Malaya declares independence.
1957–1958 Lancaster House Agreements (Nigeria) Negotiated independence of Nigeria from the British Empire as well as its post-colonial legal and constitutional system
1960 Nigeria Independence Act 1960 The Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria becomes independent
1960–1963 Lancaster House Agreements (Kenya) Negotiated independence of Kenya from the British Empire as well as its post-colonial legal and constitutional system
1961 Buganda Agreement (1965) Negotiated independence of Uganda from the British Empire as well as its post-colonial legal and constitutional system
1962 Jamaica Independence Act 1962 Jamaica becomes independent
1963 Malaysia Agreement Transferred North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore from the British Empire to Malaya, renamed Malaysia under the agreement
1965 Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence Declared independence of Rhodesia from the British Empire, not recognized by the British government under principle of no independence before majority rule
1966 Barbados Independence Act 1966 Declared independence of Barbados from the British Empire
1970 Instruments of Independence Fiji becomes independent
1971 Singapore Declaration Identified the Commonwealth of Nations as a "voluntary association of independent sovereign states"
1979 Lancaster House Agreement Agreement between Zimbabwe Rhodesia and the black nationalist groups ZANU and ZAPU ending the Rhodesian Bush War and temporarily resuming British control in preparation for majority rule and independence as Zimbabwe
1982 Canada Act 1982 Completed patriation of Constitution of Canada by ending British Parliament's authority to make laws and constitutional amendments related to Canada, severing final constitutional links between the two
1983 The status of "colony" is renamed "dependent territory"
1986 Constitution Act 1986 Severed final constitutional links between Britain and New Zealand, including the British Parliament's abilities to make laws related to New Zealand
1986 Australia Act 1986 Severed final constitutional links between Britain and Australia, including the British Parliament's abilities to make laws related to Australia.
1997 Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984) and the Hong Kong Act 1985 Hong Kong is transferred to the People's Republic of China
2002 The status of "British Dependent Territory" is renamed "British Overseas Territory"

Concessions in China

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Country Concession Location (modern name) Year established Year dissolved Note
International Shanghai International Settlement Shanghai 1863 1945 Formed from the British and American concessions
International Beijing Legation Quarter Beijing 1861 1945
International Kulangsu International Settlement Xiamen 1903 1945
United Kingdom New Territories,[citation needed] Hong Kong Hong Kong 1898 1997
United Kingdom Weihaiwei leased territory[citation needed] Weihai 1898 1930 Liugong Island remained under British control as a separate territory until 1940
United Kingdom Liugong Island Weihai 1930 1940 Formerly part of Weihaiwei leased territory since 1898
United Kingdom British concession of Tianjin Tianjin 1860 1945
United Kingdom British concession of Hankou Hankou 1861 1927
United Kingdom British Concession of Jiujiang Jiujiang 1861 1929
United Kingdom British concession of Zhenjiang Zhenjiang 1861 1929
United Kingdom British concession of Shamian Island, Guangzhou Guangzhou 1861 1945
United Kingdom British concession of Amoy Xiamen 1852 1930
United Kingdom British concession of Dalian Dalian 1858 1860
United Kingdom British concession of Shanghai Shanghai 1846 1863 Merged to form Shanghai International Settlement
United Kingdom Trading warehouses at Tengchong (Tengyue) Yunnan Late 19th/early 20th century. Still standing, with bullet holes. British diplomat Augustus Margary was murdered here in 1875. Consulate built 1921.

Additionally, there were more concessions were planned but never completed.[citation needed]

Country Planned Concession Location (modern name)
United Kingdom British concession of Yingkou Yingkou
British concession of Jiangning Nanjing
British concession of Yichang Yichang
British concession of Wuhu Wuhu
British concession of Wenzhou Wenzhou

Territorial claims in Antarctica

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Western colonialism - European expansion since 1763". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  2. ^ Shillington, Kevin (2005). Encyclopedia of African history. New York: CRC Press, p. 878
  3. ^ David Armitage, The Declaration of Independence in World Context, Organization of American Historians, Magazine of History, Volume 18, Issue 3, Pp. 61–66 (2004)
  4. ^ Ferguson, Niall (2004). Empire, The rise and demise of the British world order and the lessons for global power. Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-02328-2.
  5. ^ a b The Statesman's Yearbook 1967–1968
  6. ^ U.S. Library of Congress – Glossary of terms.
  7. ^ "Crown colony". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  8. ^ Jenks, p. 70.
  9. ^ Cooke (1993) vol 1 part 4
  10. ^ Armstrong, Frederick H. (1985). Handbook of Upper Canadian Chronology (Revised ed.). Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 39.
  11. ^ Christopher Moore (27 July 2011). 1867: How the Fathers Made a Deal. McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 978-1-55199-483-3.
  12. ^ Putney, Albert H. (1908). "Popular Law Library Vol 1 Introduction To The Study Of Law Legal History". Cree Publishing Company. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  13. ^ Roper (2007)
  14. ^ Elson, Henry William, History of the United States of America, The MacMillan Company, New York, 1904. Chapter IV
  15. ^ Ferguson, Niall, 2003. Empire—How Britain Made the Modern World, Allan Lane, London, United Kingdom.
  16. ^ Russo, Cam (22 December 2020). "10 Largest Empires in History". Kizaz. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  17. ^ Merriam Webster's Dictionary (based on Collegiate vol., 11th ed.) 2006. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.
  18. ^ Hillmer, Norman (2001). "Commonwealth". Toronto: Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2005. ...the Dominions (a term applied to Canada in 1867 and used from 1907 to 1948 to describe the empire's other self-governing members)
  19. ^ Marshall, Sir Peter (September 2001). "The Balfour Formula and the Evolution of the Commonwealth". The Round Table. 90 (361): 541–53. doi:10.1080/00358530120082823. S2CID 143421201.
  20. ^ Peace Treaties and International Law in European History, From the Late Middle Ages to World War One
  21. ^ Interpretation Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 63), s. 18.
  22. ^ "Timeline of British Colonization of the Bay Islands", Bay Islands Voice, 22 March 2013.
  23. ^ Onley, James (2009). "The Raj Reconsidered: British India's Infomal Empire and Spheres of Influence in Asia And Africa". Asian Affairs. 40 (1): 50. doi:10.1080/03068370802658666.
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