Protectorate of the United Kingdom (1892–1916) Colony of the United Kingdom (1916–1976)
Capital
Tarawa (1895–1908 & 1946–1976) Ocean Island (1908–1942) Funafuti (1942–1946)
Common languages
English (official) Gilbertese Ellicean Tokelauan
Demonym(s)
Gilbertese and Ellicean
Monarch
• 1892–1901
Victoria (first)
• 1952–1976
Elizabeth II (last)
Governor
• 1892–1895
Charles Richard Swayne (first)
• 1973–1976
John Hilary Smith (last)
History
• Protectorate
1892
• Colony
12 January 1916
• Separation
1 January 1976
Population
• 1892
26,430
• 1935
33,713
• 1936
34,433
• 1968
53,517
Currency
Pound sterling (1892–1910) Australian pound (1910–66) Australian dollar (1966–76)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
1892: British Western Pacific Territories
1945: Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands
1939: Canton and Enderbury Islands
1941: Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands
1949: Union Islands
1976: Gilbert Islands
Colony of Tuvalu
Today part of
Kiribati Tokelau (NZ) Tuvalu
The Gilbert and Ellice Islands (GEIC as a colony) in the Pacific Ocean were part of the British Empire from 1892 to 1976. They were a protectorate from 1892 to 12 January 1916, and then a colony until 1 January 1976, and were administered as part of the British Western Pacific Territories (BWPT) until they became independent. The history of GEIC was mainly characterized by phosphate mining on Ocean Island. In October 1975, these islands were divided by force of law into two separate colonies, and they became independent nations shortly thereafter: the Ellice Islands became Tuvalu in 1978, and the Gilbert Islands became part of Kiribati in 1979.
and 28 Related for: Gilbert and Ellice Islands information
The GilbertandElliceIslands (GEIC as a colony) in the Pacific Ocean were part of the British Empire from 1892 to 1976. They were a protectorate from...
known as the ElliceIslands, is an island country in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia...
The GilbertIslands (Gilbertese: Tungaru; formerly Kingsmill or King's-Mill Islands) are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean...
stamps and postal history of the GilbertandElliceIslands. The islands in the South Pacific Ocean were a British protectorate from 1892 and colony from...
forces occupied the islands, and from 1942 until 1945 Ocean Island which was home to the headquarters of the GilbertandElliceIslands colony (GEIC). On...
the GilbertandElliceIslands Protectorates." CO 225/86/26804; Wallin, F. 1910 "Report of 30 January 1910 on the Gilbert, Elliceand Marshall Islands",...
Phoenix Islands were added in 1937 and the five islands of the Central and Southern Line Islands were added in 1972. The GilbertandElliceIslands Colony...
Ocean Island. The islands became the crown colony of the GilbertandElliceIslands in 1916. The Northern Line Islands, including Christmas Island (Kiritimati)...
Fanning and Washington islands, making them part of the British colony of the GilbertandElliceIslands. In 1919, they annexed Christmas Island to the...
independent in 1978, after the separation from the GilbertandElliceIslands in 1976. Like many former and current British dependencies, the Tuvaluan flag...
designed by Sir Arthur Grimble in 1931 for the flag of the GilbertandElliceIslands British colony and granted in 1937. Following the schedule 2 (section 8)...
The Gilbertand Marshall Islands campaign were a series of battles fought from August 1942 through February 1944, in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
formally reasserted on 6 August 1936, and in March 1937 the islands were attached to its GilbertandElliceIslands Colony; establishing a radio station...
General elections were held in the GilbertandElliceIslands on 19 March 1971. Prior to the elections constitutional changes saw the House of Representatives...
General elections were held in the GilbertandElliceIslands on 4 April 1974. All candidates ran as independents. The system of government was changed...
At the first census done in the GilbertandElliceIslands colony in 1931, there were only 38 inhabitants on the island, most of them workers of the Emmanuel...
South Pacific Ocean that severely affected Fiji, the ElliceIslands (now Tuvalu), and the GilbertIslands (now Kiribati). The origins of Severe Tropical Cyclone...
1957 and closed in 1964. In 1967, the Marine Training Centre was created by Hamburg Süd. John Hilary Smith, governor of the GilbertandElliceIslands created...
General elections were held in the GilbertandElliceIslands in 1967. All candidates ran as independents. Earlier in the year the British government promulgated...
Thomas Gilbert (sea captain), who spotted the islands of GilbertandElliceIslands, now in Kiribati, which are named after him Thomas Gilbert (minister)...
1939 the atoll was incorporated into the British colony of the GilbertandElliceIslands. In 1979, it gained independence, becoming part of the Republic...
chiefly used throughout the islands, though GilbertandElliceIslands banknotes issued in the 1940s were also in use and were redeemable for Pound Sterling...
residence of the President of the Gambia. A Government House of GilbertandElliceIslands was created in South Tarawa on 1 January 1972. It became the Presidential...
Commissioner for the Western Pacific including the GilbertIslands (as GilbertandElliceIslands colony). "Annual Address, 2015". Chief Justice's Chambers...
Commissioner based in the GilbertIslands. The administration of the BWTP ended in 1916, and the GilbertandElliceIslands Colony was established, which...
intelligence on the GilbertIslands area, and divert Japanese attention and reinforcements from the Allied landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Only the first...