List of colonial heads 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.

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

See also

• São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Heads of State of São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Heads of Government of São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Presidents of the Regional Government of Príncipe
  • Foreign Ministers of São Tomé and Príncipe
• Lists of Incumbents