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The Colonial Secretary of the Bahama Islands was the second highest official in the colony, usually appointed from Britain. The Colonial Secretary was an ex-officio member of the Executive Council and frequently served as Acting Governor in the absence of the Governor.
In other colonies, the position was sometimes known as Chief Secretary. In the Bahamas, the Colonial Secretary was also known at one time as the Secretary of the Providence.[1] One of the responsibilities of the Secretary of the Providence from 1764 to 1950 was keeper of the public records.[1]
The following is an incomplete list of colonial secretaries of the Bahamas:
| Image | Colonial Secretary | Period in Office |
|---|---|---|
| Charles R. Nesbitt | 1838-1867[2][3] | |
| Charles Lempriere | 1867[4]-1868[2] | |
| George Strahan | 1868-1873[5] | |
| John D'A Dumaresq | 1873-1874[2] | |
| Edward Basnett Anderson Taylor | 1875[6]-1891[7] | |
| Sir Henry Moore Jackson | abt 1891-1894[8] | |
| Sir George Melville | 1894-1895[2] | |
| John Spencer-Churchill | 1895-1905[2] | |
| William Hart-Bennett | from abt 1911[9]-1914[10] | |
| Henry E. W. Grant | 1918-1923[2] | |
| Sir Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns | 1924-1929[11] | |
| Sir Charles Dundas | 1929-1934[12][13] | |
| James Henry Jarrett | 1935[14] - unk[15] | |
| Aubrey Kenneth Solomon | 1939[16] | |
| William L. Heape | 1940-1944[17] | |
| D. G. Stewart | 1944[17]-1947[18] | |
| F. A. Evans | 1947[18]-1950[7] | |
| Charles Percival Bethel | 1950[7]-1952[19] | |
| Anthony Geoffrey Hopwood Gardner-Brown | 1952[19]-1955[20] | |
| Fred A. Noad | 1956[21] | |
| Kenneth M. Walmsley | 1956[20]-1964[2][22] |
Another industry was the growing of the sisal plant introduced by the colonial secretary C. R. Nesbitt in 1845.
his services were rewarded by the colonial secretaryship of the Bahamas
Downing Street, January 28, 1875. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Edward Basnett Anderson Taylor, Esq., to be Colonial Secretary for the. Bahama Islands.
Henry Moore Jackson, Esq C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary of the Bahamas Islands) to be Colonial Secretary of the City and Garrison of Gibraltar.
Hon W-Hart Bennett, C. M. G., Colonial Secretary, returned this morning from England via New York.
Allan [sic] Burns, colonial secretary in the Bahamas during the mid- to late twenties...
As colonial secretary here from April, 1929 to July, 1934, Dundas received $5,500 and a small house allowance.
The Hon. J. H. Jarrett, K.C., Attorney-General, was appointed Colonial Secretary of the Bahamas on 14th August 1935.
The Honourable J. H. Jarrett, K. C., Colonial Secretary, administered the Government from April to November [1937] during the period between the departure of Sir Bede Clifford and the arrival of his [Clifford's] successor.
The Colonial Secretary, Mr. A. G. H. Gardner-Brown left the Colony on transfer to Nigeria on 3rd December, 1955. He was succeeded by Mr. K. M. Walmsley, O. B. E., on 15th May, 1956, on transfer from Somaliland.