Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory

Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory

Standard of the commissioner

Incumbent
Jane Rumble

since February 2025

Appointer| Charles III
as King of the United Kingdom
Term length| At His Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holder| Edwin Porter Arrowsmith
Merrick Baker-Bates
First Commissioner

The Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory, is the head of government of the British Antarctic Territory, a British Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. The commissioner is appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

## History

[edit]

Prior to 1962, the area was a part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies and as such was administered by the Governor of the Falkland Islands.[1] The British Antarctic Territory was established as a separate British overseas territory in 1962.[2] From 1962 to 1990, the Governor of the Falkland Islands also held the office of high commissioner for the territory. In 1990, administration of the BAT was transferred to a separate commissioner based in London. Between 1998 and 2024, the commissioner of the BAT also served as Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

## List of high commissioners and commissioners

[edit]

### High commissioners (1962-1990)

[edit]

During this time also served as the Governor of the Falkland Islands

* Edwin Porter Arrowsmith (1962–1964)
* Cosmo Dugal Patrick Thomas Haskard (1964–1970)
* Ernest Gordon Lewis (1971–1975)
* Neville Arthur Irwin French (1975–1977)
* James Roland Walter Parker (1977–1980)
* Rex Masterman Hunt (1980–1985)
* Gordon Wesley Jewkes (1985–1988)
* William H. Fullerton (1988–1990)

### Commissioners (1990-present)

[edit]

These are non-resident and based in London. Since 1998, has also served as Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

* Merrick Baker-Bates (1990–1992)
* P. Newton (1992–1995)
* Anthony Longrigg (1995–1997)
* John White (1997–2001)
* Alan Huckle (2001–2004)
* Tony Crombie (2004–2006)
* Leigh Turner (2006–2008)
* Colin Roberts (2008–2012)
* Peter Hayes (2012–2016)
* John Kittmer (2016–2017)
* Ben Merrick (2017–2021)
* Paul Candler (2021–2024)[3]
* Jane Rumble (2025-present)[4]

## See also

[edit]

* British Antarctic Territory

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "History of the Territory". British Antarctic Territory. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
2. ^ "About the Territory". British Antarctic Territory. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
3. ^ "Paul Candler". GOV.UK. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
4. ^ "Who We Are". British Antarctic Territory. Retrieved 1 October 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Governors, civil commissioners and administrators of British dependencies

Crown
Dependencies|

* Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
* Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
* Lieutenant Governor of Jersey

Overseas
territories|

* Governor of Anguilla
* Governor of Ascension (Administrator of Ascension)
* Governor of Bermuda
* Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory
* Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory
* Governor of the Virgin Islands
* Governor of the Cayman Islands
* Governor of the Falkland Islands
* Governor of Gibraltar
* Governor of Montserrat
* Governor of Pitcairn
* Administrator of the Pitcairn Islands
* Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* Governor of Saint Helena
* Governor of Tristan da Cunha (Administrator of Tristan da Cunha)
* Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands

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Europe|

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