Colony of Fiji | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874–1970 | |||||||||
| Motto: Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui Fear God and honour the Queen | |||||||||
| Anthem: God Save the King/Queen | |||||||||
.svg) | |||||||||
| Status | British colony | ||||||||
| Capital | Levuka (1874–1877) Suva (1877–1970) | ||||||||
| Common languages | English, iTaukei (Fijian), Fiji Hindi, Rotuman | ||||||||
| Government | Constitutional monarchy | ||||||||
| Monarch | |||||||||
• 1874–1901 | Victoria | ||||||||
• 1901–1910 | Edward VII | ||||||||
• 1910–1936 | George V | ||||||||
• 1936 | Edward VIII | ||||||||
• 1936–1952 | George VI | ||||||||
• 1952–1970 | Elizabeth II | ||||||||
| Governor | |||||||||
• 1874–1875 | Sir Hercules Robinson | ||||||||
• 1968–1970 | Sir Robert Sidney Foster | ||||||||
| Chief Minister | |||||||||
• 1967–1970 | Sir Kamisese Mara | ||||||||
| Legislature | Legislative Council | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 10 October 1874 | ||||||||
• Independence | 10 October 1970 | ||||||||
| Currency | Fijian pound (1874–1969) Fijian dollar (1969–1970) | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | FJ | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Fiji | ||||||||
.svg)
| History of Fiji |
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 |
| Early history |
| Modern history |
| Coup of 2000 |
| Proposed Reconciliation Commission |
| Crisis of 2005–2006 |
| Coup of 2006 |
The Colony of Fiji was a Crown colony that existed from 1874 to 1970 in the territory of the present-day nation of Fiji. London declined its first opportunity to annex the Kingdom of Fiji in 1852. Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau had offered to cede the islands, subject to being allowed to retain his Tui Viti (King of Fiji) title. His demand was unacceptable to both the British and to many of his fellow chiefs, who regarded him only as first among equals, if that. Mounting debts and threats from the United States Navy had led Cakobau to establish a constitutional monarchy with a government dominated by European settlers in 1871, following an agreement with the Australian Polynesia Company to pay his debts. The collapse of the new regime drove him to make another offer of cession in 1872, which the British accepted. On 10 October 1874, Britain began its rule of Fiji, which lasted until 10 October 1970.[1][2][3][4]
- ^ Sarah Searight, "The British Acquisition of Fiji" History Today (Nov 1972), pp 806–813, online
- ^ William D. McIntyre, "Disraeli's colonial policy: The creation of the Western Pacific High Commission, 1874–1877." Historical Studies: Australia and New Zealand 9#35 (1960): 279–294.
- ^ Owen Parnaby, "Aspects of British policy in the Pacific: The 1872 pacific islanders protection act, " Historical Studies: Australia and New Zealand 8#29 (1957) pp 54-65 https://doi.org/10.1080/10314615708595097
- ^ Paul Knaplund, "Sir Arthur Gordon and Fiji: Some Gordon-Gladstone Letters." Historical Studies: Australia and New Zealand 8#31 (1958) pp 281–296.