What is a Crown Colony?
Q: What is a Crown Colony?
A: A Crown colony, also known in the 17th century as a royal colony, was a type of colonial administration of the English and later British Empire. It was ruled by a governor appointed by the Monarch.
Q: When did the first Crown Colony come into existence?
A: The first Crown colony came into existence in 1624 when the Crown removed the Royal Charter it had given to the Virginia Company.
Q: What were some examples of colonies obtained through wars?
A: Examples of colonies obtained through wars included Trinidad and Tobago, British Guiana, and other colonies of settlement such as The Canadas, Newfoundland, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand.
Q: How were these colonies referred to until 1981?
A: Until 1981 these colonies were referred to as "Crown Colonies".
Q: How are they known today?
A: Today these colonies are known as British Overseas Territories.
Q: Who appointed royal governors during the mid-nineteenth century?
A: During the mid-nineteenth century Sovereigns appointed royal governors on advice from the Secretary of State for Colonies.
Q: What happened to these colonies after 1981?
A: After 1981 these remaining British colonies were reclassified as "British Dependent Territories".
