List of governors of the Danish West Indies


This article lists the governors of the Danish West Indies or Danish Antilles or Danish Virgin Islands, a Danish colony in the Caribbean encompassing the territory of the present-day United States Virgin Islands.

Governors of St. Thomas

was claimed by Denmark–Norway in 1665.
TermPortraitIncumbentNotes
6 May 1665 — 12 June 1666Erik Nielson Smit, Governor-
1666Kjeld Jensen Slagelse, Governor-
25 May 1672 — 4 July 1680Jørgen Iversen Dyppel, Governor-
4 July 1680 — November 1682Nicolai Esmit, Governor-
November 1680 — 7 May 1684Adolph Esmit, Governor-

Governors of St. Thomas & St. John

was claimed by Danish West India Company in 1683, which was disputed by the British until 1718.
TermPortraitIncumbentNotes
7 May 1684 — 27 February 1686Gabriel Milan, Governor-
27 February 1686 — 29 June 1686Mikkel Mikkelsen, interim Governor-
29 June 1686 — March 1687Christopher Heins, Governor-
March 1687 — October 1688Adolph Esmit, interim GovernorSecond term
October 1688 — October 1689Christopher Heins, GovernorSecond term
October 1689 — 17 September 1692Johan Lorensen, Governor-
17 September 1692 — 7 April 1693Frans de la Vigne, Governor-
7 April 1693 — 19 February 1702Johan Lorensen, GovernorSecond term
19 February 1702 — 8 February 1706Claus Hansen, Governor-
8 February 1706 — 21 December 1708Joachim Melchior von Holten, Governor-
21 December 1708 — 1710Diderich Mogensen, interim Governor-
1710 — 8 August 1716Mikkel Knudsen Crone, Governor-
8 August 1716 — April 1724Erich Bredal, GovernorDuring his term St. John was occupied.
April 1724 — May 1727Friderich Moth, Governor-
May 1727 — 21 February 1733Hendrich von Suhm, Governor-
21 February 1733 — 21 February 1736Phillip Gardelin, GovernorDuring his term there was a slave rebellion.
21 February 1736 — 13 April 1744Friderich Moth, GovernorSecond term. Also governor of St. Croix.
1740 — 1744Jacob Schönemann, Governor-
13 April 1744 — 25 April 1747Christian von Schweder, Governor-
25 April 1747 — 1758Christian Suhm, Governor-

Governors of St. Croix

was bought from French West India Company in 1733.
TermPortraitIncumbentNotes
8 January 1735 — 15 May 1747Friderich Moth, Governor-
24 February 1736 — 16 April 1744Gregers Høg Nissen, Chief ad interim-
16 April 1744 — 15 May 1747Paul Lindemark, Chief ad interim-
15 May 1747 — December 1751Jens Hansen, Governor-
December 1751 — 1758Peter Clausen, GovernorLater Governor-General.

In 1754, the Danish West Indies were sold by Danish West India Company to King Frederick V, becoming royal Danish colonies. Hereafter, St. Croix was governed by the Governors-General of the Danish West Indies.

Governors of the royal colonies

The Danish West Indies were sold by Denmark to the United States on December 12, 1916. The administration was officially turned over on March 31, 1917, and the first US governor was Navy Captain Edwin Taylor Pollock. For governors of the territory after the establishment of the US administration, see List of governors of the United States Virgin Islands.