On 3 March 1885, the government of the German Empire granted an imperial charter to the German East Africa Company, and a protectorate was established.

The British territory of Tanganyika was established on 20 July 1922, when Britain acquired a mandate to administer the region as a result of Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations.

On 18 April 1946, the mandate was reorganized as a Trust Territory of the United Nations.

Afterwards, the region remained under British administration until it gained independence on 9 December 1961 as Tanganyika.

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) For continuation after independence, see: List of heads of state of Tanzania#Governor-General