TODAY'S RAMBLINGS

<3 Minute Read

There are many interesting facts to be discovered in the book, including the obvious:  the British Empire was f'ing huge. 

How huge?  Reading about tea cultivation in India, indentured servitude in Mauritius, and tourism in Barbados piqued my curiosity, so I fed Anthropic's Claude AI engine this prompt:

I am a student of Britain.  Provide me a comprehensive list of the countries that have been at any time a part of the British Empire, and the years of their membership.  Please present the list in alphabetical order.

Its response was and is impressive.  And accurate, based on some spot checks I've done.  

This is a complex topic, as the British Empire evolved over centuries and its territories changed frequently.  I'll provide a list to the best of my knowledge, but please note that some dates are approximate due to the gradual nature of colonization and decolonization processes.  Also, the status of some territories varied over time.

Here's an alphabetical list of countries that were part of the British Empire at some point:

1. Aden (Yemen) - 1839-1967
2. Afghanistan - British protectorate 1879-1919
3. Antigua and Barbuda - 1632-1981
4. Australia - 1788-1901 (Dominion status), fully independent in 1942
5. Bahamas - 1718-1973
6. Bahrain - 1861-1971
7. Bangladesh (East Pakistan) - 1757-1947 (as part of British India)
8. Barbados - 1625-1966
9. Belize (British Honduras) - 1862-1981
10. Bermuda - 1609-present (still a British Overseas Territory)
11. Botswana (Bechuanaland) - 1885-1966
12. Brunei - 1888-1984
13. Canada - 1763-1867 (Dominion status), fully independent in 1982
14. Cyprus - 1878-1960
15. Dominica - 1763-1978
16. Egypt - 1882-1922 (protectorate until 1952)
17. Eswatini (Swaziland) - 1903-1968
18. Fiji - 1874-1970
19. Gambia - 1765-1965
20. Ghana (Gold Coast) - 1821-1957
21. Grenada - 1763-1974
22. Guyana (British Guiana) - 1831-1966
23. Hong Kong - 1841-1997
24. India - 1757-1947
25. Iraq - 1920-1932
26. Ireland - 1801-1922
27. Israel/Palestine - 1917-1948
28. Jamaica - 1655-1962
29. Jordan - 1921-1946
30. Kenya - 1895-1963
31. Kuwait - 1899-1961
32. Lesotho (Basutoland) - 1868-1966
33. Malawi (Nyasaland) - 1891-1964
34. Malaysia - 1826-1957
35. Malta - 1800-1964
36. Mauritius - 1810-1968
37. Myanmar (Burma) - 1824-1948
38. Nauru - 1914-1968 (administered by Australia)
39. New Zealand - 1840-1907 (Dominion status), fully independent in 1947
40. Nigeria - 1861-1960
41. Oman - 1891-1971 (informal protectorate)
42. Pakistan - 1847-1947 (as part of British India)
43. Qatar - 1916-1971
44. Saint Kitts and Nevis - 1623-1983
45. Saint Lucia - 1814-1979
46. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - 1763-1979
47. Seychelles - 1811-1976
48. Sierra Leone - 1808-1961
49. Singapore - 1819-1963
50. Solomon Islands - 1893-1978
51. Somalia (British Somaliland) - 1884-1960
52. South Africa - 1806-1910 (Dominion status), fully independent in 1931
53. Sri Lanka (Ceylon) - 1815-1948
54. Sudan - 1899-1956
55. Tanzania (Tanganyika) - 1919-1961
56. Tonga - 1900-1970 (protectorate)
57. Trinidad and Tobago - 1797-1962
58. Uganda - 1894-1962
59. United Arab Emirates (Trucial States) - 1892-1971
60. United States of America - 1607-1776
61. Vanuatu (New Hebrides) - 1906-1980 (with France)
62. Yemen (South Yemen) - 1839-1967
63. Zambia (Northern Rhodesia) - 1889-1964
64. Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia) - 1888-1965 (unilateral independence), 1980 (internationally recognized)

This list includes countries that were colonies, protectorates, or dominions of the British Empire.  The dates provided generally refer to the period of formal British control, although the nature and extent of that control varied significantly across different territories and time periods.

Amazing - 64 countries plundered in one way or another, although the book rightly points out (and often) that there is plenty of good that went along with the bad:  Rule of law, medicine, and agriculture, to name a few.

What's also amazing is that even on this subject - the British Empire - I can twist it into something about myself.

Because I was in Hong Kong on business 3 days before its handover to China by Britain on 1 July 1997.   

One of its last holdings, as it turns out, but certainly not the last.  These countries are still a part of "the British Empire" - such as it is - although they're now euphemistically referred to as British Overseas Territories.

1. Anguilla
2. Bermuda
3. British Virgin Islands
4. Cayman Islands
5. Falkland Islands
6. Gibraltar
7. Montserrat
8. Pitcairn Islands
9. Turks and Caicos

1. American Samoa
2. Guam
3. Northern Mariana Islands
4. Puerto Rico
5. US Virgin Islands

And a sixth, if you count our colonization of the Westside.  It is ending, and I will be performing my own kind of handover.  Here's a newspaper clipping of me with the two dignitaries who assume control at noon tomorrow.

Have a great week. 

FROM THE UNWASHED MASSES

I just can't believe you're sharing so much personal stuff.

KLUF

Today on KLUF, let's touch all of the bases.  Another nod towards my narcissism?  Check - my lookalike Sting features prominently.  Rarely played on this fake radio station?  Correct - it's been almost 2 years.  An American component, but primarily British?  Yep. 

And recorded at AIR Studios, on Britain's Montserrat?  Yes, and yes.  Here are The Police and the uneven but still Killer Ghost in the Machine.