Allen Montgomery Lewis
Sir Allen Montgomery Lewis GCMG GCVO KStJ (26 October 1909 – 18 February 1993) was a barrister and public servant from Saint Lucia who twice served as the country's Governor-General.[1]
Sir Allen Montgomery Lewis GCMG GCVO KStJ | |
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Governor-General of Saint Lucia | |
In office 22 February 1979 – 19 June 1980 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | Office Established Himself as Governor |
Succeeded by | Boswell Williams |
In office 13 December 1982 – 30 April 1987 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | Boswell Williams |
Succeeded by | Stanislaus A. James |
Governor of Saint Lucia | |
In office 1974–1979 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | Ira Marcus Simmons |
Succeeded by | Office Abolished Himself as Governor-General |
Personal details | |
Born | 26 October 1909 |
Died | 18 February 1993 83) | (aged
Early life
He was born in Castries and was educated at the Castries Anglican Infant and Primary Schools and Saint Mary's College, Castries. He then studied law at London University and the Middle Temple.
He became a member of Castries City Council in 1941, acting as Chairman six times. He was one of the founders and the first president of the Saint Lucia Labour Party in 1950. Before his appointments to the viceregal post, Sir Allen sat on the legislative council (1943–1951) and was a senator in the Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation (1958–1959).[2]
Sir Allen had a distinguished legal career alongside his political accomplishments; he was a judge on the Jamaican Court of Appeal (1962–1967) and the first Chief Justice of the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court (1967–1972). In 1975 he became Chancellor of the University of the West Indies.
In 1972 he returned to Saint Lucia and spent two years establishing a National Development Corporation to develop the economy of the island, after which he was appointed Governor of Saint Lucia, the Queen's representative. When St Lucia gained independence in 1979 he served twice in the equivalent role as Governor-General of Saint Lucia (1979–1980 and 1982–1987).
His brother, W. Arthur Lewis, won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics for his work on developing countries and the "Lewis turning point."
Honours and awards
- 1952 Awarded the Coronation Medal.
- 1968 Made Knight Bachelor.
- 1975 Made a Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.
- 1977 Awarded the Jubilee Medal.
- 1979 Made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG).
- 1985 Awarded the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO).
- 1974 Awarded honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of the West Indies.
References
- "Sir Allen Montgomery Lewis". Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- Lentz, Harris M. (4 February 2014). "Heads of States and Governments Since 1945". Routledge – via Google Books.
- Biography (Saint Lucia Government House)
External links
Government offices | ||
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Preceded by Sir Ira Simmons |
Governor of Saint Lucia 1974–1979 |
Created Governor-General |
New title | Governor-General of Saint Lucia 1979–1980 |
Succeeded by Boswell Williams |
Preceded by Boswell Williams |
Governor-General of Saint Lucia 1982–1987 |
Succeeded by Vincent Floissac, acting |