Eugene Dupuch

Hon. Eugene Aubrey Pyfrom Dupuch CBE QC (7 December 1912 - 23 September 1981) was a Bahamian journalist, lawyer, Member of Parliament, and Cabinet Minister.

Early life and education

Dupuch was the son of Leon Dupuch, founder of the Tribune newspaper, and his second wife, Mary Ethelinda Pyfrom. Eugene had four older half-siblings from his father's first marriage, including Sir Etienne Dupuch.

Eugene attended Queens College and graduated from Saint John's University (Minnesota) in BA in 1934.[1]

Early journalistic career

He became an assistant editor at the Tribune and married Gladys Black, a staff reporter at paper.[2] However, she died nine months after their marriage.[3][4]

In 1943, he famously covered the Sir Harry Oakes murder trial, his report later being turned into a book.

Law career

In 1944, ten years after obtaining his bachelor's, Dupuch enrolled in law school at University of Toronto, Ontario. In 1948, he was called to the English Bar at Lincoln's Inn.[5] He became a member of the Bahamas Bar in January 1949.[6]

Dupuch and future Governor-General of the Bahamas Orville Turnquest were for many years partners in the law firm, Dupuch and Turnquest.[7]

In 1964, Dupuch was appointed one of Her Majesty's Counsel (QC)[8] and acted as a judge of the Supreme Court of the Bahamas in 1976. He also served as president of the Bar Association and chairman of the Bar Council.

Political career

Dupuch served for more than 15 years in the House of Assembly and on the Executive Council from 1952 to 1964.

He was at various times, Acting Attorney-General,[9] Minister of Welfare,[10] one of the delegates to the first constitutional conference in 1963, Acting Premier,[11] Minister without Portfolio,[12] and Opposition Leader in the Senate of the Bahamas.

Honours and awards

In 1957, Dupuch was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours.[13]

In 1964, Dupuch was appointed Queen's Counsel.[8]

Death and legacy

On 23 September 1981, Dupuch died of a heart attack. He was 68. He was survived by his second wife, Dorothea, and son Peter.

In September 1998, the Eugene Dupuch Law School was named for him.[14][15]

References
  1. "76th Class at University to be Graduate". St. Cloud Times. 1 June 1934. p. 9. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. Bahamas Handbook. Etienne Dupuch Jr Publications. 2004.
  3. "Bahamas Civil Registration records, 1850-1959 - Marriage record for Eugene Aubrey Pyfrom Dupuch and Gladys Stuart Black". Family Search. 19 November 1940. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  4. "Bahamas Civil Registration records, 1850-1959 - Death record of Gladys Stuart Black Dupuch". FamilySearch. 17 August 1941. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  5. "Three called to English Bar". The Miami Times. 4 December 1948. p. 9. Retrieved 25 August 2023. Three Bahamians were called to the English Bar in London on November 17... Mr Eugene Dupuch to Lincoln's Inn.
  6. "News from Nassau". The Miami Times. 22 January 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 25 August 2023. The Bahamas Bar is richer by two barristers admitted on January 12 [1949] at the opening of the January sessions of the Supreme Court. They are Mr. Eugene Dupuch BA LL.B and Mr. Harry Sands. Mr Dupuch, a former member of the staff of the Nassau Tribune, was called to the English Bar at Lincoln's Inn on November 17, 1948.
  7. Coulson, Richard (4 January 2017). "New view of the Duke of Windsor is not just black and white". Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  8. "Appointments (Bahamas)". The London Gazette (43337): 4642. 29 May 1964.
  9. "Special Jury to Try Oakes Suspect". The Miami News. 4 Oct 1950. p. 25. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  10. "Politics with colour". The Guardian. London, England. 21 June 1967. p. 10. Eugene Dupuch, who was Minister for Welfare in the last Government
  11. "Bahamas Story Lie - Powell". Fort Lauderdale News. 13 Sep 1965. p. 10. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  12. "Symonette Names 14 Ministers for Bahamas Cabinet". The Miami Herald. 13 October 1963. p. 37. Retrieved 26 August 2023. Three ministers without portfolio, G. A. D. Johnstone, Joseph Albury, and Eugene Dupuch, have been named but their assignments not yet determined.
  13. "Appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The London Gazette (41089): 3391. 4 June 1957.
  14. Dupuch-Carron, Eileen, ed. (1 February 2010). "Utter Bar being boosted by appointments". Tribune newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. p. 4. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  15. "Annual lecture announced". Tribune newspaper. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
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