John Paul (colonial administrator)

Sir John Warburton Paul, GCMG, OBE, MC (29 March 1916 – 31 March 2004) was a British colonial administrator and civil servant, who most notably served as the final Governor of the Gambia (1962–1965) and Governor of the Bahamas (1972–1973) prior to both of those countries achieving independence from the United Kingdom. Paul also served as the first Governor-General of the Gambia from 1965 to 1966, the Governor of British Honduras from 1966 to 1972, the first Governor-General of the Bahamas in 1973, and the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man from 1974 to 1980.

Sir John Paul
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
In office
1974–1980
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byPeter Stallard
Succeeded byNigel Cecil
1st Governor-General of the Bahamas
In office
1973–1973
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byMilo Butler
Governor of the Bahamas
In office
14 May 1972  10 July 1973
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byFrancis Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Governor of British Honduras
In office
11 July 1966  26 January 1972
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byPeter Stallard
Succeeded byRichard Posnett
Governor-General of the Gambia
In office
18 February 1965  9 February 1966
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDawda Jawara
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byFarimang Mamadi Singateh
Governor of the Gambia
In office
29 March 1962  18 February 1965
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDawda Jawara
Preceded byEdward Henry Windley
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born
John Warburton Paul

29 March 1916
Weymouth, Dorset
Died31 March 2004(2004-03-31) (aged 88)
NationalityBritish
Spouse(Kathleen) Audrey Weeden
ChildrenThree daughters
Alma materSelwyn College, Cambridge
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1937–1947
RankCaptain
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life and education

Paul was born in Weymouth, Dorset, and attended Weymouth College. He went on to study at Selwyn College, Cambridge.

Military service

He was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps Supplementary Reserve in 1937 and into the regular Royal Tank Regiment in 1938. He won a Military Cross for his bravery during the German invasion of France in 1940. However, he was captured by the Germans in 1940 and was a prisoner of war until the end of the war in 1945. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1941 and Captain in 1946 and resigned his commission in 1947.[1]

Colonial career

Following the war, Paul entered colonial administration, serving in various position in Sierra Leone until its independence in 1961. He was knighted in 1962, becoming the Governor of the Gambia. He served until that country's independence in February 1965, and became its first Governor-General. In 1966, he was replaced in this role by a Gambian doctor. He then went on to become Governor of British Honduras, from 1966 to 1972. He dealt with demonstrations which were sparked by rumours that the territory was to be annexed by Guatemala.[1]

Paul then went on to become the last Governor of the Bahamas, serving from 1972 to 1973. He continued to serve as acting Governor-General for a period in 1973 following independence. His last role in the colonial service was a Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, which he held from 1974 to 1980. Following that he retired from colonial administration.[1]

Personal life

Paul married (Kathleen) Audrey Weeden in 1946.[1] They had three daughters[1] and were married for 58 years, until he died in March 2004.[2][3] Audrey died in December 2004.

References

  1. Obituary: Sir John Paul Daily Telegraph, 8 April 2004
  2. "Sir John Paul". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  3. "Sir John Paul". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
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