Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV

Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV (8 May 1922 – 9 July 1983)[1] was the second prime minister of Samoa from 25 February 1970 to 20 March 1973 and again from 21 May 1975 to 24 March 1976.[2] He held the title of Tupua Tamasese, one of the four main chiefly titles of Samoa (the Tama-a-Aiga) from 1965 until his death in 1983.

Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV
2nd Prime Minister of Western Samoa
In office
21 May 1975 – 24 March 1976
Acting
O le Ao O le MaloMalietoa Tanumafili II
Preceded byFiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Succeeded byTupuola Efi
In office
25 February 1970 – 20 March 1973
O le Ao O le MaloMalietoa Tanumafili II
Preceded byFiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Succeeded byFiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Member of the Council of Deputies
In office
1968–1970, 1976–1983
Minister of Justice
In office
1973–1975
Prime MinisterFiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Preceded byAmoa Tausilia
Succeeded byLilomaiava Niko
Member of the Legislative Assembly
In office
1970–1976
Preceded byLeutele Poutoa
ConstituencyAnoamaa East
Personal details
Born(1922-05-08)8 May 1922
Apia, Western Samoa Trust Territory (Now Samoa)
Died9 July 1983(1983-07-09) (aged 61)
Matautu, Western Samoa
NationalitySamoan
Political partyIndependent
SpouseRita Lolani
Children4
Parent(s)Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III, Alaisalatemaota
Alma materFiji School of Medicine

Biography

Lealofi was born in Apia in May 1922, the eldest son of Mau movement leader Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III, who was killed by New Zealand Police in 1929.[3] After studying at the Marist Brothers school and Malifa high school, he attended the Fiji School of Medicine between 1940 and 1945, qualifying as a medical practitioner.[3] He then worked as a doctor for the Health Department.[3] In 1965 he became Tupua Tamasese following the death of his uncle Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole. This entitled him to become a member of the Council of Deputies, to which he was elected in 1968.[3]

In 1970 he resigned from the Council of Deputies to contest elections to the Legislative Assembly, and was elected in the Anoamaa East constituency. Following the elections, he was elected Prime Minister, defeating incumbent Fiame Mata'afa in the third round of voting.[4] However, following the 1973 elections he was eliminated in the first round of voting for Prime Minister, and was succeeded by Mata'afa. Mata'afa subsequently appointed him as Minister of Justice.

Mata'afa died in 1975 and Lealofi was appointed by then Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II, as his replacement. Following the 1976 elections he was defeated in the vote for Prime Minister by his cousin, Tupuola Efi. He subsequently resigned from the Legislative Assembly and was elected to the Council of Deputies again.[5]

Lealofi died in Matautu on Upolu Island in July 1983 at the age of 61.[3]

References
  1. "Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV".
  2. Brij V. Lal; Kate Fortune (2000). The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia. p. 286. ISBN 9780824822651. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  3. Tupua Tamases Lealofi IV Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1983, p65
  4. (1) It's a vital, young cabinet Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1970, pp50–51
  5. Tupuola Efi dispels a myth and upsets a Samoan tradition Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1976, pp29–30
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