Wilfred Jacobs

Sir
Wilfred Ebenezer Jacobs
GCMG KCVO OBE
1st Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
In office
1 November 1981 – 10 June 1993
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterVere Bird
Preceded byHimself as Governor
Succeeded byJames Carlisle
1st Governor of Antigua
In office
27 February 1967 – 31 October 1981
Preceded byDavid James Gardiner Rose as Administrator
Succeeded byHimself as Governor-General
Attorney General of the Leeward Islands
In office
1949–1960
Personal details
Born(1919-10-19)19 October 1919
Grenada
Died11 March 1995(1995-03-11) (aged 75)
SpouseCarmen
Children3

Wilfred Ebenezer Jacobs GCMG KCVO OBE (19 October 1919 – 11 March 1995) was an Antiguan administrator who served as the first governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda from 1981 to 1993. Prior to his tenure as governor-general he was the administrator of Antigua from 1966 to 1967.

Early life and education

Wilfred Ebenezer Jacobs attended Codrington College.

Career

Queen Elizabeth II appointed Jacobs as the Attorney General of the British Leeward Islands on 31 March 1959.

David Rose was succeed as administrator of Antigua by Jacobs in 1966, and he held that position until its abolition in 1967. He became governor-general of Antigua in 1967, the first person to hold the position after the country gained its independence. On 1 November 1981, he was made a knight of the Order of St Michael and St George.

Riots broke out in Antigua for two days starting on 17 March 1968 due to labour union disputes between the Antigua Trades Labor Union and the Antigua Workers' Union. At least ten people were wounded in the riots. A state of emergency was declared by Jacobs on March 19 at the request of Premier Vere Bird's cabinet.

Jacobs suffered from poor health near the end of his term and underwent surgery in the United Kingdom in the 1990s. James Carlisle was appointed to succeed him as governor-general. James Carlisle succeeded Jacobs as governor-general on 10 June 1993.

Personal life

Jacobs married Carmen, with whom he had three children. Carmen was involved with a leper colony.

Jacobs died on 11 March 1995 after suffering from a terminal illness. A state funeral was held for Jacobs at St. John's Cathedral in St. John's.

References

  1. ↑ Sexton, Rosemary (19 January 1989). "Reception raises money for college in Barbados". The Globe and Mail. p. C15 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Colonial Office". The London Gazette. 10 April 1959.
  3. ↑ Henige 1970, p. 83.
  4. 1 2 "Dame Carmen to get official funeral". The Daily Telegraph. 12 April 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Honours and Awards". The London Gazette. 3 November 1981.
  6. ↑ "Antigua ends riots, bitter union dispute". The Montreal Star. 21 March 1968. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Antigua: New Governor On Way". Indian River Press Journal. 27 May 1993. p. 12A – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Banks & Muller 1998, p. 36.
  9. ↑ "Obituaries". The Globe and Mail. 10 June 1995. p. E12 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Former Antigua & Barbados GG to get state funeral". The Gleaner. 23 March 1995. p. 6A.
  11. ↑ "Court and Social". The Daily Telegraph. 23 March 1995. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.

Works cited