Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Ellis Clarke

Role / Field:

Trinidadian lawyer, politician, and diplomat; last Governor-General and first President of T&T.

Born:

1917-12-28

Died:

2010-12-30

Century / Era:

1917s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke (28 December 1917 – 30 December 2010) was a Trinidadian lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as the last Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago from 1972 to 1976 and the first President of Trinidad and Tobago from 1976 to 1987. He was one of the main architects of Trinidad and Tobago's 1962 Independence constitution. Ellis Clarke attended Saint Mary's College in Port of Spain, winning an Island Scholarship in Mathematics in 1938. He attended University College London of the University of London, where he received a Bachelor of Law degree and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He returned to Port of Spain in 1941, taking up private practice there. Clarke served as Solicitor-General from 1954 to 1956, Deputy Colonial Secretary 1956–57, and Attorney General 1957–62. After Independence in 1962, he served as Ambassador to the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. At the time, he participated in the 2nd Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Cairo in 1964. In 1972, he succeeded Sir Solomon Hochoy as Governor General.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

When Trinidad and Tobago became a republic...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolf von Baeyer — Contemporary (Died in 1917) (1917): Pioneering German chemist known for indigo synthesis and IUPAC nomenclature.
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• Andrew Wyeth — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Master American Realist Painter known for regional scenes of Pennsylvania and Maine.
• Alexander McQueen — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Iconic British fashion designer known for theatrical, boundary-pushing collections.
• Ali Hassan al-Majid — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Notorious Iraqi military figure, cousin of Saddam Hussein, known for brutal repression.
• Allan Sandage — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Pioneering American astronomer known for determining the Hubble constant and age of the universe.
• Amos Oz — Shared historical date (12-28 · Died) (2018): Pioneering Israeli novelist, journalist, and intellectual whose works explored Palestinian life.
• Ante Pavelić — Shared historical date (12-28 · Died) (1959): Croatian politician and dictator of the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945)
• Al-Qushayri — Shared historical date (12-30 · Died) (1072): Eminent Arab scholar, Sufi philosopher, and master of Islamic sciences.
• Alfred North Whitehead — Shared historical date (12-30 · Died) (1947): Pioneering philosopher and mathematician who established Process Philosophy.
• 1917 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1917
• December 28 (12-28) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 28
• 2010 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2010
• December 30 (12-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Ellis Clarke