Henry Milton Taylor
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Milton Taylor (November 4, 1903-February 24, 1994) was the third Governor-General of the Bahamas
.
, Long Island. He attended the government school on Long Island and took correspondence courses from London. He taught at public school in Roses, Long Island, from 1924 to 1924; in Pompey Bay, Acklins, from 1925 to 1926; and in Clarence Town, Long Island, from 1933 to 1934.
and Ragged Island
seat in the legislature.
In November 1953, he co-founded and organized the Progressive Liberal Party
, the first united political party in the country.
Between 1953 and 1963, Sir Henry was unanimously elected each year as national party chairman by the National General Council of the P. L. P. In 1963, when he relinquished the post of national party chairman, he was unanimously elected honorary chairman of the party for life.
In July, 1956 Sir Henry was instrumental in having Mr. Lynden Pindling
elected by the National General Council as the first Parliamentary Leader. Mr. Pindling went on to become Prime Minister the Right Honourable Sir Lynden Pindling.
In that year, Sir Henry successfully led the first citizen's delegation to London from The Bahamas. He was accompanied by Sir Lynden and the late Sir Milo Butler
, who became the first Bahamian Governor-General of The Bahamas. The purpose of that meeting was to discuss political conditions in the then colony.
On 20 May 1960, Sir Henry successfully contested an election in the Eastern District of New Providence
, receiving more votes than any candidate in any previous Bahamian election. In November of that year, Sir Henry led another successful delegation to London. This time, he was championing the right of women to vote in Bahamian elections. He was accompanied by the late Dame Dr. Doris Johnson and Mrs. Eugenia Lockhart. Shortly after their return, women received the right to vote and exercised it in the 1962 general election.
In 1961 and 1962, Sir Henry was appointed a member of the Development (Tourist) Board. He accompanied the chairman of the Board on two occasions to Britain and the Continent in the interest of increased tourism to The Bahamas.
In 1966, he was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her first visit to The Bahamas.
Between 1968 and 1978, Sir Henry resided in Florida
where he began work on his memoirs. At the P.L.P.'s silver jubilee convention in November 1978, he was honoured for co-founding the party.
In February 1979, he was appointed by The Bahamas government to the post of editor of the Hansard
.
Sir Henry was awarded the honour of Knight Bachelor
on 1 January 1980, in the Queen's New Years Honour's List. This honour, conferred on him by the Queen at Buckingham Palace
, London, on 25 July carried with it the title of "Sir".
On 24 July 1981, he was appointed Deputy to the Governor-General of The Bahamas, while His Excellency Sir Gerald Cash, the then Governor-General attended the royal wedding of Prince Charles.
Sir Henry also served as Deputy to the Governor-General on several occasions, between 1981 and 1988, when Sir Gerald was out of the country.
On 25 June 1988, Sir Henry was appointed Acting Governor-General of The Bahamas on the retirement of Sir Gerald. He was sworn in as Acting Governor-General by Chief Justice Telford Georges on 26 June 1988.
Nearly three years later, on 8 April 1991, Sir Henry was sworn in by Chief Justice Joaquim Gonsalves-Sabola as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, becoming the third Bahamian to hold this post. Sir Henry retired on 1 January 1992.
. He has four daughters by a previous marriage.
Governor-General of the Bahamas
The Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is the viceregal representative of the Bahamian Monarch . As Her Majesty the Queen cannot reside in all of her realms she appoints representatives to carry-out her duties as Queen of the Bahamas...
.
Biography
Sir Henry, the adopted son of Joseph J. Taylor and Evelyn Taylor, was born on 4 November 1903, at Clarence TownClarence Town
Clarence Town is a town in the Bahamas. It is located on Long Island.Clarence Town is the capital of Long Island and has a population of approximately 350 people. It has a marina, two restaurants as well as the government dock where the mail boat docks on a weekly basis...
, Long Island. He attended the government school on Long Island and took correspondence courses from London. He taught at public school in Roses, Long Island, from 1924 to 1924; in Pompey Bay, Acklins, from 1925 to 1926; and in Clarence Town, Long Island, from 1933 to 1934.
Career
In 1949, he successfully contested an election for the Long IslandLong Island, Bahamas
Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130...
and Ragged Island
Ragged Island
Ragged Island is a small island and district in the southern Bahamas.Until recently it had an active salt industry, the salt ponds having been developed in the 19th Century by a Mr...
seat in the legislature.
In November 1953, he co-founded and organized the Progressive Liberal Party
Progressive Liberal Party
The Progressive Liberal Party is a populist party in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas commonly abbreviated PLP. The PLP lies on the left of the political spectrum....
, the first united political party in the country.
Between 1953 and 1963, Sir Henry was unanimously elected each year as national party chairman by the National General Council of the P. L. P. In 1963, when he relinquished the post of national party chairman, he was unanimously elected honorary chairman of the party for life.
In July, 1956 Sir Henry was instrumental in having Mr. Lynden Pindling
Lynden Pindling
Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling KCMG, OM, JP , is generally regarded as the "Father of the Nation" of the Bahamas, having led it to Majority Rule on 10 January 1967 and then to independence on 10 July 1973. He served as the first black premier of the Colony of the Bahama Islands from 1967 to 1969 and as...
elected by the National General Council as the first Parliamentary Leader. Mr. Pindling went on to become Prime Minister the Right Honourable Sir Lynden Pindling.
In that year, Sir Henry successfully led the first citizen's delegation to London from The Bahamas. He was accompanied by Sir Lynden and the late Sir Milo Butler
Milo Butler
Milo Butler, GCMG was a Bahamian administrator. He was appointed as the first Bahamian Governor-General on the recommendation of Lynden Pindling, prime minister of The Bahamas and leader of the Progressive Liberal Party , of which he was also a member...
, who became the first Bahamian Governor-General of The Bahamas. The purpose of that meeting was to discuss political conditions in the then colony.
On 20 May 1960, Sir Henry successfully contested an election in the Eastern District of New Providence
New Providence
New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas, containing more than 70% of the total population. It also houses the national capital city, Nassau.The island was originally under Spanish control following Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World, but the Spanish government showed...
, receiving more votes than any candidate in any previous Bahamian election. In November of that year, Sir Henry led another successful delegation to London. This time, he was championing the right of women to vote in Bahamian elections. He was accompanied by the late Dame Dr. Doris Johnson and Mrs. Eugenia Lockhart. Shortly after their return, women received the right to vote and exercised it in the 1962 general election.
In 1961 and 1962, Sir Henry was appointed a member of the Development (Tourist) Board. He accompanied the chairman of the Board on two occasions to Britain and the Continent in the interest of increased tourism to The Bahamas.
In 1966, he was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her first visit to The Bahamas.
Between 1968 and 1978, Sir Henry resided in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
where he began work on his memoirs. At the P.L.P.'s silver jubilee convention in November 1978, he was honoured for co-founding the party.
In February 1979, he was appointed by The Bahamas government to the post of editor of the Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
.
Sir Henry was awarded the honour of Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
on 1 January 1980, in the Queen's New Years Honour's List. This honour, conferred on him by the Queen at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, London, on 25 July carried with it the title of "Sir".
On 24 July 1981, he was appointed Deputy to the Governor-General of The Bahamas, while His Excellency Sir Gerald Cash, the then Governor-General attended the royal wedding of Prince Charles.
Sir Henry also served as Deputy to the Governor-General on several occasions, between 1981 and 1988, when Sir Gerald was out of the country.
On 25 June 1988, Sir Henry was appointed Acting Governor-General of The Bahamas on the retirement of Sir Gerald. He was sworn in as Acting Governor-General by Chief Justice Telford Georges on 26 June 1988.
Nearly three years later, on 8 April 1991, Sir Henry was sworn in by Chief Justice Joaquim Gonsalves-Sabola as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, becoming the third Bahamian to hold this post. Sir Henry retired on 1 January 1992.
Marriage and children
Sir Henry was married in 1962 to the former Elua Mae Sisco of Arcadia, FloridaArcadia, Florida
Arcadia is a city in DeSoto County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,604 as of the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city grew to 7,151. It is the county seat of DeSoto County; it is also DeSoto County's only incorporated community. On October 27, 2009,...
. He has four daughters by a previous marriage.