Eric Williams
Eric Williams | |
|---|---|
Williams in 1962 | |
| 1st Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago | |
| In office 31 August 1962 – 29 March 1981 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| President | Ellis Clarke |
| Governors‑General | Solomon Hochoy Ellis Clarke |
| Opposition Leader | Rudranath Capildeo Vernon Jamadar John R. F. Richardson Basdeo Panday Raffique Shah |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Premier) |
| Succeeded by | George Chambers |
| 1st Premier of Trinidad and Tobago | |
| In office 9 July 1959 – 31 August 1962 | |
| Governor | Solomon Hochoy Edward Beetham |
| Opposition Leader | Bhadase Sagan Maraj |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| 2nd Chief Minister of Trinidad and Tobago | |
| In office 28 October 1956 – 9 July 1959 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Edward Beetham |
| Opposition Leader | Bhadase Sagan Maraj |
| Preceded by | Albert Gomes |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Political Leader of the People's National Movement | |
| In office 1955–1981 | |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | George Chambers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eric Eustace Williams 25 September 1911 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Died | 29 March 1981 (aged 69) Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Political party | People's National Movement |
| Other political affiliations | WIFLP (1957–1962) |
| Spouses |
|
| Relations | Alexander Chamberlain Alexis (brother-in-law) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | St Catherine's College, Oxford Queen's Royal College |
| Nickname | Father of the Nation |
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Eric Eustace Williams TC CH (25 September 1911 – 29 March 1981) was a Trinidad and Tobago politician. He has been dubbed as the "Father of the Nation", having led the then-British Colony of Trinidad and Tobago to majority rule on 28 October 1956, to independence on 31 August 1962, and republic status, on 1 August 1976, leading an unbroken string of general elections victories with his political party, the People's National Movement, until his death in 1981. He represented Port of Spain South in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.
He was the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and also a Caribbean historian, most noted for his book entitled Capitalism and Slavery.