Arthur Foulkes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Honourable
Sir Arthur Foulkes
ON, GCMG
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Foulkes, c. 2000
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| 9th Governor-General of the Bahamas | |
| In office 14 April 2010 – 7 July 2014 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Hubert Ingraham Perry Christie |
| Preceded by | A.D. Hanna |
| Succeeded by | Dame Marguerite Pindling |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Arthur Alexander Foulkes
11 May 1928 Matthew Town, Inagua, The Bahamas |
| Political party | Progressive Liberal Party (before 1971) Free National Movement (1971–present) |
| Spouse | Joan Eleanor Foulkes |
Sir Arthur Alexander Foulkes (born May 11, 1928) is an important politician from The Bahamas. He served as the ninth Governor-General of The Bahamas from 2010 to 2014.
He was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1967. He worked in the government of Lynden Pindling. There, he was the Minister of Communications and Minister of Tourism. In 1971, he helped start the Free National Movement political party. He also served in the Senate and returned to the House of Assembly later.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Sir Arthur Foulkes was born on May 11, 1928. His birthplace was Matthew Town on the island of Inagua in The Bahamas. His parents were Dr. William and Mrs. Julie Foulkes. Sir Arthur is married to Joan Eleanor Bullard, who is from Nassau.
Sir Arthur Foulkes's Career
Sir Arthur Foulkes had a long and varied career. He worked in newspapers and then became a key figure in Bahamian politics.
Starting in Newspapers
Sir Arthur began his career working with newspapers. He started as a linotype operator. This job involved setting type for printing. He worked at the Nassau Guardian and later at the Tribune newspaper.
He became a reporter for the Tribune. He worked under the editor Sir Étienne Dupuch. Sir Arthur eventually became the News Editor for the Tribune. From 1962 to 1967, he was the first editor of Bahamian Times. This was the official newspaper of the Progressive Liberal Party. He supported the campaign for majority rule in The Bahamas. Later, he wrote columns for both the Nassau Guardian and the Tribune.
A Life in Politics
In 1967, Sir Arthur Foulkes was elected to Parliament. The next year, he joined the Cabinet. He served as the Minister of Communications. After that, he became the Minister of Tourism.
In 1971, he was one of the people who founded the Free National Movement (FNM). This is a major political party in The Bahamas. He was appointed to the Senate in 1972 and again in 1977. In 1982, he was re-elected to the House of Assembly. In 1972, Sir Arthur was one of four delegates from the Opposition party. They attended the Bahamas Independence Constitution Conference in London. This meeting helped create the rules for The Bahamas to become an independent country.
Later, in 1992, Sir Arthur became The Bahamas' High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. This means he was the top diplomat representing The Bahamas there. He also served as ambassador to several European countries. These included France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. He also worked with the European Union. In 1999, he became the first Bahamian ambassador to China and Cuba.
On May 14, 2010, Sir Arthur Foulkes was sworn in as the Governor-General of The Bahamas. He held this important role until July 7, 2014.
Honours and Awards
Sir Arthur Foulkes has received many important awards. In 2001, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG). This is a special honour from the Queen. In 2011, he was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the same Order (GCMG).
In 2018, he received the Order of the Nation (ON). This is a very high honour in The Bahamas. It was given to him by the then Governor General, Marguerite Pindling.
See also
In Spanish: Arthur Foulkes para niños
Images for kids
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The Coat of Arms of The Bahamas.
