Bede Clifford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Captain The Honourable Sir Bede Clifford GCMG CB MVO
Governor of The Bahamas
In office 10 January 1932 – 1937
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	Ramsey MacDonald
Preceded by	Sir Charles Orr
Succeeded by	Sir Charles Dundas
Governor of Mauritius
In office 23 October 1937 – 16 April 1942
Monarch	George VI
Prime Minister	Neville Chamberlain Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Sir Wilfrid Jackson
Succeeded by	Sir Donald Mackenzie-Kennedy
Governor of Trinidad and Tobago
In office 8 June 1942 – 6 March 1947
Monarch	George VI
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill Clement Attlee
Preceded by	Sir Hubert Young
Succeeded by	Sir John Shaw
Personal details
Born	(1890-07-03)3 July 1890 New Zealand
Died	6 October 1969(1969-10-06) (aged 79) Surrey, England
Spouse	Alice Devin Gundry ​ (m. 1925)​
Children	Anne Frances Mary Clifford Patricia David Pandora Clifford Alice Devin Atalanta Clifford
Parents	Lord Clifford of Chudleigh Catherine Mary Bassett
Alma mater	Xavier College University of Melbourne
Occupation	Statesman

Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford (born July 3, 1890 – died October 6, 1969) was an important British diplomat and colonial administrator. A diplomat helps manage relationships between countries. A colonial administrator helps govern a colony, which is a territory controlled by another country. Sir Bede was born in New Zealand, where his parents had tried sheep farming.

Early Life and Education

Bede Clifford's parents were William Hugh Clifford, who was the 10th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, and Catherine Mary Bassett. After living in New Zealand, his family moved to Tasmania, an island state of Australia. He did not go to a regular school until he was 10 years old.

Later, he attended Xavier College, Melbourne, where he was a very talented student. He then studied at Melbourne University. He first became a surveyor, which means he measured and mapped land. After that, he worked as an officer in the merchant navy, sailing on ships that carried goods.

A Career in Public Service

During World War I, Bede Clifford served as a captain in the Royal Fusiliers, a British army regiment. After the war, he began working in government and diplomacy for the British Empire.

From 1917, he worked for the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Ronald Ferguson. He started as an aide-de-camp, which is like a personal assistant to a high-ranking official. Then he became Sir Ronald's Private Secretary.

From 1921 to 1931, Sir Bede served as Secretary to the Governor-General of South Africa. He worked for two different Governor-Generals there: Prince Arthur of Connaught and Prince Alexander of Teck.

In 1931, Sir Bede Clifford was chosen to be the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahamas. A Governor is the main leader of a territory or colony. He then became the 24th Governor of Mauritius, serving from October 23, 1937, to April 16, 1942. After that, he was appointed Governor of Trinidad and Tobago from 1942 to 1947. He was also made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, which means he was recognized for his contributions to geography.

Family Life

Sir Bede Clifford married Alice Devin Gundry in 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. They had three daughters together. After his long career, he retired and moved back to England, where he passed away.

His daughters were:

• Anne Frances Mary Clifford, born on January 5, 1929. She married John Julius Norwich. They had two children: Alice Clifford (who became a historian named Artemis Cooper) and Jason Cooper.
• Patricia David Pandora Clifford, born on January 29, 1930. She married Timothy Angus Jones. They had a daughter named Annabel Astor, Viscountess Astor. Annabel is the grandmother of Samantha Cameron, whose husband was a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Patricia later married The Honourable Michael Astor.
• Alice Devin Atalanta Clifford, born on May 10, 1932. She married Richard Fairey in 1955. She later married Timothy Ashmead Vigors in 1963, but they divorced. Her third marriage was to Michael Henry Dennis Madden in 1972.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Bede Clifford received many important awards for his service to the British Empire. These awards are called "honours" and show recognition for a person's achievements.

• He was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1920. This was for his work as Military Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia. The award was given to him by the then Prince of Wales.
• In 1924, he became a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his work as Secretary to the Governor-General of South Africa.
• He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1931. This was for his service as Imperial Secretary to the South African High Commission.
• As Governor of the Bahama Islands, he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1933. This meant he could use the title "Sir."
• In 1944, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ).
• He was promoted again to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1945, which is a very high honour.
• He also received the Legion of Merit from the United States.

	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)	1945
	Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)	1933
	Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)	1924
	Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ)	1944
	Legion of Merit	USA
	Commander of the Order of the Bath (CB)	1931
	Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)	1920