Francis Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 8th Baron Thurlow facts for kids
Francis Edward Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 8th Baron Thurlow, was an important British diplomat. He was born on March 9, 1912, and lived to be 101 years old, passing away on March 24, 2013. He was the last person alive who had served as a British colonial governor of The Bahamas.
His family had a history of public service. His grandfather, Thomas Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 5th Baron Thurlow, was a politician who held an important government job called Paymaster General. In 1971, Francis became the 8th Baron Thurlow after his older brother passed away.
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Early Life and Education
Francis Thurlow went to Shrewsbury School, which is a well-known school in England. After that, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge University. He earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree there.
A Career in Public Service
Thurlow started his career as a civil servant. This means he worked for the government. From 1935 to 1937, he worked in the Department of Agriculture in Scotland.
During World War II (1939-1945), he worked for the British government overseas. He was a secretary at the British High Commission in New Zealand from 1939 to 1944. A High Commission is like an embassy, representing one country in another, especially within the Commonwealth. He then moved to Canada, working there from 1944 to 1945.
After the war, he continued his diplomatic work. From 1947 to 1949, he was a Private Secretary to a high-ranking official in charge of relations with Commonwealth countries. Then, he became a counsellor at the British High Commission in New Delhi, India, from 1949 to 1952.
Working in Africa and Canada
In 1955, Thurlow became an adviser to the Governor of the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast was a British colony in Africa. When it became the independent country of Ghana in 1957, he was appointed Britain's first Deputy High Commissioner there. This meant he was a senior diplomat helping to build the relationship between Britain and the new country of Ghana. In 1959, he moved to Canada to serve as Deputy High Commissioner there.
High Commissioner and Governor Roles
Thurlow held several very important diplomatic positions. From 1959 to 1963, he was the High Commissioner to New Zealand. This meant he was Britain's top diplomat in that country.
He then served as the High Commissioner to Nigeria from 1963 to 1966. In 1964, he also worked as a Deputy Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
His final major role was as the Governor of The Bahamas. He held this position from 1968 to 1972. As Governor, he represented the British monarch and was in charge of the administration of the islands.
After he retired from government service, he became the chairman of an organization called the Institute of Comparative Study of History, Philosophy and the Sciences in 1975.
Francis Thurlow had an identical twin brother, Sir Roualeyn Cumming-Bruce. His brother also had a distinguished career as a judge.
Family Life
Francis Thurlow married Yvonne Diana Wilson on August 11, 1949. They had four children together.
His Passing
Francis Thurlow passed away in England when he was 101 years old.
Family Coat of Arms
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