Grattan Bushe facts for kids

Sir Henry Grattan Bushe (1 January 1886 – 23 August 1961) was an important British lawyer and a colonial governor. He served as the leader of Barbados for several years.

Early Life and Education

Sir Henry Grattan Bushe was born in Trinidad on January 1, 1886. His father, John Scott Bushe, was the Colonial Secretary of Trinidad. This meant his father was a high-ranking official in the British government in Trinidad.

Sir Henry had an interesting family history. One of his ancestors was Sir Charles Kendal Bushe, a famous judge from Ireland.

For his education, Sir Henry attended two schools: Aysgarth School and Denstone College. These schools helped him prepare for his future career.

Becoming a Lawyer

After his schooling, Sir Henry decided to become a lawyer. He completed his legal training and was officially allowed to practice law in 1909. This is called being "called to the bar".

He then joined the law offices of Sir Edward Marshall Hall, who was a well-known lawyer at the time. This was an important step in his legal career.

Working for the British Empire

In 1917, Sir Henry Grattan Bushe began working for the Colonial Office. The Colonial Office was a part of the British government. It was responsible for managing all the different countries and territories that were part of the British Empire.

He worked his way up in the Colonial Office. By 1931, he became the Legal Adviser for both the Colonial Office and the Dominions Office. This meant he gave legal advice on important matters concerning the British colonies and other self-governing parts of the Empire.

Governor of Barbados

In 1941, Sir Henry Grattan Bushe received a very important job. He was appointed Governor of Barbados. The Governor was the highest British official in a colony. They were responsible for leading the government and making sure things ran smoothly.

His appointment was quite special. He was the first colonial governor to be chosen directly from the legal staff of the Colonial Office. This showed how much his legal skills and experience were valued.

Sir Henry served as Governor of Barbados until 1946, when he retired from his long career in public service. He passed away on August 23, 1961.