Patrick Allen (governor-general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
His Excellency The Most Honourable
Sir Patrick Allen
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Allen in 2011
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| 6th Governor-General of Jamaica | |
| Assumed office 26 February 2009 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Prime Minister | Bruce Golding Andrew Holness Portia Simpson-Miller Andrew Holness |
| Preceded by | Kenneth O. Hall |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patrick Linton Allen
7 February 1951 Fruitful Vale, Colony of Jamaica |
| Spouse | Patricia Beckford |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Andrews University |
Sir Patrick Linton Allen ON GCMG CD KStJ was born on 7 February 1951. He is an important leader from Jamaica and a former pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Since 26 February 2009, he has been the sixth and current governor-general of Jamaica.
Sir Patrick was the fourth of five children. His family were subsistence farmers, meaning they grew food mainly for themselves. Before becoming a pastor, he spent over ten years working as a teacher and a principal. He then trained to be an Adventist minister at Andrews University in the United States.
After becoming a pastor, Sir Patrick Allen took on many leadership roles within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He eventually became the leader of the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists. This group looked after Jamaica, The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Sir Patrick became Jamaica's sixth Governor-General. He took over from Kenneth O. Hall, who left the role because of health issues. His appointment caused some discussion because of his strong links to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Some people worried he might not be able to attend events on Saturdays. This is because his faith follows a strict observation of the Sabbath. However, Sir Patrick resigned from his church leadership role before becoming Governor-General.
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Early Life and Education
Patrick Linton Allen was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on 7 February 1951. He was the fourth of five children. His parents were Ferdinand Allen, a farmer, and Christiana Allen, a housewife. They were subsistence farmers in an area hit hard by Hurricane Charlie around the time he was born.
As a child, Allen went to the Fruitful Vale All-Age School. He was very bright and was a year ahead in school from first grade.
Allen first wanted to become a minister. But his father became too ill to work. So, Allen decided to go into teaching instead. He started teaching at Fruitful Vale All-Age School when he was 17. Two years later, after his father passed away, Allen went to Moneague Teachers' College. There, he received formal training to become a teacher.
After graduating, he became a teacher at an All-Age school in Saint Mary Parish. Between 1979 and 1983, Allen was a principal at several schools. These included Robins Bay All-Age School, Hillside Primary School, and Port Maria High School.
Becoming an Adventist Leader
Allen first asked to be baptised when he was nine years old. His family was not sure about it at first. On 15 September 1962, when he was eleven, Allen was baptised by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. While he was still a teacher, Allen was trained and became an Elder in the church. He was encouraged to become a pastor.
After more than ten years in teaching, Allen left his career in education. He traveled to Andrews University in the United States. In 1985, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Religion. A year later, he received a Master of Arts degree in Systematic Theology.
Allen returned to Jamaica to work as a pastor. He was given more and more leadership duties within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He became the Director of Education and Communications for the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. This was one of five regional groups in Jamaica.
Later, he became the Director of Education and Family Life for the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists. This union covered Jamaica, The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. In 1993, he went back to Andrews University. There, he worked in the registrar's office while studying for his doctorate. He earned his doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision in 1998.
After getting his doctorate, Allen returned to Jamaica. He became the President of the Central Jamaica Conference. In 2000, he became the President of the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists. He was chosen for a second five-year term in 2005. During this time, Allen also led the boards of Northern Caribbean University and Andrews Memorial Hospital.
Role as Governor-General
| Viceregal styles of Sir Patrick Allen (2009–present) |
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| Reference style | His Excellency the Most Honourable |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
In July 2008, the Governor-General of Jamaica at the time, Kenneth O. Hall, said he wanted to step down. This was due to his declining health. He was asked to stay in the position for another six months. On 13 January 2009, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, announced that Allen would become the next Governor-General.
This announcement caused some discussion. This was because Allen had strong ties to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Also, as an Adventist, some worried he might not be able to attend events on Saturdays. This is due to his strict observation of the Sabbath. On 28 January 2009, Allen resigned from his role as president of the West Indies Union. He also stepped down as chairman of the board of Northern Caribbean University and other religious groups in 2009.
On 26 February 2009, Sir Patrick Allen became Jamaica's sixth appointed Governor-General. He was the eighth person overall to hold the position, including two who served temporarily. The Seventh-day Adventist faith is the largest religion in Jamaica. However, Allen was the first Adventist Governor-General in Jamaica. He was the second in the wider Caribbean region, after James Carlisle of Antigua and Barbuda. Many past governors-general, like Campbell, Glasspole, Cooke, and Hall, also had backgrounds as educators.
Honours and Awards
In 2006, Sir Patrick Allen was given the title of Commander of the Jamaican Order of Distinction (CD). When he became Governor-General, he was made a Member of the Jamaican Order of the Nation (ON).
In May 2009, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Allen a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG). This appointment was officially dated back to 26 March 2009. On 2 September 2013, Allen also became a Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of Saint John (KStJ).
Sir Patrick Allen has also received honorary degrees. These include an Honorary Doctor of Public Service from Northern Caribbean University. He also has an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Andrews University and Oakwood University. All three of these universities are connected to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
See also
In Spanish: Patrick Allen (político) para niños
