Dudley Thompson
Dudley Thompson | |
---|---|
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | |
In office 1975–1977 | |
Prime Minister | Michael Manley |
Preceded by | Michael Manley |
Succeeded by | P. J. Patterson |
Personal details | |
Born | Dudley Joseph Thompson 19 January 1917 Panama |
Died | 20 January 2012 New York City, U.S. | (aged 95)
Political party | People's National Party |
Spouse | Genevieve Hannah Cezair |
Children | 4, including Margaret |
Education | Merton College, Oxford |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch/service | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1941–1945 |
Rank | Flight lieutenant |
Dudley Joseph Thompson and elsewhere internationally.
Early life and education
Born in
Thompson married Genevieve Hannah Cezair in 1945; they had a son and three daughters,[2] including the novelist Margaret Cezair-Thompson.[3]
In 1946, he went to England to attend
Political career
From his university days, he was a close associate of pan-Africanists such as Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore and C. L. R. James. In 1945, he attended the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester, along with Nkrumah, Padmore plus people such as Joe Appiah, W. E. B. Du Bois, Jomo Kenyatta, I. T. A. Wallace-Johnson and Jaja Wachuku.[5] He was in London
After qualifying as a
In 1955 he returned to Jamaica,
He served as a member of the Jamaican Senate from 1962 to 1978,[2] and a member of the House of Representatives from 1978 to 1983.
In the People's National Party (PNP) administration under Prime Minister Michael Manley, he was Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (1972–7), Minister of Mining and Natural Resources (1977–78), and Minister of National Security and Justice (1978–80). He was also a vice-president and later chairman of the PNP.[10]
Shortly before his death, Thompson apologised for his role in the Green Bay Massacre, when members of the military ambushed young Jamaica Labour Party (JLP0 supporters, and shot them down in cold blood.[11]
Thompson represented Jamaica in many international forums, including the
Thompson was appointed Ambassador and High Commissioner to several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia and Sierra Leone, based in Nigeria until 1995.[12][13]
He died at the age of 95 in New York City.[citation needed]
Awards
Thompson was a recipient of the Order of Jamaica, one of Jamaica's most prestigious decorations, for distinguished service in the field of International Affairs and his contribution to the legal developments in Jamaica.
He was awarded the Mico Old Students' Gold Medal – the most prestigious teacher's award.[14]
The African Union declared him a "first citizen" passport of the continent because of his work for Africa internationally.[15] The OAU had earlier awarded him a medal in recognition of his status as a "Legend of Africa".
In 2006 in Ghana he was honoured as a "Living Legend of Africa".[16]
References
- ^ P. J. Patterson, "A tribute to the Hon Dudley J. Thompson, ambassador of Jamaica", Pambazuka News, 26 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964). Merton College Register 1900-1964. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 383.
- ^ "Lauded Caribbean author to give reading: Cezair-Thompson chosen for Visiting Scholar post at Bermuda College" Archived 9 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine, BDA Sun, 13 April 2007.
- ^ From Kingston to Kenya: the making of a pan-Africanist lawyer, by Dudley Thompson with Margaret Cezair Thompson. Foreword by Rex Nettleford. Dover, MA: The Majority Press, 1993.
- ^ "Pan-African Congress 1945 and 1995 Archive - Archives Hub". archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ John Muchangi and agencies, "Man Who 'Saved' Kenyatta Dies", The Star, Kenya, 1 February 2012.
- ^ Lindsay Barrett, "Black History Month: Dudley Thompson, When Jamaica meets Africa" Archived 11 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Africa Report, 6 February 2012.
- ^ "The Honorable Dudley Thompson: A life well-lived, a man to remember", The Final Call, 24 January 2012.
- ISSN 1071-0043.
- ^ Michael Burke, "Dudley Thompson's contribution", Jamaica Observer, 26 January 2012.
- , 14 June 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ H. G. Helps, "Dudley is dead! – Former Cabinet Minister's long innings ends at 95" Archived 15 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Jamaica Observer, 21 January 2011.
- ^ "Pan-African and Jamaican statesman Dudley Thompson has died. He was 95", The Miami Herald, 20 January 2012.
- ^ Geof Brown, "The Mico College phenomenon" Archived 12 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, The Jamaica Gleaner, 20 October 2000.
- ^ "Dudley Thompson is Africa's 'first citizen'", Jamaica Observer, 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Former Ja'can foreign minister named African Living Legend" Archived 12 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Jamaica Gleaner, 8 October 2006.
External links
- Official website Archived from the original on 2005-02-12
- "Dudley Thompson Was A Fearless, Erudite Lawyer – JCC", The Gleaner, Jamaica, 23 January 2012.
- "Reflections on Eugenia Charles - The Eugenia I knew", thedominican.net, 23 May 2009.