Eric Williams

Eric Williams
Williams in 1962
1st Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
31 August 1962 – 29 March 1981
MonarchsElizabeth II
(until 1976)
PresidentEllis Clarke
(from 1976)
Governors GeneralSolomon Hochoy
Ellis Clarke
(until 1976)
Preceded byOffice established; Himself
(as Premier)
Succeeded byGeorge Chambers
Premier of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
9 July 1959 – 31 August 1962
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorEdward Beetham
Solomon Hochoy
Preceded byOffice established; Himself
(as Chief Minister)
Succeeded byOffice abolished;
Himself
(as Prime Minister)
2nd Chief Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
28 October 1956 – 9 July 1959
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorEdward Beetham
Preceded byAlbert Gomes
Succeeded byOffice abolished;
Himself
(as Premier)
1st Leader of the People's National Movement
In office
24 January 1956 – 29 March 1981
DeputyPatrick Solomon
A. N. R. Robinson
George Chambers
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byGeorge Chambers
Personal details
BornEric Eustace Williams
(1911-09-25)25 September 1911
Died29 March 1981(1981-03-29) (aged 69)
Port of Spain,
Trinidad and Tobago
PartyPNM (1956–1981)
Other political
affiliations
WIFLP (1957–1962)
Spouses
  • Elsie Ribeiro (m. 1937; sep. 1948; div. 1951)
  • Evelyn Siulan Soy Moyou
    (m. 1951; died 1953)
  • Mayleen Mook Sang
    (m. 1957; sep.)
RelationsAlexander Chamberlain Alexis (brother-in-law)
Children3
Alma materSt Catherine's College, Oxford
Queen's Royal College
NicknameFather of the Nation
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Eric Eustace Williams TC CH (25 September 1911 – 29 March 1981) was a Trinidad and Tobago politician. He has been dubbed the "Father of the Nation", having led the then-British Colony of Trinidad and Tobago to majority rule on 28 October 1956, to independence on 31 August 1962, and republic status, on 1 August 1976, leading an unbroken string of general election victories with his political party, the People's National Movement, until his death in 1981. He represented Port of Spain South in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.

He was the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and also a Caribbean historian, most noted for his book entitled Capitalism and Slavery.