John Paul (colonial administrator)

Sir John Warburton Paul, GCMG, OBE, MC (29 March 1916 – 31 March 2004) was a British colonial administrator and civil servant, who most notably served as the final Governor of the Gambia (1962–1965) and Governor of the Bahamas (1972–1973) prior to both of those countries achieving independence from the United Kingdom. Paul also served as the first Governor-General of the Gambia from 1965 to 1966, the Governor of British Honduras from 1966 to 1972, the first Governor-General of the Bahamas in 1973, and the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man from 1974 to 1980.

Sir John Paul GCMG OBE MC
22nd Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
In office 1974–1980
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Peter Stallard
Succeeded by	Nigel Cecil
1st Governor-General of the Bahamas
In office 10 July 1973 – 31 July 1973
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Milo Butler
Governor of the Bahamas
In office 14 May 1972 – 10 July 1973
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Francis Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Governor of British Honduras
In office 11 July 1966 – 26 January 1972
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Peter Stallard
Succeeded by	Richard Posnett
1st Governor-General of the Gambia
In office 18 February 1965 – 9 February 1966
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Dawda Jawara
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Farimang Mamadi Singateh
Governor of the Gambia
In office 29 March 1962 – 18 February 1965
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Dawda Jawara
Preceded by	Edward Henry Windley
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	John Warburton Paul 29 March 1916 Weymouth, Dorset
Died	31 March 2004(2004-03-31) (aged 88)
Nationality	British
Spouse	(Kathleen) Audrey Weeden
Children	Three daughters
Alma mater	Selwyn College, Cambridge
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	British Army
Years of service	1937–1947
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War II

Early life and education

Paul was born in Weymouth, Dorset, and attended Weymouth College. He went on to study at Selwyn College, Cambridge.

Military service

He was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps Supplementary Reserve in 1937 and into the regular Royal Tank Regiment in 1938. He won a Military Cross for his bravery during the German invasion of France in 1940. However, he was captured by the Germans in 1940 and was a prisoner of war until the end of the war in 1945. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1941 and Captain in 1946 and resigned his commission in 1947.

Colonial career

Following the war, Paul entered colonial administration, serving in various position in Sierra Leone until its independence in 1961. He was knighted in 1962, becoming the Governor of the Gambia. He served until that country's independence in February 1965, and became its first Governor-General. In 1966, he was replaced in this role by a Gambian doctor. He then went on to become Governor of British Honduras, from 1966 to 1972. He dealt with demonstrations which were sparked by rumours that the territory was to be annexed by Guatemala.

Paul then went on to become the last Governor of the Bahamas, serving from 1972 to 1973. He continued to serve as acting Governor-General for a period in 1973 following independence. His last role in the colonial service was a Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, which he held from 1974 to 1980. Following that he retired from colonial administration.

Personal life

Paul married (Kathleen) Audrey Weeden in 1946. They had three daughters and were married for 58 years, until he died in March 2004. Audrey died in December 2004.