First And Only Premier

Bio

The Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley, M.M., Q.C., B.C.L., LLD (Hon.)

FIRST AND ONLY PREMIER: July 1959 – July 1962

NATIONAL HERO (1969)

Legacy
Shares with cousin Alexander Bustamante, the honour of being one of the two ‘Founding Fathers’ of Jamaica’s Independence, attained peacefully, August 6, 1962.

Personality
Physically attractive with athletic build, dignified bearing, sharp features and piercing eyes. Acknowledged as profound thinker, articulate spokesman, brilliant advocate, and skilful negotiator. Widely acknowledged for impeccable integrity and statesmanlike conduct. He has been described as a man of many parts and many accomplishments.

Education
He studied at Jamaica College, and overseas at Jesus College, Oxford, England. A Rhodes Scholar, he distinguished himself at Oxford and was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in 1921. There, he gained the Certificate of Honour in the Bar Finals and copped the Lee Prizeman Award.

Profession
Admitted to the Jamaican Bar in 1922.

Military Service
Enlisted in the British Army in 1914 and served in an Artillery Regiment, gaining a Military Medal.

Party Leader
Co-founder with O. T. Fairclough the People’s National Party (1938) and President throughout his political career, until his retirement from politics, due to illness, July 4, 1969

Prowess
He was an outstanding schoolboy athlete, excellent horseman, and military marksman

Born
July 4, 1893, in Manchester, Jamaica

Parents
Thomas Albert Samuel Manley, and wife Margaret

Married
Edna nee Swithenbank, 1921 (d. Feb. 10, 1987)

Children
Douglas and Michael

Died
September 2, 1969

Age at Death
76-years old