Sir Solomon Hochoy (20 April 1905 – 15 November 1983) was the last colonial governor of Trinidad and Tobago and the first governor-general upon the country's independence in 1962. He was the first non-European governor of a British

crown colony A Crown colony or royal colony was a colony governed by Kingdom of England, England, and then Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain or the United Kingdom within the English overseas possessions, English and later British Empire. There was usua ...

and the first ethnically

Han Chinese The Han Chinese, alternatively the Han people, are an East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Greater China. With a global population of over 1.4 billion, the Han Chinese are the list of contemporary ethnic groups, world's la ...

and nationally

Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...

person to become Governor-General in the Commonwealth.

Life and career

Of Hakka Han Chinese descent, Hochoy's family emigrated to Trinidad from Jamaica when he was two years old. He spent his early years in Blanchisseuse. After rising through the civil service, Hochoy was appointed the first non-European Governor in the entire British Empire in 1960, and the first ethnic Chinese to be Governor. When Trinidad and Tobago became independent in 1962 Hochoy was appointed Governor General. He retired from that position in 1972 and was succeeded by Ellis Clarke. After retirement he returned to Blanchisseuse where he spent the remainder of his life.

Family

He was married to Thelma Huggins, a social activist.

Legacy

The Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway and the Solomon Hochoy Trophy (for football) are named in his honour.

References

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hochoy, Solomon 1905 births 1983 deaths Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Governors-general of Trinidad and Tobago Governors of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago knights Trinidad and Tobago people of Chinese descent Jamaican people of Chinese descent Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Officers of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Trinity Cross People from Tunapuna–Piarco Trinidad and Tobago politicians of Chinese descent Jamaican emigrants to Trinidad and Tobago