Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston (1898 – 1969) was a Sierra Leonean diplomat
and politician
. He was the first indigenous Governor-General of Sierra Leone. He was a member of the Creole
ethnic group (descendant of freed slaves from the West Indies, United States
and Great Britain
landed in Freetown
between 1787 and 1855)
from 1957 to 1962 and as Governor-General of Sierra Leone from 7 July 1962 to 26 March 1967. He was preceded by British
diplomat Sir Maurice Henry Dorman
and succeeded after a coup d'état by Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith
.
Lightfoot Boston's image is featured on a 50 Leone coin issued by the Bank of Sierra Leone.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the first indigenous Governor-General of Sierra Leone. He was a member of the Creole
Sierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
ethnic group (descendant of freed slaves from the West Indies, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
landed in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
between 1787 and 1855)
Career
He served as Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra LeoneParliament of Sierra Leone
The unicameral Parliament of Sierra Leone is the country's legislative body. It is sometimes known as the House of Representatives.The current Parliament, formed following elections held on 14 May 2002, has a total of 124 members. 112 members are directly elected in multi-member constituencies...
from 1957 to 1962 and as Governor-General of Sierra Leone from 7 July 1962 to 26 March 1967. He was preceded by British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
diplomat Sir Maurice Henry Dorman
Maurice Henry Dorman
Sir Maurice Henry Dorman, GCMG, GCVO was the representative of the British Monarchy in Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Sierra Leone, and Malta. He studied at Cambridge University. He served in Sierra Leone from 1956 until 1962, for which he was knighted in 1957...
and succeeded after a coup d'état by Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith
Andrew Juxon-Smith
Brigadier Andrew Terence Juxon-Smith was a politician and military official in Sierra Leone. He was briefly Chairman of the National Reformation Council and acting Governor-General, equivalent to head of the Sierra Leonean state...
.
Legacy
Lightfoot Boston Street in Freetown is named in his honor.Lightfoot Boston's image is featured on a 50 Leone coin issued by the Bank of Sierra Leone.