Leonard Knowles
Encyclopedia
Sir Leonard Joseph Knowles, CBE
(15 March 1916 - 23 September 1999) was the first Chief Justice
of The Bahamas
Knowles was born in Nassau
, and was educated at Queen's College, Nassau
before going to King's College London
where he took an LLB in law in 1937. In 1935 he joined Gray's Inn
in London, and was called to the bar in 1939. In 1973 he became the first Chief Justice
in the newly independent Bahamas. He had to be sworn in before the Bahamian Independence Day because it was his duty to swear in the first prime minister. He was made CBE
in 1963, and Knight Bachelor
in 1974.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(15 March 1916 - 23 September 1999) was the first Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
Knowles was born in Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
, and was educated at Queen's College, Nassau
Queen's College, Nassau
Queen's College, also known as Q.C, is amongst the most prestigious and elite independent, co-educational institutions in The Bahamas. Founded in 1890, Queen's College is the oldest private school in the Bahamas and boasts a rather rich and diverse history...
before going to King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
where he took an LLB in law in 1937. In 1935 he joined Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in London, and was called to the bar in 1939. In 1973 he became the first Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
in the newly independent Bahamas. He had to be sworn in before the Bahamian Independence Day because it was his duty to swear in the first prime minister. He was made CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 1963, and Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1974.