13 Facts About Arthur Foulkes

Sir Arthur Alexander Foulkes, ON, GCMG was born on 11 May 1928 and is a politician who was the ninth governor-general of the Bahamas from 2010 to 2014.

Arthur Foulkes, a native of the Bahamas, was born on the island of Inagua in Matthew Town on 11 May 1928.

Arthur Foulkes's parents were Dr William and Mrs Julie Foulkes.

Arthur Foulkes is married to the former Joan Eleanor Bullard of Nassau.

Arthur Foulkes started his working life as a newspaper linotype operator, first at the Nassau Guardian, then at the competing Tribune newspaper.

Arthur Foulkes became a reporter for Tribune's editor Sir Etienne Dupuch, rising to become News Editor of Tribune.

From 1962 to 1967, Arthur Foulkes was founding editor of Bahamian Times, the official paper of the Progressive Liberal Party, backing the campaign for majority rule, and later a columnist for Nassau Guardian and Tribune.

Arthur Foulkes was one of the founders of the Free National Movement in 1971.

Arthur Foulkes was appointed to the Senate in 1972 and 1977, and re-elected to the House of Assembly in 1982.

In 1972, Arthur Foulkes was one of the four Opposition delegates to the Bahamas Independence Constitution Conference in London in 1972.

In 1992, Arthur Foulkes became the Bahamas' High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, serving as ambassador to France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the European Union, before becoming the first Bahamian ambassador to China and Cuba in 1999.

Arthur Foulkes was sworn in as Governor-General of the Bahamas on 14 May 2010, retiring on 7 July 2014.

Arthur Foulkes was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in 2001; he was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the same Order in 2011.