Conrad Reeves

Reeves was born in 1821 in Barbados,^[2] one of three sons of Thomas Phillipps Reeves, a medical practitioner, and a slave, Peggy Phyllis.^[2] Reeves was raised by his father’s sister and privately educated.^[2]

Reeves went to work at The Liberal newspaper.^[2] He was a legal reporter at the Barbados Agricultural Reporter covering the House of Assembly when he resigned to study law.^[3] In 1860, Reeves went to England.^[2] He was patronised with funds collected by the black community, to stay in the United Kingdom, to study at the Middle Temple.^[4][5]

Reeves was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1863 and the Barbados Bar in 1864.^[2] He served as Attorney-General of St. Vincent briefly in 1867.^[2]

In 1874, he became the representative for the parish of Saint Joseph in the House of Assembly^[2] and was appointed Solicitor-General of Barbados.^[2][6] In 1876, he opposed proposals by Governor John Pope-Hennessy to federate Barbados and the Windward Islands, attracting large public support^[2] and resigned as Solicitor-General.^[6] In 1878, he opposed similar proposals to reform the House of Assembly by adding Crown-nominated members.^[2]

In 1882, Reeves was appointed Attorney-General^[2][6] and, in 1883, he was made Queen's Counsel.^[2][7] He served as Attorney General of Barbados from 1882 to 1886.

In 1886, Reeves became the first black Chief Justice of Barbados.^[2][8] He served in this position until his death in 1902. In 1889, Reeves was knighted^[2] by Queen Victoria,^[6][9] and became the first Barbadian, and the first black man, to be knighted by a British sovereign.^[4]

In 1868, Reeves married Margaret Rudder,^[2] the daughter of J. T. R. Rudder. The couple had one daughter.^[1]

Reeves died on 9 January 1902^[10] at his home in St. Michael’s, Bridgetown and was afforded a public funeral.^[10] He was survived by his daughter.^[2]