Gordon Lethem
British colonial administrator
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Sir Gordon James Lethem, KCMG (16 September 1886 – 14 August 1962)[1] was a British colonial administrator.[2]
George VI
Sir Gordon James Lethem | |
|---|---|
| Governor of British Guiana | |
| In office 7 November 1941 – 12 April 1947 | |
| Monarch | George VI |
| Preceded by | Sir Wilfrid Edward Francis Jackson |
| Succeeded by | Sir Charles Campbell Woolley |
| Governor of the Leeward Islands | |
| In office 1936–1941 | |
| Monarchs | Edward VIII George VI |
| Preceded by | Sir Thomas Reginald St. Johnston |
| Succeeded by | Sir Douglas James Jardine |
| Governor of the Seychelles | |
| In office 1934–1936 | |
| Monarchs | George V Edward VIII |
| Preceded by | Sir de Symons Honey |
| Succeeded by | William Marston Logan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 September 1886 |
| Died | 14 August 1962 (aged 75) |
Biography
He was born in Leith, Scotland, the son of James Lethem and Marian Macintosh.[3]
He was Governor of the Seychelles from 1934 to 1936; Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1936 to 1941;[4] and Governor of British Guiana from 7 November 1941 to 1946.[3] He was acting Governor from 1946 to 12 April 1947. He also served in Nigeria. Lethem's papers are held in Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford.[1]
After retiring from the civil service he became involved in politics. He was a member of the Liberal Party. In 1950 he was Vice-President of the Scottish Liberal Party.[5] He stood as a Liberal candidate at the United Kingdom general election of 1950 in the constituency of Banffshire. He finished third and did not stand for parliament again.[6]
He died at his home in Eskdalemuir on 15 August 1962.[3]
The city of Lethem, Guyana is named after him.