Gershon Beresford Onesimus Collier (February 16, 1927 – May 25, 1994) was a Sierra Leone Creole diplomat, Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, and educator.
Gershon Beresford Onesimus Collier | |
|---|---|
| Sierra Leone's first permanent representative to the Headquarters of the United Nations of  Sierra Leoneto  United Nations | |
| In office 1961 – February 17, 1967 | |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Okoro Cole |
| Sierra Leonean Ambassador to the United States of Sierra Leone to  United States | |
| In office November 20, 1963 – February 17, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Edmund Kelfa-Caulker |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Okoro Cole |
| Chief Justice of Sierra Leone | |
| In office February 17, 1967 – March 21, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Samuel Bankole Jones[1] |
| Succeeded by | Banja Tejan-Sie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 16, 1927 Freetown |
| Died | May 25, 1994 (aged 67) New York City[citation needed] |
| Spouse | Fashn Dora (m. 1954) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Education | CMS Grammar School and Fourah Bay College |
Career
editCollier was called to the English Bar in London.[2]
When Albert Margai left the Sierra Leone People's Party in 1958, Collier went with him and became a member of the People's National Party's first executive committee.[2]
In 1961, he became Sierra Leone's first permanent representative to the United Nations.[3]
In 1967, Margai arranged his nomination as Chief Justice of Sierra Leone. However, Margai lost the election in 1967 and Collier lost his office as Chief Justice.[2]
In 1967, Collier immigrated to New York City, where he took a teaching appointment at New York University.[4]
Collier's granddaughter Napheesa Collier won a gold medal in basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2024 Summer Olympics.[5]
References
edit- ^ Samuel Bankole Jones Samuel Bankole Jones
- ^ a b c Pande, Ritvan (2024-07-02). "Meet Napheesa Collier's Grandfather Gershon - A Freedom Fighter For Sierra Leone Who Also Was a United Nations Ambassador". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "First Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone Presents Credentials". UN Photo. 1 October 1961. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Magbaily C. Fyle, Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone, p. 38
- ^ "Napheesa Collier". www.teamusa.com. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2024-08-18.