Quick Facts
Biography
Sir Clifford Clarence Campbell ON, GCMG, GCVO, K.St.J (28 June 1892 – 28 September 1991) was a Jamaican educator and politician. Elected to the Parliament, he served as Speaker of the House and later as President of the Senate.
In 1962, after Jamaica achieved independence, he was appointed as the first Jamaica-born Governor-General of Jamaica. He served in that position for more than a decade, from 1 December 1962 until 2 March 1973.
Biography
Clifford Campbell was born in Petersfield, Jamaica on 28 June 1892 as the son of James Campbell and Blance (Ruddock) Campbell in Petersfield, Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica. He was educated at Petersfield Elementary School and Mico Teachers' College. He became a school teacher and later was promoted to principal of three schools and headmaster in the parish.
Campbell became an activist, joining the Jamaica Labour Party after it was founded in 1943 following the labour riots and strikes of 1938. After being elected to the House of Representatives, he was elected as Speaker of the House. He worked for years to develop Jamaica and support its cause for independence.
He was elected as president of the Senate, serving from 31 August 1962 to 30 November 1962 after the nation became independent. A few months after independence, on 1 December 1962, Campbell was sworn in as Governor-General, the first to be born in Jamaica. He served into 1973. He died on 28 September 1991 at the age of 99.
