| Sir Grantley Adams | |
|---|---|
| 1st Premier of Barbados | |
| In office 1 February 1954 – 18 November 1958 |
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| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Hugh Gordon Cummins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 28, 1898 Barbados |
| Died | November 28, 1971 (aged 73) Barbados |
| Political party | Barbados Labour Party |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Sir Grantley Herbert Adams, CMG, QC (April 28, 1898 – November 28, 1971) was a Barbadian and British West Indian politician.
Grantley Herbert Adams was born at Colliston, Government Hill, St. Michael on April 28, 1898. He was the third child of seven born to Fitzherbert Adams and the former Rosa Frances Turney. Grantley was educated at St. Giles and at Harrison College in Barbados. In 1918 he won the Barbados Scholarship and departed the following year for his undergraduate studies at Oxford University. He was married to Grace Thorne in 1929 at St. John's Church. Their only child, Tom, himself won the Barbados Scholarship, and attended Oxford to became a lawyer. Tom Adams would later be elected as Barbados' second Prime Minister in 1976.
After founding the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in 1938, then known as the Barbados Progressive League, Adams was president of the Barbados Workers' Union (BWU) from 1941 to 1954. While being a staunch supporter of the monarchy, Adams and his party also demanded more rights for the poor and for the people. Progress toward a more democratic government in Barbados was made in 1942, when the exclusive income qualification was lowered and women were given the right to vote. By 1949 governmental control was wrested from the planters.
Adams became the Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation, defeating Ashford Sinanan by two votes. (Sinanan went on to serve as Leader of the Opposition of Trinidad's Democratic Labour Party (DLP).) Adams served this role from 1958 to 1962, Barbados was one of the ten provinces of the West Indies Federation, an organisation doomed by nationalistic attitudes and by the fact that its members, as British colonies, held limited legislative power.
As Premier of Barbados, his leadership failed in attempts to form unions like the BWU, and his continued defence of the monarchy was used by his opponents as evidence that he was no longer in touch with the needs of his country. Errol Walton Barrow, a fervent reformer, became the new people's advocate. Barrow had left the BLP and formed the DLP as a liberal alternative to Adams' conservative government. Barrow instituted many progressive social programmes, such as free education for all Barbadians, and the School Meals system. By 1961, Barrow had replaced Adams as Premier and the DLP controlled the government.
The Grantley Adams International Airport, formerly Seawell Airport located in Christ Church, Barbados was named after the former Prime Minister in 1976. A statue in honour of Adams is located in front of Government Headquarters at Bay Street, St. Michael.
Adams is also one of Barbados' National Heroes.
He was the father of Barbados' second Prime Minister following independence, the late J.M.G. 'Tom' Adams.
He was buried in Bridgetown, Barbados at the churchyard of the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael and All Angels on Saint Michael's Row.
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