On November 30, 2021, Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, a distinguished jurist and public servant, etched her name in the annals of Barbadian history as the country’s first President. Her installation marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s journey towards full independence and the severing of its colonial ties with the British monarchy. Born on January 17, 1949, in the serene parish of St...
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also known as Bangabandhu (“Friend of Bengal”), was the first President of Bangladesh. He was born on March 17, 1920, in Tungipara, East Bengal, British India (now Bangladesh). Rahman came from a humble background. His father was a farmer and his mother was a housewife. He attended Gopalganj Missionary School and Islamia College in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India...
Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the first President of Bahrain, was born on October 21, 1969, in Manama, Bahrain. A member of the Al Khalifa dynasty, he is the eldest son of Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, and Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. Sheikh Salman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts...
Lynden Oscar Pindling, the esteemed first Prime Minister of the Bahamas, was born on March 22, 1930, in Nassau, Bahamas. His father, Arnold Pindling, was a fisherman, while his mother, Viola Pindling, was a homemaker. Pindling’s ethnicity was Afro-Bahamian. He grew up in a challenging environment, but with determination and hard work, he rose to become one of the most prominent figures in...
Ayaz Niyaz oglu Mutalibov was the first President of Azerbaijan, serving from 1990 to 1992. Background and History: Born: May 12, 1938, in Baku, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) Education: Graduated from the Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry and later earned a doctorate in economics. Career: Worked in various positions in the oil industry before becoming a prominent figure in...
The first President of Austria was Karl Renner, born on December 14, 1870, in Untertannowitz, Moravia, which is now part of the Czech Republic. Family Background and Early Life: Born to a modest family, Karl Renner grew up in a German-speaking community. His father worked as a tailor, and his mother was a homemaker. Renner attended law school in Vienna and became a prominent Social Democratic...
The first President of Australia was Sir John Robert Kerr, who served from 1974 to 1977. Born on September 24, 1914, in Sydney, New South Wales, Kerr had a distinguished legal and political career before becoming President. Kerr’s family background was modest, with his father being a tram driver and his mother a homemaker. Despite these humble beginnings, he excelled academically and won a...
Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first President of Armenia, emerged as a prominent figure during the country’s struggle for independence from the Soviet Union. Born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1945 to Armenian parents, Ter-Petrosyan’s family relocated to Armenia in 1946. Ter-Petrosyan’s educational background includes a degree in Oriental Studies from Yerevan State University, followed by...
Bernardino Rivadavia, born on September 20, 1780, holds the distinction of being the first President of Argentina. His diverse background and accomplishments continue to shape the nation’s history. Rivadavia’s family background was a mix of Spanish, French, and Irish ancestry. His father, Bernardino Rivadavia y Rivadavia, served as a Spanish naval officer, while his mother, Joaquina...
Vere Cornwall Bird, Sr., often referred to as “Papa Bird,” holds the distinction of being the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, serving from 1981 to 1994. Born on December 9, 1910, he was the son of Henry Bird and Catherine Isaac. Bird’s early life can be traced back to the humble village of Codrington in Barbuda, where he grew up in a family of cotton farmers...
