Patrick Allen (governor-general)

Sir Patrick Allen
Allen in 2011
6th Governor-General of Jamaica
Assumed office
26 February 2009
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
Prime MinisterBruce Golding
Andrew Holness
Portia Simpson-Miller
Andrew Holness
Preceded byKenneth O. Hall
Personal details
Born
Patrick Linton Allen

(1951-02-07) 7 February 1951 (age 73)
Fruitful Vale, Colony of Jamaica[1]
SpousePatricia Beckford
Children3
Alma materAndrews University

Sir Patrick Linton Allen ON GCMG CD KStJ (born 7 February 1951) is a Jamaican statesman and former Seventh-day Adventist pastor, who has served as the sixth and current governor-general of Jamaica since 26 February 2009.

The fourth of five children in a family of subsistence farmers, Allen spent over a decade as a teacher and principal, before leaving education to be trained as an Adventist minister at Andrews University in the United States. After becoming a pastor, Allen went on to serve in a number of leadership roles within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, eventually becoming the leader of the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists, which had jurisdiction over Jamaica, The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Allen became Jamaica's sixth appointed governor-general (eighth overall, including two acting governors-general). He replaced Kenneth O. Hall, who resigned for health reasons. Allen's appointment was controversial due to his strong ties to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and because of concerns that he would be unable to attend functions on Saturdays due to his faith's strict observation of the Sabbath. Allen resigned from his leadership of the West Indies Union prior to becoming Governor-General, however.

  1. ^ "His Excellency The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Linton Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, Governor-General of Jamaica". Profiles. King's House. 20 January 2018. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2014.