Edgar F. Gordon

Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon
Born(1895-03-20)20 March 1895
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Died20 April 1955(1955-04-20) (aged 60)
Paget Parish, Bermuda
Other namesMazumbo
Occupation(s)Physician, parliamentarian, civil-rights activist
SpouseClara Marguerite Christian
RelativesMoira Stuart (granddaughter)

Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon (20 March 1895 – 20 April 1955), born in Trinidad and Tobago, was a physician, parliamentarian, civil-rights activist[1] and labour leader in Bermuda, and is regarded as the "father of trade unionism" there:[2] "he championed the cause of Bermudian workers and fought for equal rights for black Bermudians, thereby laying the groundwork for much of the political and social change that came about after his death".[3] He was president of the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) 1945–55.[4] Gordon has been described as "perhaps the only black charismatic leader to have emerged in the island's modern political history",[5] and as "Bermuda's most dedicated Pan-Africanist".[6]

In 2011, Gordon was honoured as a National Hero of Bermuda.[7] Other posthumous honours he has been accorded include the Peace & Social Justice Award 2016 from the Roman Catholic Church of Bermuda.[8]

  1. ^ Rosemary Jones, Bermuda: Five Centuries, Chapter 18: Growing Pains, Ministry of Education, Bermuda, 2011.
  2. ^ "Our history", website of Bermuda Public Services Union – BPSU.
  3. ^ Meredith Ebbin, "Dr. Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon, March 20,1895 – April 20, 1955 – Physician, parliamentarian and labour leader", Bermuda Biographies.
  4. ^ Bermuda Industrial Union website.
  5. ^ Frances Henry (ed.), Ethnicity in the Americas, Walter de Gruyter, 1976, p. 67.
  6. ^ Ira Philip, "The unforgettable day I met the Queen", The Royal Gazette, 7 September 2015.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hero was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Peace & Social Justice Award: Dr. E. F. Gordon", Bernews, 24 October 2016.