George Alfred Henry Wille

George Alfred Henry Wille (31 March 1871 - 31 August 1951) was a Ceylonese proctor, notary public, journalist and politician.[1]

Willie was born on 31 March 1871, the second son of John Francis Wille (b. 1845) and Maria Charlotte née Kidd (1847–1928).[2] He was educated at Royal College, Colombo.[3]

Wille was a partner at the legal firm of De Vos and Gratiaen.[3]

On 30 September 1896, he married Rosaline Anne née Brohier (1872–) in Wolvendaal Church, Colombo. They had six children: Frances Elaine (1898–1935); Evill Merle (b. 1899); Irene Gladys (b. 1900); George Vernon Frank (b. 1902); George Eustace Neil (b. 1906); and George Alfred Herbert (b. 1910).[2]

He was the only Burgher community leader who was an active participant of the Ceylon National Congress.[4] He resigned from the Congress, following the retirement of Allen Drieberg, the Burger member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon, to take Drieberg's position on the Legislative Council, serving from 27 September 1924 to 1931.[5] When the 1st State Council of Ceylon was constituted in 1931, Wille was nominated as the Burgher member. He was however prevented from taking up the office due to professional problems at his legal firm, De Vos and Gratiaen. However, when the Burgher deputation to the Donoughmore Commission was selected, Wille was an undisputed representative.

On 12 March 1936, he was appointed as a member of the 2nd State Council of Ceylon,[6] serving until the council's dissolution on 4 July 1947.[7]

He died on 31 August 1951 at a nursing home in Colombo at the age of 80.[8]

  1. ^ "Hon. Wille, George Alfred Henry, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b Altendorf, D. V. (July 1947). "The Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union" (PDF). The Genealogy of the Family of Wille of Ceylon. 38. Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon: 18–19.
  3. ^ a b Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries and Resources. Plâté Limited. 1924. p. 121.
  4. ^ Gist, Noel Pitts; Dworkin, Anthony Gary (1972). The Blending of Races: Marginality and Identity in World Perspective. Wiley-Interscience. p. 69. ISBN 9780471302537.
  5. ^ Muller, J. B. (7 September 2005). "A Burgher perspective on politics in Sri Lanka today". The Daily News. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  6. ^ The Ceylon Blue Book. Colonial Secretary's Office, Ceylon. 1938.
  7. ^ Jātika Rājya Sabhāva. Pustakālaya (1972). Members of the Legislatures of Ceylon: 1931-1972. National State Assembly Library. p. 178.
  8. ^ "George Alfred Henry Wille" (PDF). Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. XLI. Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. October 1951.