Sir David James Gardiner Rose (10 April 1923 – 10 November 1969) was

Governor-General of Guyana This is a list of the heads of state of Guyana, from the independence of Guyana in 1966 to the present day. From 1966 to 1970 the head of state under the Constitution of 1966 was the queen of Guyana, Elizabeth II, who was also the queen of the ...

from 1966 to 1969.

Biography

Rose was born in

Mahaica Mahaica is a village located in region 4 of Demerara-Mahaica in Guyana. Mahaica is often used as a subregion for the adjoining villages near the Mahaica River like Hand-en-Veldt, Good Hope, Chelsey Park, and Jonestown The Peoples Temple A ...

British Guiana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first European to encounter Guiana was S ...

on 10 April 1923, and was educated at

Mount St Mary's College Mount St Mary's College is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding school situated at Spinkhill, Derbyshire, England. It was founded in 1842 by the Society of Jesus (better known as the Jesuits), and has buildings designed by notable ar ...

in England. Returning to British Guiana in 1948, following World War II, the newly wed Rose joined the colonial police force and later became Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime). In 1960-61 he was appointed as defence officer to the Federal Government of the

West Indies Federation The West Indies Federation, also known as the West Indies, the Federation of the West Indies or the West Indian Federation, was a short-lived political union that existed from 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962. Various islands in the Caribbean that ...

in Trinidad. Following the breakup of the Federation, between 1964 and 1966, he was the Administrator of

Antigua Antigua ( ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Bar ...

. He was then transferred to a newly independent

Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...

, where he served as

Governor General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

from 1966 to 1969. He was killed in an accident while visiting London to relinquish his post. He had been luncheoning at the

West Indian Club The West Indian Club was a List of gentlemen's clubs in London, gentlemen's club established in London in 1898 which provided a social space for members who shared an interest in the British West Indies and British Guiana. One of its aims was "To a ...

Whitehall Court Whitehall Court in the City of Westminster, England, is one contiguous building but consists of two separate constructions. The south end was designed by Thomas Archer and A. Green and constructed as a block of luxury residential apartments in ...

, when some scaffolding collapsed upon a car in which he found himself. The honours he received included the Colonial Police Medal with bar for gallantry, and the highest award of Guyana, the Order of Excellence, which was awarded posthumously in 1970. He was the first to be buried at the Place of Heroes inside the

Botanical Gardens A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...

in Georgetown, Guyana.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rose, David 1923 births 1969 deaths Guyanese knights Governors-General of Guyana Recipients of the Order of Excellence of Guyana Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order Members of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Colonial Police Medal People from Demerara-Mahaica British Guiana people Governors of Antigua and Barbuda Guyanese police officers Burials in Guyana People educated at Mount St Mary's College