Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt (8 November 1915 – 12 February 1994) was the colonial Governor of British Guiana in 1964–66. He installed Forbes Burnham of the People's National Congress (PNC) as premier of a coalition government with a small business-oriented conservative party in 1964; however, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) came first in the election. Deadly riots ensued when the PPP was not allowed to form the government. Upon independence in May 1966, Sir Richard was sworn in 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 ...

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 ...

, a position which he held until December the same year. Having been born and educated in Cape Town, he returned there in 1967 as principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, a post which he held until 1980. Because of his actions in British Guiana, his appointment was initially opposed by the student body but he soon won them over. During this period, at the height of the apartheid years in South Africa, academic freedom was under threat and Sir Richard was in the forefront of South African vice-chancellors who fought to protect these freedoms. He also vigorously objected against banning orders and detention without trial of students and staff who protested against apartheid. Sir Richard was an excellent cricketer and rugby player. He obtained a Rugby Blue at the University of Oxford where he was a

Rhodes Scholar The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world' ...

and played in three first-class cricket matches for Oxford University Cricket Club. During World War II Sir Richard fought against the Italians in Ethiopia and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. , -

References

LUYT, Sir Richard (Edmonds)
''Who Was Who'', A & C Black, 1920–2016 (online edition, Oxford University Press, 2014) *

External links

1915 births 1994 deaths People from Cape Town History of Guyana Governors of British Guiana Governors-General of Guyana South African knights South African Rhodes Scholars University of Cape Town academics South African Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal Oxford University cricketers Alumni of Trinity College, Oxford Chief Secretaries of Northern Rhodesia Members of the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia Vice-Chancellors of the University of Cape Town {{Guyana-politician-stub