Sir Kenneth Octavius Hall (born 24 April 1941) served as the

governor-general of Jamaica The governor-general of Jamaica is the viceregal representative of the Jamaican monarch, King Charles III, in Jamaica. The monarch, on the advice of the prime minister, appoints a governor-general as his or her representative in Jamaica. Bo ...

from 16 February 2006 to 26 February 2009. He was Jamaica's fifth governor-general since independence in 1962.

Early life and education

Hall was born in Lucea, Jamaica and attended

Rusea's High School Rusea's High School in Lucea, Hanover, Jamaica, established in 1777, is the fourth oldest, continuously operated high school in Jamaica, after Wolmer's Boys', one of the Wolmer's Schools (1729), Manning's School (1738) and St. Jago High School ...

. Hall holds a

Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

, a

post-graduate Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree. The organization and stru ...

diploma in

International Relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such a ...

, and a PhD in

from Queen's University in

Kingston, Ontario Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River (south end of the Rideau Canal). The city is midway between To ...

, Canada.

Career

Prior to becoming Governor-General, he was a Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Hall has served in several other positions including: * Vice President of Academic Affairs and Faculty

Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

State University of New York at Old Westbury The State University of New York College at Old Westbury (SUNY at Old Westbury) is a public college in Old Westbury, New York, with portions in the neighboring town of Jericho, New York. It enrolls just over 5,000 students. History The State Uni ...

(1989-1994) * Assistant Provost for Academic Programmes -

State University of New York at Albany The State University of New York at Albany, commonly referred to as the University at Albany, UAlbany or SUNY Albany, is a public research university with campuses in Albany, Rensselaer, and Guilderland, New York. Founded in 1844, it is one ...

(1988-1989) * Assistant Provost - State University of New York at Oswego (1982-1984) * Faculty Research Associate - Syracuse University (1973-1984) * Lecturer - University of the West Indies (1972-1973) He lectured in history at the University of the West Indies and was Professor of History at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego. He was also Adjunct Professor of Caribbean Studies at

University at Albany, SUNY The State University of New York at Albany, commonly referred to as the University at Albany, UAlbany or SUNY Albany, is a public research university with campuses in Albany, Rensselaer, and Guilderland, New York. Founded in 1844, it is one ...

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York C ...

, and Professor of American Studies at

. In 1994, Hall had entered the service of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as Deputy Secretary General. In 1996, he assumed the positions of Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Mona Campus, UWI. On 13 January 2009, it was announced by the

Jamaica Information Service The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) is an executive agency of the Government of Jamaica responsible for disseminating information about government programs, projects, and services. Functions The agency's main functions involves the gathering ...

that Hall had resigned as Governor-General of Jamaica, citing health reasons. He was succeeded by

Patrick Allen John Keith Patrick Allen (17 March 1927 – 28 July 2006) was a British actor. Life and career Allen was born in Nyasaland (now Malawi), where his father was a tobacco farmer. After his parents returned to Britain, he was evacuated to Canada ...

, President of the West Indies Union of Seventh-Day Adventists and Chairman of

Northern Caribbean University Northern Caribbean University (NCU) is a private, liberal-arts institution owned and operated by the Jamaica Union Conference (JAMU) and the Atlantic Caribbean Union Mission (ACUM) of Seventh-day Adventists, and is located in Jamaica. With its ma ...

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

Honours and awards

He received the Order of Jamaica, a National Honour, in 2004. He was conferred with Jamaica's second highest national honour, the

Order of the Nation The Order of the Nation is a Jamaican honour. It is a part of the Jamaican honours system and was instituted in 1973 as the second-highest honour in the country, with the Order of National Hero being the highest honour. The Order of the Nation ...

, on the occasion of his swearing in. A year and eight months after being appointed Jamaica's fifth Governor-General, Hall was appointed

GCMG The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour ...

on 6 November 2007, and received the insignia from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 30 May 2008. In 2008, Hall and Lady Rheima Hall received the Collar and Grand Cross of the

Order of Civil Merit The Order of Civil Merit ( es, Orden del Mérito Civil) was established by King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1926. The order recognizes "the civic virtue of officers in the service of the Nation, as well as extraordinary service by Spanish and fore ...

of Spain, respectively.

References

External links

Official profileHome page
at ''The Integrationist Caribbean'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, Kenneth University of the West Indies academics Jamaican academics Governors-General of Jamaica Government of Jamaica Jamaican knights 1941 births Living people Jamaican Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George State University of New York at Oswego faculty State University of New York at Old Westbury faculty Members of the Order of Jamaica Recipients of the Order of the Nation Queen's University at Kingston alumni University at Albany, SUNY faculty Collars of the Order of Civil Merit