Gershon Collier
Gershon Beresford Onesimus Collier | |
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Sierra Leone's first permanent representative to the Headquarters of the United Nations of ![]() to ![]() | |
In office 1961 – February 17, 1967 | |
Succeeded by | Christopher Okoro Cole |
Sierra Leonean Ambassador to the United States of ![]() to ![]() | |
In office November 20, 1963 – February 17, 1967 | |
Preceded by | Richard Edmund Kelfa-Caulker |
Succeeded by | Christopher Okoro Cole |
Chief Justice of Sierra Leone | |
In office February 17, 1967 – March 21, 1967 | |
Preceded by | Sir Samuel Bankole Jones[1] |
Succeeded by | Banja Tejan-Sie |
Personal details | |
Born | Freetown | February 16, 1927
Died | May 25, 1994 New York City[citation needed] | (aged 67)
Spouse | Fashn Dora (m. 1954) |
Children | 2 |
Parents |
|
Education | CMS Grammar School and Fourah Bay College |
Alma mater | studied law, M.A., B.C.L., B.L.. LL.M., J.S.D. at New York University University. |
Gershon Beresford Onesimus Collier (February 16, 1927 – May 25, 1994) was a Sierra Leone Creole diplomat, chief justice of Sierra Leone and educator. His granddaughter is WNBA player Napheesa Collier.
Career[edit]
- He was called to the English Bar at the Middle Temple Inns of Court, London.
- When Albert Margai left the Sierra Leone People's Party in 1958, Gershon Collier was one of the supporters and was a member of that People's National Party's first executive committee.
- In 1961, he became Sierra Leone's first permanent representative to the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York City.
- On October 16, 1963, he was designated concurrently ambassador in Washington, D.C. war he was concurrently accredited from November 20, 1963, until February 17, 1967.
- He got in contact with Gamal Abdel Nasser who became Godparent of his son Gamal.
- In 1967, Albert Margai arranged his nomination as chief justice of Sierra Leone.
- However, Albert Margai lost the election in 1967 and Collier lost his office as chief justice.
- In 1967, Collier migrated to New York City where he took a teaching appointment at New York University.[2]
- Collier's granddaughter Napheesa Collier won a gold medal in basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
References[edit]
- ^ Samuel Bankole Jones Samuel Bankole Jones
- ^ Magbaily C. Fyle, Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone, p. 38