Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke, an only child, was born on 28th December 1917 to a middle class Belmont family. He pursued a Degree in Law at London University which undoubtedly laid the foundation for his illustrious political career in his homeland.
Between 1954 and 1962 Sir Ellis Clarke held several posts in the Colonial Government: Solicitor General, Deputy Colonial Secretary, Attorney General and Constitutional Advisor to the Cabinet. After the attainment of Independence in 1962, Sir Ellis Clarke became a foreign diplomat, holding numerous posts between 1962 to 1976, sometimes simultaneously; including Trinidad and Tobago’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He was also an ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago to the United States and Mexico.
He was appointed as Governor-General by Her Majesty the Queen of England in 1972, and assumed his duties on 31st January 1973. Notably, Sir Ellis was Trinidad and Tobago’s last Governor General and went on to become the first elected President when Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic in 1976. He served two terms as President between 1976 and 1987.
Sir Ellis was a strong advocate of constitutional reform and was one of the authors of the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution.
Sir Ellis received numerous awards during his tenure. He was one of the first recipients of the Trinity Cross, and in 1981 he received the Trinidad Express Individual of the Year Award.
