Maurice Bishop
Revolutionary and Prime Minister · 1944–1983
Who is Maurice Bishop?
Maurice Rupert Bishop was a Grenadian revolutionary and politician who led the People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada from 1979 to 1983. Born on 29 May 1944 on the island of Aruba, he moved with his family to Grenada in 1950. He traveled to London in 1963 to study law and became active with the West Indian Students' Union, where he was influenced by the writings of Kwame Nkrumah, Frantz Fanon, Malcolm X, Fidel Castro, and Che Guevara. Back in Grenada, he organized the Movement for Assemblies of the People in 1972, which merged with the Joint Endeavour for Welfare, Education and Liberation in 1973 to form the New JEWEL Movement. On 13 March 1979 the New JEWEL Movement seized power in a nearly bloodless coup, removing Prime Minister Eric Gairy and installing Bishop as head of the People's Revolutionary Government. His government expanded literacy programs, healthcare, and infrastructure, including construction of a new international airport, while aligning closely with Cuba. Internal party conflict with Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard led to Bishop's house arrest; he was freed by a crowd of supporters but was recaptured and executed by firing squad on 19 October 1983, a crisis that preceded the United States-led invasion of Grenada days later.
Sources: Maurice Bishop, Wikipedia biographical entry (cross-checked) · Britannica, "Maurice Bishop, prime minister of Grenada" · BlackPast.org, "Maurice Bishop (1944-1983)"