Sir Milo Butler

Who is Sir Milo Butler?

Sir Milo Boughton Butler was a Bahamian businessman and politician who became the first Bahamian-born Governor-General of the Bahamas. Born in Nassau in 1906, he built a career as a leading New Providence merchant, founding Milo B. Butler and Sons Limited, before entering politics in the 1930s. He won a seat in the House of Assembly in a 1937 by-election and remained active in Bahamian public life for decades afterward. When the Progressive Liberal Party won the 1967 general election that brought about Majority Rule, Butler joined the new Cabinet, later serving as Minister of Labour, Agriculture and Fisheries. In June 1972 the House of Assembly honored him by special resolution and acclaimed him a National Hero. Following the Bahamas' independence in July 1973, Butler was sworn in on 1 August 1973 as the country's first Bahamian Governor-General, representing the monarch as head of state, a role he held until his death. He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, and a bronze memorial to him stands in Rawson Square in Nassau. He died in 1979.

Sources: Milo Butler — Wikipedia (biographical summary) · Government of the Bahamas, "Sir Milo Butler, GCMG, GCVO" official profile · Bahamas National Archives, biographical record of Sir Milo Butler