Sir Florizel Glasspole – Jamaica’s most accomplished governor general

With a name so distinct and resonating, Florizel Augustus Glasspole was destined for prominence. But, no one could have guessed that it would have been associated with the highest office in the Jamaican system of government. The son of Reverend Theophilus Glasspole, a Methodist minister and his wife, Florence, was to become the second native governor general of Jamaica.

Glasspole’s ascension climaxed in June 1973 when Sir Clifford Campbell, the first native governor general, retired. He was asked to serve, and it was a yeoman’s service that he, who was born in Kingston on September 25, 1909, gave to Jamaica for 17 long years spanning People’s National Party and Jamaica Labour Party administrations.

From city life his parents brought to him to the rainy and green parish of Portland, where he sat in the seats of Buff Bay Elementary School from 1914 to 1918. They brought him back to Kingston the following year. There, he attended Central Branch Primary School before enrolling, in 1922, at Wolmer’s Boys’ School, where he excelled in academics and sports. He left after passing his Junior and Senior Cambridge exams.

The young Glasspole landed his first job at the Registrar of Titles Office. He wanted to study law, but decided to take up accountancy. While working at Serge Island Sugar Estate in St Thomas in the early 1930s, he was disturbed by the unflattering working conditions and low wages of the sugar cane workers. He returned to Kingston in 1932 to work as an accountant with S.N. Shoucair, a dry goods merchant.

This was when his concerns for workers’ rights and interest in the trade union movement developed . The 1930s was a time of much social unrest among workers, culminating in the labour riots of 1938. In that same year, Florizel became a founding member of the People’s National Party. From 1937 to 1952, he helped to establish several workers unions, including the National Workers Union from which the People’s National Party evolved. It was the trade union movement that catapulted Glasspole into representative politics.

Being one of only four PNP candidates to win in the elections of 1944, Glasspole became member of parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal. He served as leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives and was appointed secretary of the PNP’s Parliamentary Group. When the PNP won the general elections of 1955, already a vice-president of the party. Glasspole was sworn in as labour minister.

He was also appointed leader of government business. He was a member of the Standing Federation Committee on West Indian Federation (1953-58), and was a member of Jamaica’s House of Representatives Committee which prepared the Independence Constitution and the delegation which finalised the Constitution with the British Government in London.

Glasspole was in charge of the education sector from 1957 to 1962, and from 1972 to 1973. During his tenures there were many groundbreaking and transformative policies, and the establishment of institutions that are still in existence. He was also involved with the Jamaica Red Cross Society, the Scouts Association, the YMCA and YWCA, the Jamaica Cancer Society, and the United Nations Association of Jamaica.

For his years of committed service to Jamaica, Sir Florizel Glasspole was the recipient of many honours, from the humblest to the highest. They include the Order of the Nation, Jamaica’s second highest honour; the Order of Andres Bello (1970), one of Venezuela’s highest; the Order of Liberator (1978), also from Venezuela; the Keys to the City of Kingston in November 1973; and The Gleaner’s first Honour Award in 1979.

In 1981, Glasspole was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, receiving the Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George in a private function at Buckingham Palace. Two years later The Queen bestowed upon him the Grand Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. He was also a recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from The University of the West Indies in 1982.

With his distinct gravelly voice, admirable candour, and his penchant for kissing beauty queens, it is fair to say Sir Florizel Glasspole was Jamaica’s best-loved and most popular governor general to date. He and his wife were supreme hosts, and their presence at social events was in great demand. His humour-laden speeches were highly anticipated and memorable. His first overseas visitor was the lord mayor of London. He also hosted Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips from December 12 to 15, 1973, and on April 26, 1975, Queen Elizabeth II stayed at King’s House when she attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference.

Sir Florizel left King’s House in 1990, and lived another 10 years before his passing in 2000 at age 91. He was married to Josephine Kinlocke, who predeceased him. They had one child, Sara Lou Glasspole Mena. Not only was he Jamaica’s longest-serving governor general, but The Most Honourable Sir Florizel Augustus Glasspole was one of the more accomplished.