:Johan Ferrier
{{Short description|1st President of Suriname}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox Politician
| name = Johan Ferrier
| image = File:Ferrier in Suriname 1975 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Ferrier in 1975
| order = 1st
| office = President of Suriname
| term_start = 25 November 1975
| term_end = 13 August 1980
| primeminister = {{ubl|Henck Arron | Henk Chin A Sen}}
| predecessor = Position established
| successor = Henk Chin A Sen
| office1 = Governor-General of Suriname
| term_start1 = 15 March 1968
| term_end1 = 25 November 1975
| monarch1 = Juliana
| primeminister1 = Henck Arron
| predecessor1 = Henry Lucien de Vries
| successor1 = Position abolished
| office2 = Prime Minister of Suriname
| term_start2 = 16 April 1955
| term_end2 = 16 July 1958
| governor_general2 = {{ubl|Jan Klaasesz | Jan van Tilburg}}
| monarch2 = Juliana
| predecessor2 = Archibald Currie
| successor2 = Severinus Desiré Emanuels
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1910|05|12}}
| birth_place = Paramaribo, Surinam (now Suriname)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2010|01|04|1910|05|12}}
| death_place = Oegstgeest, Netherlands
| birthname = Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier
| nationality =
| party = National
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Eugenie Lionarons||1959|end=d}}|{{marriage|Edmé Ferrier-Vas||1997|end=d}}}}
| children = 8, including Cynthia,{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1863538.Cynthia_McLeod |title=Cynthia McLeod|website=Good Reads|access-date=25 November 2021}} Joan{{cite news|url=https://www.dbsuriname.com/2014/03/10/joan-ferrier-overleden/ |title=Joan Ferrier overleden|website=Dagblad Suriname|access-date=25 November 2021|date=10 March 2014|language=nl}} and Kathleen{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vg9fgoprwbx2/k_g_kathleen_ferrier |title=Drs. K.G. (Kathleen) Ferrier|website=Dutch Parliament|access-date=25 November 2021|language=nl}}
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of Amsterdam (Dr.)
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician | teacher}}
| signature =
| website =
}}
Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier (12 May 1910 – 4 January 2010) was a Surinamese politician who served as the 1st president of Suriname from 1975 to 1980. He was also the country's last governor-general before independence, serving from 1968 to 1975, before becoming the first president upon independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1975.
He was named the twentieth century's most important politician in Suriname in 1999.{{in lang|nl}} [http://frontpage.fok.nl/nieuws/365267/1/1/50/eerste-president-suriname-overleden.html Eerste president Suriname overleden]. fok.nl. 4 January 2010
Early life
Ferrier was born in 1910 in Suriname's largest city and capital, Paramaribo. He trained as a teacher. In 1946 he assisted in the establishment of the country's National Party, while Suriname was a colony of the Netherlands.
Scouting
Ferrier was co-founder of the Boy Scouts van Suriname and its first Chief Scout. At age 16 he was a teacher in the Saramacca District and founded his first Scout Group. This group still exists and now bears the name "De Johan Ferrier groep, de groep 2 Oranje Dassers".{{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717121518/http://www.dbsuriname.com/archief/nat/2010/jan10/11-01-10/Nat_Johan%20Ferrier%2C%20eerste%20Chief%20Scout%20Suriname.asp Johan Ferrier, eerste Chief Scout Suriname]. dbsuriname.com. 11 January 2010
Politics
In 1946, Ferrier was one of the founding members of the National Party of Suriname.{{cite web|url=https://historiek.net/johan-ferrier-eerste-president-suriname/6493/|title=Johan Ferrier (1910-2010) – De eerste president van Suriname|website=Historiek|access-date=24 June 2020|language=nl}} Ferrier was a member of the National Council from 1946 until 1948. He then went to Amsterdam in the Netherlands to learn education theory. In 1950, he received his doctorate.{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vge7dtpk4wz4/j_h_e_johan_ferrier |title=Dr. J.H.E. (Johan) Ferrier |website=Dutch Parliament|access-date=25 November 2021|language=nl}} When he went back to Suriname, which had by then become an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he continued to study and to have a career in education. He served as both prime minister and interior minister for a three-year period from 1955 until 1958.{{cite web|url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/ex-surinam-president-johan-ferrier-dies-aged-99|title=Ex-Surinam President Ferrier dies at 99|date=4 January 2010|access-date=5 January 2010|publisher=Radio Netherlands Worldwide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406182357/http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/ex-surinam-president-johan-ferrier-dies-aged-99|archive-date=6 April 2011|url-status=dead}} He also spent time as Suriname's head of education. From 1968 until 1975 he retained the post of governor. On 25 November 1975, Suriname was made independent, and Ferrier was sworn in as the first president of the country.{{Cite web|title=Onafhankelijkheid Suriname in 1975|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vhnnmt7lcryw/onafhankelijkheid_suriname_in_1975|access-date=25 November 2021|website=www.parlement.com|language=nl}} Dési Bouterse's 1980 coup d'état prompted Ferrier to resign within six months.{{Cite news|last=De Vries|first=Paul|date=15 August 1980|title=President Afgezet|language=nl|page=1|work=Limburgs Dagblad|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010570689:mpeg21:p001|via=Delpher}}
Prime Minister Henk Chin A Sen succeeded Ferrier as president.{{Cite news|date=14 August 1980|title=Chin A Sen is nu de dubbele leider|language=nl|work=Limburgs Dagblad|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010570690:mpeg21:p003|via=Delpher.nl}} Ferrier was made a Grand Cordon in the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star by Chin A Sen on 3 September 1980. His wife was also made a Grand Officer in the Honorary Order of the Palm.{{Cite news|date=4 September 1980|title=Johan Ferrier|language=nl|page=17|work=De Volkskrant|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ABCDDD:010857100:mpeg21:p017|via=Delpher.nl}}
Later life
Ferrier then accompanied his relatives to live in the Netherlands.{{Cite news|date=22 September 1980|title=Vakantiereis van Ferrier|language=nl|page=3|work=Het Parool|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ABCDDD:010846722:mpeg21:p003|via=Delpher.nl}} He lived with them in Oegstgeest. Ferrier used to tell stories about the spider Anansi on Dutch children's television.{{cite web|url=https://werkgroepcaraibischeletteren.nl/dieren-in-de-surinaamse-kinderliteratuur-info-voor-jeugdbegeleiders/ |title=Dieren in de Surinaamse kinderliteratuur: info voor jeugdbegeleiders|website=Werkgroep Caraibische Letteren|access-date=12 March 2021|language=nl}} In 1986, Het Grote Anansi Boek, a picture book was released with illustrations by Noni Lichtveld. The original release was monochrome.{{cite web|url=https://www.allesoverboekenenschrijvers.nl/johan-ferrier-het-grote-anansiboek/ |title=Johan Ferrier Het grote Anansiboek|website=Alles Over Boeken en Schrijvers|date=22 September 2020|access-date=12 March 2021|language=nl}} In 2010, it was re-released in colour.
His daughter, Kathleen Ferrier, is a former member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands for the Christian Democratic Appeal. In 2005, Ferrier's memoirs Last Governor, First President: The Century of Johan Ferrier, Surinamese were published. The Dutch Queen gave him a knighthood. An obituary in the national morning daily De Volkskrant said he had claimed: "Even in the darkest days, I kept my optimism".{{cite web|url=http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2010/01/first_president_of_suriname_di.php|title=First president of Suriname dies aged 99|date=4 January 2010|access-date=5 January 2010|publisher=DutchNews.nl}}
Death
Ferrier died from heart failure while sleeping at home in Oegstgeest at the age of 99. His body was found in the early morning on 4 January 2010.{{cite news|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/breakingnews/80621337.html|title=Johan Ferrier, first president of Suriname, dies in the Netherlands at age 99, daughter says|date=4 January 2010|access-date=5 January 2010|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20100731002954/http://www.wereldjournalisten.nl/artikel/2010/01/08/johan_ferrier_onderwijzer_en_gentleman_in_de_poli/ "Johan Ferrier: een onderwijzer en gentleman in de Surinaamse politiek"]. wereldjournalisten.nl. 8 January 2010
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands paid tribute.{{cite web|url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/tributes-surinames-first-president-pour|title=Tributes to Suriname's first president pour in|date=5 January 2010|access-date=5 January 2010|publisher=Radio Netherlands Worldwide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119012543/http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/tributes-surinames-first-president-pour|archive-date=19 January 2010|url-status=dead}} Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said Ferrier was "an authoritative and wise statesman". Politician and diplomat Jan Pronk paid tribute to his work at uniting divisions.
Ferrier was buried on 11 January 2010, in the Dutch town of Oegstgeest, where he had been living since 1980.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100113103316/http://www.expatica.com/nl/news/dutch-rss-news/last-farewell-to-suriname-president-ferrier_18725.html "Last farewell to Suriname President Ferrier"]. expatica.com. 8 January 2010
Johan Ferrier Fund
{{anchor|Johan Ferrier Fund}}
On 12 May 2010, the day Ferrier would have celebrated his 100th birthday, the Johan Ferrier Fund was officially launched. The fund strives to follow in his footsteps in supporting Surinamese projects with educational and cultural goals. The Johan Ferrier Fund is an initiative of his daughter Joan Ferrier, who first presented the fund in the presence of her father in September 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2010/05/12/website-johan-ferrier-fonds-online/|title=Website Johan Ferrier Fonds online|website=Waterkant|access-date=24 June 2020|language=nl}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{in lang|nl}} [http://www.johanferrierfonds.nl Official website of the Johan Ferrier Fonds]
- {{in lang|nl}} [http://www.parlement.com/9291000/biof/15510 Official Parliamentary Biography]
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{{s-bef|before=Office established}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of Suriname|years=1975–1989}}
{{s-aft|after=Henk Chin A Sen}}
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{{Presidents of Suriname}}
{{Prime Ministers of Suriname}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferrier, Johan}}
Category:Governors of Suriname
Category:National Party of Suriname politicians
Category:People from Oegstgeest
Category:Politicians from Paramaribo
Category:Presidents of Suriname
Category:Prime ministers of Suriname
Category:Scouting and Guiding in Suriname
Category:Surinamese Calvinist and Reformed Christians
Category:Surinamese expatriates in the Netherlands
Category:Surinamese children's writers
Category:Grand Cordons of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star
Category:Knights of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Category:University of Amsterdam alumni