Probyn Inniss
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
|honorific-prefix = His Excellency
|name = Sir Probyn Inniss
|honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}
|office = Governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
|image =
|image_size =
|monarch = Elizabeth II
|premier = Robert Bradshaw
Paul Southwell
Sir Lee Moore
Sir Kennedy Simmonds
|term_start = 1 August 1975
|term_end = 13 April 1980
|predecessor = Sir Milton Allen
|successor = None {{small|(office abolished)}}
|office2 = Governors of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla
|monarch2 = Elizabeth II
|premier2 = Sir Kennedy Simmonds
|term_start2 = 13 April 1980
|term_end2 = 26 November 1981
|predecessor2 = None {{small|(new creation)}}
|successor2 = Sir Clement Arrindell
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1936|11|18}}
|birth_place = Saint Kitts, British Leeward Islands
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2017|3|12|1936|11|18}}
|death_place =
|spouse =
|children =
|alma_mater =
}}
Sir Probyn Ellsworth Inniss MBE (18 November 1936 – 12 March 2017){{cite web|author=SKNIS |url=http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/94505/st-kitts-governor-passes |title=Former St Kitts Governor passes - NationNews Barbados - Local, Regional and International News |publisher=Nationnews.com |date=2017-03-12 |accessdate=2017-03-12}}{{cite web|url=http://sknis.kn/pm-harris-expresses-condolences-to-sir-probyn-inniss-family-and-the-people-of-st-kitts-and-nevis/ |title=Pm Harris Expresses Condolences To Sir Probyn Inniss' Family And The People Of St. Kitts And Nevis | Sknis |publisher=Sknis.kn |date=2017-03-12 |accessdate=2017-03-12}} was the Governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla from 1975 to 1980, and then, following the separation of Anguilla, the Governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis from 1980 to 1981.
Early life
Inniss was born in Saint Kitts, where he attended secondary school, and went on to study at the University College of West Indies, graduating in 1961. After working as a schoolteacher for a period, he went to England to study law, eventually being called to the bar as a member of the Middle Temple. He entered the civil service on returning to Saint Kitts,[http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/inniss_probyn.asp "Probyn Ellsworth Inniss"] – Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 24 April 2016. and in June 1967 was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his work.{{London Gazette |issue=44326|date=10 June 1967|page=6290|supp=y}}
Governorship
In August 1975, Inniss succeeded Sir Milton Allen as Governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, an Associated State of the United Kingdom."I was sworn in as Governor on 1st August (Emancipation Day) 1975. ". {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160507145757/http://www.labourspokesman.com/newsitem.asp?more=local&NewsID=608 "Presentation made by Sir Probyn Inniss at the Requiem Service held the St. Pauls Anglican Parish Church on Sunday 31st May, 2009"]}} – The Labour Spokesman. Retrieved 24 April 2016. In connection with his appointment, he was created a Knight Bachelor in the 1976 New Year Honours,{{London Gazette |issue=46777|date=1 January 1976|page=2|supp=y}} and was personally invested by Queen Elizabeth II in July of the same year.{{London Gazette |issue=46980|date=3 August 1976|page=10611}}
During his term in office, there were three changes in government, with Robert Bradshaw, Paul Southwell, Sir Lee Moore, and Sir Kennedy Simmonds all serving as premier at various stages.[http://www.rulers.org/ruls1.html#saint_kitts_and_nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis] – Rulers.org. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
In 1981, Inniss refused assent to a bill that had been passed by the Simmonds government, in the belief that it was unconstitutional. Simmonds consequently wrote to Elizabeth II to request the removal of his commission as governor, which occurred in November of that year.{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=Fred |date=2013 |title= Commonwealth Caribbean Constitutional Law |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dx-PAgAAQBAJ| page=331|isbn=9781135338053 }}
Later life
After leaving office, Inniss returned to the legal profession, setting up his own firm. He also authored books on the history of Saint Kitts, specifically on the history of Basseterre and of the Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party.[http://www.historicbasseterre.com/hs_persons.asp?HSID=6&PID=26 Government House: Personalities] – Basseterre Past & Present. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
References
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{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=Sir Milton Allen}}
{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla | years=1975–1980}}
{{s-non|reason=Post abolished}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis | years=1980–1981}}
{{s-aft|after=Sir Clement Arrindell}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inniss, Probyn}}
Category:Governors of British Saint Christopher and Nevis
Category:Members of the Middle Temple
Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire
Category:20th-century Saint Kitts and Nevis lawyers
Category:Alumni of University of London Worldwide
Category:Alumni of the University of London
Category:University of the West Indies alumni
Category:Saint Kitts and Nevis expatriates in the United Kingdom
Category:Governors of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla