Gershon Collier

Gershon Beresford Onesimus Collier (February 16, 1927 – May 25, 1994) was a Sierra Leone Creole diplomat, Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, and educator.

Gershon Beresford Onesimus Collier
Sierra Leone's first permanent representative to the Headquarters of the United Nations of Sierra Leone to United Nations
In office 1961 – February 17, 1967
Succeeded by	Christopher Okoro Cole
Sierra Leonean Ambassador to the United States [es] of Sierra Leone to United States
In office November 20, 1963 – February 17, 1967
Preceded by	Richard Edmund Kelfa-Caulker
Succeeded by	Christopher Okoro Cole
Chief Justice of Sierra Leone
In office February 17, 1967 – March 21, 1967
Preceded by	Sir Samuel Bankole Jones[1]
Succeeded by	Banja Tejan-Sie
Personal details
Born	(1927-02-16)February 16, 1927 Freetown, Sierra Leone
Died	May 25, 1994(1994-05-25) (aged 67) New York City, U.S.[citation needed]
Spouse	Fashu Dora (m. 1954)
Children	2
Parents	Samuel Adolphus Collier (father) Maria Jeanette Collier (mother)
Education	CMS Grammar School and Fourah Bay College

Career

Collier was called to the English Bar in London.^[2]

When Albert Margai left the Sierra Leone People's Party in 1958, Collier went with him and became a member of the People's National Party's first executive committee where he served alongside other Sierra Leoneans such as Claude Nelson-Williams.^[2]

In 1961, he became Sierra Leone's first permanent representative to the United Nations.^[3]

In 1967, Margai arranged his nomination as Chief Justice of Sierra Leone. However, Margai lost the election in 1967 and Collier lost his office as Chief Justice.^[2]

In 1967, Collier immigrated to New York City, where he took a teaching appointment at New York University.^[4]

Collier's granddaughter Napheesa Collier won a gold medal in basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2024 Summer Olympics.^[5]