Robert Stapledon

Sir Robert de Stapeldon Stapledon, KCMG, CBE (6 February 1909 – 30 August 1975) was a British colonial administrator and Governor of the Bahamas from 1960 to 1964.^[1][2]

Biography

Stapledon was born in Bideford, Devon,^[3] the third and youngest son of Mr & Mrs. Ernest A. Stapledon.^[4][5] He first served as a cadet in the colonial service in Nigeria in 1931.^[4] In 1933, Stapledon married Marjorie W. Radford in Northam, Devon.^[5] In 1934, he was appointed an Assistant District Officer in Nigeria. Between 1940-1944, he served in West Africa followed by a two-year stint in the Pacific Islands.^[4]

Stapledon was made the Chief Secretary of Tanganyika from 1954-1956,^[1][4] before serving as the Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria from 1956 to 1960.^[1][2] He served as Governor of the Bahamas from 1960 to 1964.^[1][2][6] He was then appointed to be a Member of the Commonwealth Development Corporation from 1964 to 1967.^[7]

Stapledon was made a Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1944^[4][8] and a Commander of the Order (CBE) in 1953.^[4][9] In 1955, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George^[10] and, in 1956, a Knight Commander (K.C.M.G.).^[11] In 1959, Stapledon was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.^[12]

Stapledon died at the Old Rectory in Littleham, Devon on 30 August 1975; he was 66.^[13]