Sir Ellis dies at age 93

Sir Ellis Clarke - 28 Dec. 1917 to 30 Dec. 2010

Trinidad and Tobago's first President, Sir Ellis Clarke, died Thursday evening. Two days ago he celebrated his 93rd birthday with a special lunchtime mass at his Fairways, Maraval, home.

Father Garfield Rochard, of the Church of the Assumption, Maraval, conducted the mass, which was attended by about 15 close relatives.

Sir Ellis had been recovering from a stroke he suffered on November 24. His death was announced by his daughter-in-law, Susan Clarke, made the announcement saying Sir Ellis passed away peacefully at his home at 7:15 pm. 

Click here for a CNMG special report on the passing of Sir Ellis 

Ellis Emmanuel Innocente Clarke was Trinidad and Tobago's last Governor General and became the country's first president on August 1, 1976 when the country became a republic within the Commonwealth.

He was one of the main architects of Trinidad and Tobago's 1962 Independence constitution and also contributed his expertise to the republican constitution. He was the leading expert in constitutional matters and had worked on a draft for a new constitution for the Manning PNM administration. 

However he quit that project after then Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced a draft constitution that Sir Ellis disavowed.

 "I don’t know whose draft it is, it certainly is not mine and I don’t think anybody on the round table will claim it. It’s nobody’s baby," Sir Ellis told local media in July 2008. "If it is nobody’s draft then let’s wait and see," he added.

When Trinidad and Tobago's first Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams, died in office in March 1981, Sir Ellis had to make a choice for a successor. 

After a lot of discussions with top officials of the governing People's National Movement (PNM) he chose George Chambers as the new Prime Minister in preference to the party's two more senior deputy leaders, Errol Mahabir and Kamaluddin Mohammed.

Young Ellis attended St Mary's College and won an Island Scholarship in the field of mathematics in 1938. He went to the University of London, graduating with a Bachelor of law degree. He was called to the bar at Gray's Inn and returned to Port of Spain in 1941 and began a private practice.

Sir Ellis was one of the country's most respected public servants, having served as Solicitor-General from 1954–1956, Deputy Colonial Secretary 1956–1957, and Attorney General 1957–1962. 

He was also an accomplished diplomat, having served Ambassador to the United States and Mexico and as High Commissioner to Canada and Mexico. His diplomaatic career also include a stint as the country's  Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

In 1972 he succeeded Sir Solomon Hochoy as Governor General and was unanimously elected as the country's first president. He was re-elected to serve a second term and retired in 1987. His successor was the late Noor Hassanali.

Sir Ellis was married to Lady Ermyntrude Clarke (1921–2002) for almost fifty years. They had three children: Peter Clarke, Margaret-Ann and Richard, who died as a young child). 

Sir Ellis also had four grandsons - John Peter, Michael, Alexander and David, and one granddaughter, Katrina.