Today in History: August 4

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history – In 1947, the Rt. Honorable Hubert Alexander Ingraham was born in Pineridge, Grand Bahama.

He was the second prime minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, serving three terms.

Ingraham was a prominent figure in Bahamian politics from the mid-1970s to the early 2010s. He started his journey as a member of the Progressive Liberal Party and was elected to the House of Assembly representing Cooper’s Town, Abaco in 1977.

In 1990 he joined the Free National Movement and following the death of Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, he became leader of the party and leader of the official opposition.

In 1992 he successfully carried the FNM to victory at the polls and became prime minister on 21st August 1992 becoming the first person to defeat Sir Lynden Pindling.

Then in 1955, the city of Freeport, Grand Bahama was founded with the signing of the Hawksbill Creek agreement between government and Wallace Groves.

Through the agreement, the government granted groves 50,000 acres of land for development, known as the port area. This land became the capital of Grand Bahama and the nation’s second city, Freeport.

Then in 1969, the Great Isaac Cay Lighthouse on Great Lighthouse Cay, Bimini was discovered abandoned by lighthouse keepers.

From the mid-1800s, the Lighthouse had been manned by lighthouse operators however on this day in 1969 they all vanished with no explanation, and their bodies were never found.

Today, the lighthouse is automated and still guides sailors through the seas.

Then in 2017, Geoffrey Johnstone died at the age of 89.

Born on September 19th, 1927 Johnstone was a politician, lawyer, civil servant, ambassador, and church leader.

He began law school in 1947 and in 1950 was called to The Bahamas bar later that year, eventually joining Higgs & Johnson law firm.

Two years later he became a partner in the firm and in 1968 he became a senior partner and held this position until his retirement in 1998.

His political career began in 1962 when he was elected to represent the eastern district of New Providence in the House of Assembly.

In the next general election of 1967 he was elected as member of parliament for Montagu and in 1970, was appointed leader of the opposition and served in that office for a year.

And finally in 2022, former Chief Justice Sir Brian Moree was sworn in as a member of the court of appeal.

Sir Brian was admitted to The Bahamas bar in February 1979 and appointed to Queen’s counsel in 2009. He was eventually appointed chief justice on June 12, 2019.

Sir Brian has served in numerous other capacities including most recently as chief justice.