Today in History: February 6

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, William MacBean George Colebrooke who served as governor from 1835 – 1837, died in Great Britain in 1870.

His governorship was held during the years of the apprenticeship period after Great Britain abolished slavery in the empire in 1834.

Colebrooke Lane between Bay Street and Dowdeswell Street is named after him.

In 1892, The Nassau Guardian reported that S. S. Morton was the first person in the colony to receive a cablegram through the Bahamas Telegraph Cable. Morton was proprietor of the Royal Victoria Hotel and the message was sent from Tampa, Florida.

On February 6th, 1922, Sir Clifford Darling was born in Chesters, Acklins.

Darling was a taxi driver, politician, civil rights leader, trade unionist, speaker of the House and governor general.

In 2002 he published he wrote a book entitled “Sir Clifford Darling: A Bahamian Life Story.” along with Patricia Beardsley Roker.

On December 27, 2011, Clifford Darling passed away at the age of 89 years old. A state funeral was held for him at Zion Baptist Church in Nassau where he was a member.

The Clifford Darling Complex on Baillou Hill Road on New Providence which houses the headquarters of National Insurance was named in his honor.

In 1952, Elizabeth became the monarch of the United Kingdom after her father King George VI died.

When the Commonwealth of The Bahamas became an independent nation, she remained the country’s head of state, represented by a governor general.

And on September 9, 2015, she became the longest reigning British monarch surpassing her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. Queen Elizabeth II died last September.

Finally in 2019, the Fire Services Branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force was called to put out a massive fire that destroyed Wong’s Food Store on East Bay Street in downtown, Nassasu.

Director of Fire Services at the time Walter Evans said every fire truck on the island was used to contain the blaze and off duty fire staff called in.

Evans said the fire started around 5:00 a.m. on the corner of Bay and Deveaux Street sand quickly spread to neighboring buildings.