Honorific-Prefix: | His Excellency Sir |
Solomon Hochoy | |
Honorific-Suffix: | TC GCMG GCVO OBE |
Nationality: | Trinidadian and Tobagonian |
Order1: | 17th Governor of Trinidad and Tobago |
Term Start1: | 4 July 1960 |
Term End1: | 31 August 1962 |
Monarch1: | Elizabeth II |
Predecessor1: | Edward Beetham |
Successor1: | Himself (as Governor-General) |
Predecessor: | Himself (as Governor) |
Order: | 1st Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago |
Premier1: | Eric Williams |
Term Start: | 31 August 1962 |
Term End: | 15 September 1972 |
Party: | Independent |
Successor: | Ellis Clarke |
Primeminister: | Eric Williams |
Birth Date: | 20 April 1905 |
Birth Place: | Colony of Jamaica (present-day Jamaica) |
Death Place: | Blanchisseuse, Trinidad and Tobago |
Spouse: | Thelma Huggins Hochoy |
Sir Solomon Hochoy (20 April 1905 – 15 November 1983) was the last colonial governor of Trinidad and Tobago and the first governor-general upon the country's independence in 1962. He was the first non-European governor of a British crown colony and the first ethnically Han Chinese and nationally Caribbean person to become Governor-General in the Commonwealth.
Of Hakka Han Chinese descent, Hochoy's family emigrated to Trinidad when he was two years old. He spent his early years in Blanchisseuse. After rising through the civil service, Hochoy was appointed the first non-European Governor in the entire British Empire in 1960, and the first ethnic Chinese to be Governor.
When Trinidad and Tobago became independent in 1962 Hochoy was appointed Governor General. He retired from that position in 1972 and was succeeded by Ellis Clarke. After retirement he returned to Blanchisseuse where he spent the remainder of his life.
He was married to Thelma Huggins, a social activist.
The Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway and the Solomon Hochoy Trophy (for football) are named in his honour.