| Gershon Beresford Onesimus Collier | |
|---|---|
| Sierra Leone's first permanent representative to the Headquarters of the United Nations of  Sierra Leoneto  United Nations | |
| In office 1961 – February 17, 1967 | |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Okoro Cole |
| Sierra Leonean Ambassador to the United States [es] of Sierra Leone to  United States | |
| In office November 20, 1963 – February 17, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Edmund Kelfa-Caulker |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Okoro Cole |
| Chief Justice of Sierra Leone | |
| In office February 17, 1967 – March 21, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Samuel Bankole Jones |
| Succeeded by | Banja Tejan-Sie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1927-02-16)February 16, 1927 Freetown, Sierra Leone |
| Died | May 25, 1994(1994-05-25) (aged 67) New York City, U.S. |
| Spouse | Fashn Dora (m. 1954) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Education | CMS Grammar School and Fourah Bay College |
Gershon Beresford Onesimus Collier (February 16, 1927 – May 25, 1994) was a Sierra Leone Creole diplomat, Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, and educator.
Career
Collier was called to the English Bar in London.
When Albert Margai left the Sierra Leone People's Party in 1958, Collier went with him and became a member of the People's National Party's first executive committee.
In 1961, he became Sierra Leone's first permanent representative to the United Nations.
In 1967, Margai arranged his nomination as Chief Justice of Sierra Leone. However, Margai lost the election in 1967 and Collier lost his office as Chief Justice.
In 1967, Collier immigrated to New York City, where he took a teaching appointment at New York University.
Collier's granddaughter Napheesa Collier won a gold medal in basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2024 Summer Olympics.
References
- Samuel Bankole Jones Samuel Bankole Jones
- ^ Pande, Ritvan (2024-07-02). "Meet Napheesa Collier's Grandfather Gershon - A Freedom Fighter For Sierra Leone Who Also Was a United Nations Ambassador". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- "First Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone Presents Credentials". UN Photo. 1 October 1961. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- Magbaily C. Fyle, Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone, p. 38
- "Napheesa Collier". www.teamusa.com. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2024-08-18.