Politician. He was a French Colonial administrator who was the first Black to become the governor of a French colony. He played a major part at General Charles de Gaulle's Brazzaville conference in 1944, which set out the guidelines for eventual independence of French colonies. Born Adolphe Sylvestre Félix Éboué, one of five sons, he graduated with a law degree from the École Coloniale, a prestigious school of the colonial administration, in 1908. During his days in college, he traveled to France as a footballer. Following his education, he was sent to what is now the Central African Republic, serving as an administrator for twenty years. Relocating to the French Caribbean, he was appointed in 1932 as the secretary-general and later governor of Martinique. In 1936, he was made full governor of Guadeloupe. While governor, he made many reforms that were popular in France. He died suddenly of a stroke while visiting in Cairo. In 1941, he was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour with the Cross of the Liberation. To honor him, his image has graced African currency and postage stamps. In 2012, the airport of Cayenne, his birthplace, in French Guiana was named in his honor. He is the only Black person to be buried at France's Panthéon of heroes in Paris.
Politician. He was a French Colonial administrator who was the first Black to become the governor of a French colony. He played a major part at General Charles de Gaulle's Brazzaville conference in 1944, which set out the guidelines for eventual independence of French colonies. Born Adolphe Sylvestre Félix Éboué, one of five sons, he graduated with a law degree from the École Coloniale, a prestigious school of the colonial administration, in 1908. During his days in college, he traveled to France as a footballer. Following his education, he was sent to what is now the Central African Republic, serving as an administrator for twenty years. Relocating to the French Caribbean, he was appointed in 1932 as the secretary-general and later governor of Martinique. In 1936, he was made full governor of Guadeloupe. While governor, he made many reforms that were popular in France. He died suddenly of a stroke while visiting in Cairo. In 1941, he was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour with the Cross of the Liberation. To honor him, his image has graced African currency and postage stamps. In 2012, the airport of Cayenne, his birthplace, in French Guiana was named in his honor. He is the only Black person to be buried at France's Panthéon of heroes in Paris.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Gravesite Details
His remains were entered in the Pantheon in 1949.
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