Probyn Inniss

His Excellency Sir Probyn Inniss MBE
Governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
In office 1 August 1975 – 13 April 1980
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Premier	Robert Bradshaw Paul Southwell Sir Lee Moore Sir Kennedy Simmonds
Preceded by	Sir Milton Allen
Succeeded by	None (office abolished)
Governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis
In office 13 April 1980 – 26 November 1981
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Premier	Sir Kennedy Simmonds
Preceded by	None (new creation)
Succeeded by	Sir Clement Arrindell
Personal details
Born	18 November 1936 Saint Kitts, British Leeward Islands

Sir Probyn Ellsworth Inniss MBE (born 18 November 1936) was the Governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla from 1975 to 1980, and then, following the separation of Anguilla, the Governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis from 1980 to 1981.

Inniss was born in Saint Kitts, where he attended secondary school, and went on to study at the University of the West Indies, graduating in 1961. After working as a schoolteacher for a period, he went to England to study law, eventually being called to the bar as a member of the Middle Temple. He entered the civil service on returning to Saint Kitts,^[1] and in June 1967 was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his work.^[2] In August 1975, Inniss succeeded Sir Milton Allen as Governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, an Associated State of the United Kingdom.^[3] In connection with his appointment, he was created a Knight Bachelor in the 1976 New Year Honours,^[4] and was personally invested by Queen Elizabeth II in July of the same year.^[5] During his term in office, there were three changes in government, with Robert Bradshaw, Paul Southwell, Sir Lee Moore, and Sir Kennedy Simmonds all serving as premier at various stages.^[6] In 1981, Inniss refused assent to a bill that had been passed by the Simmonds government, in the belief that it was unconstitutional. Simmonds consequently wrote to Elizabeth II to request the removal of his commission as governor, which occurred in November of that year.^[7] After leaving office, Inniss returned to the legal profession, setting up his own firm.^[1] He has also authored books on the history of Saint Kitts, specifically on the history of Basseterre and history of the Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party.^[8]

References

1. "Probyn Ellsworth Inniss" – Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44326. p. 6290. 10 June 1967.
3. "I was sworn in as Governor on 1st August (Emancipation Day) 1975. ". "Presentation made by Sir Probyn Inniss at the Requiem Service held the St. Pauls Anglican Parish Church on Sunday 31st May, 2009" – The Labour Spokesman. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
4. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46777. p. 2. 1 January 1976.
5. The London Gazette: no. 46980. p. 10611. 3 August 1976.
6. Saint Kitts and Nevis – Rulers.org. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
7. Phillips, Fred (2013). Commonwealth Caribbean Constitutional Law. p. 331.
8. Government House: Personalities – Basseterre Past & Present. Retrieved 24 April 2016.