William Reeves

Background

Reeves was born in Barbados, the son of Thomas Phillipps Reeves and Peggy Phyllis.

Career

He represented Saint Joseph in the Barbados House of Assembly in Bridgetown, and brought himself to notice. He was aided by funds collected by the coloured community to finance a stay in the United Kingdom, where he entered Middle Temple, leaving as a barrister in 1863. On his return to the West Indies he became Attorney general of Street Vincent, and was appointed Solicitor-General of Barbados in 1875.

From 1882 to 1886 he was Attorney General of Barbados, and in 1883 he was admitted to the Queen"s Counsel.

In 1889 he was knighted by Queen Victoria, the first black man to receive this honour. Reeves married, in 1868, Margaret Rudder, daughter of J. T. R. Rudder.

They had one daughter.

Achievements

• He became the first black Chief Justice of Barbados from 1886 until his death, a major achievement in the legal system at this time in the politics of the West Indies.