Sir Grantley Adams

Sir Grantley Herbert Adams was born on April 28, 1898, in Saint Michael, Barbados. A brilliant scholar, he won the Barbados Scholarship to Oxford University, where he read classics and jurisprudence before qualifying as a barrister at Gray's Inn. Returning home, he devoted his legal skills to defending workers after the 1937 riots.

In 1938, Adams founded the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and later the Barbados Workers' Union, leading the battle for universal adult suffrage, which was achieved in 1950. He became the first Premier of Barbados in 1953 and served as Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962. His portrait adorns the 100-dollar bill and Barbados's international airport bears his name.