Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence (born 1935) was the third Governor-General of the independent nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Early life and education

Edmund Wickham Lawrence was born in St. Kitts on 14 February 1935. He taught in elementary schools on the island bewteen 1951 and 1954. He graduated from the University of London in 1966 with a degree in Economics.

Following his graduation from the University of London, Sir Edmund lectured at Walbrook College in London between 1967 and 1969. He returned to the Caribbean and began an illustrious career.

Career

In 1970, Sir Edmund established the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (SKNANB) which has grown in assets from US$75 thousand to US$0.957 billion making it the largest indiginous bank in the Eastern Caribbean. Sir Edmund also established other institutions still in existence including the National Bank Trust Company (NBTC) in 1972, the National Caribbean Insurance Company (NCIC) in 1973, and the St. Kitts and Nevis Morgtage and Investment Company in 2001, together forming the National Bank Group of Companies.

He is a founding member of the Standing Committee of Chief Executives of Indigenous Commercial Banks (now termed the Caribbean Association of Banks) in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Sir Edmund held several top-level executive positions and directorships in companies and corporations in the private and public sectors in St. Kitts and Nevis and throughout the Leeward and Windward islands of the Eastern Caribbean between 1971 and 2012.

Sir Edmund was sworn in as the third Governor-General of St. Kitts and Nevis at midnight of 1 January 2013. He demitted office on 14 May 2015.

Honours and Awards

In 1998 Sir Edmund was invested at Buckingham Palace as Officer of the most Excellenct Order of the British Empire (OBE).

In 2009 he was awarded the National Honour as Companion of the Star of Merit (CSM).

In 2010 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded Sir Edmund with Knight Commander of the most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG), at Buckingham Palace, for his services to banking and finance.

In 2013 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed Sir Edmund Knight Grand Cross of the most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG).

Personal life

Sir Edmund is married to Lady Hulda and they have six children.

Sir Edmund continues active involvement in several non-profit organizations including the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society and Rotary International.

He is Methodist.