Edmund Wickham Lawrence


Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence CSM JP was the third Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis, serving from 2013 to 2015. He was sworn in at midnight on 1 January 2013. Lawrence was a Methodist. He taught in elementary schools in St Kitts between 1951 and 1954. Lawrence graduated from the University of London in 1966 with a degree in Economics.

Life and career

Following his graduation from the University of London, Lawrence lectured at Walbrook College in London from 1967 to 1969. He returned to St Kitts and began an illustrious career.
In 1970, Lawrence established the St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, which has grown in assets from US$75 Thousand to over US$1 Billion making it the largest local bank in the Eastern Caribbean. Lawrence also established the National Bank Trust Company in 1972, the National Caribbean Insurance Company in 1973, and the St Kitts and Nevis Mortgage and Investment Company in 2001, together forming the National Bank Group of Companies.
He was a founding member of the Standing Committee of Chief Executives of Indigenous Commercial Banks in the Caribbean Community. Lawrence held several high level executive positions and directorships in companies and corporations in the private and public sectors in St Kitts and Nevis and throughout the Eastern Caribbean between 1971 and 2012.
In the 1999 New Year Honours, Lawrence was appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to banking and commerce.
In 2009, he was awarded the National Honour as Companion of the Star of Merit.
In the 2010 New Year Honours, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Lawrence Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services to banking and finance.
In June 2013, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was invested with the insignia by Prince Harry in November 2016.
Lawrence was actively involved in several non-profit organizations, including the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society and Rotary International.
He was married to Hulda, Lady Lawrence, and they had six children.
In May 2015, Lawrence retired from his post of Governor-General of St Kitts and Nevis.
Lawrence died at his home in St Kitts, on 7 September 2025, at the age of 93.

Honours

Commonwealth