View source for George Cakobau

{{Short description|Former Governor General of Fiji}}
{{For|his son|George Cakobau Jr.}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox governor-general
|honorific-prefix = [[His Excellency]] ''[[Ratu]]'' [[Sir]]
|name             = George Kadavulevu Cakobau
|honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG|GCVO|KStJ|OBE}}
|image            = George Cakobau (cropped).jpg
|image_size       = 200px
|alt              =
<!--Office-->
|order            =  2nd
|office           =  Governor-General of Fiji
|term_start       =  13 January 1973
|term_end         =  12 February 1983
|monarch          = [[Elizabeth II]], [[Queen of Fiji]]
|primeminister    = [[Kamisese Mara]]
|lieutenant       =
|predecessor      = [[Robert Sidney Foster|Sir Robert Sidney Foster]]
|successor        = [[Penaia Ganilau|Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau]]
<!--Personal data-->
|birth_date       = {{Birth date|1912|11|06|df=yes}}
|birth_place      = [[Bau (island)|Bau]], [[Colony of Fiji]], British Empire
|death_date       = {{Death date and age|1989|11|25|1912|11|06|df=yes}}
|death_place      = Bau, [[Fiji]]
|restingplace     =
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|party            =
|otherparty       =  <!--For additional political affiliations-->
|spouse           = Adi Veniana Gavoka<br />Lady Lelea Seruwaia Balekiwai
|relations        = Ratu [[Popi Seniloli]] {{small|(father)}}<br /> Ratu [[Josefa Celua]] {{small|(grandfather)}}
|children         = 7, including Adi [[Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli]], Adi [[Litia Cakobau]], Ratu [[George Cakobau Jr.]], Ratu [[Epenisa Cakobau]]
|residence        =
|education     = [[Queen Victoria School (Fiji)|Queen Victoria School]]<br />[[Newington College]]<br />[[Wanganui Technical College]]
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|rank             = Captain
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'''''[[Ratu]]''''' '''[[Sir]] George Kadavulevu Cakobau''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCMG|GCVO|KStJ|OBE}} (6 November 1912 – 25 November 1989) was a [[Fiji]]an statesman and [[athlete]]. A great-grandson of ''Ratu'' [[Seru Epenisa Cakobau]], the paramount chief of [[Bau (island)|Bau]] who had unified all the tribes of Fiji under his reign in the mid-1800s, ''Ratu'' Sir George held the traditional titles of [[Vunivalu of Bau|''Vunivalu'' of Bau]] and ''[[Tui Levuka]]'' and thus was considered by many as Fiji's highest-ranking traditional chief. ''Ratu'' Cakobau was appointed [[Governor-General of Fiji]] in 1973, becoming the first indigenous Fijian to serve as the viceregal representative of [[Elizabeth II]], [[Queen of Fiji]].

== Education and early career ==
Cakobau was educated first at Fiji's [[Queen Victoria School (Fiji)|Queen Victoria School]], then at [[Newington College]] in Australia (1927–1932)<ref>Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp27</ref> and [[Wanganui Technical College]] in [[Wanganui]], New Zealand. He became a member of the [[Great Council of Chiefs]] in 1938, where he remained until 1972. When he first joined the Council, it had the power to make laws for the [[Fijians|ethnic Fijian]] population, but this power was removed towards the end of the [[British Empire|colonial]] era, as modern political institutions were built.

Cakobau served with the [[Republic of Fiji Military Forces|Royal Fiji Military Forces]] in [[World War II]] (1939–1945), rising to the rank of captain. Following his return to Fiji after the end of the war, he was nominated to the [[Legislative Council of Fiji|Legislative Council]] in 1951 to replace the deceased [[George Toganivalu]].<ref>[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-318261639/view?partId=nla.obj-318318731#page/n102/mode/1up/ Ratu George Cakobau] ''Pacific Islands Monthly'', October 1951, p101</ref> He remained a member of this body, which was renamed the [[House of Representatives of Fiji|House of Representatives]] when Fiji became independent in 1970 as the [[Dominion of Fiji]] until his appointment as Governor-General. He served in the [[Cabinet of Fiji|Cabinet]], first as [[Minister for iTaukei Affairs|Minister for Fijian Affairs]] and Local Government and subsequently as a [[minister without portfolio]], from 1970 to 1972.

== Governor-General of Fiji ==
One significant event marked Cakobau's tenure as Governor-General. In March 1977, [[1977 Fijian constitutional crisis|a constitutional crisis]] developed following [[March 1977 Fijian general election|a general election]] that gave a narrow majority to the [[Indians in Fiji|Indo-Fijian]] dominated [[National Federation Party]] (NFP). Three days after the election, the NFP splintered in a leadership brawl, and Cakobau, acting as [[Head of State of Fiji|Fiji's effective head of state]], then called on the defeated Prime Minister, [[Kamisese Mara|Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara]], to form a new government, pending [[September 1977 Fijian general election|fresh elections]] (which were held in September, and resulted in a landslide win for Mara's [[Alliance Party (Fiji)|Alliance Party]]).

In a public statement, Cakobau defended his actions thus: "In the recent general election, the people of Fiji did not give a clear mandate to either of the major political parties. It, therefore, became the duty of the Governor-General under the Constitution to appoint as Prime Minister the Member of the House of Representatives who appeared to him best able to command the support of the majority of the Members of the House. The Governor-General has not been able to act sooner as it was not until this afternoon that he was informed who had been elected leader of the National Federation Party. The Governor-General, after taking all relevant circumstances into account, has come to the firm conclusion that the person best able to command support of the majority of the Members is the Leader of the Alliance Party, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. In compliance with the Constitution and acting in his own deliberate judgment the Governor-General has accordingly appointed Ratu Sir Kamisese as Prime Minister."

Although Cakobau's actions were unquestionably constitutional, they were controversial. Despite the disarray in the NFP, many people, especially in the Indo-Fijian community, were outraged at his role in usurping a popular election, in what many Indo-Fijians saw as a blatant move to protect the privileged position of his fellow [[Fijians|Fijian]] [[Tribal chief|chief]]s, who dominated the Mara government.

== Honours ==
Cakobau was decorated with many honours during his lifetime. Among these was [[Royal Victorian Chain]], a rare and prestigious honour awarded as a sign of the special relationship between Fiji and the [[Monarchy of Fiji|Monarchy]], following the visit of [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1982. He was a [[Freemason]].<ref>Lodge Polynesia</ref>

== Sport ==
Cakobau played four [[first-class cricket]] matches for [[Fiji national cricket team|Fiji]] during their 1947–48 tour to [[New Zealand]]. Cakobau made his debut first-class debut against [[Auckland Aces|Auckland]] and played his fourth and final first-class match on tour against [[Otago Volts|Otago]].

In his four first-class matches Cakobau scored 176 runs at a [[batting average (cricket)|batting average]] of 25.14, with a single half-century score of 67[[not out|*]] coming against [[Wellington Firebirds|Wellington]]. With the ball, he took 5 wickets at a [[bowling average]] of 52.00, with best figures of 2/48. Additionally, he took 3 [[Catch (cricket)|catches]] in the field.

During the tour to New Zealand, Cakobau also played 9 non-first-class matches for Fiji, with his final match coming against [[Hawke's Bay cricket team|Hawke's Bay]].

He also played a [[rugby union]] [[Test match (rugby union)|Test match]] for [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]] in 1939, against a New Zealand Maori team at [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]]. Fiji won by 10 points, with Cakobau contributing two points, through a conversion.

== Personal life and legacy ==

Ratu Sir George Cakobau's father was Ratu Popi, and his grandfather was Ratu Celua, the youngest son of the Vunivalu, Ratu Cakobau.

Cakobau was married twice, first to ''[[Adi (title)|Adi]]'' [[Veniana Gavoka]] then to Lady [[Lelea Seruwaia Balekiwai]]. Several of his children have distinguished themselves in public service. Adi [[Samanunu Talakuli]] has held [[Cabinet of Fiji|Cabinet]] office and has been her country's [[High Commissioner]] to [[Malaysia]], before being appointed to the [[Senate of Fiji|Senate]] in June 2006. Ratu [[George Cakobau Jr.]] and Adi [[Litia Cakobau]] also served in the [[Senate of Fiji|Senators]] from 2001 to 2006. His youngest son, Ratu [[Tanoa Cakobau]], was President of the [[Conservative Alliance-Matanitu Vanua|Conservative Alliance]], the junior partner in the ruling [[coalition]] from 2001 to 2006.

Cakobau retired from office in 1983, but as Fiji's traditional Paramount Chief, he remained influential until his death in 1989.

''Ratu'' [[Epenisa Cakobau]] was installed as Ratu Sir George's successor as [[Vunivalu of Bau|''Vunivalu'' of Bau]] on the 10th of March 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Ratu-Epenisa-installed-as-the-Vunivalu-Tui-Kaba-8r5x4f/ | title=Ratu Epenisa installed as the Vunivalu Tui Kaba }}</ref>

==References==
{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* ''20th Century Fiji'', edited by Stewart Firth & Daryl Tarte – 2001 – {{ISBN|982-01-0421-1}}, ''Details on Ratu George Cakobau and his life.''

==External links==
* Ratu [https://web.archive.org/web/20071020092105/http://freemasonry.org.fj/lop_history.aspx George Cakobau] a Freemason
*{{ESPNcricinfo|id=24047}}
*{{CricketArchive|id=24477|archive=20131104043056}}
*{{ESPNscrum|4720}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{succession box
| title = [[Governor-General of Fiji]]
| before = Sir [[Robert Sidney Foster]]
| after = ''Ratu'' Sir [[Penaia Ganilau]]
| years = 1973–1983
}}
<!--I've got this Vunivalu box here for a reason. Please don't hide it. I will complete it very shortly - just need to complete my research.-->
{{s-reg}}
{{succession box
| title = [[Vunivalu of Bau|''Vunivalu'' of Bau]]
| before = ''Ratu'' [[Popi Seniloli]]
| after = ''Ratu'' [[Epenisa Cakobau]]|Succeded by [Epenisa Cakobau|<nowiki>Ratu Epenisa Cakobau]] 2023-</nowiki>
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors-general of Fiji}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cakobau, George}}
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