Baddeley Devesi

Sir Baddeley Devesi (16 October 1941 – 16 February 2012) was a Solomon Islander politician who served as the first Governor-General of the Solomon Islands for two consecutive terms.

He was born in Guadalcanal.

As a leader during the independence, he criticized Britain for its lack of preparation for the handover of autonomy, which ultimately led to the political crises the Solomons have suffered following independence. He quipped that "the empire was leaving behind a system of British justice and Parliament, but for an island nation with 4 volcanoes and 70 languages." In particular he was concerned about the absence of preparation for economic development. He was also a strong advocate of the Treaty of Rarotonga.

Leading up to the coup, he had strongly recommended to the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioner that they send peacekeepers.

Baddeley was also, briefly, a teacher and acting head teacher at the Diocese of Melanesia (Anglican) Vera'na'aso Primary School, Maravovo during 1966–67. He died on 16 February 2012, aged 70.