Eugene Paul

Eugene Friedrich Paul (3 November 1901 – 28 December 1971) was a Western Samoan businessman and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly in two spells between 1948 and 1961, was the first Leader of Government Business in 1958, and held the posts of Minister of Economic Development and Minister of Finance between 1957 and 1961.

Biography Paul attended German Government School and the Marist Brothers school in Apia. After leaving school he joined the American military to fight in World War I. He was subsequently appointed Minister of Finance by Mata'afa, but did not contest the 1961 elections and retired from politics.

Having founded Polynesian Airlines in 1959, he became its chair in 1960 and also served as president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was made an OBE in the 1962 New Year Honours. He died in the Queen's Hospital in Honolulu in December 1971 following a spinal operation, and was survived by his wife and three children.