About John Guise
Lived 1914 – 1991 (aged 76). John Guise was a politician.
Sir John Douglas Guise (29 August 1914 – 7 February 1991) was a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the first governor-general of Papua New Guinea after the country's independence from Australia in 1975. Prior to the independence itself, Guise was a vocal advocate for a peaceful secession from Australia.
He was born in Gedulalara village, near Dogura, and was educated there at the mission school of a church in Milne Bay District. His grandfather was Reginald Guise, an English adventurer who reached Papua in the 1880s, settled as a trader and married locally.
He served in the Department of Native Affairs during the 1950s, and became the president of the Port Moresby Mixed Race Association in 1958.
Guise served as Governor-General of Papua New Guinea for two years. He resigned as Governor-General to contest the 1977 election against Michael Somare, where he was defeated. He remained politically active and considered as a potential leader during the civil unrest after his term in office. Guise died on 7 February 1991. After his death, a sports stadium was named in his honour.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1972, made a Knight Commander of the order (KBE) on 6 June 1975, and appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) on 16 September 1975.
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Important facts
People in John Guise's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Guise's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Guise?
Governor-General of Papua New Guinea (1914-1991)
When was John Guise born?
John Guise was born on 29 August 1914 in Papua New Guinea.
When did John Guise die?
John Guise died on 7 February 1991 in Port Moresby.
What was John Guise's occupation?
John Guise was a politician.
What nationality was John Guise?
John Guise's recorded nationality: Papua New Guinea, Indigenous people of New Guinea.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Guise (Papua New Guinean politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Guise. https://biography.guide/john-guise-politician-1914/
MLA: "John Guise." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-guise-politician-1914/.
Chicago: "John Guise." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-guise-politician-1914/.
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