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John Guise

1914 – 1991

Governor-General of Papua New Guinea

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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

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Papua New Guinea, Indigenous people of New Guinea
Positions held
Governor-General of Papua New Guinea
Awards
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Also known as
Sir John Guise

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

· Wikipedia: John Guise

· Wikidata: Q458865

· 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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