About Willard Wheatley
Lived 1915 – 1997 (aged 81). Willard Wheatley was a British politician.
Willard Wheatley MBE (16 July 1915 – 22 January 1997) was a British Virgin Islands educator and politician who served two consecutive terms as the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands from 1971 to 1979. He was the second ever Chief Minister of the Territory, and the first ever minister of finance. He served as Chief Minister at the head of two different coalition governments: one as de facto leader of the United Party, and the other the VI Democratic Party.
At an event to commemorate what would have been the 100th birthday of Wheatley, then Premier Orlando Smith made a commitment to provide public funds to memorialise his achievements and for a book about his life to be published.
His grandson Natalio Wheatley became Premier of the British Virgin Islands in May 2022.
Electoral history
Political offices
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Important facts
People in Willard Wheatley's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Willard Wheatley?
Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands (1915-1997)
When was Willard Wheatley born?
Willard Wheatley was born on 16 July 1915 in Tortola.
When did Willard Wheatley die?
Willard Wheatley died on 22 January 1997 in Tortola.
What was Willard Wheatley's occupation?
Willard Wheatley was a politician.
What nationality was Willard Wheatley?
Willard Wheatley was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Willard Wheatley. https://biography.guide/willard-wheatley/
MLA: "Willard Wheatley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/willard-wheatley/.
Chicago: "Willard Wheatley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/willard-wheatley/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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