Constantine, Learie (1901-1971), was one of the most talented players in cricket history. He was a great all-rounder but was a particularly accomplished fielder. He played in the Lancashire League in England during the 1930’s, and drew large crowds through his exciting play.
Learie Nicholas Constantine was born in Diego Martin, Trinidad, on Sept. 21, 1901. In 1929, he settled in England, where he both played cricket and studied law. On his return to Trinidad in the 1950’s, he was elected a member in the country’s first democratic parliament. From 1962 to 1964, he served as high commissioner to the United Kingdom for Trinidad and Tobago. He was knighted in 1962 and became a life peer in 1969. He was the first black man to sit in the British House of Lords. Constantine also served as a governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation and was a member of the Race Relations Board and the Sports Council. He died on July 1, 1971.
