Edward Cakobau

{{Short description|Fijian cricketer and politician}} {{Use British English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Edward Cakobau | image = Edward Cakobau.jpg | caption = Cakobau circa 1956 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|12|21|df=yes}} | birth_place = Bau, Fiji | death_date = {{Death date and age|1973|6|25|1908|12|21|df=yes}} | death_place = Suva, Fiji | office1 = Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji | prime_minister1 = Kamisese Mara | term_start1 = 1972 | term_end1 = 1973 | successor1 = Penaia Ganilau | office2 = Member of the House of Representatives | term2 = 1972–1973 | constituency2 = Suva East National (Fijian) | successor2 = Mosese Qionibaravi | term3 = 1966–1972 | constituency3 = Central Cross-Voting (Fijian) | office4 = Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour | term4 = 1967–1972 | office5 = Member for Commerce, Industry and Tourism | term5 = 1966–1967 | office6 = Nominated Member of the Legislative Council | term6 = 1944–1966 | module = {{Infobox cricketer | embed = yes | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm medium | club1 = Auckland | year1 = 1930/31 | columns = 1 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 3 | runs1 = 89 | bat avg1 = 22.25 | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = 47* | deliveries1 = 420 | wickets1 = 11 | bowl avg1 = 18.63 | fivefor1 = 1 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 5/72 | catches/stumpings1 = 2/– | date = 25 September | year = 2011 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36644.html Cricinfo }} }}

'''''Ratu''''' '''Sir Edward Tuivanuavou Tugi Cakobau''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KBE|MC|ED}} (21 December 1908 – 25 June 1973) was a Fijian chief, soldier, politician and cricketer. He was a member of the Fijian legislature from 1944 until his death, also serving as Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour and Deputy Prime Minister. During the 1940s he made two appearances for the Fiji national cricket team.

==Biography==

Cakobau was born in December 1908, the son of King George Tupou II of Tonga and his mistress Adi Litia Cakobau, who was a granddaughter of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the first King of Fiji. He was a half-brother of Queen Salote Tupou III of Tonga.<ref name=PIM/>

He was educated at Wanganui Technical College between 1923 and 1928, and then Auckland Technical College. Whilst in New Zealand, he played a single first-class match for Auckland in the 1930–31 Plunket Shield and later made two first-class appearances for Fiji in 1948 against Otago and Auckland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/21/21584/21584.html|title=Player profile: Edward Cakobau|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=25 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/21/21584/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Edward Cakobau|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=25 September 2011}}</ref> He later attended Wadham College, Oxford to study colonial administration.<ref name=PIM/>

Cakobau returned to Fiji and worked as a schoolteacher. He later became a civil servant, starting as a clerk in the Native Affairs Department and rising to become Deputy Secretary for Fijian Affairs.<ref name=PIM/> He was one of Fiji's representatives at the coronation of George VI in 1937.<ref>[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-312638934/view?sectionId=nla.obj-328713319&partId=nla.obj-312648966#page/n65/mode/1up Fiji's representatives at coronation] ''Pacific Islands Monthly'', January 1937, p64</ref> During World War II he served in the Solomon Islands, for which he was awarded the Military Cross.<ref name=PIM/> In 1944 he was appointed to the Legislative Council as one of the five nominated Fijian members.<ref>[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-315148632/view?sectionId=nla.obj-329295157&partId=nla.obj-315157056#page/n10/mode/1up Fiji election] ''Pacific Islands Monthly'', September 1944, p4</ref> He later returned to military service during the Malayan Emergency, serving in Malaya in 1953 and 1954, during which he became commanding officer of the Fiji Battalion.<ref name=PIM/> He was awarded the OBE for his service in Malaya,<ref name=PIM/> and was given a CBE in the 1966 Birthday Honours.

Cakobau continued to be nominated to the Legislative Council until the 1966 elections, when he elected unopposed in the Fijian Central cross-voting constituency.<ref>[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-331795230/view?partId=nla.obj-331929900#page/n41/mode/1up Fiji election details] ''Pacific Islands Monthly'', November 1966, p40</ref> Following the elections, he was appointed Member for Commerce, Industry and Tourism. In 1967 he became Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour. He was knighted in the 1971 New Year Honours.<ref name=PIM>[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-337036133/view?partId=nla.obj-337055640#page/n11/mode/1up Custom's rebirth at chiefly funeral] ''Pacific Islands Monthly'', August 1973, pp10–11</ref> In the 1972 elections he ran for the Fijian seat in the Suva East national constituency and was elected to the House of Representatives. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Prime Minister by Kamisese Mara.

Cakobau died on 25 June 1973,<ref>[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-337033661/view?sectionId=nla.obj-344572213&partId=nla.obj-337049469#page/n20/mode/1up Death of Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau] ''Pacific Islands Monthly'', July 1973, p15</ref> and was buried on Bau on 29 June.<ref name=PIM/> He had four sons;<ref name=PIM/> the eldest, Viliame Dreunimisimisi (1939–2000) was responsible for the first distillery in the South Pacific and served as Minister for Tourism and Agriculture. The second son, Epeli Nailatikau (born 1941) was also a politician, serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives and later President. His third son, Tu'uakitau Cokanauto (1947–2023) was also a minister; the fourth son was Keni Vuiyasawa.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cakobau, Edward}} Category:Fijian chiefs Category:Fijian knights Category:Tui Kaba Category:Tongan royalty Category:1908 births Category:People educated at Whanganui City College Category:Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford Category:Auckland cricketers Category:Fijian cricketers Category:Fijian soldiers Category:Fijian military personnel of World War II Category:Recipients of the Military Cross Category:Colony of Fiji people Category:20th-century Fijian educators Category:Fijian civil servants Category:British Army personnel of the Malayan Emergency Category:Members of the Legislative Council of Fiji Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Fiji) Category:Politicians from Bau (island) Category:Alliance Party (Fiji) politicians Category:Deputy prime ministers of Fiji Category:Trade ministers of Fiji Category:Industry ministers of Fiji Category:Labour ministers of Fiji Category:Fijian sportsperson-politicians Category:1973 deaths Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire