Alfred A. Thorne

Alfred Athiel Thorne (August 14, 1871–April 23, 1956) was a statesman, educator, advocate, and key contributor to the history of human rights in the Americas. He became famous for championing human rights during the late nineteenth century, establishing the first free secondary school for poor children in British Guiana in 1894, serving as Mayor of British Guiana's capital city Georgetown, and authoring editorial columns for the British colony's influential newspapers "Echo" and "Outlook".

A. A. Thorne was born in Barbados, British West Indies and became the first person of African descent from any British colony to earn both a bachelor's degree and master's degree from any British University in England, graduating with honors from University of Durham, one of England's oldest universities. He served as an educator, writer and elected official in British Guiana for many decades, creating a positive impact for generations by advocating for the principles of freedom, democracy and self-determination.

After graduating with advanced degrees from University of Durham, Thorne moved to British Guiana, where in 1894 he founded The Middle School, the country's first free coeducational private school that enrolled children regardless of gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status. The school provided a level of education that rivaled the quality of standards previously available only to students privileged enough to attend the prestigious Queen's College and Bishop's High School.

A. A. Thorne served as the school's Headmaster. The school broke many barriers, enrolling both boys and girls and providing tuition-free private educational opportunity to the poor and underprivileged -- creating educational access across gender lines, ethnic lines, and socio-economic classes in an era long before gender rights and civil rights were protected by the laws of the land. The private school became known for the high-quality education it provided. It was on par with Queen's College and Bishop's High School.

A. A. Thorne served numerous elected offices including as an elected Legislator and Town Councillor. He is recognized for "throwing open of certain avenues of employment to Guianese".

A. A. Thorne served a prominent role in public service for more than 50 years in British Guiana, serving the Georgetown City Council for 47 years starting in 1902. Thorne was elected to the Combined Court in 1906. He also served as Deputy Mayor in 1921, 1922 and 1925, and elected to the national post of Financial Representative for the North West District and New Amsterdam (1906-1911 and 1916-1921).

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