Hammer DeRoburt

Hammer DeRoburt
Hammer DeRoburt (in the middle, 1968)
President of Nauru
In office 31 January 1968 – 22 December 1976
Preceded by	First President
Succeeded by	Bernard Dowiyogo
In office 15 May 1978 – 17 September 1986
Preceded by	Lagumot Harris
Succeeded by	Kennan Adeang
In office 1 October – December 1986
Preceded by	Kennan Adeang
Succeeded by	Kennan Adeang
In office December 1986 – 17 August 1989
Preceded by	Kennan Adeang
Succeeded by	Kenos Aroi
Personal details
Born	25 September 1922
Died	15 July 1992 (aged 69) Melbourne, Australia

Hammer DeRoburt, KBE (25 September 1922 – 15 July 1992) was the founding President of the Republic of Nauru, and ruled the country for most of its first twenty years of independence.

Background and early career

A survivor of the wartime Japanese deportation of all Nauruans to Truk (1942–1946), he was elected to the Local Government Council of Nauru in the 1950s; then elected head chief (1955). He was the chief negotiator on phosphate royalties with the colonial power, Australia, which administered the island as a United Nations trust.

Presidency of post-independence Nauru

DeRoburt led the country to independence on 31 January 1968, and was president for most of the period until 17 August 1989. In December 1976, younger politicians gained a majority and installed Bernard Dowiyogo as president, but DeRoburt returned to power in May 1978. He was also out of office for two short periods in September and December 1986.

Personal

The Honourable Hammer DeRoburt MP
Member of the Nauruan Parliament for Boe
In office 31 January 1968 – 15 July 1992
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Michael Aroi
Personal details
Born	25 September 1922(1922-09-25) Nauru
Died	15 July 1992(1992-07-15) (aged 69) Melbourne, Australia
Nationality	Nauruan
Religion	Christian

He was given an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982.

DeRoburt is credited with introducing Australian rules football to Nauru, which became the national sport.

He died in Melbourne in 1992 from diabetes mellitus.

See also

• Politics of Nauru

New title Independence of Nauru	President of Nauru 31 January 1968 – 22 December 1976	Succeeded by Bernard Dowiyogo
Preceded by Lagumot Harris	President of Nauru 15 May 1978 – 17 September 1986	Succeeded by Kennan Adeang
Preceded by Kennan Adeang	President of Nauru 1 October 1986–December 1986	Succeeded by Kennan Adeang
Preceded by Kennan Adeang	President of Nauru December 1986–17 August 1989	Succeeded by Kenos Aroi