Iris de Freitas Brazao
Iris de Freitas Brazao (1896 – 1989) was the first female lawyer in the Caribbean.
Iris de Freitas Brazao | |
|---|---|
 from the postcard that was found | |
| Born | 29 October 1896 |
| Died | 1989 |
| Education | Aberystwyth University |
| Occupation | lawyer |
| Spouse | Alfred Casimiro Brazeo |
Life
Brazao was born in British Guiana. Her father was M. G. de Freitas, a merchant. After a short period studying at Toronto University, she enrolled at Aberystwyth University giving her address as Demarara. She studied botany, Latin and modern languages, law and jurisprudence and took an active part in student life. She graduated with a BA in 1922, and received her LL.B in 1927.[1]
In 1929 she was admitted to the bar as the first woman to practise law in the Caribbean. She was also the first female prosecutor of a murder trial there.[1]
In 1937 she married Alfred Casimiro Brazeo who was a legal draughtsman and several years younger than her. They lived at Georgetown in British Guiana where she continued to work as a barrister.[2]
Legacy
In 2016, staff at her alma mater came across a postcard that featured her. Investigations revealed that she was a graduate of Aberystwyth University. In 2016 on International Women's Day her university named a room in the university's Hugh Owen Library in her honour.[1]
In 2018, to celebrate Black History Month in the United Kingdom, she was included in a list of 100 "Brilliant, Black and Welsh" people.[3]
See also
References
- "Aberystwyth University honours first female lawyer in the Caribbean". Aberystwyth University. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- "Iris de Freitas Brazao". Narberth Museum. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- Wightwick, Abbie (28 September 2018). "Brilliant, Black and Welsh: A celebration of 100 African Caribbean and African Welsh people". WalesOnline. Retrieved 11 October 2019.