Semisi Fonua
Semisi Fonua | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1951–1958 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1936–1968 | |
| Constituency | Tongatapu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1911 |
| Died | 5 January 1968 Lapaha, Tonga[citation needed] |
Semisi Fatafehi Fonua (1911 – 5 January 1968) was a Tongan noble and politician. He held the titles of Kalaniuvalu and Fotofili, and was a member of the Legislative Assembly between 1936 and his death in 1968, serving as Speaker from 1951 until 1958.
Biography
[edit]Born in 1911 to Fotofili Siosiua and Afa,[1] Fonua was educated at primary school in Niuafoʻou and Tupou College.[2] He was a suitor of Fusipala, but Queen Salote refused to allow them to marry despite the two being engaged.[3] Shortly afterwards he was told to marry Sisilia Tuʻitavake,[3] with the wedding taking place in June 1932.[1] He became Kalaniuvalu in 1935 and took his father's Fotofili title in 1955.[1]
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1936 as one of the Noble representatives for the Tongatapu constituency. He was re-elected in every election until his death in January 1968,[2] also serving as Speaker and vice-president of the Privy Council between 1951 and 1958.[citation needed] One of his sons, Sosi'ua Ngalumoetutulu, later also served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Elizabeth Wood-Ellem (2001) Queen Salote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900-1965 p309
- ^ a b Hon. Kalanivalu-Fotofili Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1968, p154
- ^ a b Wood-Ellem, pp148–149