Louis Cools-Lartigue

Louis Cools-Lartigue was the interim president of Dominica from November 1978 to January 1979. Born on January 5, 1905, Cools-Lartigue was formerly the Chief Secretary of the Westward Islands until May 9, 1955, when George F. Holsten made him Deputy Governor of Dominica.

He was the last governor of Dominica, having served between November 1967 to November 1978. He was Speaker of the House of Assembly, and he also served as interim president after Dominica gained independence in 1978 until the parliament elected Frederick Degazon as president. However, the House of Assembly elected Cools-Lartigue as Dominican president after Frederick Degazon fled to England in June 1979 following a constitutional crisis.

But Cools-Lartigue served as elected president for just one day and then resigned the next day. It remains unclear if he resigned out of family pressure or due to the protesters’ attack on his home on the day of his election. He died on August 21, 1993.

Jenner Armour became president after Cools-Lartigue left office.