About Vere Bird
Sir Vere Cornwall Bird (9 December 1909 – 28 June 1999) was an Antiguan politician who was the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. His son, Lester Bryant Bird, succeeded him as prime minister. In 1994, he was declared a "National Hero". Bird was an officer in the Salvation Army for two years. In 1943, he became the president of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union. He achieved national acclaim politically for the first time when he was elected to the colonial legislature in 1945. He formed the Antigua Labour Party and led it to victory in the territory's first elections, in 1954. He served as head of government for all but one term from 1960 to 1981 (titled as chief minister from 1960 to 1967, and as premier from 1967 to 1971 and from 1976 to 1981. When Antigua and Barabuda gained independence in 1981, he became its first prime minister from 1981 to 1994. His resignation was due to failing health and internal issues within the government. He formed the Antigua Labour Party and became the first and only chief minister, first and last premier, and first prime minister from 1981 to 1994.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.