Sir Milton Augustus Strieby Margai (7 December 1895 – 28 April 1964) was a Sierra Leonean physician and politician who served as the country's head of government from 1954 until his death in 1964. He was titled chief minister from 1954 to 1960, and then prime minister from 1961 onwards. Margai studied medicine in England, and upon returning to his homeland became a prominent public health campaigner. He entered politics as the founder and inaugural leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party. Margai oversaw Sierra Leone's transition to independence, which occurred in 1961. He died in office aged 68, and was succeeded as prime minister by his brother Albert. Margai enjoyed the support of Sierra Leoneans across classes, who respected his moderate style, friendly demeanor, and political savvy. in the Southern Province of British Sierra Leone to Mende parents. He was the oldest of eighteen children. At the time of his birth, Sierra Leone was a British protectorate. Margai also attended the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Margai also played the piano, violin and organ. The Sande religion served as a facilitation system of practical knowledge about midwifery passed down by generations of women in the region.
Working in concert with local women's groups, Margai helped introduce health and hygiene training into puberty initiation ceremonies. By 1950, he was in charge of the Sierra Leone Organization Society. In 1951, Margai oversaw the drafting of a new constitution which triggered the process of decolonisation. On 27 April 1961, Milton Margai led Sierra Leone to independence from the United Kingdom.
Premiership
While Margai was only Prime Minister for three years, he served as a crucial first figurehead for Sierra Leone at the time of democratisation. Margai focused heavily on modernisation, particularly in the areas of education, health, and agriculture. Slowly, Margai gave more control of the army over to Sierra Leoneans, and by 1964, the army was fairly ethnically heterogenous, with 26% of officers being Mende, 12% Temne, and 64% other groups. As a result, for the first time in human history, a World Constituent Assembly convened to draft and adopt the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.
Legacy
thumb|Sierra Leone 1964 Half Cent coin featuring Margai
Sir Milton Margai School for the Blind
In 1961, Margai appealed for funding to build a school for the blind in Freetown. In 1962, he set the foundation stone for the building at Wilkinson Road. The Milton Margai School for the Blind Choir has toured the UK twice in 2003 and 2006.
Milton Margai College of Education and Technology
In 1963, the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology was established. The first incarnation of the school was the Milton Margai Teacher's College