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(海角在线免费) - Former President of Seychelles James Richard Mancham died on Sunday at his residence at the age of 77.

Mancham,听who held office from 1976 to 1977,听was the first president of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.

Born on August, 5 in 1939 to successful businessman Richard, Mancham studied at the then Seychelles College before proceeding to study law at the Wilson College in London. Mancham was called to the Bar at , one of the four Inns of Court, in 1961.

He returned to Seychelles a year later and from 1963 to 1967听served as Barrister and Attorney-at-Law before the Supreme Court of the island nation.听

In 1964, when England was giving independence to its colonies, Mancham created the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP), representing businessmen and planters who wanted close integration with Britain. SDP came after France Albert Rene had founded the pro-socialism and pro-independence Seychelles People鈥檚 United Party (SPUP).

Stepping into politics

SDP won the majority in the legislative elections in 1966, making Mancham the Chief Minister.听

The former president was in the building of what is now the Seychelles International Airport at Pointe Larue, making the islands more accessible to the rest of the world.

Mancham was the first person to disembark from a wide-bodied plane in Seychelles on July 4, 1971 -- the BOAC SUPER VC10 -- the first jet aircraft to land at the country鈥檚 International Airport.

He was also a promoter of the tourism industry, now the number one contributor to the Seychelles'听economy.

Mancham鈥檚 SDP won the popular vote after Seychelles got its independence on June 29, 1976, becoming the country鈥檚 first president.

On June 5, 1977, Rene took over power in a coup d鈥櫭﹖at when Mancham was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in London.

Living in exile

Mancham went in听exile in London for 15 years, where he occupied several posts such as the President of Berlin European Airways and President of International Promotion Marketing and Development.听

While in exile, Mancham married Catherine Olsen, an Australian journalist working in London. He also wrote and published several books including Island Splendour;听Paradise Raped: Life, Love and Power in the Seychelles;听Galloo: Island of Many Dreams; and Peace of Mind: Reflections on Life.听

12th April 1992 on his arrival in Seychelles after 15 years in exile. (Alexander Pierre) Photo License: CC-BY

From left to right: James Mancham, Alexander and Catherine Mancham on arrival in Seychelles after 15 years in exile () Photo License:听CC-BY

听Return to Seychelles

The former president returned to his native land in April 1992, a year after Rene announced the return of multiparty politics in Seychelles. Mancham took over the leadership of the Democratic Party (DP).

Mancham did not win another election and stayed as DP鈥檚 leader until 2005,听when Nichol Gabriel assumed leadership.

Life after politics

After retiring from politics, Mancham actively promoted the interest of Seychellois both locally and abroad, focusing on economic development and international relations. In September听2009 he published his autobiography 鈥淪eychelles Global Citizen: The Autobiography of the Founding President.鈥�

He also wrote 鈥淪eychelles: The Saga of a Small Nation Navigating the Cross-Currents of a Big World鈥� in March 2015.

Mancham鈥檚 achievements

During his career and retirement, the founding president of Seychelles has received many awards and made international headlines.

In 2000, he was awarded the 鈥淭rophy of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa for the promotion of Peace, Reconciliation and Prosperity in Africa.鈥澨� A year later he was designated 鈥淎mbassador for Peace鈥� by the International Federation for World Peace.

听A young lawyer called to the bar in November 1961听() Photo License:听CC-BY

Mancham received the prestigious jointly organized by the International Council of Jurists, the National Human Rights Commission of India, the All India Bar Association and Indian Council of Jurists.听