Sir Eric Matthew Gairy PC (18 February 192223 August 1997) was the first Prime Minister of
Grenada, serving from his country's independence in 1974 until his overthrow in a coup by
Maurice Bishop in 1979. Gairy also served as head of government in pre-independence Grenada as Chief Minister from 1961 to 1962, and as Premier from 1967 to 1974.