Dr Roy Edison McTaggart was a Cayman Islands politician and on National Heroes Day 2016 he was named a National Hero.

Early life and education

Roy Edison McTaggart  was born on 2 February 1893, the last son of Frederick S. McTaggart and Antoinette Marie Eden. He attended Presbyterian School in the Cayman Islands, in those days the only school in Grand Cayman, and which his father was instrumental in establishing. He then studied at Morrison’s Collegiate School in Jamaica, followed by colleges in Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Qualifying as a doctor of dental surgery, he graduated at the head of his class at the age of 22, and became the sole dentist in the Cayman Islands at that time.

Career

Dr Roy was a pioneering politician, businessman, dentist, cultural guardian and philanthropist.

A legislator for more than 35 years, as the second elected member for George Town Dr Roy helped bring free education to the Cayman Islands, introducing the Compulsory Free Education Bill, which passed in 1931.

Dr Roy was also part of the Caymanian leadership which opposed joining the ill-fated West Indies Federation in 1957. This move triggered constitutional changes which came into effect in 1959.

Dr Roy started his business career in 1917 when, with his brother Dr Malcolm “Mallie” McTaggart, he purchased F.N. Lambert & Co, a firm that had vessels in the shipping and turtling industry. He was also the first and only chairman of the Cayman Islands Shipping Company Ltd. that owned and operated the M.V. Cimboco, a vessel that was a lifeline for Caymanians during the Second World War.

In 1947, Dr Roy ventured into real estate when he built the Sea View Hotel in George Town. He and an American associate later constructed Coral Caymanian, which was the first rental homes development in the Cayman Islands.

He also built the original Barclay’s Bank building in George Town, which was the first four-storey building on the island. In addition, he was a founder and managing director of the Cayman Weekly newspaper which was a forerunner of today’s Cayman Compass.

He was also the first chairman of the former Cayman Heritage Council.

Personal life

He married his first wife Rhoda Virginia Bodden in 1916. After her death in 1965 and being widowed for many years, he married Emily May Bodden in 1972.

A generous man, Dr Roy gave large contributions to the Pines Retirement Home and Prospect Youth Centre, and often performed dental procedures for free.

Honours and awards

On Heroes Day 2016, Dr. McTaggart was named the ninth National Hero of Cayman Islands.

Death and legacy

Dr. McTaggart died on 10 June 1983. He was 90.

His family home was on South Church Street, where Ugland House is now located. Dr Roy’s Drive is named in his honour, and there is a plaque on the wall of Elmslie Memorial Church which also bears his name.