Hammer DeRoburt
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Hammer DeRoburt, MP, KBE (September 25, 1922 - July 15, 1992) was the founding president of Nauru and ruled the country for most of its first twenty years of independence.
A survivor of the wartime Japanese deportation of all Nauruans to Truk (1942-1946), he was elected to the Local Government Council of Nauru in the 1950s; then elected head chief (1955), he was the chief negotiator on phosphate royalties with the colonial power, Australia, which administered the island as a United Nations trust.
DeRoburt led the country to independence on January 31, 1968, and was president for most of the period until August 17, 1989. In December 1976 younger politicians gained a majority and installed Bernard Dowiyogo as president, but DeRoburt returned to power in May 1978. He was also out of office for two short periods in September and December 1986.
He was given an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982.
DeRoburt is credited with introducing Australian rules football to Nauru, which became the national sport.
| New Title Independence of Nauru |
President of Nauru 31 January 1968–22 December 1976 |
Succeeded by Bernard Dowiyogo |
| Preceded by Lagumot Harris |
President of Nauru 15 May 1978–17 September 1986 |
Succeeded by Kennan Adeang |
| Preceded by Kennan Adeang |
President of Nauru 1 October 1986–December 1986 |
Succeeded by Kennan Adeang |
| Preceded by Kennan Adeang |
President of Nauru December 1986–17 August 1989 |
Succeeded by Kenos Aroi |
