Passion or Profession: President

Period: 1939–

James Mancham was the leader of the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP), founded in 1964. The SDP won the islands' next two elections and formed a coalition government with the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP) to prepare the colony for independence. When Seychelles achieved nationhood in 1976, Mancham became the country's first president. He was deposed in a coup led by SPUP leader France Albert René in 1977. He twice ran unsuccessfully for president in the 1990s.