Whakaotihia te rerenga kōrero e whai ake nei: I whānau a Peter De Abrew ki a William de Abrew, he tangata pakihi angitu o te uri Potukara, i whakaakona ia ki te Colombo Academy (naianei ko Royal College, Colombo). I a ia e mahi ana hei kaihoko hua, i whai ingoa nui a De Abrew i waenga i te hapori pakihi. I te tau 1904 i tohua ia hei Kaiawhina Komihana e te Kawanatanga o Ceylon mo te
Ko St. Louis Exposition i te USA.