Tuhia he tomokanga mo tenei whitianga - I whanau mai ki a William de Abrew, he kaipakihi angitu o te uri Potukara, i whakaakona a Peter De Abrew i te Colombo Academy (i tenei wa ko te 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 na te Kawanatanga o Ceylon mo te Whakaaturanga o St. Louis
i roto i te USA.