Administrator of Southern Rhodesia
Encyclopedia
The Administrator of Southern Rhodesia was a post within the British Empire
which existed from 1890 to 1923 at the time when Southern Rhodesia
was governed by the British South Africa Company
. The Administrator was in effect the head of government, and as such held a seat on the Legislative Council of Southern Rhodesia ex officio.
The post was officially created by section 8 of the Southern Rhodesia Order in Council of 1894, but in practice had existed as a deputy to the Chief Magistrate who was the principal officer from 1890. The term of office was theoretically three years although it was common to reappoint incumbents. There was in addition an Acting Administrator as a deputy.
Administrator of Mashonaland
Administrator of Matabeleland
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
which existed from 1890 to 1923 at the time when Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
was governed by the British South Africa Company
British South Africa Company
The British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
. The Administrator was in effect the head of government, and as such held a seat on the Legislative Council of Southern Rhodesia ex officio.
The post was officially created by section 8 of the Southern Rhodesia Order in Council of 1894, but in practice had existed as a deputy to the Chief Magistrate who was the principal officer from 1890. The term of office was theoretically three years although it was common to reappoint incumbents. There was in addition an Acting Administrator as a deputy.
Chief Magistrates of Southern Rhodesia
- July 24, 1891 – September 18, 1891: A. R. ColquhounA. R. ColquhounArchibald Ross Colquhoun was the first Administrator of Southern Rhodesia. He held office from October 1, 1890 – September 10, 1892 from the period of the founding of Fort Salisbury after the arrival of the Pioneer Column. At this time the administrator's jurisdiction covered Mashonaland only, as...
(acting) - September 18, 1891 – October 7, 1893: Dr Leander Starr JamesonLeander Starr JamesonSir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, , also known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", was a British colonial statesman who was best known for his involvement in the Jameson Raid....
KCMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, CBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath... - October 7, 1893 – September 10, 1894: A. H. F. Duncan (acting)
Administrators of Southern Rhodesia
- October 1, 1890 – September 10, 1894: A. R. ColquhounA. R. ColquhounArchibald Ross Colquhoun was the first Administrator of Southern Rhodesia. He held office from October 1, 1890 – September 10, 1892 from the period of the founding of Fort Salisbury after the arrival of the Pioneer Column. At this time the administrator's jurisdiction covered Mashonaland only, as...
- September 10, 1894 – April 2, 1896: Dr Leander Starr JamesonLeander Starr JamesonSir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, , also known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", was a British colonial statesman who was best known for his involvement in the Jameson Raid....
KCMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, CBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath... - April 2, 1896 – December 5, 1898: Earl GreyAlbert Grey, 4th Earl GreyAlbert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey was a British nobleman and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the ninth since Canadian Confederation....
Administrator of MashonalandMashonalandMashonaland is a region in northern Zimbabwe. It is the home of the Shona people.Currently, Mashonaland is divided into three provinces, with a total population of about 3 million:* Mashonaland West* Mashonaland Central* Mashonaland East...
and Senior Administrator of Southern Rhodesia
- December 5, 1898 – December 20, 1901: William Henry MiltonWilliam Henry MiltonSir William Henry Milton was the 3rd Administrator of Mashonaland, played rugby for England and was South Africa's second cricket captain....
Administrator of MatabelelandMatabelelandModern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
- December 5, 1898 – March 1901: Hon. Arthur LawleyArthur Lawley, 6th Baron WenlockArthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock, GCIE, KCMG was a British politician, soldier and administrator who served as the administrator of Matabeleland, Governor of Western Australia, Lieutenant-Governor of Transvaal and Governor of Madras.Lawley was born in 1860 to 2nd Baron Wenlock and his wife, Lady...
Administrators of Southern Rhodesia
- December 20, 1901 – November 1, 1914: Sir William Henry MiltonWilliam Henry MiltonSir William Henry Milton was the 3rd Administrator of Mashonaland, played rugby for England and was South Africa's second cricket captain....
KCMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
KCVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys... - November 1, 1914 – September 1, 1923: Sir Francis ChaplinFrancis ChaplinSir Francis Percy Drummond Chaplin served as administrator for the British South Africa Company in Southern Rhodesia from 1914 to 1923. He succeeded William Milton....
Acting Administrators of Southern Rhodesia
- 1894 – 1895: Colonel Francis Rhodes
- 1895 – 1897: Mr Justice Joseph Vintcent
- 1897 – 1898: William Henry MiltonWilliam Henry MiltonSir William Henry Milton was the 3rd Administrator of Mashonaland, played rugby for England and was South Africa's second cricket captain....
- 1898 – 1899: Hon. Sir Thomas Charles ScanlenThomas Charles ScanlenThomas Charles Scanlen was a politician, British administrator and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1881 to 1884.Scanlen was born 9 July 1834 on Longford Farm in the district of Albany in the Cape Colony...
- 1899 – 1902: Hon. Arthur LawleyArthur Lawley, 6th Baron WenlockArthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock, GCIE, KCMG was a British politician, soldier and administrator who served as the administrator of Matabeleland, Governor of Western Australia, Lieutenant-Governor of Transvaal and Governor of Madras.Lawley was born in 1860 to 2nd Baron Wenlock and his wife, Lady...
(Mashonaland) - 1902 – 1903: John Gilbert KotzéJohn Gilbert KotzéSir John Gilbert Kotzé was an eminent South African jurist.Born in Cape Town, educated there at Tot Nut van het Algemeen and the South African College. Further legal training and qualifications were obtained in Britain as a student at the Hon...
- 1903 – 1903: Hon. Sir Thomas Charles ScanlenThomas Charles ScanlenThomas Charles Scanlen was a politician, British administrator and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1881 to 1884.Scanlen was born 9 July 1834 on Longford Farm in the district of Albany in the Cape Colony...
- 1903 – 1904: John Gilbert KotzéJohn Gilbert KotzéSir John Gilbert Kotzé was an eminent South African jurist.Born in Cape Town, educated there at Tot Nut van het Algemeen and the South African College. Further legal training and qualifications were obtained in Britain as a student at the Hon...
- 1904 – 1909: Hon. Sir Thomas Charles ScanlenThomas Charles ScanlenThomas Charles Scanlen was a politician, British administrator and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1881 to 1884.Scanlen was born 9 July 1834 on Longford Farm in the district of Albany in the Cape Colony...
- 1909 – 1914: Francis James Newton
- 1914 – 1923: Sir Clarkson Henry Tredgold, Sir Ernest William Sanders Montagu, and P. D. L. Fynn at various times.
Resident Commissioner
- December 5, 1898 – April 1, 1905: Sir Marshal James Clarke
- April 1, 1905 – April 1, 1908: Richard Chester-Master
- April 1, 1908 – April 1, 1911: James George Fair
- April 1, 1911 – April 1, 1915: Robert Burns-Begg
- April 1, 1915 – April 1, 1918: Herbert James Stanley
- April 1, 1918 – October 1, 1923: Crawford Douglas Douglas-Jones