Governor of Southern Rhodesia

Representative of the monarch in Southern Rhodesia

Governor of Southern Rhodesia

Flag of the governor from 1952 to 1980

Last in office
The Lord Soames
11 December 1979 – 18 April 1980

Style| His Excellency The Right Honourable
Residence| Government House, Salisbury (now Harare)
Appointer| Monarch of the United Kingdom
Formation| 1 October 1923
First holder| Sir John Chancellor
Final holder| Christopher Soames
Abolished| 18 April 1980

Politics of Rhodesia

Political history

* — Overview
* 1890–1923  BSA Company rule
* 1923–1980  Southern Rhodesia
* 1953–1963  Rhodesia–Nyasaland Federation
* 1965–1979  Rhodesia under UDI
*  1979  Zimbabwe Rhodesia (under UDI)

Government

* Governor / Queen / President
* Prime Minister
* Deputy Prime Minister
* Cabinet

Legislature

* 1899–1923  Legislative Council
* 1924–1970  Legislative Assembly
* 1970–1979  Parliament

* Leader of the Opposition

Elections

* General

1924 1928 1933 1934 1939 1946 1948 1954 1958 1962 1965 1970 1974 1977 1979 1980

* Legislative Council

1899 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1920

* Referendums

1922 1934 1953 1961 1964 1969 1979

Political parties

* African National Congress
* Communist Party
* Labour Party
* Liberal Party
* Rhodesia Party
* Rhodesian Action Party
* Rhodesian Front
* United African National Council
* United Federal Party
* Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU)

* Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU)

Foreign relations

* Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI)

* Ministry of External Affairs
* Mission in Lisbon
* Centre in Sydney
* Passport

National symbols

* Flag (other flags)
* Anthem

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The governor of Southern Rhodesia was the representative of the British monarch in the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia from 1923 to 1980. The governor was appointed by the Crown and acted as the local head of state, receiving instructions from the British government.

Rhodesia's 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence resulted in the Rhodesian government ceasing to recognise the authority of the governor, and the 1969 Rhodesian constitutional referendum resulted in Rhodesia declaring itself a republic, independent from the British monarchy. Britain still considered the territory its colony and continued to maintain the office, albeit allowing it be vacant from 1969–1979. Following the Lancaster House Agreement the office was filled from December 1979 until April 1980 whereupon Britain formally recognised the territory as the independent republic of Zimbabwe, and the office of governor was thereafter abolished.

## Constitutional role

[edit]

The governor was also commander-in-chief of the armed forces and as such, in theory at least, exercised considerable influence over the running of the colony and its government, but in practice, the governor's main function was to maintain a satisfactory relationship between the British and Southern Rhodesian Governments and acted in an advisory capacity most of the time. From 1951, however, in contrast to other colonies, the British government was represented in Southern Rhodesia by a High Commissioner in Salisbury (now Harare).[1]

When Southern Rhodesia was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the position of the governor remained unchanged, but as Salisbury became the capital of the Federation, the governor general resided at Government House, previously the governor's official residence.[2] During this time, the governor of Southern Rhodesia resided at Governor's Lodge in the suburb of Highlands.[3]

## UDI

[edit]

Following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965, the government of Ian Smith ceased to recognise the authority of the then governor, Sir Humphrey Gibbs, and appointed Clifford Dupont to exercise the governor's powers as Officer Administering the Government.[4]

However, Gibbs continued to occupy Government House, asserting his position as the Queen's de jure representative, and did not resign from the post until June 1969, following the decision of white voters in a referendum to approve a new constitution declaring Rhodesia, as Southern Rhodesia had become more commonly known, a republic.[5]

In 1977, Field Marshal Michael Carver was designated Resident Commissioner for Rhodesia, but he resigned fourteen months later.[6]

The office of governor remained vacant until 11 December 1979, when Lord Soames assumed the post, following the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement, under which Southern Rhodesia would achieve de jure independence as Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980.

## Flag

[edit]

Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1924–1951) Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1951–1952), featuring the Tudor Crown. Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia (1952–1980), featuring St Edward's Crown.

In common with most other British colonies, the flag used by the governor, as the Sovereign's representative in Southern Rhodesia, was initially a Union Flag with a white roundel in the centre, charged with the shield from the colony's arms granted on 11 August 1924. Unique among the flags of the governors of British colonies, this shield of Arms was not surrounded by the customary wreath. This flag was adopted on 1 October 1924 and was flown until 30 July 1951.

On 31 July 1951, a new flag was put into use for the governor of Southern Rhodesia. This was dark blue and charged in the centre with a Royal Crown, its height being four-sevenths of the hoist. Initially the Tudor Crown would have been used, but after her accession to the throne in 1952, Elizabeth II indicated her preference for St Edward's Crown, and this version would have been used thereafter. Although the colony had attained 'Responsible Government' in 1923, it was never a fully fledged Dominion, and so did not have a governor-general, whose flag in other Dominions would be dark blue, charged in the centre with the Royal Crest above a Crown, with the name of the Dominion written in a yellow scroll below.

## List of governors of Southern Rhodesia

[edit]

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Birth–Death) | Term of office  | Monarch  | Prime Minister

|
|
|
|
|

Took office  | Left office  | Time in office
1  |  | Sir John Chancellor
(1870–1952) | 1 October 1923  | 15 June 1928  | 4 years, 258 days  | George V | Coghlan
Moffat
–  |  | Sir Murray Bisset
(1876–1931)
Acting | 15 June 1928  | 24 November 1928  | 162 days  | Moffat
2  |  | Sir Cecil Hunter-Rodwell
(1874–1953) | 24 November 1928  | 1 May 1934  | 5 years, 158 days  | Moffat
Mitchell
Huggins
–  |  | Fraser Russell
(1876–1952)
Acting | 1 May 1934  | 8 January 1935  | 252 days  | Huggins
3  |  | Sir Herbert Stanley
(1872–1955) | 8 January 1935  | 8 January 1942  | 7 years, 0 days  | George V
Edward VIII
George VI
–  |  | Fraser Russell
(1876–1952)
Acting | 8 January 1942  | 10 December 1942  | 336 days  | George VI
4  |  | Sir Evelyn Baring
(1903–1973) | 10 December 1942  | 26 October 1944  | 1 year, 321 days
–  |  | Sir Robert James Hudson
(1885–1963)
Acting | 26 October 1944  | 20 February 1945  | 117 days
5  |  | Sir Campbell Tait
(1886–1946)
[a] | 20 February 1945  | 2 February 1946  | 347 days
–  |  | Sir Fraser Russell
(1876–1952)
Acting
[b] | 2 February 1946  | 19 July 1946  | 167 days
–  |  | Sir Robert James Hudson
(1885–1963)
Acting | 19 July 1946  | 14 January 1947  | 179 days
6  |  | Sir John Noble Kennedy
(1893–1970) | 14 January 1947  | 21 November 1953  | 6 years, 311 days  | George VI
Elizabeth II | Huggins
Todd
–  |  | Sir Robert Clarkson Tredgold
(1899–1977)
Acting | 21 November 1953  | 26 November 1954  | 1 year, 5 days  | Elizabeth II  | Todd
7  |  | Sir Peveril William-Powlett
(1898–1985) | 26 November 1954  | 28 December 1959  | 5 years, 32 days  | Todd
Whitehead
8  |  | Sir Humphrey Gibbs
(1902–1990)
[c] | 28 December 1959  | 24 June 1969  | 9 years, 178 days  | Whitehead
Field
Smith
Position vacant (24 June 1969 – 11 December 1979)[d] |
9  |  | Christopher Soames, Baron Soames
(1920–1987) | 11 December 1979  | 18 April 1980  | 129 days  | Position abolished

For continuation after independence, see: President of Zimbabwe

## See also

[edit]

* President of Rhodesia
* Prime Minister of Rhodesia
* President of Zimbabwe
* Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
* Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Admiral Tait's health rapidly declined shortly after he arrived in Southern Rhodesia. He relinquished the governorship after only a year, and died five months later at Government House in Salisbury.
2. ^ Russell had been appointed a KBE in the 1943 New Year Honours, announced in December 1942.
3. ^ Gibbs' position was not recognised by the Smith's government after the UDI on 11 November 1965.
4. ^ Field Marshal Michael Carver was named as Resident Commissioner-designate on 1 September 1977.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Diplomacy with a Difference: the Commonwealth Office of High Commissioner, 1880–2006, Lorna Lloyd, BRILL, 2007, page 240
2. ^ Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Newsletter, Issues 27-52,, 1960, page 428
3. ^ Year Book and Guide of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland, with Biographies, Rhodesian Publications, Limited, 1962, page 33
4. ^ Ian Smith Strips Gibbs Of All Official Privilege, Associated Press, The Morning Record, November 18, 1965
5. ^ "Final Break", Time, June 27, 1969.
6. ^ Obituary: Field Marshal Lord Carver, The Guardian, 12 December 2001

* v
* t
* e

Governors of Southern Rhodesia

Southern Rhodesia
(1923–1965, the internationally accepted legal name until 1980)|

* John Chancellor
* Murray Bisset*
* Cecil Hunter-Rodwell
* Fraser Russell*
* Herbert Stanley
* Fraser Russell*
* Evelyn Baring
* Robert James Hudson*
* Campbell Tait
* Fraser Russell*
* Robert James Hudson*
* John Noble Kennedy
* Robert Clarkson Tredgold
* Peveril William-Powlett
* Humphrey Gibbs
* vacant (1969–1979)
* The Lord Soames

Rhodesia and Nyasaland
(1953–1963, of which Southern Rhodesia was part)|

* The 1st Baron Llewellin
* Robert Clarkson Tredgold*
* William Lindsay Murphy*
* The 16th Earl of Dalhousie
* Humphrey Gibbs*

Rhodesia
(1965–1979, an unrecognised state)|

* Clifford Duponto

* Acting Governor

o Officer Administering the Government

* v
* t
* e

Southern Rhodesia / Rhodesia articles

1890–1923: Company rule; 1923–80: Southern Rhodesia; 1953–63: Federation; 1965–79: Rhodesia under UDI; 1979: Zimbabwe Rhodesia under UDI; 1980–present: Zimbabwe

History|

* Pre-colonial
* Rudd Concession
* Company rule
* Pioneer Column
* First Matabele War
* Shangani Patrol
* Second Matabele War
* Second Boer War
* First World War
* Southern Rhodesia
* colonial history
* Second World War
* Malayan Emergency involvement
* Federation
* Unilateral Declaration of Independence
* Bush War
* 1975 Victoria Falls Conference
* 1976 Geneva Conference
* Internal Settlement
* Zimbabwe Rhodesia
* Lancaster House Agreement
* Zimbabwe

Geography|

* Chimanimani Mountains
* Cities and towns
* Limpopo River
* Zambezi River

Politics|

* Political history
* Districts
* Legislative Assembly
* Parliament
* Elections
* Ministry of External Affairs
* Mission in Lisbon
* Centre in Sydney
* Municipalities
* Police
* Political parties
* Central Africa Party
* Confederate Party
* Dominion Party
* Federal Party
* Responsible Government Association (RGA)
* Rhodesian Action Party (RAP)
* Rhodesian Front (RF)
* Rhodesia Labour Party (RLP)
* Southern Rhodesia African National Congress (SRANC)
* Southern Rhodesia Communist Party (SRCP)
* Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party (SRLP)
* United Federal Party (UFP)
* United National Federal Party (UNFP)
* United Rhodesia Party
* Queen
* Governor
* President
* Prime Minister
* Deputy Prime Minister
* Cabinet
* Leader of the Opposition
* Provinces
* Security Forces
* Chemical weapons and biological agents

Economy|

* Dollar (currency from 1970)
* Pound (currency to 1970)
* Reserve Bank
* Stock Exchange
* Telecommunications
* Tourism
* Transportation
* Air Rhodesia

Society|

* List of Rhodesians
* Public holidays
* Rhodesiana

Demographics|

| Ethnic groups
(diaspora)|

| Black|

* Kunda
* Lemba
* Manyika
* Ndebele
* Rusape Jews
* Shona
* Tokaleya
* Tonga

|

White|

* Afrikaners
* British
* Greeks
* Jews
* "Rhodies"

Others|

* Coloureds (Goffals)
* Indians

Languages|

* Afrikaans
* English (South African)
* Shona
* Ndebele

Symbols|

* Animal
* Anthem
* Coat of arms
* Emblem
* Flags
* national
* Insignia
* Flower

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Governors, civil commissioners and administrators of British dependencies

Crown
Dependencies|

* Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
* Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
* Lieutenant Governor of Jersey

Overseas
territories|

* Governor of Anguilla
* Governor of Ascension (Administrator of Ascension)
* Governor of Bermuda
* Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory
* Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory
* Governor of the Virgin Islands
* Governor of the Cayman Islands
* Governor of the Falkland Islands
* Governor of Gibraltar
* Governor of Montserrat
* Governor of Pitcairn
* Administrator of the Pitcairn Islands
* Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* Governor of Saint Helena
* Governor of Tristan da Cunha (Administrator of Tristan da Cunha)
* Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands

Former posts|

| Africa|

* Governor of British Mauritius
* Governor of British Cameroons
* Governor of the Gambia
* Governor of Gold Coast
* Lieutenant Governor of Griqualand West
* Governor of Kenya
* Governor of Lagos Colony
* Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
* Governor of Northern Rhodesia
* Governor of Nyasaland
* Governor of Southern Rhodesia
* Governor of Nigeria
* Governor of Senegal
* Governor of the Seychelles
* Governor of Sierra Leone
* Governor-General of South Africa
* High Commissioner for Southern Africa
* Governors of British South African colonies
* Governor of British Somaliland
* Governor of Tanganyika
* Governor of Uganda
* Resident in Zanzibar

|

Americas|

* Governor of the Bahamas
* Governor of Barbados
* Lieutenant Governor of Grenada
* Lieutenant-Governor of Berbice
* Governor of British Guiana
* Governor of British Honduras
* Governor of Cuba
* Governor of Dominica
* Lieutenant-Governor of Demerara-Essequibo
* Governor of Grenada
* Governor of Jamaica
* Governor of the Leeward Islands
* Governor of St. Lucia
* Governor of St. Vincent
* Governor of Trinidad and Tobago
* Lieutenant governors of Tobago
* Governor of Trinidad
* Governor of Newfoundland
* Governor General of Canada
* Governor of British Columbia
* Governor of New Brunswick
* Governor of Nova-Scotia
* Governor of Prince Edward Island
* Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
* Governor of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla
* Governor-in-Chief of the Windward Islands
* Governor-General of the West Indies Federation
* Governor of Connecticut
* Governor of Delaware
* Governor of Florida
* Governor of Georgia
* Governor of Maryland
* Governor of Massachusetts-Bay
* Governor of New Hampshire
* Governor of New-Jersey
* Governor of New-York
* Governor of North-Carolina
* Governor of Pennsylvania
* Governor of Rhode-island and Providence Plantations
* Governor of South-Carolina
* Governor of Virginia

Asia|

* Governor of Aden
* Governor of Burma
* Governor of Ceylon
* High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States
* Senior British representatives in the constituent protected states
* Senior British representatives in the neighbouring Malayan protected states
* General Adviser to the Government of Johore
* Adviser to the Sultan of Kedah
* Adviser to the Government of Kelantan
* Adviser to the Government of Perlis
* Adviser, Trengganu
* Governor of Hong Kong
* Viceroy and Governor-General of India
* Heads of the provinces of British India
* Governor of Aden
* Governor of Bengal
* Governor of Bombay
* Governor of Madras
* Governor of Sindh
* Senior British representatives in neighbouring protected states
* Resident of Gwalior
* High Commissioner for Iraq
* Governor of Labuan
* Representative in Muscat and Oman
* High Commissioner for Malaya
* Governor of the Malayan Union
* Governor of North Borneo
* Resident Minister in Nepal
* High Commissioners for Palestine and Transjordan
* Governor of Penang
* Representative in the Raj of Sarawak
* Governor of the Crown Colony of Sarawak
* Governor of Singapore
* Representative in the Trucial States

Europe|

* Governor of Cyprus
* Lieutenant Governor of Heligoland
* High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands
* Governor of the Isle of Wight
* Civil Commissioner of Malta
* Governor of Malta
* Governor of Minorca
* Governor of Northern Ireland

Oceania|

* Governor-General of Australia
* Government Resident of Central Australia
* Governor of New South Wales
* Government Resident of North Australia
* Governor of Queensland
* Governor of South Australia
* Governor of Tasmania
* Governor of Victoria
* Governor of Western Australia
* Governor of Fiji
* Governor-General of New Zealand
* Governor-General of Papua New Guinea
* Governor of the Solomon Islands
* Lieutenant Governor of the Swan River Colony
* Consul in Tonga
* High Commissioner for the Western Pacific

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