Administrator of Southern Rhodesia

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.

Contents 1 Chief Magistrates of Southern Rhodesia 2 Administrators of Southern Rhodesia 2.1 Administrator of Mashonaland and Senior Administrator of Southern Rhodesia 2.2 Administrator of Matabeleland 3 Administrators of Southern Rhodesia 4 Acting Administrators of Southern Rhodesia 5 Resident Commissioner 6 References

Chief Magistrates of Southern Rhodesia

• July 24, 1891 – September 18, 1891: A. R. Colquhoun (acting)
• September 18, 1891 – October 7, 1893: Dr Leander Starr Jameson KCMG , CB
• October 7, 1893 – September 10, 1894: A. H. F. Duncan (acting)

Administrators of Southern Rhodesia

• October 1, 1890 – September 10, 1894: A. R. Colquhoun
• September 10, 1894 – April 2, 1896: Dr Leander Starr Jameson KCMG , CB
• April 2, 1896 – December 5, 1898: Earl Grey

Administrator of Mashonaland and Senior Administrator of Southern Rhodesia

• December 5, 1898 – December 20, 1901: William Henry Milton

Administrator of Matabeleland

• December 5, 1898 – March 1901: Hon. Arthur Lawley

Administrators of Southern Rhodesia

• December 20, 1901 – November 1, 1914: Sir William Henry Milton KCMG KCVO
• November 1, 1914 – September 1, 1923: Sir Francis Chaplin

Acting Administrators of Southern Rhodesia

• 1894 – 1895: Colonel Francis Rhodes
• 1895 – 1897: Mr Justice Joseph Vintcent
• 1897 – 1898: William Henry Milton
• 1898 – 1899: Hon. Sir Thomas Charles Scanlen
• 1899 – 1902: Hon. Arthur Lawley (Mashonaland)
• 1902 – 1903: John Gilbert Kotzé
• 1903 – 1903: Hon. Sir Thomas Charles Scanlen
• 1903 – 1904: John Gilbert Kotzé
• 1904 – 1909: Hon. Sir Thomas Charles Scanlen
• 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

References

• Holders of Administrative and Ministerial Office 1894-1964 by F.M.G. Willson and G.C. Passmore, assisted by Margaret T. Mitchell (Source Book No. 3, Department of Government, University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Salisbury 1966)