John Wrathall

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The Hon. John Wrathall GCLM, ID

John James Wrathall
2nd President of Rhodesia
In office 14 January 1976 – 31 August 1978
Prime Minister	Ian Smith
Preceded by	Clifford Dupont
Succeeded by	Henry Everard (Acting)
Minister of African Education
In office 1963–1964
Prime Minister	Ian Smith
Preceded by	Jack Howman
Succeeded by	Post abolished
Minister of Finance
In office 1964–1976
Prime Minister	Ian Smith
Preceded by	Ian Smith
Succeeded by	David Smith
Minister of Posts
In office 1964–1973
Prime Minister	Ian Smith
Preceded by	Ian Smith
Succeeded by	Roger Hawkins
Personal details
Born	28 August 1913 Lancaster, United Kingdom
Died	31 August 1978(1978-08-31) (aged 65) Rhodesia
Political party	Rhodesian Front
Alma mater	Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Profession	Chartered Accountant

John James Wrathall (28 August 1913 – 31 August 1978) was a Rhodesian politician. He was the last white President of Rhodesia (later holders of the post were only acting as such). He formerly worked as an accountant.

Biography

Early life

Presidential Flag (Rhodesia)

Wrathall was born in Lancaster, England and went to Lancaster Royal Grammar School. He never forgot his Lancashire background and was president of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Society in Rhodesia. Having qualified as a chartered accountant in 1935, he emigrated to Southern Rhodesia the next year. He worked for the Southern Rhodesian government in its income tax department for the next ten years.

Rhodesian career

In 1946 Wrathall set up in private practice as an accountant in Bulawayo and also became involved in politics. In 1949 he was elected to Bulawayo City Council, where he served for a decade. Wrathall was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Bulawayo South in the 1954 general election, as a member of the United Rhodesia Party, then led by Garfield Todd. He stood down after one term in 1958.

Ministerial office

By 1962 Wrathall was no longer a supporter of the United Federal Party and became a founder member of the Rhodesian Front under Winston Field. He was elected in Bulawayo North in the December 1962 election under the RF banner. As one of the party's most experienced members, in October 1963 he was made Minister of African Education. A month later he also took on the Ministry of Health, which was being transferred from the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland on its demise at the end of 1963.

Wrathall was among the members of the Rhodesian Front who deposed Winston Field and instead installed Ian Smith as Prime Minister in April 1964. Smith promoted him to be Minister of Finance and of Posts and Telecommunications. As such, he was one of the signatories to the UDI on 11 November 1965. He was deputy Prime Minister from 7 September 1966. Known as the quiet man of Rhodesian politics, he nevertheless was a key figure in the secret struggle against United Nations sanctions imposed after UDI.

In 1975 he presented his 12th (and last) consecutive Budget as Rhodesia's longest serving Finance Minister. Comparatively moderate on racial issues, he was recognised as a steadying influence in Smith's Cabinet which had several headstrong characters such as Desmond Lardner-Burke and P.K. van der Byl.

Presidency

In July 1973 Wrathall ceded his responsibility as Minister of Posts; during the 1974 general election he stood down from the House of Assembly and transferred to the Senate. On 14 January 1976 he was sworn in as the second President of Rhodesia, succeeding Clifford Dupont. He served for two and a half years, and died in office of a heart attack.

Political offices
Preceded by Jack Howman	Minister of African Education 1963–1964	Succeeded by office abolished
Preceded by Ian Smith (Minister of the Treasury)	Minister of Finance 1964–1976	Succeeded by David Smith
Preceded by Ian Smith	Minister of Posts 1964–1973	Succeeded by Roger Hawkins
Preceded by Clifford Dupont	President of Rhodesia 1976–1978	Succeeded by Henry Everard (Acting)

References

'Key Figure in Rhodesia's trade battle dies', Sydney Morning Herald, 1 September 1978
"Mr John Wrathall: President of Rhodesia" (Obituary), The Times, 1 September 1978
F.M.G. Willson and G.C. Passmore, Holders of Administrative and Ministerial Office 1894–1964 (University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Salisbury, Rhodesia, 1966)

v t e Signatories of Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence

Prime Minister	I. Smith

Deputy Prime Minister	Dupont

Ministers	Harper Howman Lardner-Burke McLean Montrose Mussett Rudland A. Smith van Heerden Wrathall

Non-signatory ministers present	Dillon Dunlop L. Smith van der Byl

v t e Presidents of Zimbabwe and its antecedents

Rhodesia (1970 – 1979)	Clifford Dupont Henry Everard* John Wrathall Henry Everard* Jack William Pithey* Henry Everard*

Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979)	Josiah Zion Gumede

Zimbabwe (since 1980)	Canaan Banana Robert Mugabe

* denotes acting.

v t e Ministers of Finance of Zimbabwe and its antecedents

Southern Rhodesia (1923 – 1953)	Ernest Lucas Guest (1946)

Southern Rhodesia as part of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953 – 1964)	Godfrey Huggins (as prime minister) Donald Macintyre John Moore Caldicott Ian Smith

Southern Rhodesia (1964 – 1965)	Ian Smith

Rhodesia (1965 – 1979)	John Wrathall David Smith

Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979)	David Smith

Southern Rhodesia (1979 – 1980)	David Smith

Zimbabwe (1980 – present)	Masaya Chidzero Mnangagwa Murerwa Makoni Murerwa Kuruneri Murerwa Samuel Mumbengegwi

Persondata
Name	Wrathall, John
Alternative names
Short description	President of Rhodesia
Date of birth	28 August 1913
Place of birth	Lancaster England
Date of death	31 August 1978
Place of death	Rhodesia

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