High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Difference between revisions
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| inaugural = |
| inaugural = |
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| formation = 27 January 1847 |
| formation = 27 January 1847 |
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| first = [[ |
| first = Sir [[Henry Pottinger]] |
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| last = Sir Hugh Stephenson |
| last = Sir Hugh Stephenson |
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| abolished = 31 July 1964 |
| abolished = 31 July 1964 |
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The British office of '''high commissioner for Southern Africa''' was responsible for governing [[British possessions]] in [[Southern Africa]], latterly the [[protectorate]]s of [[Basutoland]] (now [[Lesotho]]), the [[Bechuanaland Protectorate]] (now [[Botswana]]) and [[Swaziland]] (now |
The British office of '''high commissioner for Southern Africa''' was responsible for governing [[British possessions]] in [[Southern Africa]], latterly the [[protectorate]]s of [[Basutoland]] (now [[Lesotho]]), the [[Bechuanaland Protectorate]] (now [[Botswana]]) and [[Swaziland]] (now Eswatini), as well as for relations with autonomous governments in the area. |
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The office was combined with that of [[Governor of Cape Colony]] from 1847 to 1901, with that of the governor of Transvaal Colony 1901 to 1910, and with that of [[Governor-General of South Africa]] from 1910 to 1931. The British government appointed the Governor-General as High Commissioner under a separate commission. In addition to responsibility for Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland, he held reserve powers concerning the interests of the native population of [[Southern Rhodesia]].<ref>See Whitakers Almanack, 1928</ref> The post was abolished on 1 August 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Botswana.html#High-Commision|title=Botswana|first=ben|last=cahoon|website=www.worldstatesmen.org|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> |
The office was combined with that of [[Governor of Cape Colony]] from 1847 to 1901, with that of the governor of [[Transvaal Colony]] 1901 to 1910, and with that of [[Governor-General of South Africa]] from 1910 to 1931. The British government appointed the Governor-General as High Commissioner under a separate commission. In addition to responsibility for Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland, he held reserve powers concerning the interests of the native population of [[Southern Rhodesia]].<ref>See Whitakers Almanack, 1928</ref> The post was abolished on 1 August 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Botswana.html#High-Commision|title=Botswana|first=ben|last=cahoon|website=www.worldstatesmen.org|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> |
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==List of officeholders== |
==List of officeholders== |
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!Ended |
!Ended |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[ |
|Sir [[Henry Pottinger]] |
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|27 January 1847 |
|27 January 1847 |
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|1 December 1847 |
|1 December 1847 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Harry Smith (British army officer)| |
|Sir [[Harry Smith (British army officer)|Harry Smith]] |
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|1 December 1847 |
|1 December 1847 |
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|31 March 1852 |
|31 March 1852 |
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|5 December 1854 |
|5 December 1854 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[George Edward |
|Sir [[George Edward Grey]] |
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|5 December 1854 |
|5 December 1854 |
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|15 August 1861 |
|15 August 1861 |
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|15 January 1862 |
|15 January 1862 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Philip Wodehouse (colonial administrator)| |
|Sir [[Philip Wodehouse (colonial administrator)|Philip Wodehouse]] |
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|15 January 1862 |
|15 January 1862 |
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|20 May 1870 |
|20 May 1870 |
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|31 December 1870 |
|31 December 1870 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[ |
|Sir [[Henry Barkly]] |
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|31 December 1870 |
|31 December 1870 |
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|31 March 1877 |
|31 March 1877 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Henry Bartle Frere| |
|Sir [[Henry Bartle Frere|Bartle Frere]] |
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|31 March 1877 |
|31 March 1877 |
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|15 September 1880 |
|15 September 1880 |
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|27 September 1880 |
|27 September 1880 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[George Strahan (colonial administrator)| |
|Sir [[George Strahan (colonial administrator)|George Strahan]] (acting) |
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|27 September 1880 |
|27 September 1880 |
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|22 January 1881 |
|22 January 1881 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead| |
|Sir [[Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead|Hercules Robinson]] |
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|22 January 1881 |
|22 January 1881 |
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|1 May 1889 |
|1 May 1889 |
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|13 December 1889 |
|13 December 1889 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Henry Brougham Loch, 1st Baron Loch| |
|Sir [[Henry Brougham Loch, 1st Baron Loch|Henry Brougham Loch]] |
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|13 December 1889 |
|13 December 1889 |
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|30 May 1895 |
|30 May 1895 |
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|- |
|- |
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|Sir Hercules Robinson (from 1896, the Lord Rosmead) |
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|30 May 1895 |
|30 May 1895 |
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|21 April 1897 |
|21 April 1897 |
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|5 May 1897 |
|5 May 1897 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner| |
|Sir [[Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner|Alfred Milner]] |
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|5 May 1897 |
|5 May 1897 |
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|May 1905 |
|May 1905 |
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|31 May 1910 |
|31 May 1910 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[ |
|Sir [[Walter Hely-Hutchinson]] (acting, in the absence of Lord Selborne) |
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|1909 |
|1909 |
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|1909 |
|1909 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Herbert Gladstone, 1st |
|[[Herbert Gladstone, 1st Viscount Gladstone]] |
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|31 May 1910 |
|31 May 1910 |
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|8 September 1914 |
|8 September 1914 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl |
|[[Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton]] |
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|8 September 1914 |
|8 September 1914 |
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|17 July 1920 |
|17 July 1920 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Beresford Cecil Molyneux Carter]] <br />(acting High Commissioner only with [[ |
|[[Beresford Cecil Molyneux Carter]] <br />(acting High Commissioner only with Sir [[James Rose Innes]] acting Governor General from 17 July 1920) |
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|3 September 1920 |
|3 September 1920 |
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|20 November 1920 |
|20 November 1920 |
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|5 December 1923 |
|5 December 1923 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Rudolph Bentinck]] <br />(acting High Commissioner only with |
|[[Rudolph Bentinck]] <br />(acting High Commissioner only with Sir James Rose Innes acting Governor General from 5 December 1923) |
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|10 December 1923 |
|10 December 1923 |
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|21 January 1924 |
|21 January 1924 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Alexander Cambridge, 1st |
|[[Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone]] |
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|21 January 1924 |
|21 January 1924 |
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|26 January 1931 |
|26 January 1931 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[George Villiers, 6th |
|[[George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon]] |
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|26 January 1931 |
|26 January 1931 |
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|6 April 1931 |
|6 April 1931 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[ |
|Sir [[Herbert Stanley]] |
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|6 April 1931 |
|6 April 1931 |
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|6 January 1935 |
|6 January 1935 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[William Henry |
|Sir [[William Henry Clark]] |
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|7 January 1935 |
|7 January 1935 |
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|3 January 1940 |
|3 January 1940 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Edward John |
|Sir [[Edward John Harding]] |
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|3 January 1940 |
|3 January 1940 |
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|3 January 1941 |
|3 January 1941 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[ |
|Sir [[Walter Huggard]] (acting) |
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|3 January 1941 |
|3 January 1941 |
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|24 May 1941 |
|24 May 1941 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron |
|[[William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron Harlech]] |
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|24 May 1941 |
|24 May 1941 |
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|13 May 1944 |
|13 May 1944 |
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|23 June 1944 |
|23 June 1944 |
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|- |
|- |
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|Sir Walter Huggard (acting) |
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|23 June 1944 |
|23 June 1944 |
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|27 October 1944 |
|27 October 1944 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Evelyn Baring, 1st Baron Howick of Glendale| |
|Sir [[Evelyn Baring, 1st Baron Howick of Glendale|Evelyn Baring]] |
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|27 October 1944 |
|27 October 1944 |
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|1 October 1951 |
|1 October 1951 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[ |
|Sir [[John Le Rougetel]] |
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|2 October 1951 |
|2 October 1951 |
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|2 February 1955 |
|2 February 1955 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[ |
|Sir [[Percivale Liesching]] |
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|4 March 1955 |
|4 March 1955 |
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|December 1958 |
|December 1958 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[ |
|Sir [[John Maud]] |
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|15 January 1959 |
|15 January 1959 |
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|1963 |
|1963 |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Hugh Southern |
|Sir [[Hugh Southern Stephenson]] |
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|1963 |
|1963 |
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|31 July 1964 |
|31 July 1964 |
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*[[Basutoland]], gained independence as [[Lesotho]] on 4 October 1966 |
*[[Basutoland]], gained independence as [[Lesotho]] on 4 October 1966 |
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*[[Bechuanaland]], gained independence as [[Botswana]] on 30 September 1966 |
*[[Bechuanaland Protectorate]], gained independence as [[Botswana]] on 30 September 1966 |
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*[[Swaziland]], gained independence on 6 September 1968 (now [[Eswatini]]) |
*[[Swaziland]], gained independence on 6 September 1968 (now [[Eswatini]]) |
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Revision as of 20:38, 23 March 2024
High Commissioner for Southern Africa | |
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![]() Flag of the High Commissioner for Southern Africa, 1907–1931 | |
![]() Flag of the High Commissioner for Southern Africa, 1931–1968 | |
Formation | 27 January 1847 |
First holder | Sir Henry Pottinger |
Final holder | Sir Hugh Stephenson |
Abolished | 31 July 1964 |
The British office of high commissioner for Southern Africa was responsible for governing British possessions in Southern Africa, latterly the protectorates of Basutoland (now Lesotho), the Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana) and Swaziland (now Eswatini), as well as for relations with autonomous governments in the area.
The office was combined with that of Governor of Cape Colony from 1847 to 1901, with that of the governor of Transvaal Colony 1901 to 1910, and with that of Governor-General of South Africa from 1910 to 1931. The British government appointed the Governor-General as High Commissioner under a separate commission. In addition to responsibility for Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland, he held reserve powers concerning the interests of the native population of Southern Rhodesia.[1] The post was abolished on 1 August 1964.[2]
List of officeholders
Name | Began | Ended |
---|---|---|
Sir Henry Pottinger | 27 January 1847 | 1 December 1847 |
Sir Harry Smith | 1 December 1847 | 31 March 1852 |
George Cathcart | 31 March 1852 | 26 May 1854 |
Charles Henry Darling (acting) | 26 May 1854 | 5 December 1854 |
Sir George Edward Grey | 5 December 1854 | 15 August 1861 |
Robert Henry Wynyard (acting) | 15 August 1861 | 15 January 1862 |
Sir Philip Wodehouse | 15 January 1862 | 20 May 1870 |
Charles Craufurd Hay (acting) | 20 May 1870 | 31 December 1870 |
Sir Henry Barkly | 31 December 1870 | 31 March 1877 |
Sir Bartle Frere | 31 March 1877 | 15 September 1880 |
Henry Hugh Clifford (acting) | 15 September 1880 | 27 September 1880 |
Sir George Strahan (acting) | 27 September 1880 | 22 January 1881 |
Sir Hercules Robinson | 22 January 1881 | 1 May 1889 |
Henry Augustus Smyth (acting) | 1 May 1889 | 13 December 1889 |
Sir Henry Brougham Loch | 13 December 1889 | 30 May 1895 |
Sir Hercules Robinson (from 1896, the Lord Rosmead) | 30 May 1895 | 21 April 1897 |
William Goodenough (acting) | 21 April 1897 | 5 May 1897 |
Sir Alfred Milner | 5 May 1897 | May 1905 |
William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne | May 1905 | 31 May 1910 |
Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson (acting, in the absence of Lord Selborne) | 1909 | 1909 |
Herbert Gladstone, 1st Viscount Gladstone | 31 May 1910 | 8 September 1914 |
Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton | 8 September 1914 | 17 July 1920 |
Beresford Cecil Molyneux Carter (acting High Commissioner only with Sir James Rose Innes acting Governor General from 17 July 1920) |
3 September 1920 | 20 November 1920 |
Prince Arthur of Connaught | 20 November 1920 | 5 December 1923 |
Rudolph Bentinck (acting High Commissioner only with Sir James Rose Innes acting Governor General from 5 December 1923) |
10 December 1923 | 21 January 1924 |
Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone | 21 January 1924 | 26 January 1931 |
George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon | 26 January 1931 | 6 April 1931 |
Sir Herbert Stanley | 6 April 1931 | 6 January 1935 |
Sir William Henry Clark | 7 January 1935 | 3 January 1940 |
Sir Edward John Harding | 3 January 1940 | 3 January 1941 |
Sir Walter Huggard (acting) | 3 January 1941 | 24 May 1941 |
William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron Harlech | 24 May 1941 | 13 May 1944 |
Harold Eddey Priestman (acting) | 13 May 1944 | 23 June 1944 |
Sir Walter Huggard (acting) | 23 June 1944 | 27 October 1944 |
Sir Evelyn Baring | 27 October 1944 | 1 October 1951 |
Sir John Le Rougetel | 2 October 1951 | 2 February 1955 |
Sir Percivale Liesching | 4 March 1955 | December 1958 |
Sir John Maud | 15 January 1959 | 1963 |
Sir Hugh Southern Stephenson | 1963 | 31 July 1964 |
The high commission territories
The high commissioner was responsible for governing the following territories, in each case represented by a resident commissioner:
- Basutoland, gained independence as Lesotho on 4 October 1966
- Bechuanaland Protectorate, gained independence as Botswana on 30 September 1966
- Swaziland, gained independence on 6 September 1968 (now Eswatini)
See also
- List of high commissioners of the United Kingdom to South Africa
- Governor of Hong Kong - post held by two High Commissioners for Southern Africa
References
- ^ See Whitakers Almanack, 1928
- ^ cahoon, ben. "Botswana". www.worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
Further reading
- Spence, John Edward. "British policy towards the High Commission territories." Journal of modern African studies 2.2 (1964): 221-246.
- Torrance, David E. "Britain, South Africa, and the high commission territories: an old controversy revisited." Historical Journal 41.3 (1998): 751-772. online
- British colonial governors and administrators in Africa
- History of South Africa
- South Africa diplomacy-related lists
- Lesotho diplomacy-related lists
- Botswana diplomacy-related lists
- Eswatini diplomacy-related lists
- Governance of the British Empire
- Lists of British colonial governors and administrators
- Lists of office-holders
- Lists of South African people
- 1847 establishments in Africa
- 1847 establishments in the British Empire