High Commissioner for Southern Africa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids High Commissioner for Southern Africa |
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Flag of the High Commissioner for Southern Africa, 1931–1968
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Flag of the High Commissioner for Southern Africa, 1907–1931
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| 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 a very important job in the past. This person was in charge of managing British areas in Southern Africa. These areas later became independent countries like Lesotho (then called Basutoland), Botswana (then Bechuanaland Protectorate), and Eswatini (then Swaziland). The High Commissioner also handled relationships with other self-governing areas nearby.
This role was first created on January 27, 1847. The first High Commissioner was Sir Henry Pottinger. The job was eventually ended on August 1, 1964.
For many years, the High Commissioner's job was combined with other important roles. From 1847 to 1901, the High Commissioner was also the Governor of Cape Colony. Then, from 1901 to 1910, the role was combined with the governor of Transvaal Colony. From 1910 to 1931, the High Commissioner was also the Governor-General of South Africa.
Even when combined with other roles, the British government gave the Governor-General a separate task as High Commissioner. Besides looking after Basutoland, Bechuanaland, and Swaziland, the High Commissioner also had special powers to protect the interests of the local people in Southern Rhodesia.
Who Were the High Commissioners?
Many different people held the important job of High Commissioner for Southern Africa. Here is a list of the people who served in this role and when they were in office:
| 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 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 Cumine 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 |
| The Viscount Gladstone | 31 May 1910 | 8 September 1914 |
| The Viscount 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 |
| The Earl of Athlone | 21 January 1924 | 26 January 1931 |
| The Earl of Clarendon | 26 January 1931 | 6 April 1931 |
| Sir Herbert Stanley | 6 April 1931 | 6 January 1935 |
| Sir William Clark | 7 January 1935 | 3 January 1940 |
| Sir Edward Harding | 3 January 1940 | 3 January 1941 |
| Sir Walter Huggard (acting) | 3 January 1941 | 24 May 1941 |
| The Lord 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 Stephenson | 1963 | 31 July 1964 |
Countries They Looked After
The High Commissioner was directly responsible for governing certain territories. In each of these places, a resident commissioner was appointed to help manage things on the ground. These territories later became independent nations:
- Basutoland: This country gained its independence as Lesotho on October 4, 1966.
- Bechuanaland: This territory became independent as Botswana on September 30, 1966.
- Swaziland: This nation gained independence on September 6, 1968. It is now known as 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
