This is a list of the commissioners of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, which gained full independence as Botswana in 1966. From 1885 to 1891 the post was known as Deputy Commissioner; from 1891 to 1964 as Resident Commissioner; and from 1964 to independence as Queen's Commissioner. [1]
In the table below, dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office.
No | Tenure | Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
British Suzerainty | |||
Bechuanaland Protectorate | |||
1884 to January 1885 | John Mackenzie , Resident | ||
23 March 1885 to 24 September 1885 | SirCharles Warren, Special Commissioner, Military Commander | ||
24 September 1885 to 30 September 1885 | Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Carrington , Special Commissioner, Military Commander | ||
(30 September 1885 to 16 November 1885) Divided into British Bechuanaland Crown Colony (south) and Bechuanaland Protectorate (north) | |||
British Bechuanaland Crown Colony | |||
30 September 1885 to 23 October 1885 | Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Carrington , Special Commissioner, Military Commander | ||
23 October 1885 to 16 November 1885 | Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard, Administrator | ||
Bechuanaland Protectorate | |||
30 September 1885 to 9 May 1891 | Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard, Administrator | knighted during tenure | |
Bechuanaland High Commission Territory | |||
9 May 1891 to 1895 | SirSidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard, Resident Commissioner | ||
Under the High Commissioner for Southern Africa to 3 October 1963 | |||
19 November 1895 to 1897 | Francis James Newton, Resident Commissioner | ||
21 December 1897 to 1900 | Hamilton John Goold-Adams, Resident Commissioner | ||
January 1901 to 1906 | SirRalph Champneys Williams, Resident Commissioner | ||
1906 to 1916 | Francis William Panzera, Resident Commissioner | ||
1916 to 1917 | Edward Charles Frederick Garraway, Resident Commissioner | ||
1917 to 1923 | James Comyn Macgregor, Resident Commissioner | knighted during tenure | |
1923 to 1927 | Jules Ellenberger , Resident Commissioner | ||
1928 to 1930 | Rowland Mortimer Daniel, Resident Commissioner | ||
1930 to 1937 | Charles Fernand Rey, Resident Commissioner | ||
1937 to 1942 | Charles Noble Arden-Clarke, Resident Commissioner | ||
1942 to 1946 | Aubrey Denzil Forsyth-Thompson, Resident Commissioner | ||
1946 to 1950 | Anthony Sillery , Resident Commissioner | ||
1950 to 1953 | Edward Betham Beetham, Resident Commissioner | ||
1955 to 1959 | Martin Osterfield Wray, Resident Commissioner | ||
1953 to 1955 | William Forbes Mackenzie, Resident Commissioner | ||
1959 to 1960 | John Redcliffe Maud, Resident Commissioner | ||
30 September 1960 | Independence Day Republic of Botswana | ||
1960 to 3 October 1963 | Peter Fawcus , Resident Commissioner | ||
3 October 1963 to 1 August 1964 | Peter Fawcus , Commissioner | knighted during tenure | |
Bechuanaland | |||
1 August 1964 to 3 March 1965 | SirPeter Fawcus, KBE, CMG, Commissioner | ||
Bechuanaland | Self-Rule | ||
3 March 1965 to 1965 | SirPeter Fawcus, KBE, CMG, Commissioner | ||
1965 to 30 September 1966 | Hugh Selby Norman-Walker, Commissioner | knighted during tenure | |
30 September 1966 | Independence Day Republic of Botswana |
For continuation after independence see: Heads of State of Botswana
The Batswana, a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the country's major ethnic group. Prior to European contact, the Batswana lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.
High commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.
Resident commissioner was or is an official title of several different types of commissioners, who were or are representatives of any level of government. Historically, they were appointed by the British Crown in overseas protectorates, or colonies, and some still exist in this capacity. The United States of America once had a resident commissioner in the Philippines and the Puerto Rico resident commissioner resides in Washington DC. State governments of today's Republic of India have a resident commissioner to represent them in New Delhi.
The Bechuanaland Protectorate was a protectorate established on 31 March 1885 in Southern Africa by the United Kingdom. It became the Republic of Botswana on 30 September 1966.
The Zambia Independence Act 1964 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which granted independence to Zambia with effect from 24 October 1964. It also provided for the continuation of a right of appeal from Zambia to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. It was introduced by Andrew Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.
The British office of high commissioner for Southern Africa was responsible for governing British possessions in Southern Africa, latterly the protectorates of Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland, as well as for relations with autonomous governments in the area.
In the Commonwealth of Nations, a high commissioner is the senior diplomat, generally ranking as an ambassador, in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another. Instead of an embassy, the diplomatic mission is generally called a high commission.
Sir Robert Peter Fawcus KBE CMG was a British colonial administrator in Bechuanaland Protectorate.