Administrative posts of the British South Africa Company in Southern Rhodesia
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The British South Africa Company appointed a variety of officials to govern Southern Rhodesia (called Zimbabwe since 1980) between 1890 and 1923. The most prominent of these were the Administrator and the Chief Magistrate, the first of which was in effect the head of government during this time. As such, he held a seat on the Legislative Council of Southern Rhodesia ex officio.
The post of Administrator 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, though it was common to reappoint incumbents. There was, in addition, an Acting Administrator, who was a deputy.
The Administrator office became defunct when Southern Rhodesia received responsible government within the British Empire in October 1923. It was replaced by the post of Premier, which was renamed Prime Minister in 1933.
Chief Magistrates of Southern Rhodesia
24 July 1891 – 18 September 1891: A. R. Colquhoun (acting)
18 September 1891 – 7 October 1893: Dr Leander Starr Jameson KCMG, CB
7 October 1893 – 10 September 1894: A. H. F. Duncan (acting)
Administrators of Southern Rhodesia
1 October 1890 – 10 September 1894: A. R. Colquhoun
10 September 1894 – 2 April 1896: Dr Leander Starr Jameson KCMG, CB
2 April 1896 – 5 December 1898: The 4th Earl Grey
5 December 1898 – 20 December 1901: William Henry Milton (Administrator of Mashonaland and Senior Administrator of Southern Rhodesia)
5 December 1898 – March 1901: Hon. Arthur Lawley (Administrator of Matabeleland)
20 December 1901 – 1 November 1914: Sir William Henry Milton
1 November 1914 – 1 September 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.
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