List of colonial heads of Botswana (Bechuanaland)

This is a list of the colonial heads of Bechuanaland Protectorate, which gained 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 The Queen's Commissioner.^[1]

In the table below, dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office.

Tenure	Name	Notes
British Suzerainty
Bechuanaland Protectorate
1884 to January 1885	John Mackenzie, Resident
23 March 1885 to 24 September 1885	Sir Charles 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	Sir Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard, Resident Commissioner
Under the High Commissioner for Southern Africa to 3 October 1963
19 November 1895 to 1897	Jules Ellenberger, Resident Commissioner
1928 to 1930	Anthony Sillery, Resident Commissioner
1950 to 1953	Edward Betham Beetham, Resident Commissioner
1953 to 1955	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	Sir Peter Fawcus, KBE, CMG, Commissioner
Bechuanaland	Self-Rule
3 March 1965 to 1965	Sir Peter Fawcus, KBE, CMG, Commissioner
1965 to 30 September 1966	Hugh Selby Norman-Walker, Commissioner	knighted during tenure
30 September 1966	Independence as Republic of Botswana

For continuation after independence see: Heads of State of Botswana

Sources

• http://www.rulers.org/rulb1.html#botswana
• African States and Rulers, John Stewart, McFarland
• Heads of State and Government, 2nd Edition, John V da Graca, MacMillan Press 2000
• Whitaker's Almanack 1965, J. Whitaker and Sons Ltd

See also

• Botswana
  • Heads of state of Botswana
  • Heads of government of Botswana
  • Vice-Presidents of Botswana
• Lists of Incumbents

References

1. ^ Morton, Fred; Ramsay, Jeff; Mgadla, Part Themba (2008). "Resident Commissioner". Historical Dictionary of Botswana. African Historical Dictionaries. 108 (4th ed.). Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press. pp. 288–9. ISBN 978-0-8108-5467-3.