Gerald B. Clarke was the principal secretary to the Rhodesian Cabinet (under Prime Minister

Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...

 Ian Smith

Ian Smith

Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...

) throughout the existence of the Rhodesian Front Government (1964–1979). A close confidant of Prime Minister Smith, Clarke attended virtually every conference and Heads-of-Governments meetings that Smith attended throughout his tenure.

Clarke organized and ran the sub-committee that drew up the Unilateral Declaration of Independence

Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia)

The Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965, by the administration of Ian Smith, whose Rhodesian Front party opposed black majority rule in the then British colony. Although it declared independence from the United Kingdom it...

, which Smith and his cabinet signed on November 11, 1965. Thus he is regarded as the architect of the UDI.