John Wrathall
Encyclopedia
John James Wrathall was a Rhodesia
n politician
. He was the last white President of Rhodesia (later holders of the post were only acting as such). He formerly worked as an accountant
.
Wrathall was born in Lancaster, England and went to Lancaster Royal Grammar School
. He never forgot his Lancashire background and was president of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Society in Rhodesia. Having qualified as a chartered accountant in 1935, he emigrated to Southern Rhodesia
the next year. He worked for the Southern Rhodesian government in its income tax department for the next ten years.
and also became involved in politics. In 1949 he was elected to Bulawayo City Council, where he served for a decade. Wrathall was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Bulawayo South in the 1954 general election
, as a member of the United Rhodesia Party, then led by Garfield Todd
. He stood down after one term in 1958.
under Winston Field
. He was elected in Bulawayo North in the December 1962 election under the RF banner. As one of the party's most experienced members, in October 1963 he was made Minister of African Education. A month later he also took on the Ministry of Health, which was being transferred from the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
on its demise at the end of 1963.
Wrathall was among the members of the Rhodesian Front who deposed Winston Field and instead installed Ian Smith
as Prime Minister in April 1964. Smith promoted him to be Minister of Finance and of Posts and Telecommunications. As such, he was one of the signatories to the UDI
on 11 November 1965. He was Deputy Prime Minister
from 7 September 1966. Known as the quiet man of Rhodesian politics, he nevertheless was a key figure in the secret struggle against United Nations sanctions imposed after UDI.
In 1975 he presented his 12th (and last) consecutive Budget as Rhodesia's longest serving Finance Minister. Comparatively moderate on racial issues, he was recognised as a steadying influence in Smith's Cabinet which had several headstrong characters such as Desmond Larner-Burke and P.K. van der Byl.
he stood down from the House of Assembly and transferred to the Senate. On 14 January 1976 he was sworn in as the second President of Rhodesia
, succeeding Clifford Dupont
. He served for two and a half years, and died in office of a heart attack.
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the last white President of Rhodesia (later holders of the post were only acting as such). He formerly worked as an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
.
Early life
Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Lancaster Royal Grammar School is a voluntary aided, selective grammar school for boys in Lancaster, England. The school has been awarded specialist Technology College and Language College status. Old boys belong to The Old Lancastrians...
. He never forgot his Lancashire background and was president of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Society in Rhodesia. Having qualified as a chartered accountant in 1935, he emigrated to Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
the next year. He worked for the Southern Rhodesian government in its income tax department for the next ten years.
Rhodesian career
In 1946 Wrathall set up in private practice as an accountant in BulawayoBulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
and also became involved in politics. In 1949 he was elected to Bulawayo City Council, where he served for a decade. Wrathall was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Bulawayo South in the 1954 general election
Southern Rhodesian general election, 1954
General elections were held in Southern Rhodesia on 27 January 1954. The result was a victory for the United Rhodesia Party, which won 26 of the 30 seats.-Results:...
, as a member of the United Rhodesia Party, then led by Garfield Todd
Garfield Todd
Sir Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd was a reformist Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia from 1953 to 1958 and later became an opponent of white minority rule in Rhodesia. He was born in Invercargill, New Zealand.-Background:...
. He stood down after one term in 1958.
Ministerial office
By 1962 Wrathall was no longer a supporter of the United Federal Party and became a founder member of the Rhodesian FrontRhodesian Front
The Rhodesian Front was a political party in Southern Rhodesia when the country was under white minority rule. Led first by Winston Field, and, from 1964, by Ian Smith, the Rhodesian Front was the successor to the Dominion Party, which was the main opposition party in Southern Rhodesia during the...
under Winston Field
Winston Field
Winston Joseph Field MBE was a Rhodesian politician. Field was a former Dominion Party MP who founded the Rhodesian Front political party with Ian Douglas Smith. Field was born and brought up in Bromsgrove in the United Kingdom, and moved to Southern Rhodesia in 1921...
. He was elected in Bulawayo North in the December 1962 election under the RF banner. As one of the party's most experienced members, in October 1963 he was made Minister of African Education. A month later he also took on the Ministry of Health, which was being transferred from the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
on its demise at the end of 1963.
Wrathall was among the members of the Rhodesian Front who deposed Winston Field and instead installed 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...
as Prime Minister in April 1964. Smith promoted him to be Minister of Finance and of Posts and Telecommunications. As such, he was one of the signatories to the UDI
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...
on 11 November 1965. He was Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
from 7 September 1966. Known as the quiet man of Rhodesian politics, he nevertheless was a key figure in the secret struggle against United Nations sanctions imposed after UDI.
In 1975 he presented his 12th (and last) consecutive Budget as Rhodesia's longest serving Finance Minister. Comparatively moderate on racial issues, he was recognised as a steadying influence in Smith's Cabinet which had several headstrong characters such as Desmond Larner-Burke and P.K. van der Byl.
Presidency
In July 1973 Wrathall ceded his responsibility as Minister of Posts; during the 1974 general electionRhodesia general election, 1974
The Rhodesia general election of July 30, 1974 saw the Rhodesian Front of Ian Smith re-elected, once more winning every one of the 50 seats elected by white voters.-Background:...
he stood down from the House of Assembly and transferred to the Senate. On 14 January 1976 he was sworn in as the second President of Rhodesia
President of Rhodesia
The position of President of Rhodesia was the nominal head of state of Rhodesia from 1970 to 1979. As with Rhodesia itself, the position lacked international recognition for the entire period. The position of president, however, was mostly symbolic, and Rhodesia never had a presidential system of...
, succeeding Clifford Dupont
Clifford Dupont
Clifford Walter Dupont, GCLM ID was a British-born Rhodesian politician who served in the internationally unrecognised positions of Officer Administrating the Government and President...
. He served for two and a half years, and died in office of a heart attack.