Andrew Skeen (Rhodesia)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Skeen was the last High Commissioner
from Rhodesia
to the United Kingdom
, succeeding Evan Campbell.
A brigadier
in the Rhodesian Army, he served as the High Commissioner for Rhodesia in London
from July to November 1965. His total tenure lasted 115 days.
On November 11, 1965, when Rhodesia announced its Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia)
, Skeen was declared Persona Non Grata by the British government and was expelled from London, although Rhodesia House (The High Commission) still continued to function as a representative office with no official diplomatic status. Skeen's functions were assumed by Charge D'Affaires Sydney Brice, who was officially regarded as "The Southern Rhodesian Representative" by the British Foreign Office.
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
from Rhodesia
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...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, succeeding Evan Campbell.
A brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in the Rhodesian Army, he served as the High Commissioner for Rhodesia in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from July to November 1965. His total tenure lasted 115 days.
On November 11, 1965, when Rhodesia announced its Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia)
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...
, Skeen was declared Persona Non Grata by the British government and was expelled from London, although Rhodesia House (The High Commission) still continued to function as a representative office with no official diplomatic status. Skeen's functions were assumed by Charge D'Affaires Sydney Brice, who was officially regarded as "The Southern Rhodesian Representative" by the British Foreign Office.