Clifford Dupont

His Excellency The Right Honourable Clifford Dupont GCLM, ID
Clifford Dupont, President of the Republic of Rhodesia
1st President of Rhodesia
In office 2 March 1970 – 31 December 1975
Prime Minister	Ian Smith
Preceded by	Himself as Officer Administering the Government
Succeeded by	John Wrathall
1st Officer Administrating the Government
In office 17 November 1965 – 2 March 1970
Prime Minister	Ian Smith
Preceded by	Sir Humphrey Gibbs (as Governor of Southern Rhodesia, de facto)
Succeeded by	Himself as President
1st Deputy Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia
In office 1964–1965
Prime Minister	Ian Smith
Preceded by	none
Succeeded by	none
Personal details
Born	6 December 1905 London, England
Died	28 June 1978 (aged 72) Salisbury, Rhodesia
Political party	Rhodesian Front
Spouse(s)	Barbie Dunport (1933–42) Betty Wood (1946–57) Armenell Mary Betty Bennet (1963–78)
Children	Hilary Graham Stephen
Alma mater	Clare College, Cambridge
Profession	Solicitor
Religion	Anglican

Clifford Walter Dupont, GCLM, ID (6 December 1905 – 28 June 1978) was a Rhodesian politician who served in the internationally unrecognised positions of Officer Administrating the Government (from 1965 until 1970) and President (from 1970 to 1975). Born in London and qualifying as a solicitor, Dupont served during the Second World War as an officer of the British Royal Artillery in North Africa before first visiting Southern Rhodesia in 1947. He returned a year later, started a ranch and emigrated full-time during the early 1950s, by which time the country had become a territory of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

He entered politics in 1958, winning on the Dominion Party ticket in the Fort Victoria (now Masvingo) federal constituency. Four years later, he became the member for Charter in the Southern Rhodesian parliament, this time running for the Rhodesian Front (RF). At the same time, he was appointed Minister for Justice. Forming a close relationship with the rising RF politician Ian Smith, Dupont assisted in the latter's becoming Prime Minister in 1964 and was consequently promoted to become Smith's deputy. As Deputy Prime Minister, he held the portfolio of External Affairs, and added Defence in June 1965.

In October 1964, Dupont thwarted Sir Roy Welensky's attempt to re-enter politics in Rhodesia following the break-up of the Federation. Welensky had assumed the leadership of the opposition UFP (which he renamed the Rhodesia Party), and was contesting a by-election in Arundel. However, Dupont deliberately resigned his constituency in Charter to oppose Welensky, and soundly defeated him by 1079 votes to 633.