John Wrathall
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The Hon. John Wrathall GCLM, ID |
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John James Wrathall
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| 2nd President of Rhodesia | |
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In office 14 January 1976 – 31 August 1978 |
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| Prime Minister | Ian Smith |
| Preceded by | Clifford Dupont |
| Succeeded by | Henry Everard (Acting) |
| Minister of African Education | |
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In office 1963–1964 |
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| Prime Minister | Ian Smith |
| Preceded by | Jack Howman |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| Minister of Finance | |
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In office 1964–1976 |
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| Prime Minister | Ian Smith |
| Preceded by | Ian Smith |
| Succeeded by | David Smith |
| Minister of Posts | |
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In office 1964–1973 |
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| Prime Minister | Ian Smith |
| Preceded by | Ian Smith |
| Succeeded by | Roger Hawkins |
| Senator | |
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In office 1974–1976 |
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| Member of Parliament | |
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In office 1962–1974 |
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| Preceded by | Cyril Hatty |
| Succeeded by | Denis Walker |
| Constituency | Bulawayo North |
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In office 1954–1958 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Holmes |
| Succeeded by | Benny Goldstein |
| Constituency | Bulawayo South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 August 1913 Lancaster, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 31 August 1978 (aged 65) Salisbury, Rhodesia |
| Political party | Rhodesian Front |
| Spouse(s) | Doreen Wrathall |
| Relations | Jonathan Wrathall, Christopher Wrathall |
| Alma mater | Lancaster Royal Grammar School |
| Profession | Chartered Accountant |
John James Wrathall GCLM, ID (28 August 1913 – 31 August 1978) was a Rhodesian politician. He was the last white President of Rhodesia (later holders of the post were only acting as such). He formerly worked as a chartered accountant.
Wrathall was born in Lancaster, England and went to Lancaster Royal Grammar School. 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.
In 1946 Wrathall set up in private practice as an accountant in Bulawayo 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, but stood down after one term in 1958.
By 1962 Wrathall was no longer a supporter of the United Federal Party and became a founder member of the Rhodesian Front under Winston Field. He was elected in Bulawayo North in the December 1962 election under the RF banner, defeating the incumbent, Cyril Hatty, by 67 votes. 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 Unilateral Declaration of Independence (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.
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