Simon Ramsay, 16th Earl of Dalhousie

Simon Ramsay, 16th Earl of Dalhousie KT GCVO GBE MC DL (17 October 1914 – 15 July 1999), styled The Honourable Simon Ramsay between 1928 and 1950, was a British land owner, Conservative politician and colonial governor.

Ramsay was the second son of Arthur Ramsay, 14th Earl of Dalhousie and Lady Mary Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, sixth daughter of Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He served in the Black Watch during the Second World War, gaining the rank of Major, and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery during the Allied invasion of Sicily. In 1950 he inherited the title after his older brother John Gilbert Ramsay, the 15th Earl died without marrying.

In 1945, Ramsay was elected as the Unionist Member of Parliament for Forfarshire and served until 1950 when he succeeded as Earl of Dalhousie and Chief of Clan Ramsay on the death of his brother. Between 1946 and 1948 he served as a Conservative whip. He was appointed Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1957, and served until 1963 when the federation broke up, with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland becoming independent Zambia and Malawi respectively while Southern Rhodesia returned to its status as a self-governing colony. He refused to renew his commission with the Colonial Service after being forced to read the controversial 1963 speech from the throne prepared by Sir Roy Welensky who was highly critical of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's policies to gradually end White rule in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Shortly after he left politics altogether and retired to his estate. Ironically, he disliked politics and never made his maiden speech in the House of Lords, only taking his place in 1978.

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