This is a list of the commissioners of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, which gained full independence as Botswana in 1966. From 1885 to 1891 the post was known as Deputy Commissioner; from 1891 to 1964 as Resident Commissioner; and from 1964 to independence as Queen's Commissioner.[1]
In the table below, dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office.
| No | Tenure | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Suzerainty | |||
| Bechuanaland Protectorate | |||
| 1884 to January 1885 | John Mackenzie, Resident | ||
| 23 March 1885 to 24 September 1885 | Sir Charles Warren, Special Commissioner, Military Commander | ||
| 24 September 1885 to 30 September 1885 | Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Carrington, Special Commissioner, Military Commander | ||
| (30 September 1885 to 16 November 1885) Divided into British Bechuanaland Crown Colony (south) and Bechuanaland Protectorate (north) | |||
| British Bechuanaland Crown Colony | |||
| 30 September 1885 to 23 October 1885 | Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Carrington, Special Commissioner, Military Commander | ||
| 23 October 1885 to 16 November 1885 | Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard, Administrator | ||
| Bechuanaland Protectorate | |||
| 30 September 1885 to 9 May 1891 | Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard, Administrator | knighted during tenure | |
| Bechuanaland High Commission Territory | |||
| 9 May 1891 to 1895 | Sir Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard, Resident Commissioner | ||
| Under the High Commissioner for Southern Africa to 3 October 1963 | |||
| 19 November 1895 to 1897 | Francis James Newton, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 21 December 1897 to 1900 | Hamilton John Goold-Adams, Resident Commissioner | ||
| January 1901 to 1906 | Sir Ralph Champneys Williams, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1906 to 1916 | Francis William Panzera, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1916 to 1917 | Edward Charles Frederick Garraway, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1917 to 1923 | James Comyn Macgregor, Resident Commissioner | knighted during tenure | |
| 1923 to 1927 | Jules Ellenberger, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1928 to 1930 | Rowland Mortimer Daniel, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1930 to 1937 | Charles Fernand Rey, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1937 to 1942 | Charles Noble Arden-Clarke, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1942 to 1946 | Aubrey Denzil Forsyth-Thompson, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1946 to 1950 | Anthony Sillery, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1950 to 1953 | Edward Betham Beetham, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1955 to 1959 | Martin Osterfield Wray, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1953 to 1955 | William Forbes Mackenzie, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 1959 to 1960 | John Redcliffe Maud, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 30 September 1960 | Independence Day Republic of Botswana | ||
| 1960 to 3 October 1963 | Peter Fawcus, Resident Commissioner | ||
| 3 October 1963to1 August 1964 | Peter Fawcus, Commissioner | knighted during tenure | |
| Bechuanaland | |||
| 1 August 1964to3 March 1965 | Sir Peter Fawcus, KBE, CMG, Commissioner | ||
| Bechuanaland | Self-Rule | ||
| 3 March 1965to1965 | Sir Peter Fawcus, KBE, CMG, Commissioner | ||
| 1965 to 30 September 1966 | Hugh Selby Norman-Walker, Commissioner | knighted during tenure | |
| 30 September 1966 | Independence Day Republic of Botswana | ||
For continuation after independence see: Heads of State of Botswana
