Archive of Sir Albert Robinson

Collection

The papers relate mainly to Sir Albert Robinson's work on the Monckton Commission and his time as High Commissioner for the Federation. There are also a series of letters written between 1953 and 1960 to Sir Roy Welensky.

Dates

Creation: 1953-1963

Extent

0.49 linear metres (7 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Afr. s. 2164/1, folder 1, fol. 1]

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Full range of shelfmarks:

MSS. Afr. s. 2164/1-7

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 3991

Additional Description

Abstract

Archive of Sir Albert Robinson, mainly relating to his work on the Monckton Commission and as High Commissioner for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi).

Biographical / Historical

Sir Albert Robinson was born on 30 Dec 1915 and was educated at Durban High School and at the Universities of Stellenbosch, London, Cambridge, and Leiden. He was a Barrister, Lincoln's Inn, and between 1939 and 1945 he served in Imperial Light Horse. From 1945 to 1948, he was a member of Johannesburg City Council and from 1947 and in 1953 he was an MP (United Party) in South African Parliament.

He became a resident in Rhodesia in 1953 and between 1957 and 1961 he was the Chairman of Central African Airways Corporation. In 1960, he became a member of the Monckton Commission and between 1961 and 1963 was High Commissioner in the UK for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi).

Albert Robinson was knighted in 1962, and from 1963 was Chairman and director of various mining and investment companies in South Africa and Zimbabwe.