Robert James Hudson

Major Sir Robert James Hudson, KCMG, MC, QC (15 May 1885 – 17 June 1963) was twice acting Governor of Southern Rhodesia.

Born in Mossel Bay, Cape Colony, the son of George Matthews Hudson, Hudson was educated at Diocesan College, Rondebosch and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where in 1908 he became the first South African to gain a half blue for tennis.

Hudson was called to the Bar Middle Temple in 1909 and moved to Rhodesia to practice as a barrister in Bulawayo.

Following the outbreak of World War I, Hudson served with the 1st Rhodesia Regiment in Southwest Africa and then moved to England to become a pilot for the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force. He was awarded a Military Cross in 1917. While in England on active service, Hudson was called upon to give expert advice in a case involving mining in Rhodesia, which was later called "one of the most lengthy and costly court cases of its time."

Following the war, Hudson returned to Bulawayo and continued to work as a barrister, gaining praise as "the leading advocate in Southern Rhodesia." Following the confirmation of responsible government to Southern Rhodesia in 1923, the nation's first Premier Sir Charles Coghlan appointed Hudson Attorney-General of Southern Rhodesia, an appointment considered "unusual" at the time as Hudson was not a member of Coghlan's Rhodesia Party.

Hudson subsequently joined the Rhodesia Party and successfully stood for the electorate of Bulawayo North in the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly at the 1924 election. Following the election, Hudson was appointed Minister of Justice (as the position of Attorney-General had been renamed) and Minister of Defence.

Re-elected in 1928, Hudson was considered one of the most outstanding members of the first cabinet."

In 1933 Hudson resigned from parliament to sit on the High Court of Southern Rhodesia and served as resident judge in Bulawayo until 1943, when he was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court. While serving as Chief Justice, Hudson twice acted as Governor of Southern Rhodesia; the first from 26 October 1944 to 20 February 1945 and the second from 19 July 1946 to 14 January 1947.

Hudson retired as Chief Justice on 15 May 1950, his 65th birthday. Hudson continued to be involved in public affairs, chairing the Rhodesian Board of the Standard Bank of South Africa from 1957 to 1962, chairing the Rhodesian Federal Broadcasting Corporation, as well as serving on numerous other boards and Royal Commissions.

Hudson received numerous recognition for his work, being awarded C.M.G. in the 1938 New Year Honours List knighted in 1944 and promoted to K.C.M.G. in 1950. Additionally, on 19 August 1943, it was announced that Hudson was allowed to officially retain the title "Honourable", as he had served more than three years on the Executive Council of Southern Rhodesia.

He was also appointed Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by King Paul of Greece in 1950.

Hudson married Constance de Beer in 1920. Following her death in 1925, Hudson remarried in 1928 to Millicent Bruce, daughter of George Sutherland. They had a son and a daughter.

Hudson died aged 78 in Salisbury on 17 June 1963, survived by his wife, son and daughter.