Sir Allan Ross Welsh (8 July 1875 – 1957) was a Rhodesian lawyer and politician. He was Speaker of the

Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly The Legislative Assembly of Rhodesia was the legislature of Southern Rhodesia and then Rhodesia from 1924 to 1970. Background In 1898, the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Council, Southern Rhodesia's first elected representative body, was found ...

from 1935 to 1952.

Early life and family

Welsh was born in

Bedford, Eastern Cape Bedford or Nyarha is a rural town in the centre of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was established in the mid-19th century when Sir Andries Stockenstroom sold portions of land from his farm Maastroom to raise funds for the restorati ...

to Alexander Robert Welsh, a

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

clergyman from Scotland, and Bertha Solomon, the first woman barrister in South Africa and the first woman member of the South African Parliament. He was educated at

Dale College Dale College Boys' High School (Simply often known as ''Dale College'') is a State school, public English language, English medium high school for boys situated in the town of Qonce in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa; It is one of the ...

in King William's Town. He passed his final law exams in 1896 and was admitted to the

Cape Supreme Court The Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa (previously named the Cape Provincial Division and the Western Cape High Court, and commonly known as the Cape High Court) is a superior court of law with general jurisdiction over th ...

as an attorney and notary. In 1901, Welsh married Maude Marianne Smit, daughter of N.H. Smit JP of Seymour, Cape Province, and had three daughters.

Legal career

In 1897, Welsh went to work as a clerk in the firm of Solomon and Thomson, founded by his uncle Sir

Edward Philip Solomon Sir Edward Phillip Solomon (1845 – 20 November 1914) was a successful lawyer and politician of the Transvaal Colony and the Union of South Africa. Early life Edward Solomon was born in 1845, studied to be an attorney, and based himself in Joha ...

, in Johannesburg. Two years later he joined the firm of Frames and Grimmer in Bulawayo as managing clerk. Charles Coghlan arrived in Bulawayo in 1900 and the firm became Frames and Coghlan. However, in 1902 Frames left for Johannesburg and dissolved the partnership with Coghlan. Welsh became a partner of the firm on 1 January 1903 and they practised as Coghlan and Welsh. In 1907 the firm opened an office in Salisbury with

Bernard Tancred Augustus Bernard Tancred (20 August 1865 – 23 November 1911) was a 19th-century South African Test cricketer. His brothers, Vincent and Louis, also played Test cricket for South Africa. Early life Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Ta ...

as partner and the firm changed name to Coghlan, Welsh and Tancred. When Tancred died in 1911, Coghlan invited

Ernest Lucas Guest Sir Ernest Lucas Guest (20 August 1882 – 20 September 1972) was a Rhodesian politician, lawyer and soldier. He held senior ministerial positions in the government, most notably as Minister for Air during the Second World War. Guest wa ...

to join as partner and the firm changed to Coghlan, Welsh and Guest.

Politics

Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly, 1948

Welsh was elected in 1927 to the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly as the member for Bulawayo North, replacing Sir Charles Coghlan, who had died in office, and was re-elected several times until 1935. He succeeded

Lionel Cripps The Hon. Lionel Cripps, CMG (11 October 1863 – 3 February 1950), was the first Speaker of the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly. Born in Simla, India, and educated in England, he was the son of a General in the Bengal Staff Corps. Cripp ...

as Speaker of the Assembly in 1935 and served until 1952. Cripps was not a member of the House and Welsh did not contest any further elections after 1935.

Business activities

Welsh was a director of Rhodesia Sugar Refinery, Ltd and of Knitting and Clothing Factory.

Honours

He was knighted in July 1943 and in 1952 he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and also granted permission to retain the title Honourable, having served more than three years as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia. He was also appointed Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by King

Paul of Greece Paul ( el, Παύλος, ''Pávlos''; 14 December 1901 – 6 March 1964) was King of Greece from 1 April 1947 until his death in 1964. He was succeeded by his son, Constantine II. Paul was first cousin to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and ...

in 1950, in recognition of services rendered during the Second World War.

Death and legacy

Welsh died in Bulawayo aged 82. He was photographed by the Bassano studio in London in 1937 and the prints reside with the

National Portrait Gallery, London The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is an art gallery in London housing a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. It was arguably the first national public gallery dedicated to portraits in the world when it ...

.Sir Allan Ross Welsh at the National Portrait Gallery
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References

Bibliography

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External links

Coghlan, Welsh & Guest
{{DEFAULTSORT:Welsh, Allan Ross Grand Commanders of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece) Rhodesian politicians Members of the Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia Rhodesian lawyers 1875 births 1957 deaths White Rhodesian people South African Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George South African knights People from Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality South African emigrants to Rhodesia Rhodesian Presbyterians White South African people