James Wilson Robertson

Who was James Wilson Robertson?

Sir James Wilson Robertson, KT, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ was the last British Governor-General of Nigeria.

He was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh and Balliol College, Oxford. After Oxford he joined the Sudan Political Service from 1922 to 1953, serving appointments in Blue Nile, White Nile, Fung and Kordofan provinces and was the Civil Secretary from 1945 to 1953. He was then sent to British Guiana in January 1954 by Oliver Lyttelton, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies to write the Robertson Commission Report to investigate the current crisis in the country due to the election of the People's Progressive Party, who were seen as too friendly with communist organisations which had led to the suspension of the constitution.

He was then sent to Nigeria as a result of his good work. He was Governor-General of Nigeria from 15 June 1955 to 16 November 1960.

His brother was Ian Robertson, Lord Robertson. He served a Commission in the British Army with the Gordon Highlanders and the Black Watch. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Leeds in 1961.