Smith, Ian (Douglas)

(born April 8, 1919, Selukwe, Rhodesia—died Nov. 20, 2007, Cape Town, S.Af.) First native-born prime minister of the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (1964–65). An ardent advocate of white rule, in 1965 he declared Rhodesia's independence and withdrew it from the Commonwealth. He faced guerrilla attacks from Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo through most of the 1970s. In 1977 he was finally compelled to negotiate a transfer of power to the black majority, a process completed two years later. He continued to serve in Parliament until 1987.

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