Welensky, Sir Roy

Welensky, Sir Roy

(born Jan. 20, 1907, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia—died Dec. 5, 1991, Blandford Forum, Dorset, Eng.) Rhodesian politician. He worked on the railways as a youth, later becoming head of the Railway Workers Union. He held the heavyweight boxing title for Rhodesia, 1925–27. He began his political career with election to Northern Rhodesia's legislature in 1938. A strong supporter of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi), he was elected to its first parliament, became prime minister in 1956, and served until the federation broke up in 1963.