Leslie Monson

Sir William Bonnar Leslie Monson (28 May 1912 – 3 July 1993) was a British diplomat who served as British High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia from 1964 to 1966.

Early life and education Monson was born on 28 May 1912 in Edinburgh, the son of J. W. Monson, tax inspector, and Selina Leslie, née Stewart. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Hertford College, Oxford.

Career Monson joined the Civil Service in 1935 and entered the Dominions Office. In 1938 he became private secretary to the permanent under-secretary, Sir Edward Harding. In 1939, he transferred to the Colonial Office and in 1944 was serving as an assistant secretary and head of the production and marketing department. In 1947, he was seconded to the West African Council in Accra as chief secretary where he was involved in coordinating British policy in west Africa. He returned to the Colonial Office in 1951 as assistant under-secretary of state, and specialised in the trade in commodities in Africa, and was head of colonial delegations to international conferences on sugar, rubber, and tin, a post he held until 1964. and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1965 Birthday Honours. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1964 Birthday Honours. In 1975, he was appointed Knight of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ).