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Glite Dictionary
Ian Douglas Smith

Ian Douglas Smith

1 9.1
A politician from Rhodesia who was prime minister and declared Rhodesia's independence from Britain in 1965
  • proper noun
: Ian Douglas Smith
  • Ian Douglas Smith declared Rhodesia's independence from Great Britain in 1965, marking a pivotal moment in history.

Examples

  • The government, under Ian Douglas Smith, issued a unilateral declaration of independence in 1965.

  • Ian Douglas Smith led Rhodesia during a turbulent period of its history in the 1960s.

  • Many historians debate the legacy of Ian Douglas Smith and his leadership in southern Africa.

  • The controversial figure, Ian Douglas Smith, led Rhodesia during a tumultuous time.

  • Did Ian Douglas Smith really declare independence in 1965?

  • Historians examine the policies of Ian Douglas Smith, who served as Prime Minister during the 1960s.

  • Ian Douglas Smith was a prominent leader whose actions had significant effects on southern Africa's political landscape.

Surface Forms

Ian Douglas Smith main

Morphology

Ian + Douglas + Smith

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; knowing the constituent name parts ('Ian', 'Douglas', 'Smith') does not allow a B1 learner to infer the biographical/political meaning (Rhodesian prime minister who declared independence). Proper names are non‑compositional and culturally specific, so the overall meaning is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Ian Douglas Smith was the Rhodesian politician who, in 1965, famously 'declared independence' from Britain to keep power for white leaders. That dramatic act is why his name is remembered for Rhodesia's break with Britain and its difficult history.