Geoffrey Charles Lawrence, CMG, OBE (11 November 1915 – 5 June 1994) was a British colonial servant in Africa.[1] He served as the financial secretary of Zanzibar from 1960 to 1963.[1][2]
Born in London and educated at the Stationers' Company's School, Lawrence joined Barclays Bank before being sent with the Territorial Army to fight in North Africa.[1] He then volunteered for the Somaliland Camel Corps.[1] By the end of the Second World War, he had attained the rank of major.[1] Upon applying for the Colonial Service, he was sent to Brasenose College, Oxford, to acquire administrative skills.[1] He and his wife Joyce then spent 16 years in and around East Africa.[1] His appointments included district commissioner in Berbera; assistant chief secretary and finance secretary in Hargeisa; and financial secretary in Zanzibar until the introduction of internal self-government in 1963.[1]
He served as acting Chief Minister of Zanzibar from 23 February 1961 to 5 June 1961.[citation needed]