South African Prime Minister. He served as the Prime Minister of South Africa for two different tenures, from September 3, 1919 to June 30, 1924 and from September 5, 1939 to June 4, 1948. Born to Afrikaner parents, he studied at Victoria College, subsequently the University of Stellenbosch, and majored in both science and the arts. In 1891, he earned a scholarship to enter Christ's College in Cambridge, England to study law. He was a very distinguished student at the college and later returned to South Africa. In 1895, he was drawn into politics after moving to Cape Town, first supporting Cecil Rhodes, prime minister of Cape Colony, but went against Rhodes after a disagreement. He later moved to Johannesburg to continue to be involved in politics. He later served in the Second Boer War and was involved in drafting peace terms after the war had ended. In 1910, he played a major role in developing a constitution for the new Union of South Africa. After serving in several cabinet posts, under Prime Minister Louis Botha, he became prime minister after Botha's death in 1919. He served as prime minister for the next five years before his party lost the general election to a coalition of the Nationalist and Labor parties in 1924. He remained in opposition until 1933, when he joined forces with J.B.M Hertzog and served under the Hertzog government until 1939, when he became prime minister for the second time. His second tenure lasted nine years until his party lost the general election to Daniel F. Malan's Nationalists in 1948. After leaving office, he returned to Cambridge University in England to serve as its chancellor.
South African Prime Minister. He served as the Prime Minister of South Africa for two different tenures, from September 3, 1919 to June 30, 1924 and from September 5, 1939 to June 4, 1948. Born to Afrikaner parents, he studied at Victoria College, subsequently the University of Stellenbosch, and majored in both science and the arts. In 1891, he earned a scholarship to enter Christ's College in Cambridge, England to study law. He was a very distinguished student at the college and later returned to South Africa. In 1895, he was drawn into politics after moving to Cape Town, first supporting Cecil Rhodes, prime minister of Cape Colony, but went against Rhodes after a disagreement. He later moved to Johannesburg to continue to be involved in politics. He later served in the Second Boer War and was involved in drafting peace terms after the war had ended. In 1910, he played a major role in developing a constitution for the new Union of South Africa. After serving in several cabinet posts, under Prime Minister Louis Botha, he became prime minister after Botha's death in 1919. He served as prime minister for the next five years before his party lost the general election to a coalition of the Nationalist and Labor parties in 1924. He remained in opposition until 1933, when he joined forces with J.B.M Hertzog and served under the Hertzog government until 1939, when he became prime minister for the second time. His second tenure lasted nine years until his party lost the general election to Daniel F. Malan's Nationalists in 1948. After leaving office, he returned to Cambridge University in England to serve as its chancellor.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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