First Prime Minister of South Africa. He served as the first Prime Minister of South Africa from May 31, 1910 to August 27, 1919. He received his only formal education at a German mission school. In 1884 he helped to found the New Republic in the Vryheid district in Zululand. When the New Republic became part of the South African Republic in 1888, he became politically active and held a number of posts before he was elected to the Volksraad in 1897. There he sided with the moderates against Pres. Paul Kruger's hostile policy toward the Uitlanders (non-Boer, mostly English, settlers). When tensions between Great Britain and the Boers led to war in 1899, he quickly became one of the Boer army commanders. After a series of major Boer defeats, he organized a guerrilla campaign and later was forced to negotiate with the British. The result was the Peace of Vereeniging of 1902. In 1904, he formed a new party in Transvaal called "The People" and three years later, became prime minister of Transvaal after the party won elections. In 1910, when the Union of South Africa was proclaimed, he became the first prime minister. He went on to serve in this position until his passing in 1919.
First Prime Minister of South Africa. He served as the first Prime Minister of South Africa from May 31, 1910 to August 27, 1919. He received his only formal education at a German mission school. In 1884 he helped to found the New Republic in the Vryheid district in Zululand. When the New Republic became part of the South African Republic in 1888, he became politically active and held a number of posts before he was elected to the Volksraad in 1897. There he sided with the moderates against Pres. Paul Kruger's hostile policy toward the Uitlanders (non-Boer, mostly English, settlers). When tensions between Great Britain and the Boers led to war in 1899, he quickly became one of the Boer army commanders. After a series of major Boer defeats, he organized a guerrilla campaign and later was forced to negotiate with the British. The result was the Peace of Vereeniging of 1902. In 1904, he formed a new party in Transvaal called "The People" and three years later, became prime minister of Transvaal after the party won elections. In 1910, when the Union of South Africa was proclaimed, he became the first prime minister. He went on to serve in this position until his passing in 1919.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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