Paul Kruger

Stephanus Johannes Paul Kruger (10 October 1825 – 14 July 1904), fondly known as Oom Paul (Afrikaans for "Uncle Paul"), was a prominent Boer resistance leader against British rule and president of the Transvaal Republic in South Africa.

Leadership

In time, Kruger emerged as a leader. He started as a field cornet in die commandos, eventually becoming Commandant-General of the South African Republic. He was appointed member of a commission of the Volksraad, the republican parliament that was to draw up a constitution. People began to take notice of the young man and he played a prominent part in ending the quarrel between the Transvaal leader, Stephanus Schoeman, and M.W. Pretorius. The latter afterwards became the first President of the South African Republic and founder of Pretoria, which he named after his father, Andries Pretorius.

Related Topics:
Field cornet - Commando - South African Republic - Volksraad - Constitution - Stephanus Schoeman - M.W. Pretorius - Pretoria - Andries Pretorius

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In 1873, Kruger resigned as Commandant-General, and for a time he held no office and retired to his farm, Boekenhoutfontein. However, in 1874 he was elected to the Executive Council and shortly after that became Vice-President of the Transvaal.

Related Topics:
1873 - Boekenhoutfontein - 1874

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After the annexation of the Transvaal by Britain in 1877, Kruger became the leader of the resistance movement. During the same year, he visited England for the first time as leader of a deputation. In 1878, he was part of a second deputation. A highlight of his visit to Europe was when he ascended in a hot air balloon and saw Paris from the air.

Related Topics:
Britain - 1877 - 1878 - Europe - Hot air balloon - Paris

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The first Boer War, also known as the "War of Independence", started in 1880, and the British forces were defeated in the decisive battle at Majuba in 1881. Once again, Kruger played an important role in the negotiations with the British, which led to the restoration of the Transvaal's independence under British sovereignty.

Related Topics:
Boer War - 1880 - Majuba - 1881

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On 30 December 1880, at the age of 55, Kruger was elected President of the Transvaal. One of his first aims was the revision of the Pretoria Convention of 1881, the agreement between the Boers and the English that ended the First Boer War. Therefore, he again left for England in 1883, empowered to negotiate with Lord Derby. Kruger and his companions also visited the Continent and this visit became a triumph in countries such as Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Spain. In Germany, he attended an imperial banquet at which he was presented to the Emperor, Wilhelm I, and spoke at length with Bismarck.

Related Topics:
30 December - 1880 - Pretoria Convention - First Boer War - Lord Derby - Germany - Belgium - Netherlands - France - Spain - Wilhelm I - Bismarck

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In the Transvaal, things changed rapidly after the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand. This momentous discovery was to have far-reaching political repercussions and to give rise to the uitlander, or foreigner, problem, which was eventually to cause the fall of the Republic. Kruger is reputed to have predicted the events that were to follow afterwards, declaring that instead of rejoicing for the discovery of gold, they should be weeping because it will "cause our land to be soaked in blood."

Related Topics:
Gold - Witwatersrand

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At the end of 1895, the failed Jameson raid took place; Jameson was forced to surrender, taken to Pretoria and handed over to his British countrymen for punishment.

Related Topics:
Jameson raid - Jameson

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In 1898, Kruger was elected President for the fourth and last time.

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