Marthinus Wessel Pretorius
Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (17 September 1819 – 19 May 1901) was a South African political leader.[2] An Afrikaner (or "Boer"), he helped establish the South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek or ZAR; also referred to as Transvaal), was the first president of the ZAR, and also compiled its constitution.[1]
Marthinus Wessel Pretorius
The Viscount Wolseley
As Governor of the Transvaal
Office established
Willem Cornelis Janse van Rensburg
As Acting President
Daniël Jacobus Erasmus
As Acting President
19 May 1901 (aged 81)
Potchefstroom, South African Republic
Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa
- Andries Pretorius (father)
Transvaal Commandos
He was born in Cape Colony, then accompanied his father, the Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius in the migration to the interior. After the death of his father in 1853, he was appointed to succeed him as Commandant-General of the Boer settlers around the city of Potchefstroom and moved from his farm, Kalkheuwel, near Broederstroom, to Potchefstroom. He was Commandant-General of Potchefstroom from 1853 through 1856.
Political offices[edit]
In 1857, the nascent ZAR elected Pretorius as its first President. However, in 1859, in an effort to create closer bonds with the Orange Free State, he also became State President of the Orange Free State. This created tension in the ZAR, and in 1860, he resigned as President of the ZAR. After serving as President of the Orange Free State until 1863, Pretorius was re-elected President of the ZAR in 1864, and served a second term until 1871.[1] Pretorius also served as joint head of state (in the "triumvirate") between 1880 and 1883.[1]
He died on 19 May 1901 at Potchefstroom.[1]
Pretorius was an important South African Freemason.[3]