Hofmeyr, Jan

Hofmeyr, Jan

▪ South African politician
born July 4, 1845, Cape Town
died Oct. 16, 1909, London

      statesman and leader of the Afrikaner Bond (a political party of Dutch South Africans) of the Cape Colony. The son of a viticulturist, he was educated at the South African College, Cape Town, and rose to prominence as a journalist. In 1878 he formed the Farmers' Protection Association, whose aims were basically agricultural, and entered the Cape Colony Parliament as member for Stellenbosch. For the next 16 years, he served in Parliament as the recognized leader and spokesman for the Cape's Dutch population.

      Much of Hofmeyr's political strength derived from his paramount position in the Afrikaner Bond, which he adroitly united with his Farmers' Protection Association in 1883. Though only briefly a member of a ministry (1884), he wielded considerable influence as a representative of the colony on various occasions. Gradually recognizing the value of closer ties with the British, Hofmeyr played a significant role in the imperial conferences of 1887 and 1894. By the time Cecil Rhodes became prime minister (1890–95), Hofmeyr was his close friend and supported his expansionist schemes. The Jameson Raid (Dec. 29, 1895) against the Boers in the Transvaal, however, ended their collaboration. After strongly condemning the raid, Hofmeyr turned his energies to the prevention of war between the British and the Boers. He persuaded Pres. Paul Kruger of the Transvaal to make concessions, but the Cape governor, Lord Milner, refused to yield.

      During the South African War (1899–1902), a sick and dispirited Hofmeyr retired to Europe. He returned after the conflict to effect a reconciliation between the British and the Boers. As South Africa moved toward union, he supported a federal rather than a unitary system and championed the use of the Dutch language. Because of his great influence with the Dutch population, who affectionately called him “Onze [Our] Jan,” Hofmeyr was asked to join the delegation that presented the final draft of the proposed union to the British government in London.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr — Mandats Ministre des finances 1939 – 1948 Premier ministre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Hofmeyr — Hofmeyr, Jan H., südafrikan. Politiker, geb. 4. Juli 1845, von holländischer Abstammung, wurde in der Kapstadt erzogen, gab dort den »Zuid Africaan Volksvriend« und die »Zuid Africaan Tydschrift« heraus und ward einer der Führer des… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr (1894–1948) — Infobox Officeholder name = Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr imagesize = caption = office = Administrator of the Transvaal term start = 1924 term end = 1929 vicepresident = viceprimeminister = deputy = monarch = president = primeminister = predecessor =… …   Wikipedia

  • Jan Hofmeyr — may refer to: Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr (Onze Jan), (1845–1909), known as Our Jan (Onze Jan), journalist and South African politician, leader of the Afrikaner Bond political party of the Cape Colony Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr (1894–1948), Nephew of Our Jan ,… …   Wikipedia

  • Jan Christiaan Smuts — Jan Smuts Jan Smuts 2e et 4e Premier ministre d Afrique du Sud …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr — may refer to one of two South African politicians:* Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, (1845 1909), Journalist and South African politician, leader of the Afrikaner Bond political party of the Cape Colony, or his nephew; * Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, (1894 1948),… …   Wikipedia

  • Jan Smuts — Nombre …   Wikipedia Español

  • Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr (Onze Jan) — See also his nephew, Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr (1894 1948) Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr (July 4, 1845 ndash; October 11, 1909), South African politician affectionately known as Onze Jan , our Jan in Dutch, was born in Cape Town.He was educated at the South… …   Wikipedia

  • Jan Smuts — TRH Jan Smuts Mandats 2e et 4e Premier ministre d Afrique du Sud 3 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jan Smuts in the South African Republic — Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS (May 24, 1870 ndash; September 11, 1950) was a prominent South African and Commonwealth statesman, military leader, and philosopher. He served as a Boer General during the Boer War, a British …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”