Smuts, Jan (Christian)

Smuts, Jan (Christian)
born May 24, 1870, Bovenplaats, near Riebeeck West, Cape Colony
died Sept. 11, 1950, Irene, near Pretoria, S.Af.

South African statesman, soldier, and prime minister (1919–24, 1939–48).

An Afrikaner, Smuts studied law at Cambridge University. Returning to South Africa, he was appointed state attorney in Pretoria by Pres. Paul Kruger in 1897. He fought the British in the South African War and joined with Louis Botha to oppose Alfred Milner's implementation of the peace terms. By 1905 Smuts was reconciled to British control and sought to keep South Africa within the Commonwealth. In World War I he joined again with Botha to suppress rebellion, conquer South West Africa, and launch a campaign in East Africa. He attended the Versailles peace conference and helped promote the League of Nations. When Botha died, Smuts became prime minister. He was defeated in 1924 by a National Party coalition. In 1933 he helped J.B.M. Hertzog force out the extreme nationalists, and in 1939 he replaced Hertzog as prime minister. Under his leadership South Africa helped prevent Germany and Italy from conquering North Africa. In 1948 he was defeated by Daniel F. Malan's Nationalists. He ended his life as chancellor of Cambridge University.

Jan Smuts.

EB Inc.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Smuts, Jan Christian — (1870–1950)    South African statesman. In the political lobbying that led up to the BALFOUR Declaration of 1917, Dr WEIZMANN found an unexpected ally in the austere and respected South African defence minister, General Smuts, who had been… …   Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament

  • Smuts, Jan Christian — ► (1870 1950) Político y militar sudafricano. Durante la Guerra anglo bóer (1899 1902) llegó a mandar fuerzas bóers. Al firmarse la paz colaboró lealmente con Gran Bretaña. Fue primer ministro sudafricano (1919 24 y 1939 48) y ministro de… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Smuts, Jan Christian —  (1870–1950) Prime minister of South Africa (1919–1924, 1939–1948) …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • SMUTS, Jan Christian — (1870 1950)    South African Prime Minister, Army general, statesman and philosopher. His work Holism and Evolution (1926) is credited by many as being an early statement of the PHILOSOPHY of the NEW AGE MOVEMENT …   Concise dictionary of Religion

  • SMUTS, JAN CHRISTIAAN° — (1870–1950), South African statesman, soldier, and philosopher. In the first half of the 20th century Smuts was a dominant figure in South African public life, both in war and peace; he occupied a place in world history for his part in the two… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Smuts, Jan — ▪ South African statesman Introduction Christian also spelled  Christiaan   born May 24, 1870, Bovenplaats, near Riebeeck West, Cape Colony [now in South Africa] died Sept. 11, 1950, Irene, near Pretoria, S.Af.  South African statesman, soldier,… …   Universalium

  • Jan Christian Smuts — noun South African statesman and soldier (1870 1950) • Syn: ↑Smuts • Instance Hypernyms: ↑soldier, ↑statesman, ↑solon, ↑national leader …   Useful english dictionary

  • Smuts — Smuts, Jan Christian …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Jan — /jan/; for 1 also Du., Ger. /yahn/, n. 1. a male given name, form of John. 2. a female given name, form of Janet. * * * (as used in expressions) Brueghel Jan the Elder Jan Amos Komenský Dussek Jan Ladislav Eyck Jan van Gossart Jan Jan Mabuse Jan… …   Universalium

  • Jan Smuts — Infobox Prime Minister name = Jan Christiaan Smuts order = Prime Minister of South Africa term start = 5 September 1939 term end = 4 June 1948 predecessor = James Barry Munnik Hertzog successor = Daniel François Malan term start2 = 3 September… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

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