Lucky Bean Seed Pod

Lucky Bean Seed Pod

Erythrina Caffra

Date 2021 Origin Bloemfontein Size 118mm x 13mm x 10mm Acquired April 2021 From Origin Price Free

Smuts, Field-Marshall Jan Christian

“Smuts, Field-Marshall Jan Christian. Premier of the Union of South Africa. Born on the farm Bovenplaats outside Riebeek West, Cape Colony, on May 24, 1870, and son of Jacobus Abraham Smuts, a farmer and member of the Colonial Parliament. Like hundreds of other Boer children, it was not until the age of 12 that he was sent to school, although he had received some teaching from his mother. He was intended for the ministry of the Dutch Reformed Church. After attending the school of T. C. Stofberg (afterwards Senator Stofberg), where one of his fellow pupils was the future Dr. D. F. Malan (q.v.), Smuts went to Victoria College in Stellenbosch, 1886, forerunner of the present University. There he met his wifeto-be, the gifted student Sibella Margaretha (nicknamed Isie) Krige. Fate brought him into personal touch with Cecil John Rhodes when the statesman visited the college. After a brilliant career at Stellenbosch, Smuts went to Cambridge, 1891, where he read for the Bar, and where he wrote a book, never published, on the work and poetry of Walt Whitman. In 1895 he returned to South Africa and began practice in 1896 in Johannesburg. His ability brought him to the notice of President Kruger, who appointed him State Attorney in 1898. Upon the outbreak of the Boer War Smuts took an important, though not exclusive part in the production of A Century of Wrong, putting the case of the Republics against Britain. Within a short while of joining the Boer forces, his ability and gifts as a guerrilla leader brought him into prominence. His historic raid far into the Cape Colony carried him close to Malmesbury and within sight of Table Mountain. The end of the South African

War found him in the field. He took a leading part in the Peace negotiations at Vereeniging, after which he decided that the only hope for his people was to accept the new British Crown Colony regime. He became one of the leaders of the ‘Het Volk’ movement (q.v.) and was elected into the newly-established Parliament. As Cabinet Minister his personality soon brought him into prominence. He enjoyed the close friendship of General Louis Botha (q.v.) but was regarded as being the more reserved and intellectual. A ruthless streak in him was shown in the way he handled the struggle waged by the Indian community, led by M. K. Ghandi. Upon the establishment of the Union, Smuts became Minister of Defence, Mines and the Interior. As Minister of Mines he was involved in vio-

lent labour disputes of 1913 and 1914, which were only subdued by calling up the armed forces and the Imperial Garrison. For what was regarded as high-handed action, he incurred much odium. By this time General Hertzog (q.v.) had seceded from Botha’s cabinet and founded what became the National Party. Upon the outbreak of World War I, Smuts resumed his role as a soldier, and took charge of the campaign in East Africa. His intellectual stature had impressed the British Government, and in 1917 he left the East African theatre to take part in the Imperial War Conference in London. He joined the War Cabinet, became a Privy Councillor and was largely responsible, amongst other things, for the establishment of the Royal Air Force.