Louis Botha
Louis Botha | |
|---|---|
Botha in the 1910s | |
| 1st Prime Minister of South Africa | |
| In office 31 May 1910 – 27 August 1919 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Governors‑General | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Jan Smuts |
| Prime Minister of the Transvaal | |
| In office 4 March 1907 – 31 May 1910 | |
| Monarchs | Edward VII George V |
| Governor | The Earl of Selborne |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Prime Minister of South Africa) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 September 1862 Greytown, Colony of Natal |
| Died | 27 August 1919 (aged 56) Pretoria, Transvaal, Union of South Africa |
| Resting place | Rebecca Street Cemetery, Pretoria, South Africa |
| Political party | South African Party |
| Other political affiliations | Het Volk Party |
| Spouse | |
| Profession | Career military officer, politician |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | South African Republic Union of South Africa British Commonwealth |
| Years of service | 1899–1902 (Transvaal Commandos) 1902–1919 (British Imperial Armies) |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Boer, South African Republic |
| Battles/wars | |
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Louis Botha (locally /ˈbʊərtə/ BOOR-tə, Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈlu.i ˈbuəta]; 27 September 1862 – 27 August 1919) was a South African politician who was the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa, the forerunner of the modern South African state. A Boer war veteran during the Second Boer War, Botha eventually fought to have South Africa become a British Dominion.