Marthinus Wessel Pretorius

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Statue of Marthinus Wessel Pretorius in Pretoria
Statue of Marthinus Wessel Pretorius in Pretoria

Son of Andries Pretorius, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (17 September 1819 - 19 May 1901) was the first president of the South African Republic, and also compiled the constitution of the Republic. He also founded the city of Pretoria and named it in honour of his father.

He was the last Head of State of Potchefstroom between 1853 and 1856. He then served as the first president of Transvaal from 1857 until 1860, and again between 1864 and 1871. He also served as the State President of the Orange Free State from 1859 until 1863. Finally, he served as the joint head of state of Transvaal between 1880 and 1883.

v • d • e
State Presidents of the Orange Free State
Chairman of the
Provisional Government
State Presidents
J.P. Hoffman (1854-1855) · J.N. Boshoff (1855-1859) · M.W. Pretorius (1860-1863) · J.H. Brand (1864-1888) · F.W. Reitz (1889-1895) · M.T. Steyn (1896-1902)
Acting State Presidents
J. Groenendaal (1854) · J.P. Hoffman (1854) · Joint Commission for Administering the Government (1855; J.J. Venter, E.R. Snijman, N.N.) · E.R. Snijman (1859) · Jacobus Johannes Venter (1859-1860) · J.W. Spruyt (1860...1862) · J. Allison (1863) · J.J. Venter (1863-1864) · J.F.R. Kaufman Höhne (1872) · Executive Committee (1872-1873; W. Collins, F.P. Schnehage, G.J. du Toit) · P.J. Blignaut (1888-1889, 1895-1896) · C.R. de Wet (1902)


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