biography
| name: |
Pretorius, Marthinus (Wessel)
|
pronunciation:
[pretawrius]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1819–1901)
|
| biography:
| Afrikaner soldier and statesman, president of the South African Republic (1857–71), born in Graaff-Reinet, S South Africa, the son of Andries Pretorius. He succeeded his father as commandant-general in 1853, and was elected president of the South African Republic, and of the Orange Free State (1859–63). He fought against the British again in 1877, until the independence of the Republic was recognized (1881), then retired. |
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