Louis Botha
(1862-1919), General and South African statesman20th Century Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 9 portraits
Born of German descent near Natal (now in South Africa), Botha grew up in the Orange Free State and was educated at a German missionary school. In 1884 he served in the army, helping to found the New Republic in Zululand (now northern KwaZulu Natal). Botha became politically active when the New Republic became part of the South Africa Republic, winning election to parliament in 1897. At the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, he served as a General but was unable to restrain the droves of British reinforcements. Forced to negotiate by the British, he signed the Peace of Vereeniging treaty on 31 May 1902. In 1910 he became the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa. Under his party's administration he limited the political rights of black South Africans. In 1913, The Natives' Land Act was passed segregating land throughout the Union, forcing black South Africans to move from their homes to 'native reserves' which laid the foundations of apartheid.
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