Jan Christian Smuts Biography and Timeline

Birth of Jan Christian Smuts

Birth of Jan Christian Smuts

Education

Completes law studies at Christs College

Conference of Pretoria

The Transvaal becomes an independent Afrikaner republic at the Convention of Pretoria

Independence of South Africa

The Transvaal becomes an independent Afrikaner republic at the Convention of Pretoria

Independence of Transvaal

The Transvaal becomes an independent Afrikaner republic at the Convention of Pretoria

Education

Smuts attends Victoria College, learns High Dutch, German & Ancient Greek & immerses himself in literature, the classics & Bible studies

Education

Wins the Ebden scholarship for overseas study & reads law at Christs College, Cambridge

Education

Graduates with double First-class honours in Literature & Science

Profession

Returns to South Africa to practise law at Cape Town bar

Legal Adviser

Appointed Personal Legal Adviser to Rhodes

Jameson Raid

Smuts resigns from public life after his outrage at the Jameson Raid

Citizenship

Renounces British citizenship

Marriage

Marries Sybella Krige

Conference of Bloemfontein

With an intimate knowledge of the British, Smuts takes control of the Transvaal delegation. Martinus Steyn called for a peace conference at Bloemfontein to settle the Boer & British grievances

State Attorney

Appointed State Attorney, Smuts wrote a legal thesis in support of Kruger, who rewards Smuts as State Attorney

Declaration of War

The Boer republics declare war after Britain rejects their ultimatum.

Role range: 1899-1902

Cape Colony Invasion

Smuts crosses the Orange River with his commando and begins a difficult campaign deep inside Cape Colony.

Role range: 1899-1902

Battle of Modderfontein

Smuts attacks a camp of the 17th Lancers at Modderfontein and secures horses, weapons and supplies for his commando.

Role range: 1899-1902

Cape Colony Raid

Leads a commando raid into Cape Colony.

Role range: 1899-1902 – 1901-1902

Commander in Chief

Smuts serves as Kruger's eyes and ears, handling propaganda, logistics, communication with generals and diplomats. Commands the Republican forces in the Cape of Good Hope

Role range: 1899-1902

Siege of Cape Good Hope

Leads a failed Boer raid on the Cape of Good Hope. Hopes to raise a rebellion against the British and disrupt their lines of communication

Role range: 1899-1902

Commander in Chief

Commands the Republican forces in the Cape of Good Hope

Capture of Orange Free State

British forces occupy the Orange Free State and rename it the Orange River Colony.

Role range: 1899-1902

Vereeniging Peace Conference

The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the Second Boer War.

Role range: 1899-1902

Vereeniging Peace Conference

British forces occupy the Orange Free State and rename it the Orange River Colony.

Role range: 1899-1902

Het Volk

Transvaal generals to form a political party, Het Volk, to fight for the Afrikaner cause. Louis Botha is elected leader, & Smuts his deputy

Afrikaaner Het Volk Party

The Afrikaaner Het Volk party founds the Responsible Government Association

Constitution of South Africa

The Afrikaan party opposes the Lyttelton Constitution. The Afrikaaner Het Volk party founds the Responsible Government Association

Responsible Government Association

The Afrikaaner Het Volk party founds the Responsible Government Association

Constitution of South Africa

Negotiates a constitution with Campbell-Bannerman

Independence of South Africa

Negotiates a constitution with Campbell-Bannerman. Botha sends Smuts to London to plead with the newly elected Liberal Government

Independence of South Africa

Smuts joins Botha in London, & seeks to negotiate full self-Government for the Transvaal within British South Africa

Independence of Transvaal

Negotiates a constitution with Campbell-Bannerman. Botha sends Smuts to London to plead with the newly elected Liberal Government

Independence of Transvaal

Smuts joins Botha in London, & seeks to negotiate full self-Government for the Transvaal within British South Africa

Smuts Campaigns For Transvaal Self Government

Jan Smuts lobbied British political leaders for the restoration of representative government in the Transvaal after the Boer War.

Election

The Peoples Party win a landslide & Botha forms the Government. Smuts wins a comfortable victory in the Wonderboom constituency, near Pretoria

Colonial Secretary

Appointed Colonial Secretary of the Transvaal

Constitution of South Africa

Favors unitary rather than federal Government for a future unified South Africa

Unification

Favors unitary rather than federal Government for a future unified South Africa

Education

Appointed Education Secretary of the Transvaal