Presidents of the South African Republic - Paul Kruger, Piet Joubert, Thomas Francois Burgers, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, Schalk Willem Burger (Paperback)

Chapters: Paul Kruger, Piet Joubert, Thomas Francois Burgers, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, Schalk Willem Burger, Willem Cornelis Janse Van Rensburg, List of Presidents of the South African Republic. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 31. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger (10 October 1825 14 July 1904), better known as Paul Kruger and affectionately known as Uncle Paul (Dutch: "Oom Paul") was State President of the South African Republic (Transvaal). He gained international renown as the face of Boer resistance against the British during the South African or Second Boer War (18991902). Paul Kruger was a descendant of German immigrants to South Africa. His ancestor, Jacobus Kruger, immigrated from Berlin to South Africa in 1713 to work as a mercenary for the Dutch East India Company (VOC). According to tradition Kruger was born at Bulhoek, his grandfather's farm was approximately 15 km west of the town of Steynsburg and 100 km to the north of Cradock in the Eastern Cape Province, and grew up on the farm Vaalbank. He received only three months of formal education, his master being Tielman Roos, but he became knowledgeable from life on the veld. Paul Kruger became proficient in hunting and horse riding. He contributed to the development of guerrilla warfare during the First Boer War. Kruger's father, Casper Kruger, joined the trek party of Hendrik Potgieter when the Great Trek started in 1835. The trekkers crossed the Vaal River in 1838, and at first stayed in the area that is known today as Potchefstroom. Kruger's father later decided to settle in the district now known as Rustenburg. At the age of 16, Kruger was entitled to choose a farm for himself at the foot of the Magaliesberg, where he settled in 1841. The following year he married Maria du Plessis, ...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=13700