Frederic Creswell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederic Hugh Page Creswell
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| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 30 June 1924 – 29 March 1933 |
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| Prime Minister | J. B. M. Hertzog |
| Preceded by | Hendrik Mentz |
| Succeeded by | Oswald Pirow |
| Leader of the South African Labour Party | |
| In office 1910–1928/1933 |
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| Succeeded by | Walter Madeley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 November 1866 Gibraltar |
| Died | 25 August 1948 (aged 81) Kuilsrivier, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | Labour (1910-1933) |
| Other political affiliations |
National (1933-1934) |
Colonel Frederic Hugh Page Creswell was an important politician in South Africa. He was a member of the South African Labour Party. From 1924 to 1933, he served as the Minister of Defence. This role meant he was in charge of the country's military forces.
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Early Life and Family Connections
Frederic Creswell was born in Gibraltar on November 13, 1866. His father, Edmund Creswell, worked for the postal service in Gibraltar. Frederic went to school in England at Bruce Castle, Derby School, and the Royal School of Mines.
He had two famous brothers. One brother, Edmund Creswell, played in the very first FA Cup Final in 1872. His other brother, William Rooke Creswell, became a high-ranking officer in the navy. He is known as the "father" of the Royal Australian Navy.
Political Career and Public Service
Before becoming a politician, Frederic Creswell worked as a mining engineer. He worked in places like Venezuela, the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey), Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and the Transvaal. He later managed a large mine in South Africa.
During the Second Boer War in 1899, he joined the army as a lieutenant. After the war, he returned to mining. He strongly disagreed with bringing Chinese workers to the mines. He believed that white workers should be given those jobs. He became a strong supporter of white labourers in South Africa.
Joining Parliament and Leading the Labour Party
In 1910, Frederic Creswell was elected to the House of Assembly. This was part of the Union Parliament. He represented the new South African Labour Party. He became the leader of this party in 1910 and led it until 1929. He remained a member of Parliament until 1938.
He supported miners during strikes in 1913 and 1914. Because of this, he was arrested and spent a month in prison.
Working with the National Party
The government's actions against the strikes made Creswell and the Labour Party seek new allies. They formed an alliance with J.B.M. Hertzog and the National Party. This led to the Labour Party joining the government.
From 1924 to 1933, Creswell served as the Minister of Defence. At the same time, he was also the Minister of Labour from 1924 to 1925 and again from 1929 to 1933.
Changes in the Labour Party
The alliance with the Nationalists eventually caused a split in the Labour Party. In 1928, Hertzog removed Labour MP Walter Madeley from the government. This happened because Madeley supported a union that included people of different races.
Creswell and his supporters stayed in the government. They were called the "Creswell Labour" group. Other Labour MPs, including Madeley, formed a different group called "National Council Labour." In 1933, the "Creswell Labour" group joined Hertzog's party.
After the 1933 election, Hertzog formed a new government with another party. Creswell was not included in this new cabinet. He continued to be a member of Parliament until 1938, when he retired from politics.
In 1935, he was the president of a big meeting. This was the Annual Conference of the International Labour Organization in Geneva.
Military Service in World War I
During the South-West Africa Campaign in 1914–1915, Creswell was a second-in-command. From 1916 to 1917, he led the 8th South African Infantry. He fought in the East African campaign with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Later Life
In 1920, Frederic Creswell married Margaret Boys. They did not have any children. He passed away on August 25, 1948, in Kuilsrivier, South Africa. His ashes were placed in a special garden in Epping, near Cape Town.
A fast attack ship of the South African Navy was named after him.
