Nicolaas Smit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicolaas Smit
|
|
|---|---|
.png) |
|
| Born | 30 May 1837 Doornbos, South Africa |
| Died | 4 April 1896 (aged 58) Pretoria, South Africa |
| Allegiance |  South African Republic |
| Service/ |
Military |
| Years of service | 1860-90 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Transvaal Commandos |
| Battles/wars | Ingogo Heights; Majuba Hill. |
| Awards | Order of the Red Eagle (Prussia) Order of the Netherlands Lion (the Netherlands) |
| Relations | Nicolaas Van der Merwe |
| Other work | Vice State President of the South African Republic 1888-1896 |
Nicolaas Jacobus Smit (born May 30, 1837 – died April 4, 1896) was a brave Boer general and an important politician in South Africa. He is best known for leading the Boer forces to a big victory at the Battle of Majuba Hill during the First Boer War. After his military career, he became the Vice State President of the South African Republic in 1887 and served in that role until he passed away.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Nicolaas Jacobus Smit was born at a place called Doornbos, near Graaff-Reinet in South Africa. His parents were Nicolaas Jacobus Smit (who lived from 1811 to 1887) and Elizabeth Magdalena Van der Merwe (who lived from 1815 to 1892). His family came from the first Dutch Calvinist settlers who arrived in South Africa before 1688. These settlers were among the very first white people to make their homes on the continent.
When Nicolaas was 25 years old, he moved to Natal with his parents. They lived in Durban for a short time. However, they did not like the English way of life there. So, Smit decided to join the army. He soon went out into the open country, known as the veldt, with a group of his friends and fellow soldiers.
Military Career and Political Role
In 1873, Smit settled down on a farm where he raised sheep with his family. He also rented land for cattle in the Ngwenya Hills, which are located northwest of Forbes Reef. By this time, he had been promoted to lieutenant-general. He had also fought alongside the Pedi people under their Chief Sekhukane. The Pedi had joined forces with the Boer Republic. Smit proved to be a very skilled leader, especially when commanding small, fast-moving groups of soldiers.
At the Battle of Ingogo Heights, Smit showed incredible bravery. He and only 200 soldiers managed to hold off an enemy force that was three times larger than his own. This happened in very bad weather conditions, showing his strong leadership.
Victory at Majuba Hill
General Smit showed great courage and smart thinking at the Battle of Majuba Hill. He led his unit to move uphill while under heavy enemy fire. They used the natural shape of the land to stay hidden and protected. The Boer soldiers wore khaki uniforms, which blended in with the landscape. Their excellent knowledge of the area also made it very hard for the British soldiers to see them.
The British had made some mistakes. They had not dug trenches or set up defenses to protect their lines. Also, they had not brought any large cannons (artillery) with them, which made it hard to defend their position on top of the hill. The Boers managed to capture the British right side at a place called Gordon's Knoll. After this, the British could not hold their position and had to retreat.
General Smit's victory at Majuba Hill quickly ended the Transvaal War. This important win allowed the Boer Republic to be officially recognized at the Pretoria Convention. This agreement remained in place until the Second Boer War. Later, the London Convention (1884) replaced the Pretoria Convention. Smit was one of the people who signed this new agreement, which gave the Boers full control over their land forever.
Becoming a Political Leader
Because of his bravery and quick thinking on the battlefield, Smit was chosen for a political job. On June 20, 1887, he was appointed as the Vice State President of the South African Republic. He won later elections and continued to serve as Vice State President until he died. He did not live long enough to see President Kruger declare the full independence of the republic.
Family Life
Nicolaas Smit married Hendrika Stephina (who lived from 1841 to 1894) in April 1863. She was the daughter of Hendrik Stephanus Pretorius and Rachel Jacoba Liebenberg. They got married in Rustenburg. Together, they had three sons and two daughters. After Hendrika passed away, Smit married Sussana Bosman, a widow, in May 1895.
Awards and Honors
- Order of the Red Eagle (from Prussia, which was a German kingdom)
- Order of the Netherlands Lion (from the Netherlands)
Gallery
-
Nicolaas Jacobus Smit
-
The Boer Delegates 1883-1884
-
Western side panel of the Kruger statue in Pretoria
