State President of the Orange Free State facts for kids

Quick facts for kids State President of the Orange Free State
Arms of the Orange Free State
Longest serving Johannes Brand 2 February 1864–14 July 1888
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Old Presidency, Bloemfontein
Term length	5 years
Formation	13 September 1854
First holder	Josias Philip Hoffman
Final holder	Martinus Theunis Steyn
Abolished	31 May 1902

The State President of the Orange Free State was like the main leader or president of the Orange Free State. This person was in charge of the government's daily work, which is called the executive authority.

According to the rules set in 1854, the president was chosen by the Burghers. These were citizens who had the right to vote. The candidates for president were suggested by the Volksraad, which was like the parliament or main council. Each president served for five years, and there was no limit to how many times they could be re-elected.

The Old Presidency in Bloemfontein was where the president lived and worked in Bloemfontein.

Who Were the State Presidents?

This section lists all the people who served as the State President of the Orange Free State, including those who acted as president for a short time.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Time in office
			Started	Ended	Total time
1		Josias Philip Hoffman (1807–1879)	24 February 1854	10 February 1855	351 days
–		Jacobus Johannes Venter (1814–1889)	10 February 1855	27 August 1855	198 days
2		Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff (1808–1881)	27 August 1855	6 September 1859	4 years, 10 days
–		Esaias Reynier Snijman (1822–1884) Acting	6 September 1859	8 February 1860	155 days
3		Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (1819–1901)	8 February 1860	17 June 1863	3 years, 159 days
–		Joseph Allison Acting for absent Pretorius	18 March 1863	17 June 1863	91 days
Vacant (17 June – 20 June 1863)
–		Jacobus Johannes Venter (1814–1889) Acting	20 June 1863	2 February 1864	227 days
4		Sir Johannes Henricus Brand, GCMG (1823–1888)	2 February 1864	14 July 1888 †	24 years, 163 days
–		Pieter Jeremias Blignaut (1841–1909)	14 July 1888	10 January 1889	180 days
5		Francis William Reitz (1844–1934)	10 January 1889	11 December 1895	6 years, 335 days
–		Pieter Jeremias Blignaut (1841–1909) Acting	11 December 1895	4 March 1896	84 days
6		Martinus Theunis Steyn (1857–1916)	4 March 1896	31 May 1902	6 years, 88 days
Second Boer War (11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902)
–		Christiaan Rudolf de Wet (1854–1922) Acting for Steyn	29 May 1902	31 May 1902	2 days
Post abolished with the Treaty of Vereeniging British annexation (Orange River Colony)

The Last Election

The last time a State President was elected in the Orange Free State was in 1896. This election decided who would lead the country next.

Martinus Theunis Steyn won this election by a large number of votes. He became the last official State President before the Orange Free State became part of the British Empire.

See Also

• State President of the South African Republic