Kruger

Kruger, STEPHANUS JOHANNES PAULUS, born 10th Oct. 1825 at Rastenburg in Cape Colony, with his fellow-Boers 'trekked' to Natal, the Orange River Free State, and the Transvaal, and in the war against England (1881) was appointed head of the government. In 1883 he was elected president of the Transvaal Republic, and again in 1888, 1893, and 1898. On the failure of negotiations to remedy the Outlanders' grievances he, with Mr Steyn, president of the Orange Free State, on 9th Oct. 1899 presented an ultimatum which was virtually a declaration of war, and for which his government had been preparing for years. This was followed by the invasion of Natal and Cape Colony; and the war, which lasted till the end of 1900, resulted in the annexation of the Transvaal and Orange Free State as British colonies. In Nov. 1900 Mr Kruger sought refuge in Europe. See JAMESON (L. S.); and Statham, Paul Kruger and his Times (1898).