John G. Fraser
Encyclopedia
John George Fraser, was a prominent Orange Free State
politician, statesman and member of the Volksraad
. His first names were derived from those of his maternal grandfather, namely Johann Georg Sieberhagen. He was the son of a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Colin Fraser, who had acted as a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church in Beaufort West, where he was ordained on 19 January 1825 by Rev. Andrew Murray (senior). Rev. Fraser acted in that capacity until 31 December 1862, when he had to step down because of ill-health. Fraserburg was named after him. After the death of his first wife in 1838 (with whom he had seven children) he married Maria Elisabeth (née Sieberhagen) on 20 February 1840. They had nine children; one of which was Colin MacKenzie Fraser, who later acted as Dutch Reformed "dominee" in Philipolis. Colin MacKenzie Fraser was the father of Rachel Isabella Fraser, who become the wife of President MT Steyn. (C. Pama (1983). Die Groot Afrikaanse Familienaamboek. Cape Town: Human & Rousseau.)
John G. Fraser was a protagonist of friendly cooperation between the British government of the Cape Colony
and the Orange Free State
. In 1896 he stood candidate for the presidency of the Orange Free State
, but lost the election to Martinus Theunis Steyn
, who represented the Boers that stood for cooperation with the South African Republic
(Transvaal). He had thus lost the election against the husband of his niece!
He was the father of Maria Elizabeth Fraser married to Gideon Brand van Zyl who became the Governor General of the union of South Africa and was appointed part of the Privy Council for King George VI
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
politician, statesman and member of the Volksraad
Volksraad
The Volksraad was the parliament of the former South African Republic , which existed from 1857 to 1902 in part of what is now the South Africa. The body ceased to exist after the British victory in the Second Anglo-Boer War. The Volksraad sat in session in Ou Raadsaal in Church Square, Pretoria...
. His first names were derived from those of his maternal grandfather, namely Johann Georg Sieberhagen. He was the son of a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Colin Fraser, who had acted as a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church in Beaufort West, where he was ordained on 19 January 1825 by Rev. Andrew Murray (senior). Rev. Fraser acted in that capacity until 31 December 1862, when he had to step down because of ill-health. Fraserburg was named after him. After the death of his first wife in 1838 (with whom he had seven children) he married Maria Elisabeth (née Sieberhagen) on 20 February 1840. They had nine children; one of which was Colin MacKenzie Fraser, who later acted as Dutch Reformed "dominee" in Philipolis. Colin MacKenzie Fraser was the father of Rachel Isabella Fraser, who become the wife of President MT Steyn. (C. Pama (1983). Die Groot Afrikaanse Familienaamboek. Cape Town: Human & Rousseau.)
John G. Fraser was a protagonist of friendly cooperation between the British government of the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
. In 1896 he stood candidate for the presidency of the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
, but lost the election to Martinus Theunis Steyn
Martinus Theunis Steyn
Martinus Theunis Steyn was a South African lawyer, politician, and statesman, sixth and last president of the independent Orange Free State from 1896 to 1902....
, who represented the Boers that stood for cooperation with the South African Republic
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
(Transvaal). He had thus lost the election against the husband of his niece!
He was the father of Maria Elizabeth Fraser married to Gideon Brand van Zyl who became the Governor General of the union of South Africa and was appointed part of the Privy Council for King George VI