Schalk Willem Burger
Encyclopedia
Schalk Willem Burger was a South Africa
n military leader, lawyer, and statesman, and was acting President of the South African Republic
from 1900 to 1902, whilst Paul Kruger
was in exile.
Wars of 1876, and later during the First Boer War
of 1881, he served as Acting Field Cornet.
He was elected as Commandant of the Lydenburg Commando in 1885. When the Second Boer War
started, he served as Commandant-General in a number of military conflicts, including the Battle of Spion Kop
and Battle of Modder River
on 30 October 1899.
After the Battle of Spion Kop, due to illness, he withdrew from the fighting and pursued his political career once more. He was elected to the Volksraad
(House of Assembly
) in 1887, later serving as Chairman.
He served as Vice President under President Paul Kruger
and later succeeded Kruger as State President, after Kruger had left for Europe.
During the "Krigsraad" (military council / tribunal) in May 1901, he advocated a cessation of hostilities, but his proposal was strongly opposed by President Marthinus Theunis Steyn of the Orange Free State
. Burger remained president until the Treaty of Vereeniging
on 31 May 1902.
He died in 1918 at Goedgedacht, near Krugerspos.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n military leader, lawyer, and statesman, and was acting President of the South African Republic
President of the South African Republic
List of State Presidents of the South African Republic -References:* -External links:...
from 1900 to 1902, whilst Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger , better known as Paul Kruger and affectionately known as Uncle Paul was State President of the South African Republic...
was in exile.
Military service
He served in a number of military conflicts such as the SekhukhuneSekhukhune
Sekhukhune , was king of the Marota , in the current Mpumalanga province, Limpopo province, Gauteng province of South Africa. He became king upon his father's death in September 1861, and lived at a mountain, now known as Thaba Ya Sekhukhune, which he fortified.The Marota lived in the land between...
Wars of 1876, and later during the First Boer War
First Boer War
The First Boer War also known as the First Anglo-Boer War or the Transvaal War, was fought from 16 December 1880 until 23 March 1881-1877 annexation:...
of 1881, he served as Acting Field Cornet.
He was elected as Commandant of the Lydenburg Commando in 1885. When the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
started, he served as Commandant-General in a number of military conflicts, including the Battle of Spion Kop
Battle of Spion Kop
The Battle of Spion Kop was fought about west-south-west of Ladysmith on the hilltop of Spioenkop along the Tugela River, Natal in South Africa from 23–24 January 1900...
and Battle of Modder River
Battle of Modder River
The Battle of Modder River was an engagement in the Boer War, fought at Modder River, on 28 November 1899...
on 30 October 1899.
Political career
As a politician, he was described as "enlightened and shrewd" and it was reported that he rivaled Paul Kruger in his influence over his countrymen.After the Battle of Spion Kop, due to illness, he withdrew from the fighting and pursued his political career once more. He was elected to 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...
(House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
) in 1887, later serving as Chairman.
He served as Vice President under President Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger , better known as Paul Kruger and affectionately known as Uncle Paul was State President of the South African Republic...
and later succeeded Kruger as State President, after Kruger had left for Europe.
During the "Krigsraad" (military council / tribunal) in May 1901, he advocated a cessation of hostilities, but his proposal was strongly opposed by President Marthinus Theunis Steyn 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...
. Burger remained president until the Treaty of Vereeniging
Treaty of Vereeniging
The Treaty of Vereeniging was the peace treaty, signed on 31 May 1902, that ended the South African War between the South African Republic and the Republic of the Orange Free State, on the one side, and the British Empire on the other.This settlement provided for the end of hostilities and...
on 31 May 1902.
He died in 1918 at Goedgedacht, near Krugerspos.