Historedia
Person

Marthinus Wessel Pretorius

Events
4
Episodes
8
Years
1857–1884

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Office of State President of the South African Republic, 1866

    1857–1866

    Role: First President of the South African Republic (elected 1857)

    1. 1857 · South African RepublicFirst Presidential Election

      Marthinus Wessel Pretorius was elected the first president of the South African Republic in 1857, according to the supplied passage.

    2. 1866 · RepublicTitle Change in 1866

      The official Dutch title of the head of state changed from 'President' to 'Staatspresident' after 1866.

  2. Stephanus Schoeman's coup sparks the Transvaal Civil War

    1862

    Role: President of the Transvaal who was elected president of the Orange Free State and instructed by the Volksraad to choose between the posts

    1. 1862 · South African RepublicVolksraad Declaration of Rebels

      The Volksraad declared the Schoeman factions to be rebels in 1862, enabling Kruger to summon burghers to the conflict.

    2. 9 October 1862 · PotchefstroomSkirmish at Potchefstroom

      Schoeman mustered a commando at Potchefstroom but was routed by Kruger on the night of 9 October 1862.

  3. British annexation of Griqualand West

    1871

    Role: Transvaal President

    1. 27 October 1871 · Griqualand West ColonyProclamation of Griqualand West

      British authorities proclaimed the diamond fields as the Griqualand West Colony on 27 October 1871, ending the Klipdrift Republic.

  4. Transvaal proclaimed a republic with Paul Kruger as president

    1880–1884

    Role: Member of Executive Triumvirate

    1. 13 December 1880 · PaardekraalPaardekraal Gathering

      Volksraad members summoned to Paardekraal in December 1880, marking the start of the republic's restoration.

    2. 9 May 1883 · TransvaalKruger Inauguration

      Kruger was inaugurated as president on 9 May 1883 after serving in a triumvirate.

    3. 27 February 1884 · LondonLondon Convention

      The London Convention of 1884 relinquished British suzerainty, recognizing the republic's independence.

Sources

  1. South African Republic Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-05
  2. Transvaal Civil War Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22
  3. Griqualand West Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-22
  4. Paul Kruger Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-06