Kruger

Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger was born on 3rd October 1825 in Colesburg, Cape Colony, South Africa. Between 1835-40 He trekked north with his parents where they became one of the founding families of the Transvaal State.

Because of his experience in fighting the natives he was elected Commandant General of the Transvaal forces in 1864. He continued in office under the British government until 1877 when he was dismissed because of his agitation for independence for the Transvaal. When the Boer rebellion broke out in 1880 he became one of the military leaders and in 1883 he was elected President of Transvaal. In 1899 he went to Europe to gain aid for the Boers. He died in Clarens, Switzerland in 1904.