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107:, as a means of influencing the council. The four "popular" members attempted to amend the constitution but, being obstructed, they resigned en masse, and drew up the famous "Sixteen Articles" as the proposed democratic constitution for the country. These were conveyed to London, and a long controversy ensued.
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Upon the successful attainment of
Responsible Government, he retired from politics for the second time. He was an extremely popular figure in parliament and his colleagues offered him a title "Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod" so that he would be able to remain in contact and involved in parliament,
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District. He continued his support for
Voluntarism & Responsible Government, in the lower house now, until both movements finally triumphed. He was also known as a strong advocate for a country-wide irrigation system. He was not a confident public speaker though, and greatly disliked political
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He was generally more theoretical than practical in his interests, but he was enormously influential in his writing of academic papers on farming as well as starting book clubs and agricultural societies. He also edited journals and gave lectures on agricultural topics, and remained the centre of
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He was initially only attracted to politics due to the "Convict agitation" of 1849, where he represented communities of the
Overberg region. He first served on the early, weak & nominal Legislative Council from 6 September 1850, when he was elected, together with
45:", he was born at his family's home on the Heerengracht in Cape Town. He was baptised "Francis William" only after his parents' chosen name for him (François Guillaume) was rejected by the English Chaplain for sounding too French. He was schooled locally at the
73:, the community's resident doctor who resided at the "Klein Huis" (the current farm dwelling) on Reitz's Rhenosterfontein estate and also served as a Member of Parliament. Dr White and Frank Reitz were described as a well-known, characterful duo,
49:, before studying agriculture in Scotland and travelling widely in Europe. He travelled and studied from Scotland to Italy and Germany, over several years, attaining a vast wealth of knowledge and experience - especially in the sciences.
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When the Cape attained its first real parliament in 1854, Reitz was elected to represent the
Western half of the country (which was at the time divided into two "Provinces"). He served for almost ten years.
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respectively. This made him a hated figure by the clergy and the imperialist establishment, and he gained a reputation as a radical. He was nonetheless extremely popular among ordinary voters of all races.
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He was an enormously popular and well-known figure in the
Swellendam region, and he was consequently persuaded to stand for election for the Legislative Assembly (lower house), representing his
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He was described as a studious and scholarly man with extremely broad, liberal and tolerant views, on everything from religion to race.
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Financial set-backs caused him to withdraw from politics in 1863. He also sold his farm and moved to "Kliprivier" in
Swellendam.
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Returning to the Cape, he started farming in 1835 at the farm
Rhenosterfontein near Swellendam.
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Sr. MLC MLA (31 December 1810 - 26 June 1881) was an influential member of both houses of the
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In 1832 he had married
Cornelia Deneys, and the couple had 12 children. His son,
103:. The Governor Harry Smith however installed a puppet member, the pro-imperialist
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organised Cape agriculture for most of the remainder of his life. When
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in 1878, Reitz was unsurprisingly invited to serve as co-editor.
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Jr., was an influential politician and later
President of the
123:" movement (separation of Church & State) and of the "
218:"S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science"
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Members of the House of Assembly of the Cape Colony
75:"lovably Dickensian in their ways and appearance"
205:Dictionary of South African biography, Vol. 2
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69:Reitz was a close, like-long friend of
156:even without having political power.
119:He became a strong supporter of the "
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31:Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope
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195:. Maskew Miller. 1952. pp. 164-5.
63:Het Zuid-Afrikaansche Tijdschrift
143:Legislative Assembly (1869-73)
58:Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr (Onze Jan)
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111:Legislative Council (1854-63)
86:Conflict with the government
41:Generally known simply as "
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22:Frank Reitz in later life
264:Cape Colony politicians
249:19th century in Africa
125:Responsible government
37:Early life and farming
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169:Francis William Reitz
27:Francis William Reitz
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160:Character and family
93:Andries Stockenström
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173:Orange Free State
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269:Afrikaner people
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121:Voluntarist
43:Frank Reitz
243:Categories
227:25 October
179:References
149:Swellendam
152:debates.
60:founded
207:. 1972.
229:2018
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