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Smuts, Jan Christian, 1870-1950

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1870 - 1950

Biography

Jan Christian Smuts (1870-1950), statesman, was born in the Cape Colony, of Dutch origin. He graduated in science and literature from Stellenbosch in 1891, before attending Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1894, where he studied law. He was admitted to the Cape bar in 1895. In 1896 he moved to the Transvaal, and became state attorney in 1898, and colonial secretary and minister of education, 1907-1910. He was minister of defence in the Union government, 1910-1919, as a member of the South African Party under Louis Botha. In 1916 he was commissioned as lieutenant-general in the British Army to command the imperial forces in East Africa. He represented the Union at the imperial conference and war cabinet in 1917 and remained as a member of the British war cabinet. He was one of the chief sponsors of the League of Nations. Smuts was prime minister of South Africa between 1919 and 1924, during which time he suppressed the Rand rebellion (1922). He was defeated in the election of 1924, and spent a long period in opposition, before entering a coalition as deputy prime minister under J.B.M. Hertzog, 1933-1939. In 1934 the United South African National Party was formed from the combining of their respective parties. Smuts was prime minister again from 1939 to 1948, and field-marshal in 1941. He also served as chancellor of the universities of Cape Town, 1936-1950, and of Cambridge, 1948-1950.

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

 Fonds

Jan Christian Smuts: Correspondence

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.7917
Scope and Contents Typed extracts of letters to the Clark and Gillett families (files 1-19) 1. Letters to Alice Clark, 1906-1933. 2-17. Letters to Margaret Clark Gillett and Arthur B. Gillett: 1906-1919, 1920-1925, 1926-1930, 1931-1932, 1933-1934, 1935-1936, 1937-1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944-1945, 1946, 1947-1948, and 1949-1950. 18. Miscellaneous file of Smuts letters to (1) Dr Hilda Clark, (2) Roger Clark, (3) William S. Clark, (4) the children of A.B. and M.C. Gillett, and (5) Dr Henry Gillett....
Dates: 1901-1950 (Circa)
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Fonds

Jan Christian Smuts: Letter to C.R. Fay, 1939

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.4251/1328
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Artificial collection of single item or small collection accessions. Mainly correspondence but includes other papers.

Dates: 1939
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Series

Jan Christian Smuts: MS notes for speech on British Commonwealth of Nations and its future, made at the dinner in his honour in the Royal Gallery, House of Lords, 15 May 1917

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8812/153
Scope and Contents

Includes copy of dinner menu, annotated by Smuts' military secretary, the only 'non-member' present; with letters of provenance

Dates: 15 May 1917
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 File

Letter from Jan Christian Smuts, Cape Town, 2 Apr. 1935

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9259/IV/51
Scope and Contents

Acknowledging receipt of Can War be Averted?, which will be read after the current session of parliament; typescript, signed

Dates: 2 Apr. 1935
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Series

Miscellaneous correspondence, 25 May 1903-14 Dec. 1940

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9259/IV
Dates: 25 May 1903-14 Dec. 1940
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

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