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State President of the Orange Free State

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State President of the Orange Free State
Staatspresident van de Oranje Vrijstaat
Arms of the Orange Free State
Longest serving
Johannes Brand
2 February 1864–14 July 1888
StyleHis Excellency
ResidenceOld Presidency, Bloemfontein
Term length5 years
Formation13 September 1854
First holderJosias Philip Hoffman
Final holderMartinus Theunis Steyn
Abolished31 May 1902

The State President of the Orange Free State had the executive authority in the Orange Free State. By the constitution of 1854, the president was elected by the Burghers, from a list of candidates nominated by the Volksraad for a term of five years. There were no term-limits.[1]

The Old Presidency in Bloemfontein

List of officeholders

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Josias Philip Hoffman
(1807–1879)[a] 		24 February 1854 10 February 1855 351 days
– Jacobus Johannes Venter
(1814–1889)[b] 		10 February 1855 27 August 1855 198 days
2 Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff
(1808–1881) 		27 August 1855 6 September 1859 4 years, 10 days
– Esaias Reynier Snijman
(1822–1884)
Acting 		6 September 1859 8 February 1860 155 days
3 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius
(1819–1901) 		8 February 1860 17 June 1863 3 years, 159 days
– Joseph Allison
Acting for absent Pretorius 		18 March 1863 17 June 1863 91 days
Vacant (17 June – 20 June 1863)[c]
– Jacobus Johannes Venter
(1814–1889)
Acting 		20 June 1863 2 February 1864 227 days
4 Sir Johannes Henricus Brand, GCMG
(1823–1888) 		2 February 1864 14 July 1888 † 24 years, 163 days
– Pieter Jeremias Blignaut
(1841–1909)[d] 		14 July 1888 10 January 1889 180 days
5 Francis William Reitz
(1844–1934) 		10 January 1889 11 December 1895 6 years, 335 days
– Pieter Jeremias Blignaut
(1841–1909)
Acting 		11 December 1895 4 March 1896 84 days
6 Martinus Theunis Steyn
(1857–1916) 		4 March 1896 31 May 1902 6 years, 88 days
Second Boer War (11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902)
– Christiaan Rudolf de Wet
(1854–1922)
Acting for Steyn 		29 May 1902 31 May 1902 2 days
Post abolished with the Treaty of Vereeniging
British annexation (Orange River Colony)

Last election

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Main article: 1896 Orange Free State presidential election
CandidateVotes%
Martinus Theunis Steyn6,87783.42
John G. Fraser1,36716.58
Total8,244100.00
Source: South African History Online

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Styled as President of the Provisional Government (until 29 March 1854), President of the Volksraad (until 15 April 1854), Acting State President (until 13 September 1854) and State President (from 13 September 1854).
  2. ^ Styled as Provisional State President (until 15 February 1855) and Chairman of the Executive Committee (from 15 February 1855).
  3. ^ The office of State President was vacant between 17 June 1863 when the Volksraad accepted the resignation of Pretorius and 20 June 1863 when Venter was sworn in.
  4. ^ Styled as Chairman of the Executive Council (until 21 August 1888) and Acting State President (from 21 August 1888).

References

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  1. ^ McCall Theal, George (1908). History of South Africa Since September 1795 (PDF). SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO.
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