Botha, Louis (1862-1919)

Boer War commander Louis Botha, who in 1907 became the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa. He played a prominent role in the national convention which drafted the new South African constitution, and subsequently gained international recognition for the Union at the Versailles Peace Conference, for his support of the Allies during World War I.

South African soldier and politician. He was a commander in the Second South African War (Boer War). In 1907 he became premier of the Transvaal and in 1910 of the first Union South African government. On the outbreak of World War I in 1914 he rallied South Africa to the Commonwealth, suppressed a Boer revolt, and conquered German South West Africa.