Pretorius, Marthinus Wessels (1819–1901)

South African Boer commandant-general and political leader, the son of Andries Pretorius. In 1854 he led the Boer punitive force against the chieftain Makapaan, who had massacred Boer women and children while their menfolk were absent hunting. Pretorius tried unsuccessfully to bring the Orange Free State under his rule. He was elected president of the Transvaal on three occasions 1857–69. He tried unsuccessfully to annex Bechuanaland and Delagoa Bay.

Following the first British annexation of the Transvaal in 1877, Pretorius, together with other rebel Boer leaders, joined the insurgent movement, but in 1880 the independence of the Transvaal was recognized.