Stephanus Schoeman
| Stephanus Schoeman | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 2nd President of the South African Republic | |
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In office 6 December 1860 – 17 April 1862 |
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| Preceded by | Marthinus Wessel Pretorius |
| Succeeded by | Willem Cornelis Janse van Renseburg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1810 Oudtshoorn, Cape Province |
| Died | 1890 Pretoria, South Africa |
| Spouse(s) | Elsie Maria Aletta Potgieter |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 South African Republic Voortrekkers
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| Battles/wars | Battle of Blood River, 16 December 1838 |
Commandant-General Stephanus Schoeman (14 March 1810 – 1890) was State President of the South African Republic (ZAR - Transvaal), from 6 December 1860 until 17 April 1862. His red hair, fiery temperament and vehement disputes with other Boer leaders earned him the moniker "Stormvogel den Noorden," "Storm bird of the North."
The first member of the Schoeman clan arrived in the Cape in 1724 from Ditmarschen in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Ditmarschen had been a Boer Republic (Burenrepublik) of Merchant-farmers until 1550, and the memory of this free Boer Republic must have lived on in her sons who emigrated to South Africa.
He originally settled in the Zoutpansberg but also owned a farm in Pretoria - the area now occupied by the Pretoria Zoo. Bloedstraat was also part of his farm.
Stephanus Schoeman was a minor Trekker leader, who had his own flag. He joined Andries Pretorius' group, fighting in the Battle of Blood River. One of the three cannons used in the battle, Ou Grietjie belonged to Schoeman and is now on display in the Voortrekker Monument.
As Commandant-General, Stephanus Schoeman was involved in a major political conflict with Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, the ZAR's First President and writer of its constitution. Schoeman rejected the constitution. Amongst others, Schoeman was supported by Willem Cornelis Janse van Rensburg whom he subsequently appointed as a provisional commandant. Van Rensburg represented Schoeman in negotiations with Pretorius's faction. In 1858, when Schoeman fell ill, Van Rensburg was appointed as acting Commandant-General.
Shortly before the end of 1859, MW Pretorius, who was the son of the popular Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius, was concurrently elected president of the Orange Free State Republic (OFS). The Volksraad granted him six months leave to take up his office in the OFS. However, once his leave expired, the Volksraad would not allow Pretorius to resume his former office of president of the Transvaal, as well as of the OFS. The presidency of the Transvaal was thus left vacant and Commandant-General Stephanus Schoeman refused to accept JH Grobler as acting president. Schoeman, supported by many dissatisfied burghers, relieved Grobler of his office, assuming it himself.
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