1870-1950. South African politician, field
marshal, and lawyer; prime minister 1919-24
and 1939-48. He supported the Allies in both
world wars and was a member of the British
imperial war cabinet 1917-18. During the
Second South African War (1899-1902) Smuts
commanded the Boer forces in his native Cape
Colony. He subsequently worked for
reconciliation between the Boers and the
British and on the establishment of the Union
became minister of the interior 1910-12 and
defence minister 1910-20. During World War I
he commanded the South African forces in East
Africa 1916-17. He was prime minister
1919-24, and minister of justice 1933-39, and
on the outbreak of World War II succeeded
General Hertzog as premier. He was created a
field marshal in 1941 and received the Order
of Merit in 1947. Although more of an
internationalist than his contemporaries,
Smuts was a segregationalist, voting in
favour of legislation that took away black
rights and land ownership.