F. S. Malan
Encyclopedia
François Stephanus Malan PC
(12 March 1871–31 December 1941), usually called F. S. Malan or just F. S., was a South Africa
n politician.
Malan was the son of a farmer and was born in Leeuwenjacht, near Paarl
, Cape Colony
. As his name suggests, he was of Huguenot
(French Protestants who fled to South Africa and were assimilated in the Afrikaner population) descent. His brother, Charles W. Malan, also entered politics. Malan was educated at Victoria College, Stellenbosch, the University of the Cape of Good Hope
(where he studied science) and Christ's College, Cambridge
, graduating from Cambridge in 1894 with an LLB. He returned to Cape Colony in 1895 and was admitted as an advocate
. He never practised, however, and later that year became editor of Ons Land, the Cape's leading Dutch language
newspaper
. He vigorously opposed Cecil Rhodes and the Progressive Party, precipitated the fall of William Philip Schreiner
's government in 1902, and opposed Lord Milner. He was sentenced to a year's imprisonment during the South African War.
In 1900 Malan was elected to the Cape Assembly for the Afrikander Bond, of which he later became leader. In 1908 he resigned from Ons Land and was appointed Minister of Agriculture in John X. Merriman
's government. He served until the creation of the Union of South Africa
in 1910, when he was elected to the Union Parliament
for the South African Party
and joined Louis Botha
's government as Minister of Education. He also became Minister of Mines (later Mines and Industries) in 1912. He remained in the government after Jan Smuts
succeeded Botha in 1919. In April 1920 he also became Minister of Agriculture. He also acted as Prime Minister for eight months while Botha and Smuts were away at the Paris Peace Conference
in 1919. After Smuts's government fell in 1924, Malan never again held government office. In 1927 he was elected to the Senate
, becoming its President (Speaker) in January 1940. He held this post until his death.
He was appointed to the Privy Council
in the 1920 Birthday Honours, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(12 March 1871–31 December 1941), usually called F. S. Malan or just F. S., was a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician.
Malan was the son of a farmer and was born in Leeuwenjacht, near Paarl
Paarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
, Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
. As his name suggests, he was of Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
(French Protestants who fled to South Africa and were assimilated in the Afrikaner population) descent. His brother, Charles W. Malan, also entered politics. Malan was educated at Victoria College, Stellenbosch, the University of the Cape of Good Hope
University of the Cape of Good Hope
The University of the Cape of Good Hope, renamed the University of South Africa in 1916, was created by Act 16 of 1873 of the Cape of Good Hope Parliament. Modelled on the University of London, it offered examinations but not tuition, and had the power to confer degrees upon successful examination...
(where he studied science) and Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, graduating from Cambridge in 1894 with an LLB. He returned to Cape Colony in 1895 and was admitted as an advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
. He never practised, however, and later that year became editor of Ons Land, the Cape's leading Dutch language
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. He vigorously opposed Cecil Rhodes and the Progressive Party, precipitated the fall of William Philip Schreiner
William Philip Schreiner
William Philip Schreiner was a barrister, politician, statesman and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony during the Second Boer War.-Career:...
's government in 1902, and opposed Lord Milner. He was sentenced to a year's imprisonment during the South African War.
In 1900 Malan was elected to the Cape Assembly for the Afrikander Bond, of which he later became leader. In 1908 he resigned from Ons Land and was appointed Minister of Agriculture in John X. Merriman
John X. Merriman
John Xavier Merriman was the last prime minister of the Cape Colony before the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.-Early life:...
's government. He served until the creation of the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
in 1910, when he was elected to the Union Parliament
Parliament of South Africa
The Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
for the South African Party
South African Party
The South African Party was a political party that existed in the Union of South Africa from 1911 to 1934.-History:The outline and foundation for the party was realized after the election of a 'South African party' in the 1910 South African general election under the leadership of Louis Botha...
and joined Louis Botha
Louis Botha
Louis Botha was an Afrikaner and first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa—the forerunner of the modern South African state...
's government as Minister of Education. He also became Minister of Mines (later Mines and Industries) in 1912. He remained in the government after Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
succeeded Botha in 1919. In April 1920 he also became Minister of Agriculture. He also acted as Prime Minister for eight months while Botha and Smuts were away at the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
in 1919. After Smuts's government fell in 1924, Malan never again held government office. In 1927 he was elected to the Senate
Senate of South Africa
The Senate was the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa between 1910 and its abolition from 1 January 1981, and between 1994 and 1997.-1910-1981:...
, becoming its President (Speaker) in January 1940. He held this post until his death.
He was appointed to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in the 1920 Birthday Honours, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".