Sir James Tennant Molteno
Encyclopedia
James Molteno was a South African politician
and Speaker of Parliament.
The son of Prime Minister
Sir John Molteno, James was born on 5 January 1865 at his family's Claremont
estate. He matriculated with honours from Diocesan College
and read law at Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he was noted not just for his academic achievements but for his unusual strength and physical fitness (An extremely athletic man, he excelled in sports from horseracing and boxing to tennis and shooting). He divided his time at university between frenzied study, and backpacking around Europe attending drunken parties with student friends. When he graduated with honours he was called to the Inner Temple
in London, before returning to Cape Town to become an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1889.
Molteno entered the Cape Parliament in 1890, at the age of 25, and became Speaker of Parliament
in 1908. He was in fact to be the last speaker before the Cape Parliament dissolved itself on the act of Union
. He was an outspoken opponent of the Boer War
- branding it a "disgrace" and a "ruinous enterprise", and calling the Jameson Raid
"a fool's expedition" - and although he was initially a friend of the Cape Prime Minister Cecil John Rhodes
, he later came to condemn the policies of both Rhodes and Sir Alfred Milner
, whose determination to end the independence of the Boer republics he took great lengths to reveal in the English press.
He was an ally and friend of the liberal premier J.X.Merriman, and a fierce critic of the malpractices that took place in the Cape under martial law
, even acting as legal adviser to the so-called Cape rebels who were accused of treason.
Nevertheless, when the new Union House of Assembly was created, Molteno, now representing the constituency of Ceres
, was asked to take up his office again. He thus became the first Speaker of the South African Parliament
. In 1911, he led the South African parliamentary delegation to London for the coronation of King George V. He was knighted in the same year.
He retired from Parliament in 1915 and moved to Elgin
, outside Cape Town, where much of his extended family lived. Here we he settled down to write two racy volumes on the political life of the Cape, a collection of rather random trivia and recollections, and a protracted denouncement of Rhodes and other imperial figures which he claimed was a warning to South Africa of its future direction.
Known as an eccentric (never seen without his umbrella), he spent his last years on his farm and died on 16 September 1936 while on a visit to Europe. He was survived by his wife, Clare (Clarissa Celia Holland-Pryor), and his four children.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Speaker of Parliament.
The son of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Sir John Molteno, James was born on 5 January 1865 at his family's Claremont
Claremont, Cape Town
Claremont is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated six miles south of the city, and is one of the so-called "Southern Suburbs". It is an important commercial and residential area, which is currently experiencing significant growth and development.-History:Until the arrival of Dutch...
estate. He matriculated with honours from Diocesan College
Diocesan College
The Diocesan College, or Bishops as it is more commonly known, is an independent, all-boys school situated in the suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa...
and read law at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he was noted not just for his academic achievements but for his unusual strength and physical fitness (An extremely athletic man, he excelled in sports from horseracing and boxing to tennis and shooting). He divided his time at university between frenzied study, and backpacking around Europe attending drunken parties with student friends. When he graduated with honours he was called to the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in London, before returning to Cape Town to become an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1889.
Molteno entered the Cape Parliament in 1890, at the age of 25, and became Speaker of Parliament
Speaker of the South African National Assembly
The Speaker of the National Assembly presides over the National Assembly of South Africa, the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa. The speaker is chosen from among the Members of the Assembly at its first sitting following a general election and whenever the office is vacant...
in 1908. He was in fact to be the last speaker before the Cape Parliament dissolved itself on the act of Union
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...
. He was an outspoken opponent of the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
- branding it a "disgrace" and a "ruinous enterprise", and calling the Jameson Raid
Jameson Raid
The Jameson Raid was a botched raid on Paul Kruger's Transvaal Republic carried out by a British colonial statesman Leander Starr Jameson and his Rhodesian and Bechuanaland policemen over the New Year weekend of 1895–96...
"a fool's expedition" - and although he was initially a friend of the Cape Prime Minister Cecil John Rhodes
Cecil John Rhodes
Cecil John Rhodes PC, DCL was an English-born South African businessman, mining magnate, and politician. He was the founder of the diamond company De Beers, which today markets 40% of the world's rough diamonds and at one time marketed 90%...
, he later came to condemn the policies of both Rhodes and Sir Alfred Milner
Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner
Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner KG, GCB, GCMG, PC was a British statesman and colonial administrator who played an influential leadership role in the formulation of foreign and domestic policy between the mid-1890s and early 1920s...
, whose determination to end the independence of the Boer republics he took great lengths to reveal in the English press.
He was an ally and friend of the liberal premier J.X.Merriman, and a fierce critic of the malpractices that took place in the Cape under martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
, even acting as legal adviser to the so-called Cape rebels who were accused of treason.
Nevertheless, when the new Union House of Assembly was created, Molteno, now representing the constituency of Ceres
Ceres, Western Cape
Ceres is a town with 46,251 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is the administrative centre and largest town of the Witzenberg Local Municipality. Ceres serves as a regional centre for the surrounding towns of Wolseley, Tulbagh, Op-die-Berg and Prince Alfred Hamlet...
, was asked to take up his office again. He thus became the first Speaker of the South African Parliament
Speaker of the South African National Assembly
The Speaker of the National Assembly presides over the National Assembly of South Africa, the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa. The speaker is chosen from among the Members of the Assembly at its first sitting following a general election and whenever the office is vacant...
. In 1911, he led the South African parliamentary delegation to London for the coronation of King George V. He was knighted in the same year.
He retired from Parliament in 1915 and moved to Elgin
Elgin, Western Cape
Elgin, situated in the Overberg region of South Africa, is an apple-growing area near Grabouw and is about 70 km southeast of Cape Town. A group of apple farms called Glen Elgin - owned by the Molteno family - gave the place its name...
, outside Cape Town, where much of his extended family lived. Here we he settled down to write two racy volumes on the political life of the Cape, a collection of rather random trivia and recollections, and a protracted denouncement of Rhodes and other imperial figures which he claimed was a warning to South Africa of its future direction.
Known as an eccentric (never seen without his umbrella), he spent his last years on his farm and died on 16 September 1936 while on a visit to Europe. He was survived by his wife, Clare (Clarissa Celia Holland-Pryor), and his four children.
See also
- Parliament of South AfricaParliament of South AfricaThe 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....
- Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa
- Union of South AfricaUnion of South AfricaThe 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...
- Sir John Charles Molteno
- Molteno (disambiguation)
Further reading
- Molteno, J.T.: The Dominion of Afrikanerdom. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1923.
- Molteno, J.T.: Further South African Recollections. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1926.
- Kilpin, R.: The Old Cape House, being pages from the history of a legislative assembly. Cape Town: T.M. Miller, 1918.
- Kilpin, R.: Men of the Times. Cape Town: T.M. Miller, 1906.
- Phillida Brooke Simons: Apples of the sun : being an account of the lives, vision and achievements of the Molteno brothers. Vlaeberg: Fernwood Press, 1999. ISBN 1-874950-45-8