Alfred Milner becomes High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Province

Updated: 20 Apr 2020

Sir Alfred Milner became High Commissioner for South Africa and Governor of the Cape Province in 1897. His efforts to gain political rights for the "Uitlanders" (foreigners who flocked to the gold-fields in the Transvaal) heightened growing tension between Britain and the South African Republic (Transvaal). With his rigid attitude he played a prominent role in events leading up to the Second South African War (Anglo-Boer War 2). He assisted in negotiating a peace treaty that ended the South African War. After the war he became the British governor of the Orange Free State (Orange River Colony) and the Transvaal Colony and was tasked with reconstructing South Africa. To that effect he introduced a policy of reconstruction dubbed "reconstruction under arms".

How we know this

01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU.
02Muller, C.F.J. (ed)(1981). Five Hundred years: a history of South Africa; 3rd rev. ed., Pretoria: Academica,p. 362.

Last updated · 20 Apr 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Alfred Milner becomes High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Province. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011173

South African History Online (2011) 'Alfred Milner becomes High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Province', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011173 (Accessed: 8 November 2026).

South African History Online, Alfred Milner becomes High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Province [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011173, (accessed 8 November 2026).

"Alfred Milner becomes High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Province." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011173. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

South African History Online. "Alfred Milner becomes High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Province." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011173.