Francis William Reitz, South African lawyer and politician, is born

Date: 5 Oct 1844
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Francis William Reitz, South African lawyer and politician, is born

Francis William Reitz was born on 5 October 1844 in Swelllendam in what is now the Western Cape. Reitz was a lawyerand politician. He became the first president of the Senate of the Union of South Africa. He was very popular and loved for his openness, to the point of winning a presidential election unopposed. A talented poet and writer, Reitz made a notable contribution to Afrikaans Literature. He was honoured with an Honouree honours degree from the University of Stellenbosch. He died on 27 March 1934 and received a state funeral.

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01Olive Schreiner Letters Online, Frank (Francis) William Reitz ,[online], Available at www.oliveschreiner.org [Accessed on 4 October 2013]
02South African History Online, Francis William Reitz, [online] Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 4 October 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, October 2). Francis William Reitz, South African lawyer and politician, is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096478

South African History Online (2013) 'Francis William Reitz, South African lawyer and politician, is born', South African History Online, 2 October. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096478 (Accessed: 24 September 2026).

South African History Online, Francis William Reitz, South African lawyer and politician, is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096478, (accessed 24 September 2026).

"Francis William Reitz, South African lawyer and politician, is born." South African History Online, 2 Oct. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096478. Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Francis William Reitz, South African lawyer and politician, is born." South African History Online. October 2, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096478.