Governor-General Sir Patrick Duncan dies

Updated: 16 Jul 2021

Governor-general of the Union of South Africa, Sir Patrick Duncan, died in Pretoria at the age of 72. He came to South Africa as Sir Alfred Milner's private secretary in March 1901 and remained in SA until 1907. After a temporary residence in England he returned to SA and practiced as barrister in Johannesburg. He was recommended as governor-general by Prime Minister J.B.M. Hertzog and appointed in 1936, the first South African to hold this high office. His children presented his papers, numbering nearly 17, 000 items and consisting of private and semi-official papers covering his career from 1901-1943, to the University of Cape Town Library in 1966.

How we know this

01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa Vol.4, Cape Town: NASOU. https://www.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/index.php?html=/mss/newaids/BC294.HTM&msscollid=222

Last updated · 16 Jul 2021

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Governor-General Sir Patrick Duncan dies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011648

South African History Online (2011) 'Governor-General Sir Patrick Duncan dies', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011648 (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

South African History Online, Governor-General Sir Patrick Duncan dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011648, (accessed 7 October 2026).

"Governor-General Sir Patrick Duncan dies." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011648. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Governor-General Sir Patrick Duncan dies." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011648.