Francis William Reitz was born in Swellendam in 1844. He became an advocate and from 1874 was the President of the Orange Free State Appeal Court. He became President of the Orange Free State in 1889.
He was a journalist who worked on the Cape Argus. He wrote topical and satirical poems in English, Dutch and early Afrikaans. His publications include: Klaas Gezwint en Zyn Paert and Other Songs and Rijmpies of South Africa (1884), and Oorlogs en Ander Gedichten (1910).