Jeremiah Baden Leeuw was born in 1932. Originally a member of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), Leeuw was one of the group of Africanists that broke away to form the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).
He was arrested during the 1960 anti-pass campaign (see Sharpeville Massacre) and sentenced to 3 years in prison, which was immediately followed by a period of detention. In 1964 he was again imprisoned, serving 8 years on Robben Island. In 1972 he was transferred to Harrismith Prison in the Free State. In June 1972 he was released, banned and confined to Witsieshoek for a period of 5 years where he continued to serve the underground PAC.
Leeuw died on 19 November 2008. He is survived by four wives, nine children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.