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EventThe first edition of the Graham’s Town Journal, mouthpiece of the Eastern Frontier settlers, is published
The Gramstown Journal, one of South Africa's important and influential early newspapers, ran from 1831- 1920. From its early days its editorial slant voiced…
Nat Turner leads a slave insurrection in Southampton, Virginia, USA
EventThe French Foreign Legion is founded
The elite French Foreign Legion was founded by King Louis-Philippe as a military unit to support the conquest of Algeria, which the French had invaded the…
The first edition of the Dutch newspaper De Zuid-Afrikaan is published in the Cape Colony
EventInauguration ceremony of the South African College School (SACS) takes place
The South African College School (SACS) was inaugurated at the Groote Kerk, giving impetus to the formation of the first school in Cape Town. The idea of…
EventFreedom of press is established at the Cape
The freedom of the press was established in the Cape Colony through the efforts of journalist John Fairbairn, founder of The South African Commercial…
Dr James Barry, Cape physician who performed the first successful Caesarean, leaves the Cape
EventShaka Zulu is murdered
Shaka Zulu, Zulu chief and founder of the Zulu empire, was murdered by his bodyguard, Mbopha, and his two half-brothers Dingane and Mhlangana after a…
Extension of Khoikhoi (then referred to as Hottentots) liberties
EventJanet Soga is born
The first successful Caesarean in Africa is performed in Cape Town by Dr. James Barry
William Ayliff, farmer and Cape politician, is born in Grahamstown
Prussian Nobility Establishes Berlin Missionary Society
France’s Napoleon Bonaparte dies in exile on the island of St. Helena
EventCorner stone of Mission Church is laid in Graaff-Reinet
After magistrate Andries Stockenstrom had donated a piece of land and six windows, building started on the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in Graaff-Reinet. The…
EventJohn Thomas Baines, South African painter, traveller and writer, is born
John Thomas Baines was born in England on 27 November 1820. Apprenticed to a coach painter at a young age, he left for South Africa in 1842 to work as a…
EventCape of Good Hope Royal Observatory is founded
On 20 October, 1820, South Africa’s first permanent modern observatory was erected at the Cape of Good Hope (now known as Cape Town) byFearon Fallows, a…
EventScottish missionary, Robert Moffat arrives in Northern Cape
Robert Moffat, Scottish missionary of the London Missionary Society (LMS), arrived at Maruping, ten km from present day Kuruman, to assist with missionary work…
EventFlorence Nightingale, British nurse in the Crimean War, is born
Florence Nightingale was born on 12 May 1820 in Florence, Italy. From an early age, she felt it was her calling to become a nurse, but mainly due to class and…
EventThe first British Settlers arrive in Algoa Bay
The first British Settlers, known as 1820 Settlers arrived in Algoa Bay, (now Port Elizabeth) on board of twenty-one ships, the first being the Chapman. They…
EventThe first 1820 British Settlers arrive in South Africa
After the Napoleonic wars, Britain experienced a serious unemployment problem. Therefore, encouraged by the British government to immigrate to the Cape colony,…
The fifth Frontier War: Sangoma Makana attacks Grahamstown under the patronage of Xhosa Chief Ndlambe, and is defeated
EventThe ‘Hospital and Lunatic Asylum’, the first civilian hospital in Cape Town, is opened
In the early 1800s, there was only one hospital for army men in the Cape, as well as a naval hospital in Simonstown. So, in order to set up the first civilian…
Voortrekker Jan Bantjes is born
EventSomerset concludes a treaty with Ngqika (aka Gaika)
On this day 1817, Cape Governor Lord Charles Somerset concluded a treaty with the Xhosa chief, Ngqika (who was also known as Gaika). The treaty was concluded…
EventSlachter’s Nek rebels are hanged
In 1815, tensions between the British and Dutch were running high. The Dutch settlers strongly (and correctly) suspected the British of resenting their…
EventThe Slagtersnek rebels are tried in the Uithenhage landdros court
Frederik Bezuidenhout owned a farm east of the Cape Colony. After reports surfaced that he was allegedly mistreating one of his Khoikhoi laborers, he was…
EventBritish troopship wrecked – 372 drown
The British troopship Arniston was wrecked on the rocks at what is now called Arniston in Marcus Bay, about twenty-five kilometres from Cape Agulhas. Of the…