Josias Philip Hoffman

Infobox_President
name=Josias Philip Hoffman

---

order1=1st State President of the Orange Free State
term_start1= 15 June 1854
term_end1= 10 February 1855
predecessor1=New office
successor1=J.N. Boshoff
order2=Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Orange Free State
term_start2= 23 February 1854
term_end2= 29 March 1855
predecessor2=New office
successor2=Office abolished
order3=Chairman of the Volksraad of the Orange Free State
term_start3= 29 March 1854
term_end3= Early April 1854
predecessor3=New office
successor3=Unknown
order4=Acting State President of the Orange Free State
term_start4= 18 April 1854
term_end4= 15 June 1854
predecessor4=J. Groenendaal (act.)
successor4=J.P. Hoffman
birth_date=1807
birth_place=
death_date=1879
death_place=
spouse1=
spouse2=
occupation=
alma_mater=
religion=Dutch Reformed

Josias Philip Hoffman (commonly known as Sias Hoffman) (1807 – 1879) was a South African (Boer) politician and statesman, and was the chairman of the Provisional Government and later the first State President of the Orange Free State, in office from 1854 to 1855.

Career

Hoffman was one of the representatives of the Smithfield District in the Orange River Sovereignty during the negotiations between Boers and British about the independence of the territory. He acted as chairman of the Boer deputation in the negotiations and signed the Orange River Convention of 23 February 1854 in that capacity.

He was first appointed chairman of the Provisional Government (23 February – 29 March 1854) and after a short intermezzo as chairman of the Volksraad he was first elected Acting State President (18 April – 15 June) and eventually the first substantial State President of the Orange Free State. [cite book | last = Muller | first = | authorlink = Hendrik Pieter Nicolaas Muller | title = Oude tyden in den Oranje-Vrystaat. | pages = 45, 306-309] [ [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/South_Africa.html#Orange Worldstatesmen.org] .]

Both Hoffman and his State Secretary J. Groenendaal were cripples, reason for their government to quickly gain the nickname 'the crippled government'. [cite journal | last = Collins | first = R.D. | authorlink = | title = Herinneringen | journal = South African News (Christmas Issue) | pages = 26 | date = 1906 cited in cite book | last = Muller | first = | authorlink = Hendrik Pieter Nicolaas Muller | title = Oude tyden in den Oranje-Vrystaat. | pages = 45, 306-309.]

Hoffman's term in office was short-lived, just under one year, and ended with a political incident. As a gesture of good faith, Hoffman had given a present of a keg of gunpowder to the Basotho king Moshoeshoe I. His fellow burghers found this an unwise move, over-friendly and potentially dangerous for the survival of the new state. Relations between the Boers and the Basotho were less than cordial at the time. A greater sin than the gift itself was the fact that Hoffman had tried to hide it from the Volksraad, the Orange Free State parliament. Hoffman was forced to retire, and did so on 10 February 1854. He was succeeded by a (temporary) Presidential Executive Commission, chaired by the influential burgher J.J. Venter. [cite book | last = Muller | first = | authorlink = Hendrik Pieter Nicolaas Muller | title = Oude tyden in den Oranje-Vrystaat. | pages = 53-54.]

ee also

* Orange River Sovereignty
* Moshoeshoe I
* Basotho

Notes

References

* cite book
last = Muller
first = H.P.N.
authorlink = Hendrik Pieter Nicolaas Muller
title = Oude tyden in den Oranje-Vrystaat. Naar Mr. H.A.L. Hamelberg's nagelaten papieren beschreven
publisher = E.J. Brill
location = Leiden
date = 1907
pages = 383p.
doi =
isbn =

Presidents of the Orange Free State

Persondata
NAME = Hoffman, Josias Philip
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = South African politician and statesman
DATE OF BIRTH = 1807
PLACE OF BIRTH =
DATE OF DEATH = 1879
PLACE OF DEATH =