President Hermanus Steyn
President Hermanus Steyn
1st President of the Republic of Swellendam
In office 17 June 1795 – 4 November 1795
Vice President	Petrus Delport
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Head of Swellendam Home Council
Preceded by	Hermanus Steyn d'Oude
Personal details
Born	15 February 1743 Bruintjiesrivier, Swellendam, Dutch Cape Colony
Died	1804 (60-61) Jan Harmsgat, Swellendam, Cape Colony
Spouse	Anna Margaretha Van Staden (m. 1765)
Children	7
Parent(s)	Hermanus Steyn d'Oude and Martha Potgieter
Military service
Allegiance	Republic of Swellendam Republic of Graaff-Reinet

Hermanus Steyn (15 February 1743, Swellendam – 1804, Swellendam) was the President of the Republic of Swellendam. When the rule of the Dutch East India Company fell in 1795 and the Swellendam citizens called their own Republic into existence, he was elected as president. A few months after the arrival of the British, an end was made to this Republic.^[1]

Biography

He was born and baptized in 1743 near Bruintjies River, which was then the border of the Dutch Cape Colony.^[2] He married Anna Margaretha Van Staden in 1765. They had seven children together - three sons and four daughters. He farmed with his father, Hermanus Steyn d'Oude at Bruintjiesfontein near Swellendam until 1773, where he soon commanded respect from his neighbours.^[3] His father was elected as part of the home council of Swellendam various times. He was very interested in the Patriot movement at the Cape in the years 1770. In 1773 he moved to the tenant farm De Doornfontein "boven aan de Sondags Rivier onder de Camdeboo" on the then eastern border. In 1789 he returned to Swellendam and settled on the farm Jan Harmansgat. He lived there until he died in 1806. His son Marthinus farmed after him on Jan Harmansgat.^[4] Simon Kick, the famous Dutch Painter, was his 3rd great-grandfather on his mother's side, Hendrik Potgieter, the Voortrekker, was his cousin's son, also on his mother's side and Marthinus Prinsloo, the President of the Republic of Graaff-Reinet^[5] was his 2nd cousin, also on his mother's side.

Declaration of the Republic of Swellendam.

The Republic of Swellendam in 1795.

Ancestry

References