Sir Cornelius Hermanus Wessels | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Volksraad of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 1885 – October 1899 | |
| Member of the Executive Council of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 1894–1896 | |
| Vice President of the Volksraad of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 1896–1897 | |
| President of the Volksraad of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 1897–1899 | |
| Preceded by | Christiaan Willem Hendrik Van Der Post |
| Member of the War Cabinet of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 1899–1900 | |
| Member of the Diplomatic Delegation of the Boer Republics to Europe and America | |
| In office 1900–1902 | |
| Minister for Mines, Lands, and Public Works of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 1907–1914 | |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Unknown |
| Administrator of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 1915–1924 | |
| Preceded by | A.E.W. Ramsbottom |
| Succeeded by | E.R. Grobler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 April 1851 Rietfontein, Winburg, Orange River Sovereignty |
| Died | 1 March 1924 (aged 72) Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, Union of South Africa |
| Political party | Orangia Unie, South African Party |
| Residence(s) | Kwagafontein farm, nr. Bloemfontein |
| Profession | Farmer, Politician |
Sir Cornelius Hermanus Wessels (26 April 1851 Rietfontein, Winburg, Orange River Sovereignty – 1 March 1924 Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, Union of South Africa) was a South African statesman.[1]
Wessels stemmed from an important Orange Free State family clan, dedicated to farming and the Boer way of life. Mainly self-educated, he turned to politics in his early thirties. As a member of the Volksraad he developed his skills as a diplomat and mediator, and was involved in many of the important political decisions the Orange Free State had to make in the 1880s and 1890s. In 1897 he was appointed president of the Volksraad.
During the South African War (1899–1902), Wessels was first a member of the war cabinet, and later a member of the Joint Diplomatic Delegation of the Boer Republics sent to Europe and the United States to muster support for the Boer cause. After the war Wessels sided with De Wet and Hertzog and became a cabinet minister in the Free State government. In 1915, the colonial government appointed Wessels as administrator of the Orange Free State. He was awarded a knighthood for his services to the state in the 1920 New Year Honours.
- ^ This article is predominantly based on the information derived from Moll, J.C. (1976). "Wessels, Sir Cornelius Hermanus". Suid-Afrikaanse Biografiese Woordenboek. Vol. 3. Kaapstad & Johannesburg: Raad vir die Geesteswetenskaplike Navorsing. pp. 857–858.