Jacobus Groenendaal | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Volksraad of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 1853 – 23 February 1854 | |
| In office 1858 – 27 November 1860 | |
| Government Secretary of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 23 February 1854 – January 1856 | |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | J.W. Spruyt |
| Treasurer General of the Orange Free State | |
| In office 23 February 1854 – August 1855 | |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Acting State President of the Orange Free State | |
| In office Early April – 18 April 1854 | |
| Preceded by | J.P. Hoffman |
| Succeeded by | J.P. Hoffman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 November 1805 Heerewaarden, Netherlands |
| Died | 27 November 1860 (aged 55) Fauresmith, Orange Free State |
| Spouse | Johanna Antoinet Helderman |
| Occupation | Schoolteacher |
Jacobus Groenendaal (1 November 1805 – 27 November 1860) was a South African statesman of Dutch origin, member of the Volksraad of the Orange Free State and the republic's first Treasurer General and Government Secretary in office from 1854 to 1855 and 1856 respectively.[1]
Groenendaal was born in Heerewaarden, Netherlands, and was one of the many Dutch immigrants who settled in South Africa around the middle of the nineteenth century. He was a schoolteacher by training, but quickly became an influential politician, first in the negotiations about the formation of the Orange Free State, and afterwards as a parliamentarian and office holder. His political career was hampered by bad health and differences of opinion with State President Boshoff, and eventually cut short by his early death.
Groenendaal left an important political legacy in the form of the Orange free State constitution, in the draft of which he played an important role.