STEYN, Marthinus Theunis, President (1857 – 1916)

MARTHINUS THEUNIS STEYN, who has played such an important part in the recent history of the Orange Free State, was born on his father's farm in the district of Winburg, on the 2nd of October 1857, three years after Great Britain ceded the country to the Boers. Shortly after the birth of the young Steyn his father removed to Zuurfontein in the Bloemfontein district, where the subject of our sketch passed his youthful days in hunting and looking after his father's flocks.

The father was a practical and progressive farmer, for many years a member of the Executive Council, and a personal friend of the honoured and never to be forgotten President Brand. Educated at Grey College, it was first intended he should follow farming pursuits, but at the age of nineteen he left for Europe to study Law in 1877, and by a strange coincidence sailed in the same vessel with President Krüger, who was proceeding to England in connection with the annexation of the Transvaal. During the voyage the young student passed many hours with the Grand Old Man of the Transvaal, little dreaming of what was in store for them in the future-as the Heads of the two States. Mr. Steyn was very popular at the Universities of Holland, and after four years of hard study was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1882, when he returned to his native country. A true and worthy son of the soil, he gained the full confidence and friendship of President Brand, and six months after his return to Bloemfontein accepted the appointment of State Attorney, having previously enjoyed the confidence of the citizens by being appointed a Town Councillor.

In 1887 he married the eldest daughter of the Rev. Colin Fraser of Philippolis, and in 1889 was appointed Second Puisne Judge of the High Court, a position which he filled with the greatest ability and impartiality. By his geniality, friendliness and honesty he gained many friends in the State whilst journeying as judge on circuit, and, unknown to himself and without seeking for it, was the most popular and highly esteemed man in the O.R.C. In 1895, when President Reitz resigned owing to ill-health, the popular judge and patriotic son of the soil was approached from many quarters and different shades of opinion to be the future Ruler of the State, and it was only after great pressure had been brought to bear upon him, and feeling that it was his duty to his beloved country, that he at length was prevailed upon to stand against his uncle, now Sir John George Fraser, for the highest position in the land. The result of the poll was made known on the 19th of February 1896, when he was declared elected by a majority of 14,000, and in March of the same year took the oath of office. How well, as a true and noble son of South Africa, and as a faithful and patriotic Free Stater, he fulfilled the high office to which he was called need not be fully related in these pages.

President Steyn did his utmost at the conference held at Bloemfontein in March 1899, and by correspondence with Lord Milner, to come to an agreement and to prevent war. However, on the 9th of October President Krüger issued the ultimatum, and three days later the first shot was fired. On the 12th of March 1901 President Steyn left Bloemfontein, which was occupied on the following day by Lord Roberts. Faithful to his trust, true to his people, history has already related how nobly he used his great ability and love of country during the succeeding three years of trial and trouble, until he was laid on a bed of sickness from which he is only now recovering.

The Free State has lost its independence, many brave burghers have fallen in a noble cause, and President Steyn retains- nay, more than retains- the confidence placed in him by the people of the Orange Free State on the 19th of February 1896. He now lives with his wife and family on his farm "Onze Rust," about fifteen miles from Bloemfontein.

Source: Men of the Times, published by The Transvaal Publishing Company, Johannesburg, Cape Town & London, printed by Eyre and Spottiswood, His Majesty’s Printers, 1906, p. 523