Leander Starr Jameson

Leander Starr Jameson (1853 - 1917) was a British colonialist and Prime Minister for the Colonie of the Cape in South Africa.

Born the February 9th 1853 in Scotland, junior by a family by notable of 12 children, it successfully undertook studies of medicine to London and could sit his reputation before settling in South Africa in 1878, following health issues. Established with Kimberley in full rush of diamond, he exerted his medical profession and made increase his reputation with patients as the president Paul Kruger or the chief Matabélé Lobengula. He became acquainted with Cecil Rhodos with which he bound friendship.

In 1888, its influence on Lobengula led this one to agree to concede grounds with emissary of Rhodos. This one then founds British South Africa Company (BSAC) for which it obtains a royal charter. In 1890, Jameson, from now on rich, gives up medicine and joint with the first forwarding of pioneers of the BSAC to the Mashonaland. With F.C. Selous and A.R. Colquhoun, it push until the Manicaland in the east to thwart the Portuguese colonial ambitions and to assert the territory in the name of the BSAC. In 1891, Jameson becomes the administrator of the territories under the control of the BSAC.

Jameson raid

In 1895, following the political conflicts between Rhodos and Kruger, Jameson gathers an army deprived to reverse the government of the Transvaal under pretext of protect the foreign workers revolts some against the authoritative government of the republic. December 29th, 1895 it launches since the Bechuanaland a raid against the Transvaal - known under the name of Jameson raid. January 2nd, 1896, the general Cronjé the captive fact but following negociations between Transvaal and the Great Britain it is given in freedom and expelled. The failure of this attempt at Coup d'etat is cooking. Judged in Great Britain to have led the raid, Jameson is condemned to 15 month of prison but obtains its discharge quickly. Its failure in Transvaal flashes back however on his/her friend Cecil Rhodos who is then constrained to resign of his post of 1st Minister for the Cape.

War and policy

In 1899, it is a heat in favor of Milner which preaches an offensive policy against Transvaal. When the war bursts, Jameson goes immediately to the Natal and engages in the British army.

After the war, in 1904, it is elected Prime Minister for the Colonie of the Cape, station which it occupies until in 1908. It is anobli in 1911 before returning definitively in Great Britain in 1912. Jameson dies the November 26th 1917 and is buried on the hill of Malindidzimu (World' S View) in Southern Rhodesia, to 40 km of Bulawayo in a place indicated by Rhodos itself for all those which will have taken part in the size of the British empire in Africa.

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