Field Marshall Jan Smuts was born on 24 May 1870. As was custom in his youth, due to circumstances, he only started school at the age of 12. This late start was not to deter him and he graduated from both Stellenbosch and Cambridge Universities with Honours. One of his lecturers at Cambridge described Smuts as the most brilliant student he had ever taught. Einstein is quoted as saying that Smuts was one of a handful of people in the world who understood the theory of relativity. After a brief period of employment with Cecil Rhodes, the Jameson Raid took him to the Transvaal where he became state attorney in the capital of the South African Republic in Pretoria.
During the initial stages of the South African (Anglo-Boer) War he served under Paul Kruger, being his right hand man. Once the guerrilla phase of the war commenced he joined General de la Rey in the field and served with distinction.
After the war he entered politics and it is safe to say that together with General Louis Botha, they shaped the future of South Africa. He was in Botha’s first Union Government and held three significant portfolios.
At the outbreak of World War One he was at the forefront of the Rebellion before successfully leading the South African forces in German South West Africa and East Africa.
From 1917 to 1919 he was a member of the British Imperial War Cabinet, and was instrumental in the founding of what became the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was appointed as a field marshal in the British Army in 1941 and was the only person to sign both of the peace treaties ending the First and Second World wars. His friendship with Winston Churchill is legendary.
He served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948.
