Cape Colony
South Africa, 1795–1910. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Cape Colony was a British colony in present-day South Africa that existed from 1795 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1910. The Cape of Good Hope remained in the British Empire, becoming self-governing in 1872. It united with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa in 1910.
Seat of power: Cape Town
Rulers
Philip Edmond Wodehouse
Governor of the Cape Colony, 1862–1870
He was appointed Governor of the Cape Colony and British High Commissioner for Southern Africa. The local Cape Parliament was elected by a system of multi-racial franchise, but had no executive power. He was recalled in 1870.
Portrait of Philip Edmond Wodehouse: AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, file
Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner
Governor of the Cape Colony, 1897–1905
He was appointed Governor of the Cape Colony and High Commissioner for Southern Africa in April 1897. As Governor and High Commissioner, Milner was a leading advocate for British subjects of the Transvaal and Orange Free State, and his policy precipitated the Second Boer War.
Portrait of Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner: Elliott & Fry, Public domain, file
Culture
- British emigration to South Africa began around 1818, culminating in the arrival of the 1820 Settlers. The final eastern boundary, after several wars against the Xhosa, stood at the Fish River.
- The local Cape Parliament was elected by a system of multi-racial franchise, but had no executive power.
- The discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1884 in the interior initiated the Mineral Revolution, which increased economic growth and immigration.
Picture
Cape Town City Hall is a large Edwardian building, built in 1905, and located in Cape Town's city centre.
Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.