The following lists events that happened during 1859 in South Africa.
Incumbents Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Sir George Grey. Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal: John Scott. State President of the Orange Free State: Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff (until 5 September). Esaias Reynier Snijman (acting from 6 September). President of the Executive Council of the South African Republic: Marthinus Wessel Pretorius.
Events September 6 – Esaias Reynier Snijman becomes the acting State President of the Orange Free State. 8 – The first railway locomotive in South Africa is brought ashore in Cape Town.
Births 11 January – John Tengo Jabavu, political activist and newspaper editor. (d. 1921) 1 May – Willem Johannes Leyds, attorney-general of the South African Republic. (d. 1940)
Deaths
May 31 May – Henry Clifford de Meillon, painter (born c. 1800)
Railways
Railway lines Construction begins on the Cape Town-Wellington Railway.The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978.
Locomotives 8 September – A small 0-4-0 tank steam locomotive is landed in Cape Town, to be used during construction of the first railway in South Africa.
References