10 Facts About Johannes Brand

Sir Johannes Henricus Brand, was a lawyer and politician who served as the fourth state president of the Orange Free State, from 2 February 1864 until his death in 1888.

Johannes Brand was the son of Sir Christoffel Joseph Brand, speaker of the Cape legislative assembly, and Catharina Fredrica Kuchler.

Johannes Brand married in 1851 to Johanna Sibella Zastron, a daughter of the Registrar of Deeds in Cape Town.

Johannes Brand was born in Cape Town, and was educated at the South African College in that city.

Johannes Brand continued his law studies in Britain and was called to the English bar at the Inner Temple in 1849.

In 1858 Johannes Brand was appointed professor of law in the South African College.

Johannes Brand was elected president of the Orange Free State in 1863, and subsequently re-elected for five year terms in 1869,1874,1879 and 1884.

In 1871, Johannes Brand was solicited by a large party to become president of the South African Republic, and thus unite the two Boer republics in what would later become part of South Africa; but as the project was hostile to Great Britain he declined to do so, and maintained his constant policy of neutrality towards England, where his merits were recognised in 1882 when he was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.

Johannes Brand was deeply religious and irreproachable in both public and private life.

Johannes Brand was extremely popular with the burghers of the Orange Free State.