11 Facts About Stephanus Schoeman

The first member of the Schoeman clan arrived in the Cape in 1724 from Ditmarschen in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Stephanus Schoeman was a minor Trekker leader, who had his own flag.

Stephanus Schoeman joined Andries Pretorius' group, fighting in the Battle of Blood River.

One of the three cannons used in the battle, Ou Grietjie belonged to Stephanus Schoeman and is on display in the Voortrekker Monument.

Amongst others, Stephanus Schoeman was supported by Willem Cornelis Janse van Rensburg whom he subsequently appointed as a provisional commandant.

In 1858, when Stephanus Schoeman fell ill, Van Rensburg was appointed as acting Commandant-General.

Stephanus Schoeman instead believed that the presidency should have been granted to him as the constitution at the time stipulated that in cases of the president's dismissal or death, the presidency should be granted to the oldest member of the Executive Council.

Stephanus Schoeman, supported by many dissatisfied burghers, relieved Grobler of his office, assuming it himself.

Stephanus Schoeman married three times, finally marrying the widow Elsie Maria Aletta of the political figure state-head Pieter Johannes Potgieter, arch-antagonist of Andries Pretorius.

One of his daughters with Schutte, Catharina Christina Susanna Stephanus Schoeman, married the Boer general, Johannes Hermanus Michiel Kock.

Minister Stephanus Schoeman was a cousin of Dr Pieter Johannes Potgieter Stofberg.