Retief, Piet

▪ Boer leader

born Nov. 12, 1780, near Wellington, Cape Colony [now in South Africa]

died Feb. 6, 1838, Natal

      one of the Boer leaders of the Great Trek, the migration of independence-minded Boers from British rule in Cape Colony to uncolonized lands in the interior of South Africa.

      Better educated than most Boers, he combined farming with business, mainly as a building contractor. In 1814 Retief moved to the eastern frontier of the Cape Colony, where he soon gained a reputation as a field commandant fighting in frontier wars. He also acted as a spokesman for the Boer settlers, expressing their grievances over the native question to the British authorities. When the government appeared to sympathize with the tribesmen, the Boers decided to migrate, or trek. Retief issued a historic proclamation in February 1837 explaining the trekkers' reasons for leaving the colony.

      North of the Orange River his party merged with other trekkers, and he was elected governor and head commandant. Under Retief they crossed the Drakensberg into the “promised land” of Natal (October 1837). To establish their right to the land, Retief negotiated with Dingane, the Zulu king, who insisted that before an agreement could be made the Boers would have to assist him in recovering some stolen cattle. The task accomplished, Retief and his party returned to Dingane's kraal, and, while partaking of the king's hospitality, they were murdered.

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