CRONJE, PIET ARNOLDUS (c. I ), Boer gen eral, was born about 184o in the Transvaal about the time of the Great Trek, and began the insurrection in the Transvaal after 188o by resisting the distraint for taxes on the goods of a Boer who had declined to pay. He took part in the first Boer War with the rank of commandant, and commanded in the siege of the British garrison at Potchefstroom (1881), though he was unable to force their surrender until after the conclusion of the general armistice. The Boer leader was at this time accused of withhold ing knowledge of this armistice from the garrison. He held various official positions in the years 1881-99, and commanded the Boer force which compelled the surrender of the Jameson raiders at Doornkop (Jan. 2, 1896). In the war of 1899 Cronje was general commanding in the western theatre of war, and began the siege of Kimberley. He opposed the advance of the British division under Lord Methuen, and fought, though without success, three general actions at Belmont, Graspan and Modder river. At Magersfontein, early in Dec. 1899, he completely repulsed a general attack made upon his position, and thereby checked for two months the north ward advance of the British column. In the campaign of Feb. 1900, Cronje opposed Lord Roberts's army on the Magersfontein battleground, but he was unable to prevent the relief of Kimber ley; retreating westward, he was surrounded near Paardeberg, and, after a most obstinate resistance, was forced to surrender with the remnant of his army (Feb. 27, 1900) . As a prisoner of war Cronje was sent to St. Helena, where he remained until released after the conclusion of peace. He died at Klerksdorp, Transvaal, on Feb. 4, 1911. (See SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.)